Don't Miss A Hillarious Family Matinee Performance by Norman Foote

Saturday, March 15, at 2 p.m.

Combining puppetry, comedy, and music into a complete entertainment package, Norman Foote summons laughter from audience members of all ages. Bringing to the stage a mix of original, Juno Award-winning children’s songs and old favourites with hilarious new interpretations, both kids and adults alike will appreciate his lighthearted antics. The winner of four Parents Choice Awards, Norman has written and recorded songs for Disney Records, Shari Lewis and, most recently, for the live musical versions of Max & Ruby and Toopy & Binoo. Get ready to shake a leg, snap your fingers, and clap your hands because Norman gets kids a-movin’ and a-groovin’!

What makes Norman so great is his ability to find subject matter that challenges and engages his audience. He puts his theatrical and comedic talents to use as he weaves stories and paints musical imagery that audiences respond to immediately. His hilarious adaptation of nursery rhymes sung by rock stars is a routine that defines his talent for creating material that can bridge the generation gap. He calls this a “twist on tradition". His claim to fame are his props with an attitude. Simple by nature, fascinating by delivery. These characters enter the stage as inanimate objects and with the element of surprise and improvisation come to life, never failing to bring the house down with laughter and applause.

Also joining Norman on-stage on March 15 will be 48 members of the Brookwood School Choir. These talented young singers are looking forward to performing for their friends, families, and community. 

Tickets: $20 Adults, $16 Children & Seniors
Babes in Arms (under age 2) FREE if sitting on an adult’s lap.

Tickets available by phone at 780-962-8995 OR 1-888-655-9090, in person at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave.) and online at horizonstage.ticketpro.ca

SPIN celebrates the Bicycle as a muse, a musical instrument, and an agent of social change.

Innovative artist Evalyn Parry takes her audience on an uncommon theatrical and musical journey in SPIN, her tour-de-force performance celebrating the Bicycle as muse, musical instrument, and agent of social change. Inspired in part, by the incredible true tale of Annie Londonderry – the first woman to ride around the world on a bicycle in 1894 - Parry spins a web of stories which travel from 19th century women’s emancipation to 21st century consumer culture, peeling back layers of history to ultimately reveal a profoundly contemporary and personal heart to her theme of liberation. Theatre, music, and poetry lovers alike will enjoy Evalyn Parry’s performance in SPIN when she makes a stop at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Sunday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m.

In SPIN, a vintage bicycle, hooked up to simple electronics and suspended in a mechanic’s stand,

is played – from fenders to spokes to vinyl seat, from whirling pedals to bells – by percussionist Brad Hart, providing a captivating sonic accompaniment to Parry’s songs and monologues. This brilliant and ground-breaking production was originally developed and presented by Buddies in Bad Times Theatre in Toronto in 2011. It has since been presented at numerous theatres and festivals across Canada and in the U.S.

While SPIN recounts the story of several 19th century adventurers and women’s rights activists, for whom the bike provided a truly revolutionary form of emancipation, it’s easy today to take our many rights and freedoms for granted, and to forget the hard-won battles fought by courageous pioneers who helped pave the (still unfinished) road toward true equality.  Inspired by the many histories / ‘herstories’ and metaphors contained in bicycles, SPIN is ultimately about more than just the love of bikes: it’s about the pursuit of freedom, and how every act of resistance, however complex, plays a role in our evolution as a human race, moving us further down the road.

Evalyn Parry is an award-winning theatre creator, songwriter, and spoken-word poet based in Toronto. Inspired by a powerful vision of social activism, Parry’s solo and collaborative performances have taken her to music, storytelling, poetry and theatre festivals from coast to coast of North America. Her witty, personal and highly original creations have been widely produced, broadcast, commissioned, and anthologized, and she has released four critically acclaimed CDs. Accompanying herself on guitar, water bottle, shruti box and loop pedals, she shoots from the hip and aims for the heart. Fierce, funny, poignant and provocative, Evalyn Parry takes her unique perspective on the world and transforms it into art that spans genres, genders, and generations.

Part theatre, part musical gig, part spoken-word poetry, and part documentary, don’t miss Evalyn Parry’s SPIN, Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on Sunday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors. Tickets may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave) or by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090. Tickets can also be purchased online through Ticketpro.
 
“…a welcome breath of fresh air….SPIN makes something beautiful out of taking your life into your own hands“ - Globe & Mail

“The depth Parry gives to the concept of the bicycle through her script is quite staggering…an ingenious mixture of songs, monologues, video projection, and modern technology.” - Torontoist

This performance is proudly sponsored by CKUA, Servus Credit Union, Seal & Bedard Accountants, Travelodge Inn & Suites, The Ontario Arts Council, Canadian Heritage, The Alberta Foundation for the Arts, The Horizon Stagelighters, and Ticketpro.
                   

2013/2014 Patron Appreciation Performance Announced

2013/14 has so far been a wonderful season here at Horizon Stage. We’ve had some fantastic performances, and with them come great audiences. We are always happy to host you in our “house” and want to say thank you for your support of live performance in our community.

To do so, we are offering a special Patron Appreciation performance on Friday, May 9. Teresa Walters is hailed as "The International First Lady of Piano," and "one of the world's most significant pianists." Noted for her commitment to music as the ultimate universal language, Teresa shares enlightening information about each piece before she performs it. Her current concert presentation, Cameos of Great Composers and Well-Loved Melodies, includes selections by Beethoven, Chopin, Robert and Clara Schumann, Liszt, and Gershwin.

If you have purchased tickets to any 2013/14 Horizon Stage season performance, you may claim up to TWO complimentary tickets (while they last) to the May 9 piano recital. Please call 780-962-8995 or visit the City Hall Ticket Centre. If you require more tickets, or if you are not a 2013/14 season ticket buyer, they are available to purchase for just $15, all ages.

We know that there are not enough seats in our venue for ALL our 2013/14 patrons in one show, so we encourage you to claim your tickets early. And, if you discover later that you are unable to attend, please contact us so we may pass your tickets on to another music-lover.

Thank you from the staff at Horizon Stage!.

Enjoy Beautiful Classical Music in a Relaxed and Informal Setting

Pianist Sarah Hagen Performs at Horizon Stage on January 30 at 10:30 a.m.

Do you take pleasure in classical music but find it hard to enjoy in a concert setting? An Up Close and Personal recital by pianist Sarah Hagen may be just what you are looking for. While being treated to a musical feast for the ears, Sarah’s audience members also gain insight into the pianist's perspective and are encouraged to join the discussion. Sarah promotes an informal ambiance at her concerts, providing opportunities for listeners to ask questions, voice opinions, or just sit back and enjoy the magnificent music while sipping a warm beverage. For something different on a winter morning, join Sarah Hagen at Horizon Stage on Thursday, January 30. Tea, coffee, and goodies will be served at 9:45 a.m. and the concert will start at 10:30.

Sarah will focus her Horizon Stage recital on the romantic music, and story of Robert and Clara Schumann. Theirs is a tale of incredible talent and star-crossed love, infinite joy and devastating sadness, wrapped in beautiful music. Robert Schumann (1810 –1856) is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers of the Romantic era. He left the study of law to pursue a career as a virtuoso pianist but focused his musical energies on composing after a hand injury.  Clara Schumann (1819 – 1896), also a talented composer, is considered to have been one of the most distinguished and influential pianists of the 19th century.  When her parents disapproved of their relationship, and forbade their marriage, they gained permission to marry through the German court system. They eventually had seven children together and a loving but rocky marriage. Robert’s growing mental instability led to a suicide attempt, incarceration, and death in an asylum. Over a 61-year concert career Clara is credited with changing the format and repertoire of the piano recital and the tastes of the listening public. A tireless crusader for her husband’s music she was a strong matriarch who supported her family both financially and emotionally, though many hardships.

Sarah’s own star is steadily rising on the Canadian music scene. With expressive technique, an engaging personality, and startling fresh concepts, she is equally at home in front of a symphony orchestra or in an intimate concert setting. Her solo album, Glass House Dancing, was nominated for Classical Recording of the Year at the 2009 Western Canadian Music Awards. As First Prize Winner in the 2013 Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition, Sarah performed solo at New York City’s Carnegie Hall in May 2013. Since moving to an artist loft in one of Vancouver’s most vibrant neighbourhoods in 2011 she has become deeply involved with intricate projects inspired by urban vitality and is motivated by the belief that music has the power to be a window into our souls, regardless of age or knowledge.


Enjoy tea, goodies, and a beautiful morning performance by Sarah Hagen, at Horizon Stage on Thursday, January 30. For an even more Up Close and Personal concert experience, seating will be general admission and a limited number of seats will be available at tables on the stage, right next to Sarah and the grand piano. Tickets are just $25 and may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave) or by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090. Tickets can also be purchased online through Ticketpro. 

CONCERT RESCHEDULED: Hotel California

Weather. Is there anything more Canadian than talking about the weather? We don’t think so.
Unfortunately, due to the weather in Toronto and all the flight cancellations, Hotel California's concert on Thursday, January 9 has been canceled. The band has expressed their deep regret, but they have been up all night trying to find a way to get here, with no luck.

Fortunately, we have been able to reschedule their performance. The new date is Sunday, February 23 at 1 p.m.

If you have tickets, they will be honoured on the new date. If you are unable to attend the new show, please contact the City Hall Ticket Centre at 780-962-8995 for options. Refunds will be offered until Friday, January 17. Exchanges or gift certificates will be offered after that date.

Thank you for your understanding. And suddenly, our weather doesn’t look so bad, does it? It’s all about perspective.

Enjoy Fun, Family Friendly, Comedy with a Powerful Beat

BAM! Percussion Performs at Horizon Stage on January 25 at 4 p.m.

Th d ynamic, comedic percussion trio BAM! Percussion formed in Quebec in 1999 and they have since performed at hundreds of festivals, including Montreal’s Just for Laughs, and theaters, across Canada and around the world. Their high energy blend of physical comedy and intense rhythm is equally enjoyed by audience members of all ages and nationalities. BAM! use their child-like clown personas, gibberish, drumming, and audience interaction to create a performance experience like no other. Described as a cross between taiko drummers and a three-ring circus, current troupe members Jean-Sébastien Dallaire, Denis Richard Jr., and Krystina Marcoux are looking forward to their performance in Spruce Grove on Saturday, January 25.

Calling themselves ‘drumstick meets slapstick’, BAM! Percussion is about seizing your inner child and refusing to let go, no matter how much he kicks or screams. Tickets to their 4 p.m. Family Matinee performance (note special start time) at Horizon Stage are $20 for adults and $16 for children and seniors. Free pre-show crafts and activities for the kids will run in the theatre lobby starting at 3 p.m. Tickets 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.  Whether you’re bringing actual children to see BAM! Percussion, or just wanting to entertain your own inner child for an hour, you won’t be disappointed!

Purchase: BAM! Percussion Ticket Online

Watch: Exerpts from BAM! Percission's Show

CONCERT CANCELLATION - Joe Sealy on February 8th

Due to unforseen circumstances Joe Sealy's entire Africville Stories tour has been cancelled, regretfully, by the promoter and the artist.  The reasons are not health related.
If you have purchased tickets to Mr Sealy's concert at Horizon Stage on Satuday, February 8, please contact the City Hall Ticket Centre at 780-962-8995 regarding ticket refunds and exchnages.

Africville Stories Cast Announcement

 

We are excited to announce that acclaimed Canadian jazz singer and award-winning actress, Jackie Richarson, will be providing the vocals for Joe Sealy's Africville Stories at Horizon Stage on Saturday, February 8, 2014. Ms Richardson is best known for her screen roles in The Gospel According to the Blues, The Doodlebops, and Sins of the Father. She is also a noted stage performer, winning a Dora Award in 2004 for the musical Cookin' at the Cookery.The musical Big Mama! The Willie Mae Thornton Story was conceived of and written by Audrei-Kairen Kotaska for Jackie who starred in the first production in 1999 and then again in 2012. Bassist Paul Novotny will also be performing.

Give The Gift of Entertainment

Are you looking for a unique present for the person on your holiday shopping list who has everything? Give them the gift of high quality entertainment. Our gift certificates are valid for any Horizon Stage season performance and are perfect for any occasion. They are available in any denomination and can be purchased in person at the City Hall Ticket Centre.

Chris Gibbs’ Humour and Wit Will Leave Audiences Wracked With Laughter

Don’t Miss The Return of His Hit Show Like Father, Like Son? Sorry. at Horizon Stage on November 22

Described by The National Post as “one of the funniest guys around,” comedian Chris Gibbs explores the anxieties of first-time parenthood in his hit one man show Like Father, Like Son? Sorry. Terrified about his new responsibilities and skeptical about his ability to be a good dad, Gibb’s self-deprecating humour leaves audiences wracked with laughter and howling in their seats. Whether you are a parent, you know a parent, you have a parent, or you just like a mixture of British wit and Canadian comedy you don’t want to miss Chris Gibbs in Like Father, Like Son? Sorry. at Horizon Stage on Friday, November 22.

British-born Gibbs has been a professional comedian since 1991, when he began performing comedy shows on the street in London’s Covent Garden. For the next 11 years he toured full-time, performing at comedy, theatre and street-theatre festivals throughout Europe, as well as in New Zealand, Australia and Canada.  Since moving to Canada permanently in 2002 he has taken the Fringe Festival tour circuit by storm with five hit shows that have all received stellar reviews, played to full houses, and left fans wanting more.

Like Father, Like Son? Sorry. won patrons pick at the 2009 Toronto Fringe and was a sell-out hit at the 2010 Winnipeg and Edmonton Fringe Festivals. This fresh, funny, and fast paced comedy explores the anxiety Chris feels about becoming a new father while managing to also touch on the Superman myth, pop heroes in general, the perils of being overweight, the complexities of marriage, and other garden variety issues.

Called “the Steve Jobs of Fringe comedy” by the Toronto Star for “always coming up with something new that manages to be good as well” Chris’ self-effacing stories, jokes, and observations are both cheeky and honest. Tickets to Like Father, Like Son? Sorry. at Horizon Stage on Friday, November 22 at 7:30 p.m. are $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors. Tickets may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave) and by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090. Tickets can also be purchased online through Ticketpro.

  “Gibbs’ showmanship is always entertaining and this performance does not disappoint. Equally impressive is the show’s broad appeal: parents (especially new ones) will enjoy it for an empathetic voice, while others will appreciate the perspective it provides on one’s own childhood experiences.” 

««««« - Mel Priestley, Vue Weekly

“…an endearingly hapless quester, constantly reassessing his personal experience, having second thoughts and going off on hilarious tangents. Not to be missed” 

««««½ - Liz Nichols, Edmonton Journal

“…one of the funniest comics on the Fringe circuit… there is always a cleverness and intelligence about his shows. Gibbs has the ability to tell a joke, generate a laugh and then continue only to return later and top the same joke. You have to see it to believe it.” 

««««½   - Colin McLean, Edmonton Sun

Spice Up Your Sunday Night with an Energetic West Coast Kitchen Party

The Bills will set Horizon Stage ablaze with their fiery folk tunes on November 17 

From the beautiful west coast of Canada comes an extraordinary quintet. Renowned for their instrumental virtuosity, lush vocal arrangements, exuberant live performances, evocative songwriting, and refreshing sound, The Bills truly are a Canadian acoustic music super-group. Last seen at Horizon Stage in 2002 when they were still performing as The Bill Hilly Band, The Bills are thrilled to be returning to Spruce Grove on Sunday, November 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Melding together rock, maritime fiddle, bluegrass, Cajun, Romany, and other genres, The Bills’ unique sonic approach transcends musical boundaries and defies simple categorization. Their original songs coax sublime beauty, energy, and rhythm out of their instruments and feature stunning layers of vocal harmonies. Listen and you’ll hear influences of global roots and rock alongside hints of Chopin, Stan Rogers, and Django Reinhardt. But you’ll ultimately hear The Bills, doing the magical thing that they do.

A Bills’ live show is a legendary experience. Since forming in 1996, the band has delighted theatre and festival audiences from Copenhagen to California, thrilling fans with their breathtaking musical explorations and their unscripted onstage wit and charm. In 2006 they were voted Western Canadian Entertainer of the Year, edging out fellow nominees Michael Buble and Jann Arden. Their albums, Let Em Run and All Day Every Day, each garnered JUNO nominations and All Day Every Day won a Western Canadian Music Awards for Roots Album of the Year in 2002. Their latest release, Yes Please, features some of their finest songwriting to date.

Whether entertaining an intimate theatre audience or rocking a festival crowd of 10,000, these five gifted multi-instrumentalists are masters at leaving listeners breathless and revitalized all at once. Marc Atkinson, Richard Moody (last seen at Horizon Stage with Woody Holler in October), Adrian Dolan, Scott White, and Chris Frye each sport world-class credentials in folk/roots, jazz, classical, and world music.

Called “the biggest blast of fresh air to come out of Canada since The Band” by the Glasgow Herald, The Bills mix a little bit of holler with a whole lot of harmony. Tickets to see them Up Close and Personal at Horizon Stage on November 17 are $35 for adults and $30 for students and seniors. Tickets may be purchased at the City Hall Ticket Centre (315 Jespersen Ave) and by phone at 780-962-8995 or 1-888-655-9090. Online tickets can be purchased at Ticketpro.


This concert is proudly sponsored by CKUA, Seal & Bedard Accountants, Travelodge Inn & Suites, Canadian Heritage, and The Alberta Foundation for the Arts.