A conversation between two theatre directors led to the creation of a music theatre concert meant to celebrate "pandemic heroes."
Erica Angus, executive director for Theatre Collingwood, and Arkady Spivak, producer and CEO of Talk is Free Theatre, have collaborated to host Open the Window, a free concert featuring songs from Canadian Music Theatre and some of the performers who have brought them to life on stage.
According to a news release from Theatre Collingwood, the concept for the concert involved asking students and educators from across Canada to nominate peers and colleagues who had a positive impact during the pandemic. A committee then worked with the nominators to select a song from a Canadian musical to celebrate the achievement of the hero they nominated.
More than 50 people were selected from the nomination process and will be honoured through the Open the Window concert.
“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,” said Angus in a news release. “We are also so happy to be introducing Canadian musical theatre songs to the students.”
There will be concerts in Barrie and Collingwood in November, featuring Canadian musical theatre performers including Louise Pitre, Chilina Kennedy, Arlene Duncan, Gabi Epstein, Jake Epstein, and Nicole Joy-Fraser, among many others, featuring songs by Leslie Arden, Corey Payette, Joey Miller, Richard Ouzounian, Kevin Wong and others. The concerts are directed by Saccha Dennis and Peter Jorgensen.
The Barrie shows take place Nov. 15, 16, and 17 at Georgian College Theatre, and the Collingwood concert takes place Nov. 18 at New Life Church.
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. Donations will be gratefully accepted.
