New West Theatre always wishes their audience tidings of joy, and while the title of their upcoming show, “Tidings” suggests Christmas, there actually is only one Christmas number in the show.
“It is actually a best of show,” said New West Theatre artistic director Jeremy Mason, who also directs the show, which runs Dec. 18-Jan. 5 in the Yates Theatre.
“ So there are a few songs from ‘Twist and Shout’, which was very popular last year. So if you missed it, you can hear some of the songs this year,” he said adding a lot of families make New West Theatre’s December production a part of their Christmas traditions.
He pointed out some of the highlights from the past few years include Michael Jackson’s “Bad,” and Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”
They have also added five new numbers including, as a nod to the Mayan prediction of the end of the world, a version of R.E.M’s “End of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).
They have also added the Dixie Chicks’ “Not Ready To Make Up,” to the set.
“The prediction says the world is supposed to end three days into our show, so what better way to end it than with us,” Mason chuckled.
“We get to spend this time with old friends,” enthused Jay Whitehead, who is looking forward to that most of all.
“ I enjoy the music. It is fun. And, in the spirit of the season, And I get to be Davy Jones because I like to ‘Monkee’ around,” Whitehead laughed.
“ I just love the whole thing. It’s going to be great to bring back these old songs,” noted Jocelyn Haub, one of several returning faces from this season.
“There is a great mix of music. I feel like it will be a great, upbeat show,” Haub continued adding she is excited to be working with Poulsen who will be performing one of his original songs for the show.
“I second what Jocelyn said,” added Mwansa Mwansa, who is excited about performing Beyonce’s hit “Listen.”
Kathy Zaborsky has been a familiar face with New West for several years, but has been working in Canmore for the past year. She is glad to be back as vocal director and on stage.
“I’m looking forward to the ’50s numbers from Twist and Shout,” she said.
I’m so excited I just love dancing and performing,” she said.
“We already know the music. There are some ’50s songs from Twist and Shout, various rock songs and five new numbers,” she described adding the comedy portion of the show hadn’t been written by the time of the interview.
New West is also also bringing back their Elvis medley, which Scott Carpenter, Devon Brayne, Jason Poulsen and Jay Whitehead will be performing Elvis songs from all of the different stages of the King’s career. New West Theatre veteran Jessica Ens returns to choreograph the show and Kelly Roberts, who used to be a New West Theatre mainstay, who has been busy behind the scenes for previous shows, joins the band on stage, playing guitar for “Tidings.”
New West Theatre stalwart Erica Hunt also returns for this show.
“Who doesn‘t want to spend the holidays with New West, Zaborsky enthused.
Tidings runs at 8 p.m. each night except Dec. 23-25 and Jan. 1. There are also 1 p.m. matinees on Jan. 5 and Dec. 26 plus an early show, Dec. 31 on New Year’s Eve.
A version of this story appears in the Dec. 12, 2012 edition of the Lethbridge Sun Times
— By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
