High Performance Rodeo shows unveiled
In announcing the lineup for One Yellow Rabbit’s 2017 High Performance Rodeo, artistic and managing producer Ann Connors has every right to be elated.
She has managed to lasso 25 shows for the 25-day festival, and that translates into 200 artists from all over the world converging on Calgary for the biggest, boldest arts festival in Western Canada.
The 25 shows have one important thing in common.
“They all have the capacity to reach people, involve people, excite people,” says Connors.
“What’s important about the visiting shows is they allow us to see what’s happening in theatre, dance and music beyond our borders.”
She quickly adds that “you can’t be part of the excitement and adventure unless you’re willing to come down the rabbit hole with us and, if you do, I promise there will be many, many surprises in store for you.”
Connors knows these tough economic times are putting a squeeze on people’s budgets, so the festival has instituted $15 Wednesdays.
“On the three Wednesdays of the festival you can see any show playing that night for just $15 and you can even reserve those tickets in advance.
“Hopefully, this will allow us to open the door to people who may have in the past not considered attending the festival for economic reasons.
“We want to engage as many Calgarians as possible to participate in the festival.”
The High Performance Rodeo is trying to add as many younger people as possible to its audience base, and one show that could help them do it is Toronto’s b current Theatre’s production of Brotherhood: The Hip Hopera.
It’s a fast-paced, high-energy story of family and brotherly love that utilizes hip-hop, rap, soul, R& B, funk and gospel, and it’s written entirely in rhyme.
“This show is touring Canada and it most definitely speaks to a young audience without excluding established theatre audiences.
“Brotherhood is another way of telling a story and one that is totally captivating,” promises Connors.
The Rodeo officially kicks off on Jan. 6 with two shows.
In the Max Bell Theatre, Theatre Calgary is hosting Songs of Resilience, a concert by Toronto’s Queer Songbook Orchestra.
CBC Radio’s Katherine Duncan and Olympian Mark Tewksbury will host this explosion of music, memories and reflections of the queer artists who had to remain closeted even though their music was inspiring generations.
Over in the DJD Dance Centre, Montreal’s Louise Lecavalier will appear in her acclaimed dance show So Blue, an exploration of how the soul expresses itself through the body.
For the past two years, Connors has worked tirelessly to be able to bring Australia’s Black Arm Band & Guests and their internationally-acclaimed dirtsong to Calgary.
It’s a collective of 11 musicians, composers, dancers and filmmakers who work together to raise awareness of the importance of aboriginal traditions on global cultures.
Calgarians David Rhymer, Jonathan Lewis and Oliver Miguel will join Black Arm Band & Guests for its mini tour of Canada.
This is a one-night only performance at the Jack Singer Concert Hall on Feb. 2 and it is expected to sell out so it’s essential to book your tickets early.
Connors says her predecessor, the late Michael Green, was adamant that Calgarians get a chance to see the work of Toronto’s Theatre Smith-Gilmour and it’s finally happening.
“This company are masters of taking the world’s great literature and putting it on stage,” she says.
“They will be bringing us their version of William Faulkner’s classic As I Lay Dying about the Blunden family’s odyssey to bury their matriarch.
To do so, they must battle floods, fire and the private demons.
“I promise it will blow people away.”
Verb Theatre had a smash hit with British playwright Duncan Macmillan’s Lungs, and now the Rodeo is bringing us his Every Brilliant Thing, a show that has wowed audiences around the world.
British comedian Jonny Donahoe acts as the narrator of this story of a young boy whose mother is suicidal.
In order to convince her life is worth living, he starts compiling a list of everything that’s brilliant and wonderful, including ice cream and Kung Fu movies.
“Jonny is the one of the most charming performers you could ever hope to spend time with and you do become involved because the audience has a role in the show.
“It’s a simple, heartfelt story that speaks to everyone,” says Connors.
Another show that involves the audience is Portugal’s Teatro Nacional D. Maria II’s production of By Heart.
Tiago Rodrigues selects 10 audience members and teaches them a poem and as he does so he tells stories about how he had to teach his grandmother who went blind how to deal with her new reality.
We want to engage as many Calgarians as possible to participate in the festival.