Drama Beat

New West celebrates “Soundtrack” to summer

Sunday, 26 July 2009 23:25 Richard Amery

New West Theatre is celebrating the “Soundtrack” to summer this week, with their new show, running until July 25 at the Yates Theatre.

“Soundtrack features some favourite songs made famous in film over the past 50 years.

“It’s an original production of songs from films. But we’ve created an original show concept connecting the songs with original pieces of comedy,” said director Nicholas Hanson, emphasizing the song choices were based on movies which provided nostalgic memories for a wide variety of audiences.

“We focused on songs from famous movies. We started with 500-600 of them and we narrowed the list down to create a good balance of songs that the audience would recognize,” he continued adding there are also a few surprises thrown into the show as well.

Wonderful “Soundtrack” to Summer

Friday, 17 July 2009 14:17 Richard Amery

I was very impressed by “Soundtrack,” my very first New West Theatre production, which I saw Thursday night at the Yates Theatre.

An outstanding cast including an effervescent, scene stealing Erica Hunt, the captivating Kathy Zaborsky and a superb Scott Carpenter, worked their way through some beloved movie hits including “Man in Motion” from St. Elmo’s Fire which opened the show.

Original comedy sketches were interspersed between hits like “When You Wish Upon A Star,” “Flashdance,”,“Maniac” and the “Galaxy Song” from Monty Python’s Meaning of Life performed by Grahame Renyk who bore an uncanny resemblance to Eric Idle.

They included a take off on award shows, and one of my favourites featured kilt-spoting Erica Hunt and a bare belly bearing Scott Carpenter as two Scottish movie critic, borrowing Saturday NIght Live’s Mike Myers’ line “If it’s not Scottish it’s crap.”

Big River Auditions this week

Monday, 08 June 2009 16:06 Richard Amery

If you want to join the Lethbridge Musical Theatre’s November production of Tony Award winning musical Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, June 13 is your last chance to audition.

At least 30 people are needed to fill a variety of onstage roles.

Participants are required to prepare singing notes and piano notes for a verse and chorus of one song for the accompanist to play. As well they need to familiarize themselves with one of the monologues available online at http://www.lethbridgemusicaltheatre.ca/auditions. Organizers request no karaoke or a cappella performances. If you are unable to make the audition, the director can be contacted through the website as well.

Auditions take place, June 13 from 10 a.m.-noon at Joys Dance Factory, 243 12C Street North. Time commitments for the production vary according to the character. The production takes place Nov. 6-21at the Yates Memorial Theatre.

— Richard Amery, L.A. Beat

Horror Movie Auditions

Saturday, 25 April 2009 11:46 Johnny Fever

Auditions take place this week for a new horror movie scheduled to begin filming in August.

Local film makers, 5205 studios, who had a successful production of the Memoirs of Thomas Church earlier this year, are holding auditions for a film about a young couple running from two thieves after their car breaks down. Seven cast members, both male and female cast members all above the age of 20 are needed as well as crew members. Auditions take place, May 1 and May 8 at the Bowman Arts Centre at 7 p.m.

Script excerpts are available on request for those who are interested in seeing them in advance. They will also be available at the auditions. Call Sarah Christensen for more information at 403-332-3822, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .