2010/2011 Season

U22 Concert
Saturday, September 18 – 7:30 p.m.

Splash’N Boots
Sunday, September 19 – 2 p.m. (Family Matinee)

The Beatlemaniacs
Thursday, September 30 – 7:30 p.m.

John Lee Sanders
Friday, October 8 – 7:30 p.m.

The Gizmo Guys
Saturday, October 16 – 2 p.m. (Family Matinee)

Foothills Brass with Autorickshaw
Tuesday, October 19 – 7:30 pm

Oliver Jones Trio
Friday, October 29 – 7:30 p.m.

The Wright Songs – An Acoustic Evening with Michelle Wright
Sunday, November 7 – 7:30 p.m.

International Guitar Night
Friday, November 12 – 7:30 p.m.

The Horizon Players Present: The Crucible
November 18-20 – 7:30 p.m.

The Barra MacNeils
Friday, November 26 – 7:30 p.m.

Richard Eaton Singers: Handel’s Messiah
Saturday, December 18 – 7:30 p.m.

The Shirleys
Saturday, January 15 – 7:30 p.m.

Masabo
Saturday, January 22 – 2 p.m. (Family Matinee)

The Nylons
Wednesday, January 26 – 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

Sons of Maxwell
Saturday, February 5 – 7:30 p.m.

Pat Braden & Digawolf: A Place to Call Home
Sunday, February 6 – 2 p.m.

Mermaid Theatre: Swimmy, Frederick & Inch by Inch
Saturday, February 19 – 2 p.m. (Family Matinee)

Trevor Panczak
Saturday, March 5 – 7:30 p.m.

David Myles
Friday, March 25 – 7:30 p.m.

Jorge Miguel
Saturday, March 26 – 7:30 p.m.

Jasper Wood
Friday, April 1 – 7:30 p.m.

The Horizon Players Present: Disney’s Jungle Book Kids
April 28 - 30 & May 5- 7 - 7:30 p.m. plus a 2 p.m. matinee on April 30

Tickets On Sale Wednesday, July 7 at 9:30 a.m.

2010 Summer Drama Classes

Drama Tots
Session 1: July 19 - 23
Session 2: July 26 - 30
Ages: 5 – 7
Time: 9 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Location: Agra Room - Spruce Grove Agrena - 9 Agrena Road
Cost: $80
Young children will explore creatively through a variety of dramatic activities. They will play games, sing songs, and do simple drama exercises. On the last day of class, family and friends will be invited to watch them present a showcase piece.
Instructors: Julia Seymour & Mandolin Orr

Drama Troupers
Session 1: July 19 - 23
Session 2: July 26 - 30
Ages: 8 – 10
Time: noon - 2 p.m.
Location: Agra Room - Spruce Grove Agrena - 9 Agrena Road
Cost: $80
Older children will explore creatively through various, more advanced, theatrical activities. They will participate in a wide variety of warm-up and dramatic exercises. They will learn about plot lines, creating characters and working together as a team. On the last day of class, family and friends will be invited to watch them present a showcase piece.
Instructors: Julia Seymour & Mandolin Orr

Drama Thespians
Session 1: July 19-23
Session 2: July 26 - 30
Ages: 11 – 13
Time: 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Location: Agra Room - Spruce Grove Agrena - 9 Agrena Road
Cost: $80
Students will learn advanced warm-up activities and explore their creative sides through intense theatrical challenges. They will create in-depth characters and plot lines and will work together to create their own one-act collective. On the last day of class, family and friends will be invited to watch them present a showcase piece.
Instructors: Julia Seymour & Mandolin Orr

Important:
Children should wear clothing that they can move and play easily in and non-slip indoor shoes. If the weather is warm they should wear sun screen and have alternate outdoor shoes available. They should bring their own water bottle. A small nut-free snack will be provided each day.

To register or for more information
Call: 780-962-8995

2010 Horizon Stage Artstrek Scholarship

What is Artstrek?
Celebrating its 50th Anniversary, Artstrek is a theatre school like no other: a residential summer theatre program for teens that has been running since 1959. The program, which takes place each summer on the campus of Red Deer College, is about the exploration of theatre and the components of theatre production rather than getting a show on stage. Over the course of a week, participants explore acting, voice, movement, and directing with some of Alberta's finest theatre professionals. This year students will be unleashing their imaginations in the world of Jonathan Christenson’s Sterling award-winning Frankenstein.

Artstrek is not a talent-based program. It is for students who are enthusiastic about theatre and who will be focused on the fun of learning and exploring with their instructors and with other Artstrek participants.

When is Artstrek & Who can attend?
Theatre Exploration I runs July 4 - 10. It is for 13 - 15 year olds who have completed grade 7.
Theatre Exploration II runs July 11 - 18. It is for 16 - 18 year olds who have completed grade 10.

Do I qualify for a Horizon Stage scholarship?
If you are between the ages of 13 and 18, and have completed grade 7 or higher at a school in Spruce Grove, Stony Plain or Parkland County, you may apply for this scholarship. It can be used for either Theatre Exploration I or Theatre Exploration II. Horizon Stage offers one $400 scholarship.

How do I apply?
FIRST—Register for Artstrek through Theatre Alberta. Download your Artstrek Application form from www.theatrealberta.com/artstrek.htm. On PAGE 10 of the application form mark “YES” to say that you are receiving funding from an organization in your community. Fill in Horizon Stage’s address and the scholarship information as listed below.
Submit your Artstrek registration and your registration fee, minus $400, to:
Theatre Alberta
3rd Floor, 11759 Groat Road
Edmonton, AB
T5M 3K6
Phone: 780-422-8162
Fax: 780-422-2663 Attn. Theatre Alberta

SECOND—Submit a scholarship application letter to Horizon Stage. Your application letter must detail your experience in theatre studies and productions, your plans for future involvement in theatre, and how attending Artstrek will help you accomplish your goals. Factors such as academic excellence and financial need will be taken into account. Letters of reference are a part of the Artstrek application process, but they do not need to be sent to Horizon Stage.
Submit your Horizon Stage Scholarship letter to:
Horizon Stage Scholarship
Attn: Kerri Gibson Loranger
315 Jespersen Ave
Spruce Grove, AB, T7X 3E8
Phone: 780-962-8995
Fax: 780-962-0616

Once the Scholarship winner is chosen Horizon Stage will submit a cheque for $400 to Theatre Alberta on their behalf. Anyone who has applied for the scholarship but is not chosen must then pay Theatre Alberta the remainder of their application fee.If you have already applied for Artstrek, and paid the full registration fee, you may still apply for this scholarship. If that is the case Horizon Stage will reimburse the winner $400 directly instead of Theatre Alberta.

Artstrek starts taking registrations on April 1, 2010, and they fill up early, so get your application to Theatre Alberta as soon aspossible. Only applicants who have successfully registered for Artstrek (not on the waiting list) will be considered for the Horizon Stage Scholarship. All application letters for the Horizon Stage scholarship must be received by May 7, 2010.

This Artstrek Scholarship is funded by the Horizon Stage Theatre Advisory Board.

Tickets Released for The Arrogant Worms

Horizon Stage has released seats for the 7:30 Arrogant Worms concerts on April 23 & 24. Call our Box Office at 780-962-8995 and order yours before they're gone!

Nathan - The Wind

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuAIHmhJvs4

Listen to the Modern, Old-Fashioned Sound of the Lonesome, Crowded West

Enjoy the funky genre-fusion of alt-country/roots band Nathan at Horizon Stage on Friday, April 16

Once described as “ the Carter Family and Patsy Cline as interpreted by Tom Waits and Holly Golightly”, Winnipeg-based alt-country/roots quartet, Nathan, weds a variety of musical genres to create a fresh, original style and sound. In an age of push-button music, Nathan’s songs have an endearing, alluringly-homemade quality to them. The band flawlessly navigates the line between two-steppin', polka and pop, while tossing in hints of Kurt Weill cabaret and Tex-Mex mariachi. They balance their banjos with horns, temper their twang with theremin, and accent their cantering rhythms with handclaps. Touring Alberta in April, Nathan will be close to Edmonton when they perform at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Friday, April 16.

A product of Winnipeg’s vibrant, slightly-off-centre arts community, Nathan combines the haunting songwriting and vocal talents of Keri Latimer and Shelley Marshall with bassist Devin Latimer, drummer Daniel Roy, and an assortment of accordions, tubas, pianos and steel guitars. Since their indie debut in 2001, the band has received rave reviews, played festivals across the country, and won three Western Canadian Music Awards, two Canadian Folk Music Awards, a Prairie Music Award, and a Juno.

Nathan embraces their eclectic prairie origins completely. Their songs are slippery things that will seduce you with gorgeous harmonies, energize you with circus rhythms or traditional country beats, and then knock you sideways with razor-sharp lyrics that seem to come from a dark Tom Waits-ean basement. Nathan’s music crosses the line between conventional and un-conventional, completely captivating their audiences and making new fans of all who hear them.

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience Nathan for yourself Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on Friday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors and may be purchased through Ticketmaster and the Horizon Stage Box Office. Call 780-962-8995 or visit the Box Office in person at 315 Jespersen Avenue to acquire yours today. www.nathanmusic.ca

“alt-country quartet Nathan are now officially one of the best folk groups in Canada.”
Winnipeg Sun

“… smart, witty, absorbing and tuneful … imbued with an engaging sense of friendly backwoods weirdness”
Irish Times

“...these rootsy ecumenists from Winnipeg get to the heart of rural North American music without hillbilly kitsch or weary references to the farm.”
Nashville Scene

Lose Yourself in the Whimsical World of the Water Forest

Meet the charming and delightful water-forest people from Sursaut Dance Company’s At Nightfall at Horizon Stage on Saturday, April 10 – 3 p.m.

Auguste is a shoemaker who knows nothing of holidays. In fact, he knows little about life outside of his work-shop. Then, Auguste discovers the water forest, where shade and light intermingle and the “tiny people” live. Crazy, tender, tipsy or delicate, the tiny people’s nocturnal dances include rituals in which they turn, jump and frolic in total abandon. Their elusive beauty, casualness and antic characters exercise an undeniable charm on Auguste and all passersby who venture into their world.

Lose yourself in the whimsical world of the water forest when Horizon Stage presents Sursaut Dance Company’s charming production, At Nightfall, on Saturday, April 10 at 3 p.m. Founded in 1985, Sursaut is a contemporary dance company devoted to the creation and production of shows for young and family audiences. Artistic director and choreographer, Francine Châteauvert, collaborates closely with dancer and general manager, Adam Dymburt to form the heart of this Quebec-based company. They have presented their work from coast to coast and outside Canada, including stops in Spruce Grove with Les Excentriques in 2002 and Family Portrait in 2006.

The final presentation in Horizon Stage’s 2009/2010 Family Matinee Series, At Nightfall is fanciful and fun. Recommended for children aged five and up, audience members of all ages will experience wonder and find joy in this dazzling theatrical dance presentation. It is important to note that the start time for At Nightfall is 3 p.m., instead of the usual 2 p.m. Free pre-show crafts and activities for children will run in the theatre lobby from 2 - 3 p.m. Tickets for At Nightfall are $15.00 for all ages. Call the Horizon Stage Box Office at
780-962-8995, or visit any Ticketmaster location, for more information or to purchase your seats today. www.sursaut.ca

“A forest that charms”
La Tribune (Sherbrooke)

February 2010 Feedback

Did you see any of the following performances at Horizon Stage in February 2010...
The Rodeo Roders on the 4th
Soaring Strings on the 5th
Ted Outerbridge: Magical Moments in Time on the 20th or 21st
Ballet Jörgen Canada: Cinderella on the 28th
Did you like, or dislike, the artists, the venue, the volunteers or the staff?
Please let us know your thoughts regarding your visit to our theatre.

Important Note: Comments will be moderated and course language will not be posted.

Share and Intimate Evening with One of Canada's Finest Singer Songwriters

See Stephen Fearing Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on Friday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m.

It has been 20 years since songsmith, Stephen Fearing, released his self-titled debut CD. Over the following two decades, he has built up a loyal national and international audience. Like most contemporary songwriter/performers, Stephen is not bound by any particular musical genre or category. The recent release of his eighth solo album, The Man Who Married Music: The Best of Stephen Fearing, highlights his exploration of various musical forms, as does his continued participation in the highly successful Canadian roots/rock super-trio, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings. Now, Edmonton and area music-lovers have the opportunity to spend an intimate evening with Stephen Fearing at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Friday, March 12.

Born in 1963 in Vancouver, Stephen spent most of his boyhood and teenage years in Dublin. There, he picked up the guitar and the Irish and English musical traditions that have informed his music ever since. After a short stint in the U.S. Midwest, he returned to Canada, and is now long-established as a regular and popular fixture on the folk club and festival circuit in North America and the U.K.

Stephen mixes powerful lyrics, creative arrangements and brilliant guitar playing to create a sound and style that is distinctly his own. He has been nominated for numerous Junos, with his album Yellowjacket winning Solo Roots & Traditional Album of the Year in 2007. He also has a West Coast Music Award, a Hamilton Music Award, and a Canadian Folk Music Award on his shelf. A founding member of Blackie & the Rodeo Kings, Stephen has collaborated with many other artists including Richard Thompson, Sarah McLachlan, Tom Wilson, Colin Linden and Suzie Vinnick.

Appearing with Stephen at Horizon Stage will be Irish singer songwriter and poet Andy White. Socially aware in a way that comes naturally to someone who grew up in Belfast during the 70s and 80s, Andy’s writing incorporates and transcends the boundaries of his native land. With 14 albums to his credit he has also collaborated with many artists including Peter Gabriel and Sinéad O’Connor.

www.stephenfearing.com & www.andywhite.com

Experience the Magic at Horizon Stage

Illusionists Ted and Marion Outerbridge will dazzle audiences in Spruce Grove on February 20 and 21.

In Ted and Marion Outerbridge’s Magical Moments in Time, comedy meets mind-bending illusions, making for a uniquely bewitching and hilarious program of entertainment. Ted and Marion don’t just play the spotlight, they come to life in it – and then share it with audience members, inviting them to experience the magic up close and personal on stage. Whether it’s Ted changing places with Marion in a split second, reading people’s minds, or traveling back in time in a giant alarm clock, the Outerbridges hold their audiences spellbound. Now, Edmonton and area magic-lovers have the opportunity to experience Magical Moments in Time at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Saturday, February 20 and Sunday, February 21.

Performing professionally since 1982, Ted Outerbridge has delighted audiences in over 100 Canadian cities and on the other side of the Atlantic. He has done everything from materializing Fortune 500 executives onstage, to consulting for Cirque du Soleil, to creating the magic for Kathleen Turner and Christopher Reeve in the movie, Switching Channels. Ted has made over 75 television appearances and produced his own TV special, Magic With Ted Outerbridge. He has performed numerous times at the Just for Laughs Comedy Festival, for Princess Cruises, and at the SkyDome in Toronto. Acclaimed for his innovative style, Ted Outerbridge has won the Stage Magician of the Year award from the Academy of Magical Arts and the Tom Auburn Award for magical excellence for the Society for American Magicians.

Marion Outerbridge is an illusionist, dancer, choreographer and actress who speaks five languages fluently. She studied dance in Holland and Moscow and has performed all over the world. In 1999, Marion joined the Ted Outerbridge Magician Extraordinaire show and the rest is, as they say, history. She has continued to dance and act, appearing in numerous Canadian and international productions. Marion made her film debut in The Whole Nine Yards with Bruce Willis. She has since appeared in several other feature films including 2001, A Space Travesty with Leslie Nielson.

Don’t miss your opportunity to be amazed and awed by the tremendous talents of Ted and Marion Outerbridge. The 7:30 p.m. performance of Magical Moments in Time on February 20 will be a full-length, jam-packed, illusion-studded production. The 2 p.m. Family Matinee on Sunday will be a 50-min long family-friendly abridgement of Magical Moments in Time that is perfect for younger audiences. Saturday tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors. Sunday matinee tickets are just $15 for all ages. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster and the Horizon Stage Box Office. Call 780-962-8995 or visit the Box Office in person at 315 Jespersen Avenue to purchase yours today. www.tedouterbridge.com

Third Arrogant Worms Concert Added

Evening concerts on April 23 and 24 are sold out

2 p.m. matinee added on April 24.

In 1991 something magnificent happened in Kingston, Ontario. Sensing a desperate public need for musical comedy, Mike McCormick, Chris Patterson and Trevor Strong formed the Arrogant Worms. They began as a comedy troupe, performing songs and sketches. As their live show developed, the songs delighted the audience. The sketches -- not so much. Skipping ahead to 2010, the Arrogant Worms have sold more than 150,000 copies of their 12 albums and performed on three continents. They have sung with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra at the Winspear Centre and in front of seven sold-out audiences at Horizon Stage. Now, with their April 23 and 24 evening concerts in Spruce Grove sold out 3 months in advance, Horizon Stage has booked these wild and wacky guys for a third performance at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 24.

Arrogant Worms’ songs show up in school lesson plans, in textbooks, and even played on the Space Shuttle. On earth or in space, everyone digs them. Their live shows are fast, furious and family friendly. Their wit is quick, their satire biting, and their musicianship second to none. The Arrogant Worms’ appeal has earned them fans from kids to parents to grandparents to Carrie Fisher and Meg Ryan. In 2003 the Canadian Arts Presenters Association recognized them as Touring Act of the Year and they are still going strong. They recently received a Peter Gzowski Award for donating their time and talent to promote literacy in Canada.

The Arrogant Worms provide tuneful and silly escapism for everyone who needs it. And if you think you don't need it, then they think you're wrong. Get your tickets to their 2 p.m. matinee performance at Horizon Stage on Saturday, April 24 before that show sells out too. They cost $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors and can be purchased by calling the Horizon Stage Box Office at 780-962-8995 or through Ticketmaster. The Arrogant Worms know what’s best for you - it’s the Arrogant Worms. www.arrogantworms.com

“Hilarious and poignant”
The Tampa Tribune

“Quirky and remarkably talented”
Tampa Expression

“These guys are too much fun for their own good”
Dirty Linen Magazine

“Certifiably demented”
The Toronto Star

January 2010 Feedback

Did you see any of the following performances at Horizon Stage in January 2010...
Ian Tyson on the 8th, 9th or 10th
Michel Lauzière on the 16th
Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company on the 23rd
Did you like, or dislike, the artists, the venue, the volunteers or the staff?Please let us know your thoughts regarding your visit to our theatre.

Please Note: Comments will be moderated and course language will not be posted.

Soaring Strings Video

Violinist Antoine Bareil and cellist Sébastien Lépine. See Soaring Strings at Horizon Stage on Friday, February 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Soaring Strings Breathes New Life into Classical Music

Violin and cello duo combine 20th Century classical music with a light show in Fort Saskatchewan on February 4 and Spruce Grove on February 5

Antoine Bareil and Sébastien Lépine are a highly virtuosic violin-cello duo who offer an exciting trip off the beaten path of classical music. In their breathtakingly-virtuosic concert entitled, Soaring Strings, the two sophisticated performers revisit works by some of the most prominent modern composers and surprise the audience with a few of their own compositions. Though they remain true to the format of a classical recital, Bareil and Lépine manage to put on a highly entertaining show, adding a hint of humour, inventiveness and extravagance between pieces. Soaring Strings serves as a fun introduction to 20th Century music for audiences of all ages as it also includes a dazzling light-show element. Don’t miss the opportunity to see these incredible performers when they tour the Edmonton-area in February 2010. Soaring Strings is being presented at the Shell Theatre in Fort Saskatchewan on Thursday, February 4 and at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Friday, February 5. Both concerts are at 7:30 p.m.

Antoine Bareil has been playing the violin since he was just 6 years old. A graduate of the Conservatoire de musique du Québec in Trois-Rivières, Mr. Bareil has performed in a dozen different countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark and Japan. He is a respected concertmaster, interpreter, improviser, arranger and composer, jury member and speaker who is frequently invited to give master classes. On September 27th 2005, he played at the Senate during the swearing-in ceremony of Michaëlle Jean as Canada's 27th Governor General.

One of the lucky few in the world to play on a Stradivarius cello dating back to 1699, Sébastien Lépine has given numerous performances throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Italy. A distinguished soloist, chamber musician, and composer, Mr. Lépine pursues his art with an authentic passion that colours every note. His impeccable technique and extraordinary musical sensitivity make him an inspiring artist to watch.

As a duo, Antoine Bareil and Sébastien Lépine have performed Soaring Strings more than 50 times throughout Canada and toured Italy in 2008. In 2007 they won the Prix des arts de la scène Louis-Philippe-Poisson at the Grands Prix Culturels de Trois-Rivière and their recording “Bareil & Lépine, works for violin and cello” made it to the finals at the Prix Opus 2007-2008 in the Best Classical, Romantic, Post-Romantic and Impressionistic Recording category.

Tickets for Soaring Strings on February 4 in Fort Saskatchewan are $24.50 for adults, $22.50 for students and seniors and can be purchased by calling 780-992-6400. Tickets for Soaring Strings in Spruce Grove on February 5 are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors and can be purchased by calling 780-962-8995. Tickets for both shows are also available through Ticketmaster and both theatres offer $5 eyeGO tickets for high school students.

"A most enjoyable performance. Soaring Strings definitely lives up to its name!"
Sonia Lortie, Le Choix

http://www.agencedlefebvre.com/couleurs20e/en/artistes.html
www.antoinebareil.com

November/December 2009 Feedback

Did you see any of the following performances at Horizon Stage in November/December 2009...
Emma-Lee on November 14
The Horizon Players: Steel Magnolias on November 26, 27 & 29
Big Band Christmas on December 18
Did you like, or dislike, the artists, the venue, the volunteers or the staff?
Please let us know your thoughts regarding your visit to our theatre.

Please Note: Comments will be moderated and course language will not be posted.

Master of Unusual Comedy Bounces into Alberta

Michel Lauzière performs in Spruce Grove on Saturday, January 16 and in St. Albert on Sunday, January 17

Performing for over 20 years, Michel Lauzière always manages to amaze his audiences with new and exciting stunts. Having taken his act all over the world, performing in over six different languages, Lauzière claims that no matter where he goes, or how big the crowd is, as long as he can make kids laugh his job is done. Lauzière’s inventive comedy and musical routines are back in the province this January for two shows, Horizon Stage, in Spruce Grove on January 16 and the Arden Theatre, in St. Albert on January 17.

From the moment Lauzière stepped onto a stage, performing for children became his passion. “Kids are the most honest, generous type of crowd;” says the seasoned performer. “If they are not captivated by what you do they will soon make it known and you will lose their attention. But if they like it, there is no better experience than to have them follow you into your world.” And follow him they do, as he performs a variety of musical numbers on dishes, horns, bells and other self-created instruments, as well as some wacky and wonderful physical stunts.

“Every time I get to see Michel perform I see something new”, says Brenda Heatherington, the Arden Theatre’s Professional Programming Presenter. “He never ceases to amaze me.” Media around the world have called Michel "a modern clown without the red nose and oversized shoes”, "the alchemist of sound”, a “stream of fresh air on stage” and "the flagship of modern variety ".

Tickets for Michel Lauzière on January 16 in Spruce Grove are $15 for all ages and can be purchased by calling 780.962.8995. Tickets for his performance in St. Albert on January 17 are $20 for adults and $18 for children and can be purchased by calling 780.459.1542. Tickets for both shows are also available through Ticketmaster.

www.michellauziere.com

Sponsors: City of St. Albert, The City of Spruce Grove, Parkland County, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Canadian Heritage, Canada Council, Edmonton’s Child, EZ Rock and Grove Pontiac GMC

Horizon Stage adds Canada's #1 Children's Author to its Season

See Robert Munsch Up Close and Personal in Spruce Grove on Saturday, May 29th

Horizon Stage is thrilled to announce that acclaimed children’s author, Robert Munsch, is coming to Spruce Grove for not one but two performances on Saturday, May 29th. Tickets go on sale this Friday, December 11th, through the Horizon Stage Box Office, 780-962-8995, and Ticketmaster. Show times are 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for children and seniors.
Author of such classics as The Paper Bag Princess, Mortimer, Mmm Cookies and Thomas’ Snowsuit, Mr. Munsch is, quite simply, a Canadian treasure. Loved by children and adults around the world, his book Love You Forever, the #4 best-selling children’s paperback of all time, has sold over 15 million copies in 10 different languages. With 52 books published since 1979 he is always on the look-out for new characters and inspiration. Not only does he perform fan- favourites in front of his live audiences, he also fine-tunes new stories as well. Don’t miss the chance to see Robert Munsch Up Close and Personal in the wonderfully-intimate, 318-seat, Horizon Stage.

“I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be."
Robert Munsch

Three Great Emma-Lee Interviews in Local Newspapers!

The Spruce Grove Examiner - Nov 6
The Gateway - Nov 12
Vue Weekly - Nov 12

October 2009 Feedback

Did you see any of the following performances at Horizon Stage in October 2009...
Fred Penner on the 3rd
Lennie Gallant on the 10th
Jack Semple on the 24th
Did you like, or dislike, the artists, the venue, the volunteers or the staff?
Please let us know your thoughts regarding your visit to our theatre.

Please Note: Comments will be moderated and course language will not be posted.

Rodeo Riders Concert Added

Thursday, February 4 – 2 p.m.
Country/Comedy
The Rodeo Riders’ unique blend of country music and comedy will have you singing along one minute and rolling in the aisles with laughter the next. Dusty Britches, Saddlesore Sam and Happy Bellows are like a cross between the Everly Brothers and the Smothers Brothers. They never fail to delight all who meet them on the trail. With smooth-polished harmonies and great instrumental arrangements, The Rodeo Riders perform songs by Roy Rogers, Gene Autrey, Hank Williams, and other country music legends. Their concerts are laced with comedic commentary and lots of general silliness. With Dusty’s palomino pony guitar (Spitball -The Wonder Horse) pumping out a steady rhythm, Sam’s bunkhouse bass bringing up the bottom end, and Happy’s melodic accordion accompaniment, this group’s unabashed joy of performing is evident from the first chord struck to the last note played.
Tickets: $20 All Ages - Group discounts available
www.therodeoriders.ca

Ian Tyson's Thursday Concert Cancelled

Horizon Stage has had to cancel Ian Tyson’s concert on Thursday, January 7, 2010. He will still be performing three shows on January 8 and 9 at 7:30 p.m. and on January 10 at 2 p.m. If you have purchased tickets to Ian’s January 7 performance please contact the Horizon Stage Box Office at 780-962-8995 to arrange your ticket exchange or refund. We apologize for any inconveniences this may have caused.

Enchanting Young Songstress Will Charm and Bewitch You

See the dazzling Miss Emma-Lee perform at Horizon Stage on Saturday, November 14

The first time you hear Emma-Lee perform, either Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on November 14 or on her debut CD Never Just a Dream, you will feel like you have stumbled on a star. Brimming with the same ‘special something’ that performers like Feist, k.d. lang, Madeleine Peyroux and Norah Jones exude, her music will touch your heart and soul.

A torch singer in the very best sense of the word, Emma-Lee effortlessly shifts between numerous genres including country, big band jazz, bossa nova, and pop. Armed with a voice that will make you melt, her original songs are saucy and sweet, pensive and pure. Fans of slow-burning ballads and music with an old soul will find a lot to like in Emma-Lee. With artistic influences like Joni Mitchell and jazz great Ella Fitzgerald, her exquisite voice creates a hauntingly-beautiful musical landscape.

Whether performing her epic song “Flow”, which tells the story of a girl who sublets the apartment of her globe-trotting ex-boyfriend and renders herself at the mercy of his memory, or the soaring “That Sinking Feeling”, with its sting of realization, or the ragtime bounce of “Jealousy”, which cheekily suggests you get what you deserve for snooping, Emma-Lee deftly captures the many dimensions of love and loss. But her music is about so much more than youthful heartbreak. It delves into the pleasures of May-December relationships, suggests regret for past mistakes, and calls out for understanding. At times playful, at others wistful, her collection of songs is inspired by the sort of heartache that is universal to anyone who has lived a life worth living.

An incredible talent like Emma-Lee’s must be heard to be believed. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover her for yourself at Horizon Stage on Saturday, November 14. Tickets are just $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster and the Horizon Stage Box Office. Call 780-962-8995 or visit the Box Office in person at 315 Jespersen Avenue to purchase yours today. Visit www.emma-lee.com to hear samples of Emma-Lee’s songs and watch her videos.

“As a songwriter, Emma-Lee has a lot of potential, giving clever little lyrical twists to songs that initially seem completely conventional. Lots of jazzy vocalists can sing nice, comfortable music, but not many play with the conventions creatively, which is where she shines.”
Benjamin Boles, NOW Magazine

“Emma-Lee is blessed with a delicate yet potent sound… Her brand of ethereal pop has doo-wop, country and blues accents bolstered by handclaps, folky guitar and cat-and-mouse strings. And she’s a top-shelf songwriter… She’s destined for big things.”
Ashante Infantry, Toronto Star

The Enchanting Emma-Lee

Emma-Lee will be performing at Horizon Stage on Saturday, November 14.
Tickets $25 Adults, $20 Students & Seniors
Call 780-962-8995
Visit www.emma-lee.com
Watch all off Emma- Lee's videos at www.youtube.com/neverjustadream

Multiple Genre Guitar Master Performing in Spruce Grove

See Jack Semple Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on Saturday, October 24

Jack Semple is a Juno Award-winning guitarist from Regina, Saskatchewan, who plays with unparalleled feeling and total technical control. The master of many genres, his 11-album portfolio includes R & B, jazz, roots, gypsy jazz, tango and a tribute to Gordon Lightfoot. Also a talented singer, Jack’s voice has been described as “smooth as silk and jagged as rocks cutting through an ocean shoreline.”

Jack started his musical career by playing with various Regina-based bands. He burst onto the Canadian national scene when he won the Much Music contest "Guitar Wars" in 1992. After a brief stint in Toronto, Jack moved back to Regina and became more involved in the television and movie-score business. He even made a brief jump into acting, in the title role of "Guitar Man" in 1994. He has since played everywhere from Vancouver, B.C., to Montreux, Switzerland. His music has been used in television and film soundtracks, and he has shared the stage with a wide range of top artists including Martha Reeves, k.d. lang, the Lincolns, Ronnie Hawkins and Colin James. Jack's performances are frequently in demand, especially here in Western Canada. He tours solo, with favourite guest artist friends, and with "The Jack Semple Band".

Jack Semple is one of those rare guitar players who leaves a crowd speechless, in absolute awe of what they have just experienced. Listening to him, and watching him play, fills one with a sense of having witnessed an event that will not soon be forgotten. Discover for yourself the treasure called Jack Semple at Horizon Stage on Saturday, October 24 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors. Call the Horizon Stage Box Office at 780-962-8995, visit the Box Office at 315 Jespersen Avenue, or go online to http://www.ticketmaster.ca/Jack-Semple-tickets/artist/1052115 to purchase yours today.

Watch Jack Semple on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mr0UvA2S8iE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZuuQqiuP6Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzj9b2-8O7k

Lennie Gallant - In Concert at Horizon Stage on October 10

Lennie Gallant is a master storyteller who weaves his tales in ways that never fail to intrigue and surprise. This prolific songwriter/performer has released 8 albums, including his most recent, If We Had A Fire, in the summer of 2009, and has won a host of awards and nominations from the Junos to the East Coast Music Awards. Musically, Gallant has performed with rock bands, traditional music groups, roots-oriented ensembles and symphony orchestras. And, in July 2009, astronaut Julie Payette brought his album, When We Get There, with her to the international space station! Inducted into the Order of Canada in 2003, Lennie Gallant is a powerhouse performer with an intense delivery that will reach down and touch your very soul.
Tickets: $25 Adults, $20 Students & Seniors
www.lenniegallant.com

Introduce Your Family to Fred Penner’s World at Horizon Stage

See one of Canada’s favourite children’s entertainers in concert on Saturday, October 3

Fred Penner’s warmth, ease, enthusiasm, grace, and ability to make people feel good have been making a difference in the Canadian music scene for over 25 years. Dubbed the “Canadian Minister of Positivity,” this Juno Award-winner has successfully transformed children’s entertainment into a family affair. Now Spruce Grove and Edmonton area families can meet Fred Penner and enjoy his music at one of two concerts at Horizon Stage on Saturday, October 3.

Born, raised, and still residing in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Fred is a Canadian treasure who is also loved by American audiences. The winner of four U.S. Parents’ Choice Awards, he was the first children’s entertainer to headline at the Los Angeles Amphitheater and his 1992 album Happy Feet was named Best Children’s Album of the Year by U.S.A’s Entertainment Weekly.

Here at home, the Canadian Institute of Child Health honoured Fred in 2000 for his contribution to the well-being and safety of children. He is also a recipient of the Order of Canada and the first winner of the Prairie Music Award for Outstanding Children’s Recording.

Fred Penner’s international visibility has allowed him the privilege and joy of using his voice to “bring something of value” as a spokesperson for organizations like UNESCO, World Vision, UNICEF and the National Conference on Down Syndrome. In 2005, he journeyed to Zambia, Africa with World Vision to host a program for Child Sponsorship in the Western World.

Penner’s diverse repertoire includes 12 albums, countless energetically-packed live shows and almost 900 episodes of the hit CBC TV show, Fred Penner’s Place. Not one but two generations of fans have been, and still are being, energized by his talent. Spruce Grove concert-goers will enjoy favourites like The Cat Came Back and Sandwiches along with tracks from his 2008 CD, Where in the World.

Bring your family to see Fred Penner Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on Saturday, October 3 at either 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for children and seniors, or $10 with the purchase of a Family Matinee Package. Family Matinee Packages cost $45 (regardless of age) and includes 1 Fred Penner ticket, 1 ticket to Michel Lauzière (physical comedian) on January 16, 1 ticket to Ted Outerbridge: Magical Moments in Time (magician/illusionist) on February 21, and 1 ticket to Dance Company Sursaut: At Nightfall (dance for young audiences) on April 10. Tickets and packages are on sale through the Horizon Stage Box Office. Call 780-962-8995 or visit the Box Office in person at 315 Jespersen Avenue to purchase yours today.

“Penner’s dynamic live performances are integral to his success. He consistently plays to
packed houses across North American, captivating throngs of energetic fans for 60 minutes
and enchanting not only the little ones, but their parents as well.”
The Weekend Guardian, Charlottetown, PE

“Penner exemplifies family warmth and welcome. Listening to his music puts you in a
comfort zone, inviting both active play and gentle relaxation.”
Billboard, New York, NY

http://www.fredpenner.com/

Stephen Fearing Date Changed

One of Canada's finest singer/songwriters, Mr. Stephen Fearing, has changed the date of his concert at Horizon Stage. He will now be perfroming in Spruce Grove on Friday, March 12th instead of March 19th. If you have purchased tickets to his March 19th performance please call the Horizon Stage Box Office at 780-962-8995.

2009/2010 Season Now On Sale!

Saturday, October 3 - Fred Penner - 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. (bonus family matinee)
Saturday, October 10 - Lennie Gallant
Saturday, October 24 - Jack Semple
Saturday, November 14 - Emma-Lee
November 26 – 28 - The Horizon Players Present: Steel Magnolias
Friday, December 18 - A Big Band Christmas
January 7 – 10 - Ian Tyson (Note: January 10 is a 2 p.m. matinee)
Saturday, January 16 - Michel Lauzière (family matinee) – 2 p.m.
Saturday, January 23 - Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Company
Friday, February 5 - Soaring Strings
Friday, February 12 - Vishtèn
Saturday, February 20 Ted Outerbridge: Magical Moments in Time (90-min evening performance)
Sunday, February 21 Ted Outerbridge: Magical Moments in Time (50-min family matinee performance) – 2 p.m.
Sunday, February 28 - Ballet Jörgen Canada: Cinderella – 2 p.m.
Friday, March 19 - Stephen Fearing
Saturday, April 10 - Dance Company Sursaut: At Nightfall (family matinee) – 3 p.m.
Friday, April 16 - Nathan
April 23 & 24 - The Arrogant Worms
May 13 – 15 - The Horizon Players Present: Hamlet


Visit www.horizonstage.com for artist biographies, ticket prices and more!

