Jake’s Gift is About Legacy and Remembrance

Award-winning play makes the story behind one soldier’s grave personal at Horizon Stage on November 7

Horizon Stage is pleased to bring back Jake’s Gift to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Juno Beach campaign. This multi-award winning one-actor play is about a Canadian World War II veteran’s reluctant return to Juno Beach for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day. While revisiting the shores of Juno Beach, Jake encounters Isabelle, a precocious 10-year-old from the local village. Isabelle’s inquisitive nature and charm challenge the old soldier to confront some long-ignored ghosts – most notably the war-time death of his eldest brother, Chester, a once promising young musician. At its heart, Jake’s Gift is about the legacy of remembrance and makes personal the story behind one soldier’s grave. Open yourself up to Jake’s Gift at Horizon Stage on Thursday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m.

In June 2004, playwright Julia Mackey traveled to Normandy, France, for the 60th anniversary of D-Day. It was one of the most moving and powerful experiences of her life. During that week long journey, Julia interviewed dozens of Canadian, British and American WWII veterans who had returned for the ceremonies. For many, it was their first time back to France since the war. The stories they shared with Julia and her own life-long interest in Remembrance Day inspired the development of Jake’s Gift. In August 2006, the play’s first draft received a workshop performance at the Sunset Theatre’s Exploration Series in Wells, BC.

Since 2007, Jake’s Gift has played at festivals and theatres in over 250 communities across Canada, as well as international stops to Washington State, the UK, and Normandy, France, for the 70th, 73rd, and 75th Anniversaries of D-Day, and sold out shows at the Edmonton Fringe Festival (2008, 2010, 2013, 2018) and Horizon Stage (2011 & 2016).  2019 marks their 13th year of touring, and Juno Productions and Jake’s Gift continue to garner awards and rave reviews whether playing in small rural towns or big city centers. Jake’s Gift is a one act play that runs 65 minutes with no intermission, and is recommended for ages 10 and up. Audience members are also invited to join Julia after the performance for a question, answer, and conversation session.

Fans love this play so much that they return to see it over and over again. Fall in love with Jake’s Gift for your first, second, or tenth time at Horizon Stage on Thursday, November 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for Adults and $30 for Students and Seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online through Ticketpro.ca. There aren’t many seats left for this show so don’t wait too long!

 “Jake’s Gift is the most theatrically pure show I have ever seen. Julia Mackey delivers a stunning performance. So well fleshed out are her characters, so instantaneous are her transitions that it feels like an ensemble show.”

- Katie Nicholson, CBC Winnipeg

 “Julia Mackey is an eminently watchable actor and her transformations between characters are stunning and nuanced.”

– Bryan Birtles, Vue Weekly

“Jake’s Gift is as near a perfect play as I’ve ever seen.”

– Jackie Flanagan, Alberta Views magazine

A Magical Mix of Classical Music and Fun

Christopher Hall and the Comic Quartet Demystify the World of Chamber Music at Horizon Stage

                                                                                                                                                      

Comedian and former principal clarinet Christopher Hall is trying to demystify the sometimes formal world of chamber music. With the help of Edmonton's StrathconaString Quartet he strives to answer such existential questions as “What exactly is a musician thinking while he is playing?”, and “What’s the difference between contemporary music and a migraine?” Laugh along with Christopher’s hilarious anecdotes then marvel as he presents 1000 years of music history in 15 minutes. But this concept isn’t all comedy, music lovers will marvel at exquisitely performed excerpts from Mozart, Boccherini, Schostakovitch, and Bach while novices will realize just how many of the classics they actually know! You don’t need a mink coat or a doctorate in musicology to enjoy Christopher Hall and the Comic Quartet at Horizon Stage on Saturday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m.; but if you own either or both this is still the show for you.

Christopher Hall is the former principal clarinet for the Orchestre Métropolitain in Montréal. He found working in an orchestra far too serious so now, instead of joking around while sitting in the orchestra pit, he performs as a stand-up comedian, and does various television and radio shows in both English and French. Christopher has appeared in such prestigious comedy festivals as Just for Laughs, The Winnipeg Comedy Fest, and the Grand Rire in Québec City. He hosted Whoopi Goldberg’s Quebec City show in 2011 and has won two Gémeaux awards (French Gemini). Christopher is fluent in English, French, German, and Italian but whatever you do, DO NOT take this man seriously!

