7 minute read
Lougheed Centre plans exciting year
By Murray Green
It will be an exciting year of grand performances at the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre in the 2021-22 season.
After a cancelled season last year, the Lougheed Centre has a top notch season planned. You can see the acts for the upcoming season at the launch party on August 4. You can also watch the launch digitally.
“We are announcing 34 shows, which is our biggest season yet. We will be adding more shows later. We want to come out swinging and give people a sense of urgency to get back to normal. A change is that we had a subscription for each series with a pick six and pick 10. Coming out of the pandemic we didn’t want to ask people for bigger commitments. We are keeping it simple with three or more a 10 per cent discount, five or more a 15 per cent discount and seven or more a 20 per cent discount,” explained Lougheed Centre general manager Nick Beach.
Last year, several concerts and comedy shows were offered with a digital ticket. “About 16 shows will offer both live tickets and digital tickets so viewers have a choice of how they want to watch. Digital tickets allows us to draw from all over the province. We have become a leader in digital broadcasting because we were the first to the punch,” said Nick.
“We started our presentation series in October thinking the province may be slow to open up. But since the province opened up sooner than expected, we added special presentations in September,” he added. “It is important to note that this is all possible because of the fantastic community support that we have had, not only this year, but every year.”
All evening shows will begin at 7:30 p.m. and afternoon matinees start at 2 p.m.
“It is important to note the province, Augustana, City of Camrose and all of our sponsors made this season happen for us.”
Presentation Series
Michael Bernard Fitzgerald will start the Shuman Insurance Presentation Series on October 15. This Calgary singer-songwriter offers honest lyrics, warmth and a connection to people that leaves everyone connected to his music.
Kenny Hess will be bringing his show The Songs That Wrote Country Music to the stage on October 23. He takes you back to the songs of Johnny Cash, George Jones and Merle Haggard. “Because of the demand for tickets, we booked him for two shows, one at 2 and another at 7:30 p.m.”
Back by popular demand is the Derina Harvey Band, this time performing on November 19 in the large theatre. She brings to life Celtic rock and east coast music.
Brian Keating has a new show called Great Big Nature in a National Geographic style that he will be sharing on November 25. Brian will also entertain students in a different school production on the same day.
The popular Just For Laughs heads west for the Road Show 2022. The troupe will make you laugh again on January 15.
Get ready to be dazzled by the Cheesecake Burlesque Revue as they mix song, dance and comedy, while sending a message of everyone is beautiful and should be proud of themselves, on January 21. “The night before (January 20) they will be having a closed door workshop with 20 ladies on how to perform burlesque. It has been very popular and sells out fast.”
Diyet and Love Soldiers make their way to the Lougheed stage on January 28. Diyet was in Camrose before with the New North Collective show in 2017, but is now a solo artist.
Country singer Tebey, a former Big Valley Jamboree performer, returns on February 17. He now has two top five songs to his credit and five top 10 singles.
Raven is a powerful and refreshing contemporary international (German) circus act about motherhood. It is both funny and a touching story. The show is on February 20.
Once an artist plays in Camrose, they already start planning when to return. The same can be said about Steven Page (formerly of the Barenaked Ladies), who is a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. He will visit on March 24.
Bromance is a guys circus with cutting-edge physical heroics in tune with a great soundtrack. It is also a funny show. They perform on April 27.
View a One-Man Star Wars Trilogy with Charles Ross. He covers three movies in his show. Camrose will be treated to a special May the 4th Be With You edition.
Acclaim Series
The Tracy Brandingen Re/Max Acclaim Real Estate Series begins with the Uchida-Hoekman Duo of violinist Robert Uchida and celloist Rafeal Hoekman on October 30.
The reknown local pianist Roger Admiral brings us the Songs of Vienna from the 18th and 19th century on November 27.
The Bouey-Doucet Duo perform with emerging violinist Christina Bouey and pianist Andre Doucet hit the stage on January 22. They are two of the most sought after rising stars in Canada.
ViVA Trio of all females share their Nothing Else Matters show with soaring vocals and three-part harmonies on February 26.
Then its Coig, a folk group from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia that will be entertaining you with Celtic and roots music on March 15. “I first heard them four years ago and I have been trying to get them ever since. They offer great east coast foot-stomping music. They will have instant fans in Camrose.”
Cabaret Series
The Central Agencies Cabaret Series launches with The Carolines who will be Breathing New Life Into Old Songs on October 2. They perform some songs from Patsy Cline, Buck Owens and the Dixie Chicks.
Shelley Jones and her jazz quartet performs A Touch of Cole with songs from both Natalie and Nat King Cole, as well as other great songs on November 6.
Rapid Fire theatre is back and this time they bring Off The Book, The Christmas Musical on December 18. This show has had eight straight sold out runs at the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre festival.
Garrett Gregory of Hanna was such a hit in the virtual series last year that he had to be added to the line-up this season. He has a powerful voice that you won’t forget. He is live at the Lougheed on March 11.
Family Series
The Fountain Tire Family Series is back again and is free for all ages, but you must have a ticket. “We didn’t know if we could still offer free shows, but Fountain Tire came through for us again.”
Flyin’ Bob is a one-man show of juggling, clowning, unicycling, acrobatics, wire walking and comedy. He adds supporting starts from the audience to create his show on October 17 at the Lougheed.
Christmas just isn’t a holiday without Scrooge. The Duffle Bag Theatre group share A Christmas Carol in true holiday fashion on December 5. “Get your tickets early for this show.”
Rattle and Strum has a folk sound with a dash of silliness for children that everyone will enjoy on January 16.
Special Presentations
A series of special events will take place at the Lougheed Centre throughout the year.
The Royal Foundry features couple Bethany and Jared Salte with songs that reflect life lessons and challenges on September 10. The Edmonton group will be offering a free show.
Country star JJ Shiplett, another former Big Valley Jamboree performer, loves to entertain people with his effortless songs that leave an impression. He performs on September 17.
Sheldon Casavant is back and his show Exploring the Impossible creates a magic stage like no other on September 19. “This is our second free show. He is great for children to see.”
Jill Barber is a threetime Juno award nominated artist who shares folk, jazz and pop songs. Look for her on September 24.
The best of the Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour will be here on October 1. The show features several of the top short films of adventure in Alberta. It will be on the big screen with HD. “Tickets for this show will be available through the Camrose Sea Serpents as a fundraiser for the swim club.”
Another group that was brought back due to demand is the Washboard Union. They return on November 5 with great old songs and some new tunes.
Project In Tandem is a contemporary dance performed by a group from Calgary that mixes dance with gravity-defying acts on November 13. It will be two separate pieces, Moving Through and It All Amounts to Something.
Christmas and dance go together for a family tradition in the Shumka’s Nutcracker and the bonus is that they booked two shows for Camrose, on December 10 and 11. “The warmest part of coming out of the pandemic will be watching families share Christmas together at these shows in a Christmas tradition,” added Nick. “It will be a Friday night show and a Saturday matinee. You can only see this show in Edmonton, Camrose and Victoria.”
Shows are subject to change and more shows could be added later in the year. Check the Lougheed web site at camroselive.ca or call 780-608-2922 for updates.
