Posted on November 7, 2012
By Maurice Tougas
Front Slider, Music, Theatre
Going into Rock of Ages, the latest Broadway Across Canada production to set up shop at the Jubilee Auditorium, I had a real fear that this was going to be one of those shows that I would be tempted to leave at the intermission (I quit halfway through Cats; I don’t care how popular that […]
Posted on November 4, 2012
By Maurice Tougas
Front Slider, Music, Theatre
If there’s a rock ‘n’ roll heaven, it might include a part in Rock of Ages. It may seem that way for rock singer Universo Pereira, who landed the plum role of hard rockin’, hard livin’ rock legend Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages despite having no theatre experience whatsoever. But he was a rock […]
Posted on October 7, 2012
By Maurice Tougas
Music, The Latest
Is there anyone in the entertainment world who carries a moniker with greater baggage than Frank Sinatra Jr.? There are other giants of 20th century music whose sons have had successful careers – Bob Dylan’s son Jakob, John Lennon’s sons Sean and Julian – but they never had to carry around not just a famous […]
Posted on September 15, 2012
By Maurice Tougas
Culture, Front Slider, Theatre
The Mayfield Dinner Theatre had great success with “The Buddy Holly Story” back in 2010 – it was a corker, despite the fact you knew going in that it wasn’t going to have a happy ending. So there are high hopes for “Four Lads Who Shook the World, The Beatles Story: Part 2,” the current […]
Posted on September 13, 2012
By Maurice Tougas
Front Slider, TV and Radio
“Hail Mary” is a new reality series following a group of football players trying out for the Edmonton Eskimos – but even if you think a convert is someone who changes religions, the producer says no prior knowledge of football is required. “One of the key things the broadcaster, Citytv, wanted us to do was […]
Posted on September 12, 2012
By Maurice Tougas
Culture, Front Slider, Theatre
Funny thing about Cavalia, the equine-themed extravaganza now playing under the very big top at the City Centre Airport – it could do with a little less horse play. “It’s ABOUT horses, idiot!” I hear you saying. “Why would you want fewer horses in a show about horses?” First, there are no two ways about […]
Posted on September 4, 2012
By Maurice Tougas
Family, Music, The Latest, Theatre, Visual Arts
Look up. Look wa-a-a-ay up. Just try not to walk into a lamppost as you are serenaded by live music being played from the rooftops along Alberta Avenue during the Kaleido Family Arts Festival. And that’s just one treat in a cornucopia of artistic endeavours for both enjoyment and participation, running all weekend in and […]
Posted on August 28, 2012
By Maurice Tougas
Family, Music, The Latest
In some of the more mature – meaning “old” – countries, celebrating the 100th anniversary of a building would seem rather gauche. Maybe 150 years, certainly 200, but a mere Century? Please. But this is Alberta, where we have a different concept of what constitutes old. Here, the centennial of a building is reason to […]
Posted on August 18, 2012
By Maurice Tougas
Theatre
Jersey Boys sounded like a pretty lame premise for a hit Broadway musical. I mean, c’mon, the Four Seasons? Can you base an entire show on “Walk Like a Man”? As it turns out, you can. The story of four Guidos whose rose from the streets (literally — they started singing on street corners) to […]
Posted on August 8, 2012
By Maurice Tougas
Music, The Latest
Here’s a phrase you may never have seen before: Yanni rocks. Sure, it’s not like the traditional way you might say, “Nickelback rocks, man!” but the high priest of New Age music defied every expectation by putting on an upbeat, vibrant and – dare I say it – rockin’ show at the Jubilee Auditorium on […]
Posted on August 1, 2012
By Maurice Tougas
Dining, Family, Front Slider, Music
Jack Little has a lot on his plate right about now. He’s getting ready to host a party, which requires food and drink, some music and a whole lot of dancing. This is no backyard BBQ. Little is the executive director of the much-loved Edmonton institution, the Servus Heritage Festival. If the weather holds, he’s […]
Posted on July 25, 2012
By Maurice Tougas
The Latest, Visual Arts
Would it be unbearably clichéd to say that Mary Poppins just wasn’t my cup of tea? Yeah, it probably would. But I’m going to use it anyway, because that’s the best way I can describe the Broadway Across Canada production of the hit musical playing at the Jubilee until July 29th. There’s nothing actually wrong […]
