When Arkady Spivak brought the idea forward to me for a collaboration which would involve students honouring their “Pandemic Heros” through Canadian Musical Theatre, I knew it would add one more element to an already hectic year, but somehow I also knew I could not resist! Arkady is the Producer and CEO at Talk Is Free Theatre (TIFT) in Barrie and known for his very creative projects involving Canada’s best performers. We worked with Arkady in the past on the show Tales of an Urban Indian which was performed on a Town of Collingwood bus! Most recently we brought in TIFT’S production of Every Brilliant Thing to The Porchside Festival. SO, after much discussion (and a successful grant application) a very creative project has taken flight!

OPEN THE WINDOW is a nationwide celebration of Arts Education and Canadian Musical Theatre. Theatre Collingwood is delighted to be working with Talk Is Free Theatre on this project, and incorporating into the project TIFT’S own Canadian Musical Theatre Database.

A committee of artists asked students and educators from across the country to nominate peers and colleagues who had a positive impact over the course of the pandemic. The committee then helped each nominator select a song from a Canadian musical that best celebrates the achievement of their “hero”. Over 50 people will be honoured.

OPEN THE WINDOW is a series of concerts being performed in Barrie and Collingwood, performed by some of Canada’s most prominent musical theatre performers, including Louise Pitre, Chilina Kennedy, Arlene Duncan, Adam Brazier, Gabi Epstein, Jake Epstein, and Nicole Joy-Fraser, among many others, and featuring songs by Leslie Arden, Corey Payette, Joey Miller, Richard Ouzounian, Kevin Wong and more.

Directed by Saccha Dennis and Peter Jorgensen, concerts will take place in Barrie on November 15, 16 and 17 at the Georgian College Theatre, with a different program on each night. Then on November 18th one of those concerts will move over to Collingwood and be presented at the New Life Church. The performers will vary from concert to concert. The highly respected Mark Camillari will be the Musical Director (you may have seen him also perform this summer accompanying Gabi Epstein in Collingwood at The Porchside Festival). This project has turned in to a wonderful way to take a bad thing like a pandemic and get something really positive out of it! We are also so happy to be introducing Canadian musical theatre repertoire to the students.

Confirmed for the Collingwood concert is the incredible Chilina Kennedy. Chilina is known for playing Carole King in the musical Beautiful on Broadway for over 1,200 performances. She also recently originated the Tony-award winning role of Dina on the First Broadway National Tour of The Band’s Visit. Chilina’s first appearance on Broadway was in 2012 when she played Mary Magdalene in Des McAnuff’s Jesus Christ Superstar, which also had successful runs at the Stratford Festival and the La Jolla Playhouse.

Also confirmed for Collingwood are Adam Brazier, David Ball, Justin Stadnyk, Jacob MacInnes and Jennifer Walls, with more to follow.

We want to make sure these special concerts are totally accessible and FREE to the community and visitors to the region. We encourage folks to stay overnight, eat at the many wonderful restaurants the region has to offer, and turn this into a musical festival experience! Since the tickets are FREE you may want to take in more than one concert and visit both Barrie and Collingwood!

Although tickets are FREE they must be reserved. For tickets for the Barrie concerts call 705-792-1949 or order online at www.tift.ca.

For tickets to the Collingwood concert call 705-445-2200 or order online at www.theatrecollingwood.ca .

I ALWAYS LOVE YOUR FEEDBACK. Please email your questions, comments & suggestions to erica@theatrecollingwood.ca

Thank you to all the volunteers who came out for our Volunteer Appreciation Event on October 13^th at the library! Each year we love to say THANK YOU to all our wonderful volunteers at a special party just for them. If you did not make the party but are interested in volunteering please email linda@theatrecollingwood.ca.

Anne is also working on the development of a Theatre Guild for 2023, made up of special individuals who want be part of something social and help us outreach in the community. To hear more about this group of Theatre Collingwood Advocates please email anne@theatrecollingwood.ca. 