The Strathcona String Quartet, Edmonton’s most outstanding and versatile professional chamber ensemble, have been performing together since 1987. They have released two highly praised CDs which are frequently heard on radio stations across North America including CBC radio, CKUA, and CJSR. The Strathcona String Quartet is well known for their world premiere performances of works for string quartet by local and international composers. They perform much of the Classical and Romantic repertoire as well as historically informed early music on period instruments. The members of the quartet are Jennifer Bustin (violin), Shannon Johnson (violin), Sarah Wilbur-Woodman (viola), and Josephine van Lier (cello).

Learn everything you’ve always wanted to know about classical music, and the musicians who perform it, but were afraid to ask, from Christopher Hall and The Comic Quartet at Horizon Stage on Saturday, November 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for Adults and $30 for Students and Seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online through Ticketpro.ca.

“The audience laughed uproariously all evening. And the most surprising thing was at the end of the program Hall played the entire Mozart clarinet concerto like a first-rate soloist!”

- La Press

"The clarinetist and comedian Christopher Hall unveiled the inner workings of a symphony orchestra from A to Z, and the audience laughed throughout the evening.”

- Quebec Hebdo

Innovative and Refreshingly Different Duo Perform at Horizon Stage November 2

Described as “The Pink Floyd of Folk Music” The Multi-Award-Winning Red Dirt Skinners Blend Exceptional Harmonies With World Class Musicianship.                                                                    

If you like songs influenced by Pink Floyd, Simon and Garfunkel, Supertramp, Crosby Stills and Nash, or David Bowie, coupled with epic storytelling, humour, and heartfelt emotions, you'll love the Red Dirt Skinners. Widely regarded as one of the most innovative acts to come out of the UK in recent years, the duo have had success both nationally and internationally; winning awards in several genres. With a sublime sound is that is instantly recognizable, they draw influences from more genres than would make sense to list, and refuse to be pigeonholed. Comfortably blending exceptional, almost telepathic harmonies with the unique instrumentation of soprano saxophone and acoustic guitar, The Skinners audiences describe them as ‘refreshingly different'.  The Red Dirt Skinners are touring western Canada this fall and will be making a much-anticipated stop at Horizon Stage on Saturday, November 2.

Husband and wife duo Rob and Sarah Skinner have recorded five albums together. The first act in history to achieve accolades at both the British Blues and British Country Awards, their distinctive sound won them folk/roots album of the year in several polls across the UK and North America and saw them nominated for duo of the year at the International Acoustic Music Awards. These eight-time UK Songwriting Awards finalist have sold out tours across the UK, Europe, and North America. They have been endorsed by DMJ Music (UK) and Sarah was the first female artist to be endorsed by Trevor James Saxophones.

Hailing originally from the South East of England, Rob and Sarah have both been musicians for the majority of their lives. In 2017, after completing five successful Canadian tours, they were fast-tracked by Canadian Immigration and moved to Ontario to become permanent residents here. Their 2018 album, Under Utopian Skies, is a testament to their love of Canada and is described by Trevor Oxborrow of Folk At Five as “A masterpiece of audio bliss”. Advocates for finding the positives in every situation, Rob and Sarah love to give back, and they spend much of their off-tour time encouraging new artists into the music scene and finding them performance opportunities. Their current tour is supported by funding from the Ontario Arts Council.

 

The Skinners last performed in the capital region in October 2018 at the New Moon Folk Club. They have a natural rapport with their audiences and their live shows are a wonderful experience; a musical journey to remember. Be prepared for laugh out loud lyrics, followed by songs sure to pull at your heartstrings. Rob and Sarah Skinner will steal your hearts. Don’t miss their concert at Horizon Stage on Saturday, November 2 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for Adults and $30 for Students and Seniors and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave), by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090, and online through Ticketpro.ca.

“They really do have an across the board appeal. Renowned for their soaring choruses,
fabulous soprano sax solos and clever thought provoking lyrics.”

- Folk Roots Radio

"The space where the vocals of Sarah and Rob Skinner meet features two tones existing as a single note."

- The Alternate Root Magazine

"Musically set apart from the mass of bands who are just copying what has gone before.”

-  Music News