Box Office Phone: 780-962-8995
Box Office In Person: 315 Jespersen Ave (Spruce Grove City Hall)

Ride The Canada Day Bus!

Are you planning to attend the Spruce Grove Canada Day and Street Performers Festival on June 30 and July 1? If so, then you might want to think about how you will be getting there. On-site parking is going to be very limited. If you live within walking distance, consider exercising and going by foot-power. If you live within biking distance then consider hopping on your two-or three-wheeler. The site itself is bike-free but there will be lots of bike racks available. If you are coming from out of town, or live too far away to walk, then consider riding the Canada Day bus. For the third year in a row, the City will be providing a free shuttle service between the Festival site at Spruce Grove Composite High School and Spruce Grove’s City Hall, Greystone Centennial Middle School and Living Waters Christian Academy.

The bus will run past each location at approximately 30-minute intervals, stopping for a few minutes at each to collect waiting passengers. The bus will operate, in a circuit, between 5 and 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 30 and between 9:30 a.m. and midnight on Wednesday, July 1.

New this year, the Festival has chosen to use a local school bus company. This will allow us to accommodate more people in each vehicle. And, we are also excited about the addition of a second bus from 7 – midnight on Wednesday, July 1.

Both busses will be available for a quick return to pick-up locations after 11:15 p.m. After the RONA fireworks display one bus will head straight to Living Waters and the second will go straight to Greystone and then on to City Hall. So, not only will the shuttle-bus get you to the site quickly and easily, it will also get you back to your car at the end of the day fast and headache-free.

Call Brandi at 780-962-7616 for further information regarding the Canada Day and Street Performer Festival bus or visit www.sprucegrove.org/celebrate.

Familiar Favourites and New Treats at the Spruce Grove Canada Day and Street Performers Festival

There is something to be said for the old adage, “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” To that effect, The City of Spruce Grove has found a formula that really works for its Canada Day celebrations and plans to stick with it. The Spruce Grove Canada Day and Street Performers Festival activities kick-off on the evening of Tuesday, June 30th. They include the 3rd annual Vaudeville Variety Show at 7 p.m., the 2nd annual $5 Community BBQ (pulled pork, salads, buns, baked beans and dessert) from 5 to 8 p.m. and the 1st annual Social Capital Awards presentation to an outstanding community volunteer organization.

Wednesday, July 1 begins bright and early with the ever-popular $2 Pancake Breakfast. New this year will be morning entertainment provided by the combined bands of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment and King’s Own Calgary Regiment, directed by Captain Michael Chute, CD.

A slight tweak to this year’s festival schedule now means that the vendors on-site will open early at 9 a.m. Bring your cash and plan to shop at such returning-favourites as Original Canadian Kettle Korn, Big E’s Mini D’s (mini doughnuts), the Girl Guides (snow cones), the Association For Supportive Community Connections, and the Sea Cadets (hamburgers and hotdogs), Work of Art Tattoos, Tara’s Treats (ice cream), The Thai Boutique, Bolli Imports and our 2 novelty toy vendors. Then, try something new at Mediterranean BBQ (chicken, lamb, pitas, veggies), WD’s Grill & Catering (Caribbean), Lemmon Heaven (lemonade), and Morse Code Dezynz (ladies beach wear).

Decorate your children between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. so they can participate in the Kids’ Parade and then head to the outdoor stage at noon for the official Canada Day Ceremonies and some free birthday cake.

Bring your loonies, toonies and $5-bills and get ready to giggle, guffaw and be amazed by Street Performers from across Canada and around the world between 12:30 and 5 p.m. Get your children’s faces painted and let them blow off some steam chasing bubbles, playing in the sand, or bouncing in the bouncy tents. Returning to the RE/MAX KidZone this year will be the hilarious Cap’n Arrr, Aerials Gymnastics demonstrations, and juggling workshops facilitated by Kim Potter.

Teenagers on site can hang with their friends in the Teen Zone where a variety of their favourite activities will be facilitated by the Log Cabin staff. They can then watch their peers perform on the main-stage when the Spruce Grove FCSS Battle of The Bands winners show off their musical skills at 6:30 p.m. Also, join the library staff to help create a masterpiece with the Library Tile Project from 1 – 3 p.m.

Grown-ups can sit back and relax with a patriotic beer in the Kinsmen Beverage tent starting at 6 p.m., and everyone is encouraged to attend the 5th Annual Awards of Excellence Ceremony at 7:30 p.m.

2009’s main-stage artists are Albertans through and through. The eclectic Polyjesters (http://www.polyjesters.com/), who perform at 8 p.m., hail from Carstairs. And, headlining country music star Gord Bamford (http://www.gordbamford.com/), who steps on stage at 9:30 p.m., still proudly lives in Lacombe.

The grand finale on July 1st will, of course, be the extremely popular and spectacular RONA Fireworks at 11 p.m.

Due to limited on-site parking, the City will once again be providing a free shuttle bus service between 5 and 9:30 p.m. on June 30th and from 9:30 am – midnight on July 1. Park your car at Living Waters Christian Academy, Greystone Centennial Middle School or City Hall and hop on the bus. Or, if you don’t live too far away from Spruce Grove Composite High School, plan to walk or ride your bike instead. The festival grounds are a bike-free (and pet-free and smoke-free) zone for safety reasons, but there will be lots of bike racks available.

If you have attended the Spruce Grove Canada Day and Street Performers Festival in the past then plan to come back this year and stay on-site a little longer. If you have yet to attend this wonderful community event, make 2009 your year to do so. It doesn’t need to be fixed. It just keeps getting better! www.sprucegrove.org/celebrate

2009 Summer Drama Programs

Drama Tots
Session 1: July 6 - 10
Program # Session 1: 20618
Session 2: July 27 – 31
Program # Session 2: 20620
Time: 10 a.m. – noon
Ages: 5 – 7
Location: Agra Room - Spruce Grove Agrena - 9 Agrena Road
Cost: $80
Young children will explore creatively through a variety of dramatic activities. They will play games, sing songs, and do simple drama exercises. On the last day of class, family and friends will be invited to watch them present a showcase piece, and to enjoy a potluck dessert cast party.
Instructors: Julia Seymour & Mandolin Orr

Drama Troopers
Session 1: July 6 - 10
Program # Session 1: 20619
Session 2: July 27 – 31
Program # Session 2: 20621
Time: 1 - 3 p.m.
Ages: 8 – 10
Location: Agra Room - Spruce Grove Agrena - 9 Agrena Road
Cost: $80
Older children will explore creatively through various, more advanced, theatrical activities. They will participate in a wide variety of warm-up and dramatic exercises. They will learn about plot lines, creating characters and working together as a team. On the last day of class, family and friends will be invited to watch them present a showcase piece, and to enjoy a potluck dessert cast party.
Instructors: Julia Seymour & Mandolin Orr

Important:
Children should wear clothing that they can move and play easily in and non-slip indoor shoes. If the weather is warm they should wear sun screen and have
alternate outdoor shoes available. They should bring their own water bottle. A healthy, nut-free snack will be provided Mon-Thurs. and parents will be asked to send a nut-free snack or dessert to the potluck on Friday.

Registration starts June 1st
Call: 780-962-8995

Scholarship Deadline Approaching

The application deadline for the Horizon Stage Theatre Advisory Board Artstrek Scholarship is fast appoaching on May 29th. Please see our previous post on April 12 for details.

Before & After

Just in case you haven't bee able to see it for yourself yet.

Horizon Stage before the renovations...




Horizon Stage after the renovations...

Festival Vendors Sought

Deadline for vendor applications for the 2009 Spruce Grove Canada Day and Street Performers Festival on June 30 and July 1 is June 1, 2009.
Please visit the City of Spruce Grove's website for details.

April Customer Feedback

Did you see Oliver Jones on April 3, the Emeralds on April 5, Sharon and Bram on April 18 or George Fox on April 14?
What did you think of the show, the staff and volunteers who served you, or the theatre itself. Good or bad - please let us know.
Please Note: Comments will be monitored and bad language will not be posted.

You Can Rate Horizon Stage

We've updated Horizon Stage's information on weblocal.ca. We now have a profile for Horizon Stage Perfroming Arts Centre and a profile for the Horizon Stage Ticket Centre in city hall.
Feel free to visit one, or both, and give us a rating and/or a review.

http://www.weblocal.ca/horizon-stage-ticket-center-spruce-grove-ab.html

http://www.weblocal.ca/horizon-stage-performing-arts-centre-spruce-grove-ab.html

Artstrek Scholarship Available

What is Artstrek?
Artstrek is a theatre school like no other — a residential summer theatre
program for teens that has been running in the province of Alberta since 1959. The program, which takes place each summer on the campus of Red Deer College, is about the exploration of theatre and the components of theatre production rather than getting a show on stage. Over the course of a week, participants explore acting, voice, movement, and directing with some of Alberta's finest theatre professionals. This year students will be working on the Tony Award-winning musical Into The Woods by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine.

Artstrek is not a talent-based program. It is for students who are enthusiastic about theatre and who will be focused on the fun of learning and exploring with their instructors and with other Artstrek participants.

When is Artstrek & Who can attend?
Theatre Exploration I runs July 5 - 11. It is for 13 - 15 year olds who have completed grade 7.
Theatre Exploration II runs July 12 - 19. It is for 16 - 18 year olds who have completed grade 10.

Do I qualify for the Horizon Stage scholarship?
If you are between the ages of 13 and 18, and have completed grade 7 or higher at a school in Spruce Grove, Stony Plain or Parkland County, you may apply for this scholarship. Only one scholarships is being offered. It can be used for either Theatre Exploration I or Theatre Exploration II. The value of the scholarship is $300.

How do I apply for the Horizon Stage scholarship?
To help decide the scholarship winner, Horizon Stage requires one letter from each applicant detailing their experience in theatre studies and productions, their plans for future involvement in theatre, and explaining why they would like to win this scholarship and why they deserve it. Factors such as academic excellence and financial need will be taken into account.
Letters of reference are a part of the Artstrek application process, but do not need to be sent to Horizon Stage. Complete your scholarship application letter and submit it to:
Horizon Stage Scholarship
315 Jespersen Ave
Spruce Grove, AB, T7X 3E8
Fax: 780-962-0616

ALSO Download your Artstrek Application form from www.theatrealberta.com/artstrek.htm
and submit it separately, along with the entire registration fee, to:
Theatre Alberta
3rd Floor, 11759 Groat Road
Edmonton, AB, T5M 3K6
Fax: 780-422-2663

The scholarship recipient will receive a reimbursement cheque for $300 after they are chosen.
The application deadline for the Horizon Stage scholarship is May 29.
Artstrek starts taking registrations on April 1, and they usually fill up early, so get your application to Theatre Alberta and your letter to Horizon Stage as soon as possible!!

This Artstrek Scholarship is funded by the Horizon Stage Theatre Advisory Board.

March 2009 Feedback

Did you see any of the following performances at Horizon Stage in March...
Hotel California on the 15th?
10 Lost Years on the 20th or 21st?
The Horizon Players: Disney's 101 Dalmatians on the 26th, 27th or 28th?
Did you like, or dislike, the artists, the venue, the volunteers, the staff?
Please let us know your thoughts regarding your visit to our theatre.

Please Note: Comments will be moderated and course language will not be posted.

Oliver Jones on QTV

Great Canadian Jazz Pianist to Perform at Horizon Stage

Enjoy an intimate evening with Oliver Jones in Spruce Grove on April 3rd

Oliver Jones is considered to be one of the best Canadian jazz pianists in history. Now at age 74, this member of the Order of Quebec and Order of Canada, Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards recipient and Felix and Juno Award-winner continues to tour and record. He will make a highly-anticipated stop in Spruce Grove on Friday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m.

Oliver Jones was born and raised in Saint Henri, a predominantly working-class area of Montreal, just a few blocks away from fellow pianist, Oscar Peterson. As a youngster he would sit on the Peterson family’s porch, listening to the older boy practice. Oscar’s sister, Daisy Peterson Sweeney, eventually became Oliver’s first piano teacher, and twelve years of lessons with her solidified his already considerable skills. He began performing publicly at the age of five and made his first nightclub appearance at age nine. Oliver Jones’ six-decade musical career has been rich and varied. He has released 16 albums and toured across North America, Europe, Cuba, Brazil and Africa, He has performed and recorded with the likes of bass legend Ray Brown, drummer Jeff Hamilton, bassist Skip Bey, trumpeter Clark Terry and singer Ranee Lee. After retiring at age 64, Jones was lured back to the stage in 2003 by the opportunity to play a duet with his friend Oscar Peterson at the Montreal Jazz Festival's 25th-anniversary event. He has since recorded the CD, One More Time.

Horizon Stage is an intimate 318 seat theatre in Spruce Grove. Recently renovated in the summer of 2008, it is a cozy and comfortable venue. With a thrust performance space, sitting in the comfy seats at Horizon Stage almost feels like being in your own living room. And, with only eight rows in total, this isn’t the kind of theatre where you need binoculars to see details. Every artist is truly Up Close and Personal, and that’s Horizon Stage’s motto. Performers and audience members alike enjoy the intimacy that they share when they are so near each other.

Tickets to see Oliver Jones at Horizon Stage on Friday, April 3 are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors and are available through the Horizon Stage Box Office and all Ticketmaster locations. Call 780-962-8995 to reserve your seat for this incredible concert.

www.justin-time.com/authors/oliverjones

Special thanks to the sponsors of this event: The Alberta Foundation For The Arts, Canadian Heritage, Servus Credit Union, CKUA Radio, The Edmonton Journal, Royal Inn Express and Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck Barristers & Solicitors

10 Lost Years Update

A limited number of seats have been released for 10 Lost Years on Saturday, March 21.



This production was directed by Northern Light Theatre founder Scott Swan. NLT co-founder Merrilyn Gann is performing in it. Former Theatre Alberta Dramaworks and Citadel Theatre school coordinator Cheryl Swan (ne Matheson) is also performing in it, and NLT co-founder Angela Gann is the music director. This is not the same play that was produced in Toronto in the 70’s. It is Scott Swan’s own adaptation of the Barry Broadfoot book.

February 2009 Feedback

Did you see any of the following performances at Horizon Stage in February...
Jim Byrnes on the 5th?
Marc Atkinson Trio on the 7th?
Ballet Jorgen Canada's Romeo & Juliet on the 14th?
Cranked on the 25th or 26th?
The Nylons on the 26th?
Mud Bay Jugglers on the 28th?
Did you like, or dislike, the artists, the venue, the volunteers, the staff?
Please let us know your thoughts regarding your visit to our theatre.

Please Note: Comments will be moderated and course language will not be posted.

Country Music Star George Fox added to Horizon Stage Season Line Up

Tickets for his Friday, April 24th concert are on sale now.

If you’re a fan of Canadian country-music star, George Fox, rejoice. Horizon Stage has made a late addition to its 2008/2009 season. Mr. Fox will be performing in Spruce Grove on Friday, April 24th at 7:30 p.m.

With three Canadian Country Music awards, three Junos and nine Big Country awards on his mantle, George Fox has certainly made it to “the big time”. He has recorded eleven albums, written a book and had a string of chart-topping hits, including “Clearly Canadian”, “First Comes Love”, “What’s Holding Me” and “Wear & Tear on My Heart”. His most recent CD, With All Due Respect, is a tribute to some all-time great artists and songwriters from John Denver and Dean Martin to Eddie Arnold and Don Messer.

Born in Calgary and raised in Cochrane, Alberta, George is still an incredibly down-to-earth kind of guy. He now lives in Southern Ontario with his wife and two daughters on an expansive acreage and farms winter wheat, soybean and corn. Besides music and farming, his hobbies include hockey, carpentry and reading.

Spruce Grove loves George Fox. In 2005 he performed for a huge, enthusiastic crowd at our Canada Day celebration. He was last seen at Horizon Stage at Christmas 2006, when he sold out not one, not two, but three concerts! That is why when Horizon Stage discovered he was available in April they invited him immediately!

Tickets to see George Fox Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on Friday, April 24th have only just gone on sale, but they aren’t expected to last. Tickets are $30 for adults and $25 for students and seniors. Call the Horizon Stage Box Office at 962-8995 for more information and to reserve your seats before the show sells out!

Be sure to visit www.georgefox.com & www.horizonstage.com

Special thanks to the sponsors of this event: The Alberta Foundation For The Arts, Canadian Heritage, Royal Inn Express and Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck Barristers & Solicitors

Horizon Stage adds a Second 10 Lost Years to its Line Up

March 21 performance sold out, March 20 performance added

Based on the book by Barry Broadfoot, 10 Lost Years is a powerful play about real people and communities during the “Dirty 30s”. It is a compilation of stories about hard times and resilience in the face of extended drought and economic depression. Produced by Vancouver’s Seacoast Productions, 10 Lost Years has already sold out one performance at Horizon Stage on Saturday, March 21st. Now, a second performance of this wonderful production has been scheduled on Friday, March 20th, at 7:30 p.m.

Barry Broadfoot traveled Canada in 1973, asking people in bars and train stations, on planes and buses one simple question, “What do you remember about the Depression?" Initially, many of them weren't able to recall anything. But, gradually, as his tape recorder rolled, memories filled with humour, emotion, tragedy, love, and courage were unlocked. He collected those stories, published them word for word, and 35 years later they are still substantial, gripping and awe-inspiring. They were the experiences of our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents and they should never be forgotten.

Vancouver director Scott Swan bought Barry Broadfoot’s book and, as he read it, he was amazed by the honesty and simplicity of the stories and the humour and stoicism of the men and women telling them. He decided to produce a performance that focused on the people themselves. Using just the actors, images from that era, music and the audience, he created this incredibly compelling piece of theatre and toured it across Western Canada.

