Horizon Stage Celebrates its Pearl Anniversary

Proudly presenting artists Up Close and Personal for 30 years.

Horizon Stage’s 2012/2013 Season has been on sale since early July and already some performances are starting to fill up. The 318 soft-seat venue, just 20 minutes west of Edmonton, is known for presenting a diverse line-up of artists and genres and this year is no exception. As the theatre celebrates 30 years of arts and culture its staff are dusting off their pearls in eager anticipation.

As a thank-you to its many wonderful patrons, Horizon Stage is giving back to the community with two free concerts during Alberta Culture Days at the end of September. But, if you don’t already have your tickets to Hot Jazz/Cool Jazz: The Sandy Foster Quartet & Jesse Peters Trio (September 29) or Kent Sangster’s Obsessions Octet (September 30), you’re out of luck as both performances are sold out.

Horizon Stage kicks off its regular concert series on October 6 with a solo performance by former Barenaked Ladies front-man Steven Page, followed by a night of blues and roots with award winning musicians Peter Karp and Sue Foley on October 19. Fans of hypnosis and comedy are happily heralding the return of Wayne Lee’s Live The Laughter on November 3, a show that was enjoyed by a sold out audience at Horizon Stage last January. One of the most distinctive voices on the Canadian folk singer-songwriter scene, James Keelaghan, is scheduled to perform on November 4, and contemporary American singer-songwriter Vance Gilbert will be joined by Alberta fiddle and country-folk sensation Lizzy Hoyt on November 9.  Former Legendary Hearts front-man, roots-country troubadour Barney Bentall, returns to Spruce Grove on November 16. And if you would like to celebrate Christmas at Horizon Stage with Lunch at Allen’s on December 15 or A Big Band Christmas on December 22 you’d better get your tickets ASAP as both concerts are close to selling out.     

Start January 2013 off right with the pop/rock music of Elton John and Billy Joel in Jim Witter’s multimedia concert The Piano Men.  Then, celebrate Horizon Stage’s pearl anniversary in style with not one but two performances by musical theatre super-stars Michael Burgess (Les-Miz’s Jean Valjean) and Rebecca Caine (Phantom’s Christine) in The Dream Concert on January 29 and 30.  Guitar enthusiasts will love gypsy jazz guitarist Denis Chang’s Manouche Quartet on February 7 and fans of classical and jazz will find something special with The Wolak-Donnelly Duo (clarinet/piano) on February 16. Eastern Canadian celtic/folk band The Navigators will set the stage on fire with their heart-pounding rhythms on February 22 and Alberta country music band Hey Romeo will keep the party atmosphere going on March 2. Ballet Jörgen Canada returns to Horizon Stage on February 24 with an exciting full-scale production of the classic Swan Lake and francophone-gypsy-klezmer band Sagapool round out the season on April 5.

Presenting something for everyone, Horizon Stage’s 2012/2013 Family Matinee Series will be tons of fun for children aged 4 and up, and the grownups who accompany them. School aged children (k-12) who want to try their hand on-stage or backstage should plan to attend Missoula Children’s Theatre’s open-auditions (no appointment required) on January 14 from 4 - 6 pm. Approximately 50 lucky young actors will be cast in Jack and the Beanstalk which will have two public performances on January 19.  Rounding out the Family Matinee Series are old-time musicians Sheesham & Lotus on February 9, and Montreal dance troupe Bouge de là’s performance of The Studio (L’Atelier) on March 16. 

Ticket prices for Horizon Stage’s 2012/2013 season range from $5 (if you’re a high school student) to $40. Patrons are encouraged to build their own performance packages and will receive discounts based on the number of shows they purchase before October 6^th (3-4 shows = 10% off, 5-6 shows = 15% off, 7+ shows = 20% off).  Student/senior prices and group rates are also available. The Horizon Players two productions, Disney’s Aladdin Jr. (Nov 28-Dec 1) and The Sound of Music (May 2-5 & May 9-11) may also be included in the build your own performance packages.  Family Matinee 3-show Series Packages are priced at $40.

2012/2013 Season tickets and packages are available through the City Hall Ticket Centre, which can be visited in-person at 315 Jespersen Ave or reached by telephone at 780-962-8995. Tickets for individual performances are also available through Ticketmaster and online at www.ticketmaster.ca. Don’t miss out - get yours soon; then plan to wear your pearl necklaces and cuff-links too as we celebrate Horizon Stage’s 30^th Anniversary!