We are also so excited about our two seniors courses going on right now. Congratulations to everyone who is taking the EFFECTIVE STORY TELLING FOR SENIORS or the SENIORS ACTING classes. Scott Hurst is the instructor and he reports that all in attendance are doing fantastic! BRAVO!

OUR ANNUAL READING OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL WILL BE ON DECEMBER 14^TH, 2022

This is always a terrific way to celebrate the Christmas season! When the shopping and hustle and bustle are done come join us for a peaceful night of storytelling at First Presbyterian Church, as our readers recite Charles Dickens’ most famous story in our annual staged reading of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. We are thrilled to have Dean Hollin in the role of Scrooge this year. Dean will be joined by the marvelous Daniel Vnukowski, Roz McArthur, Leslie Worts, Brian McCrindle, Annette Sandberg and more. Jim Kinnear will be our Music Accompanist, and Anne Raciunas will be our Foley Artist. For tickets call 705-445-2200 or order online HERE.

The North of November Show: Paul Woolner with Live the Dash

Saturday, November 5th, 7:30pm

Venue: Simcoe Street Theatre

Come out and join singer/songwriter Paul Woolner and his band Live The Dash for an engaging evening of original roots, blues and folk-rock. This genre spanning music for the heart and the mind at times is joyful, haunting or even surprising. Their shows have an enthusiastic audience response with both listening and dancing through the night. Paul has written and released 4 albums of eclectic, storytelling songs and his music has received radio play across Europe, the UK, the US and Canada.

“One is immediately struck by the power of Paul’s grasp on so many genres” -Sam Sutherland, Exclaim Magazine

Live The Dash brings together well known, accomplished Grey County musicians:

Paul Woolner – acoustic, electric and resonator guitars, ukulele, harmonica, lead vocals

Roger Williamson – lead guitar

Joel Dawson – bass, vocals

Michael Balfe – drums and vocals

Joining Live The Dash for the first time is John MacMurchy on sax and clarinet. John has released 6 albums and worked with international artists including, Henry Mancini, Linda Ronstadt and Keith Emerson. Another reason that Live The Dash are looking forward to performing at the Simcoe Street Theatre is that, coincidently, both Paul’s and John’s families are 6th generation residents of Collingwood! Support live music and catch this show! You’ll be happy you did! To learn more about the band and music visit www.livethedash.ca.

For tickets call 705-445-2200 or shop online HERE

John MacMurchy and Sheri Weldon present 'A Christmas of Cool' - Jazz at Simcoe Street Theatre!

Friday, December 2, 7:30pm

Venue: Simcoe Street Theatre

Following a string of SOLD OUT shows, John MacMurchy and Sheri Weldon return to the stage at Simcoe Street to celebrate the holiday season with a fun-filled ride through time and reminiscence, swinging arrangements of Christmas Classics and a wonderland of Jazz repertoire!

Joined by an all-star band, John and Sheri promise a magical evening that will warm your heart and slide you into a Cool Yule!

For tickets call 705-445-2200 or shop online HERE

Kat's Meow Beautiful Burlesque - 4-Week Workshop Classes - Flirt from the Floor, Oct 30 - Nov 20, Santa Baby, Nov 27 to Dec 18. www.katsmeowbb.com

The Gallery at L.E. Shore - The November Trio Opening Reception, Oct 29. Featuring the works of George Rutherford, Margaret Cora Schmor, and P. Annie Churchill. The exhibit runs from Oct 29 to Dec 1, 2022. www.thebluemountainslibrary.ca/the-gallery-at-le-shore.cfm?is=9

Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts - In Conversation: Digital Art, Nov 8, 7:00pm - 9:00pm, Press Room Gallery, 65 Simcoe Street. For more information visit www.bmfa.on.ca

And now we leave you with a special Youtube video. We all know how talented singer Andrea Bocelli is. Well genetics is a wonderful thing! Check out his daughter Virginia, as she sings Lenard Cohen’s Hallelujah with her father in Sacramento, California in 2021

PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE IN THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION. Have a wonderful week and I look forward to seeing you in the theatre!