Don’t miss the opportunity to experience this compelling production for yourself. Tickets to see
10 Lost Years at Horizon Stage on Friday, March 20th are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Call the Horizon Stage Box Office at 780-962-8995 for more information. Reserve your seats before this show sells out too!

“This production touches the heart and enlivens the spirit of everyone who sees it…”
Gail Barrington-Moss, City of St. Albert

“Sitting in the audience, we forget we are watching actors on the stage and are transported to another time.“
Vivian Elias, Athabasca

Special thanks to the sponsors of this event: The Alberta Foundation For The Arts, Canadian Heritage, Servus Credit Union, The Edmonton Journal and Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck Barristers & Solicitors

Take a hip hop journey into the world of addiction.

Horizon Stage presents Green Thumb Theatre’s Cranked on Wednesday, February 25th

Stan, a.k.a. "definition", was a rising freestyle MC who lost it all because of his meth habit. In Cranked, Stan confronts his demons as he preps for an upcoming competition without the 'fix' that has dominated his life. Memories of the highs and the rush of music all collide as he struggles to recapture what he once had. This play examines the rising epidemic of crystal meth use by teens and young adults. Using spoken word and hip-hop, playwright Michael P. Northey and Green Thumb Theatre offer a dramatic exploration of addiction and drug culture. Using slang and pop culture references that are up-to-the-minute relevant, Cranked gets a serious message across, while still being entertaining. Horizon Stage is thrilled to present Cranked on Wednesday, February 25th at 7:30 p.m.

Original music for Cranked was written by Kyprios & Stylust, hip hop artists from Vancouver. Kyprios is a founding member of the group Sweatshop Union. He has worked with several notable producers including Billy Mann (Pink, Kelly Rowland), Saukrates (Kardinal Offishall, Ginuwine, Method Man) and Rob the Viking (Swollen Members). Geoff “Stylust” Reich is an independent producer who has been DJing in Vancouver clubs since 1998. This production was directed by Green Thumb Theatre’s award winning Artistic Director, Patrick McDonald. The part of Stan will be performed by actor and musician Kyle Cameron.

To keep up the ‘party’ atmosphere, there will be free pizza from Boston Pizza, prizes, music and activities by the Healthbusters team in the lobby starting at 6:30 p.m. Don’t miss Cranked at Horizon Stage on Wednesday, February 25th, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $10 and are available through the Horizon Stage Box Office, 780-962-8995, and any Ticketmaster location. Warning: Cranked contains PG rated language and mature subject matter. It is not recommended for very young audience members.

“The best performance I have ever seen! It was so incredible and so powerful. In other talks about Crystal Meth they just gave us information but in Cranked I really got to see what really happens when you are on Crystal Meth. Thanks so much!"
Moriah (student)

"I thought the play was awesome. Not such a typical take on a drug addiction. It was very entertaining and a nice change. Actor was great and the songs were too."
Anonymous

"I am a recovering Meth addict and watching this made me grateful to be recovering. It opened my eyes to see what Meth users such as myself really went through and the production hit me hard. Very moving and very believable. Some parts were hard to hold back the tears. Loved it."
Emma Hogg (student)

Search “Cranked by Green Thumb Theatre” on www.youtube.com to see a teaser.

Horizon Stage would like to thank the following Cranked Sponsors and Supporters: Canadian Heritage, the Alberta Foundation of the Arts, Royal Inn Express, Boston Pizza, Sonic 102.9 and Safe City.

Take Your Sweetheart to the Ballet on Valentine’s Day

Horizon Stage presents Ballet Jörgen Canada’s Romeo and Juliet on February 14th

Spend Valentine’s Day with two of Shakespeare’s best known lovers. Enjoy a magical night of dance and romance when Canada’s fifth largest ballet company performs their interpretation of Romeo and Juliet at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Saturday, February 14th. Become embroiled in the feud between the houses of Capulet and Montague. Let yourself be swept away by the story of the two Verona youth whose struggle for love and happiness ends in the ultimate tragedy.

True to Shakespeare’s original story, Ballet Jörgen Canada mounts a poignant and humourous ballet which also holds an emotional lens to the dramatic love story of the title characters, danced by Hampus Gauffin and Tara Butler. Company co-founder and Artistic Director Bengt Jörgen’s masterful choreography entices audiences with its beauty and seamlessness. Glenn Davidson’s minimalist sets are fluidly integrated into the choreography, to the effect of stunning transitions. Sergei Prokofiev’s glorious score is one of his best-known works, and it contains some of the most inspired passages he ever composed including the ever-popular “March of the Capulets”.

Premiering in Banff, Alberta on February 27th, 1998, Romeo & Juliet has been showcased in major cities and communities across Canada, the United States, and China and has since won international recognition and critical acclaim. This 2009 tour will include 12 communities in Western Canada. In the Edmonton area they will also perform on February 12th in Leduc and February 22nd in Fort Saskatchewan. Continuing in their well-established tradition of education and outreach, Ballet Jörgen Canada will offer supernumerary roles to two local youth dancers in each of their tour cities. In Spruce Grove the lucky ballet students will be Kelsey Waddle and Krissy Kormos.

With a grand total of 16 dancers in its cast Romeo & Juliet promises to be a night of spectacle and romance, wrapped in exquisite costumes, brilliant choreography and a beautiful soundtrack. And, because Horizon Stage is such an intimate venue, audience members will experience this amazing performance in an Up Close and Personal way that can’t be duplicated in any other theatre in the capital region. Don’t miss the perfect Valentine’s Day romantic ballet, Rome & Juliet at Horizon Stage on Saturday, February 14th, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 students & seniors and are available through the Horizon Stage Box Office, 780-962-8995, and any Ticketmaster location.

"A production that looks like a ballet but feels like a play." Michael Crabb, The National Post

“Bengt Jörgen crafts a jewel-box Romeo & Juliet.”
Paula Citron, The Globe and Mail

“Shakespeare ballet woos the audience.”
Jason Gagliardi, The Hong Kong Sunday Morning Post Spectator

Horizon Stage would like to thank the following Ballet Jörgen Canada Sponsors and Supporters: Canadian Heritage, the Alberta Foundation of the Arts, the Edmonton Journal, Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck Barristers and Solicitors, Servus Credit Union and the Royal Inn Express.

Listen to Ian Tyson’s Horizon Stage concert on CBC 2 on February 12th

On Friday, January 9th CBC Radio recorded the legendary Ian Tyson live in concert at Horizon Stage. CBC will be airing that concert on Radio 2’s Canada Live with host Jacqueline Janelle on February 12th at 8 p.m. Radio 2 can be found on your FM dial at 90.9.

Ian Tyson has long been one of Canada’s most respected singer-songwriters. A pioneer who began his career in the 60s, he was one of the first Canadians to break into the American popular music market. In the years that followed, he hosted his own TV show, recorded some of the best country/folk albums ever made and became a rodeo rider and successful rancher. His list of honours includes a Juno Award, five Canadian Country Music Awards and 13 Alberta Recording Industry Association Awards. The 75-year-old icon is a member of the Order of Canada, the Alberta Order of Excellence, the Juno Hall of Fame and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Mr. Tyson has performed to 40 sold-out audiences at Horizon Stage in the past 18 years. He enjoys performing Up Close and Personal for Spruce Grove audiences which is why he has been coming back every second January since 2001.

Horizon Stage is thrilled to have formed this partnership with CBC Radio 2. Radio 2 has a coast-to-coast listenership of 1.2 million people. Being part of a Canada Live broadcast will increase our country’s knowledge and awareness of Horizon Stage and the City of Spruce Grove. Don’t miss the opportunity to listen to word-class singer and musician Ian Tyson, recorded live at Horizon Stage, on CBC Radio 2 on Thursday, February 12th at 8 p.m.

January 2009 Feedback

Where you at any of Ian Tyson's concerts between January 7 and January 11? Did you see DuffleBag Theatre's Robin Hood on January 17, Les Boreades de Montreal on January 19, or Ennis on January 22?
Did you like, or dislike, the artists, the venue, the volunteers, the staff? Please let us know your thoughts regarding your visit to our theatre.
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Enjoy Exhilarating Gypsy Jazz Music at Horizon Stage

Award-winning Marc Atkinson Trio will perform selections from their new CD on February 7th

The music of The Marc Atkinson Trio is melodically captivating, ferocious and technically awe-inspiring. Embracing a lifetime of musical influences, this virtuosic group has just released their fourth and latest CD, ‘The Marc Atkinson Trio IV’, which has been praised as their finest yet. The compositions on the CD are punchy, driving and rhythmically inventive. The Trio, formed in 2000, has toured North America, England and Europe and has received standing ovations everywhere they perform, from the Montreal Jazz Festival to the Festival des Guitares du Monde to the Vancouver International Folk Festival to DjangoFest Northwest.

Marc Atkinson is a multi-instrumentalist/composer/arranger/producer. A Juno nominee, he is considered to be one of Canada’s most talented musicians. His catchy compositions take guitar beyond the usual repertoire and sound. The tunes have a fiery but elegant guitar style, infused with a catchy blend of influences. All this, while still maintaining the laidback humour and casual ‘good-time feel’ of Canada’s West Coast. Atkinson’s picking has been described as flawless, surprise-filled, sizzling and supremely melodic. His music is original, complex and challenging in its conception and delivery but remains accessible and absorbing. Along with being the leader and composer of the internationally-renowned Marc Atkinson Trio, Marc is also co-founder, composer and a performer in the acclaimed folk quintet, The Bills, winners of the 2007 Entertainers of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards.

Marc Atkinson is backed by Joey Smith on stand-up bass, formerly of the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Reuben Wier on rhythm guitar. The Marc Atkinson Trio good-naturedly welcomes their audience aboard for an intriguing, exhilarating and unforgettable ride. Don’t miss them Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on Saturday, February 7th, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors and are available through the Horizon Stage Box Office, 780-962-8995, and any Ticketmaster location.

“. . . this leader and his trio [are] solidly in the top ten of the world's working string trios.”
Jurgen Goethe, CBC

“. . top-drawer picking... an inventive composer...a truly original voice.”
Acoustic Guitar

“They're (the Marc Atkinson originals) outstanding for their vitality, exuberance, elegance and melodic strength, and for the joy these three fine musicians share in executing them. Atkinson is a daring and inventive acoustic guitarist and a powerful force in the new roots/jazz movement (gypsy jazz).”
The Toronto Star

“Amazing players/ Supremely melodic.”
Penguin Eggs Magazine

Be sure to visit www.horizonstage.com and www.marcatkinson.com

Horizon Stage would like to thank the following Marc Atkinson Trio Sponsors and Supporters: Canadian Heritage, the Alberta Foundation of the Arts, the Edmonton Journal, CKUA Radio, Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck Barristers and Solicitors, Servus Credit Union and the Royal Inn Express.

Two-time Juno and Maple Blues award winner to grace Horizon Stage

Jim Byrnes will bring his smoldering and soulful blues to Spruce Grove on February 5th

Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Jim Byrnes started playing piano at age five and by age thirteen, he was singing and playing blues guitar. His first professional gig was in 1964, and over the years, he has had the great fortune to appear with a virtual who’s who of blues history, from Furry Lewis and Henry Townsend to Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Taj Mahal, Robery Cray and many others. Moving to Vancouver, in the mid-70s, Jim formed the extremely popular blues group, the Jim Byrnes Band. Still going strong more than 25 years later, Jim’s current tour of western Canada includes a much-anticipated stop at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Thursday, February 5th, 2009.

Also an actor, Jim Byrnes’ fame has grown immeasurably from his too-numerous-to-mention TV roles. Highlights include playing the character Lifeguard in the CBS series Wiseguy (1987-1990), worldwide success as Joe Dawson in Highlander (1993-98), and his nationally-broadcast variety show, The Jim Byrnes Show.

Jim’s first love, however, is the blues. His evocative, smoky vocals are found in a truth that doesn’t come overnight. During the 80s, the Jim Byrnes Band released “Burnin’” on Polydor, followed in 1987 with “I’ve Turned My Nights into Days” and 1995’s Juno Award-winning “That River” on Stony Plain Records. More recently Jim released “Fresh Horses” in 2004 and “House of Refuge” in 2008.

Joining Jim Byrnes at Horizon Stage will be “Strang” musicians, Zubot and Dawson. "Strang" is, in short, a blend of folk and jazz music with influences from roots, blues and numerous other musical genres. Jesse Zubot performs on fiddle and Steve Dawson plays guitar. The two met Jim before the release of “Fresh Horses”, realized they shared common tastes in music, and decided that a collaboration would be a refreshing and exciting project. They have toured together occasionally ever since.

Don’t miss Jim Byrnes with Zubot and Dawson Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on Thursday, February 5th, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for students and seniors and are available through the Horizon Stage Box Office, 780-962-8995, and any Ticketmaster location.

“...smoldering intensity...deeply soulful...”British Blues Connection
“...a voice that sounds like it saw creation and followed the devil down to hell...”Americana UK
“...Byrnes is a veritable national treasure, and if you like the blues you should know about him...”Uptown
“It’s cross-breeding of soul and country, which recalls Otis Redding or Percy Sledge...”Vancouver Province

Be sure to visit www.horozonstage.com and www.jamestbyrnes.com

Horizon Stage would like to thank the following Jim Byrnes Sponsors and Supporters: Canadian Heritage, the Alberta Foundation of the Arts, the Edmonton Journal, CKUA Radio, Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck Barristers and Solicitors, Servus Credit Union and the Royal Inn Express.

Charming Country/Folk duo Ennis to perform at Horizon Stage

The sweet harmonies of Maureen and Karen Ennis will enchant Spruce Grove on January 22nd.

Maureen and Karen Ennis both started playing music at an early age. In 1997 they formed the popular trio, The Ennis Sisters, with their younger sister, Theresa, and went on to record seven albums, winning four East Coast Music Awards and one Juno. The Ennis Sisters toured with The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Jann Arden, and shared the stage with numerous top artists at various music festivals. Their 2001 single, It's Not About You, cracked the top 5 on Canadian Country Radio, and the top 10 on Canadian adult contemporary radio. When Theresa left the group in 2007, Maureen and Karen decided to continue as a duo, and Ennis was born.

Hailing from St. John’s, Newfoundland, the two remaining Ennis sisters are excited about their new beginning. They worked in Nashville with producer Randy Scruggs to release their debut album, “Be Here for Awhile”, in 2008. The album features remarkable performances from some of the finest studio musicians in Nashville. Give Me Love, the debut single and video from “Be Here for Awhile” received air play on numerous country radio stations. Give Me Love, is a beautiful, catchy song that many of their audience members are sure to be singing to themselves long after they leave the theatre.

Now touring Canada, Ennis is pleased to be making two stops in the Edmonton area. The first at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Thursday, January 22nd, and the second at the Maclab Centre for Performing Arts in Leduc on January 23rd.
Horizon Stage is thrilled to be presenting Ennis on, January 22, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets to their Horizon Stage performance are $25 for Adults and $20 for Students and Seniors. Call the Horizon Stage Box Office at 780-962-8995 or visit any Ticketmaster location for more information or to order tickets. Tickets for their Leduc concert can be purchased through Tix on the Square. Visit www.ennismusic.com to see the video for Give Me Love and to hear other music by Ennis and The Ennis Sisters.

Horizon Stage would like to thank the following Ennis Sponsors and Supporters: Canadian Heritage, the Alberta Foundation of the Arts, the Edmonton Journal, CFCW, Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck Barristers and Solicitors, Servus Credit Union and the Royal Inn Express.

Horizon Stage Adds an Incredible Baroque Ensemble to its 2009 Lineup

Les Boréades de Montréal will perform magnificent music on period instruments January 19th

Early music ensemble Les Boréades de Montréal keeps the spirit and sound of the 17th and18th centuries alive by adhering to the rules of performance practices of the past and by playing on period instruments. Critics and audiences in Canada and abroad have been unanimous in hailing the group’s energy and spontaneity as well as their theatrical, expressive and elegant playing and their unique flair for Baroque aesthetics. Now Horizon Stage is thrilled to add Les Boréades to its 2009 season of artists on Monday, January 19th at 7:30 p.m.

Founded in 1991, Les Boréades have toured extensively in Canada. They have taken part in many renowned festivals and have performed abroad in New York, Amsterdam, Paris and Germany. The ensemble boasts fifteen recordings on the Atma Classique label featuring such renowned artists Hervé Niquet, Skip Sempé, Manfredo Kraemer, Alex Weimann, Eric Milnes and Karina Gauvin.

The members of Les Boréades performing in Spruce Grove will be Francis Colpron on traverso and recorders, Hélène Plouffe on violin, Erin Milnes on harpsichord and Mélisande Corriveau on cello and viola da gamba. Their concert will showcase the music of Jean-Fery Rebel (1666-1747), François Couperin (1668-1733), Henry Purcell (1659-1695), Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713), Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741) and six other Baroque era composers.

Take a step back in time and get Up Close and Personal with Les Boréades de Montréal at Horizon Stage on Monday January 19th. Tickets to this extraordinary concert are just $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors and can be purchased in person at the Horizon Stage Box Office in Spruce Grove’s City Hall at 315 Jespersen Avenue, by calling 780-962-8995, or at any Ticketmaster location.

“Les Boréades quartet (is) simply ravishing… the splendid improvisatory virtuosity of Francis Colpron on recorders, his rapid-fire staccato notes, his roulades and embellishments as free and as fascinating as the flames in a fireplace, made the heart leap in unbuttoned endorsement.”
Halifax Herald

“They would be irresistible even if they were not top-notch instrumental virtuosi. But they are. And more. Together they play with the kind of freedom with the style you would expect from a soloist. They are effortless, relaxed and cultivated to such a degree of perfection each is a flowering branch on the same tree.”
The Vancouver Sun

“The concert was a musical high from the beginning to end.”
Toronto Star

http://www.boreades.com/