Country, classical, Celtic — all kinds of music, singing, dancing, even singing along, and don’t forget rock and roll — the Dekker Centre has a varied lineup planned for the 2016-17 season, including famous hypnotist Reveen.
“It’s all about having fun,” said manager Moe McGuinty Monday evening at the reveal of the upcoming season.
Monday’s season unwrap featured a video preview of the upcoming season shows, plus some that aren’t officially part of the “season” but that McGuinty said are worth putting on the calendar.
With the unwrapping of the season, patrons were able to purchase their season subscription and, depending on the package they bought, choose their favourite seats or be on the list for first pick of the remaining seats. Some patrons bought the package of all 14 season shows, and others chose a package of their preferred seven shows.
In order, the season shows are:
Million Dollar Quartet, a show coming from Broadway to London’s West End to North Battleford. Globe Theatre brings a legendary night to life, featuring the music of Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis. The date is Wednesday, Aug.1.
“We’re starting early and we're starting with rock and roll!” said McGuinty.
Saskatchewan Country All Stars, Saturday, Sept. 17, will recognize the incredible talent found in this province. Brock Andrews of Wilkie, Erin Hill of Medstead, Bruin Eberle of the Battlefords, Mandy Ringdal of Hawarden and Brody Siebert of Spiritwood will all perform, and Siebert appeared on stage to offer a taste of what’s to come to an appreciative audience.
“Every year we make a point of booking people from Saskatchewan, not because we have to, but because they are as good as anybody anywhere,” said McGuinty.
Reveen, the most popular show in the history of Canadian theatre, will be Thursday, Sept. 29. Over six million have seen Reveen’s family friend, funny show.
“It’s going to be fun,” said McGuinty.
Grease Sing-a-Long is set for Friday, Oct. 7, as requested by local fans who enjoyed last year’s sing-a-long with The Sound of Music. The interactive show encourages dressing up and singing along.
Canadian Grand Master Fiddle Champ and Canadian Open Fiddle Champion April Verch will perform Saturday, Nov. 5. She can fiddle and step dance at the same time! She performed in the opening ceremonies of the 2010 Olympic Games.
Saturday, Nov. 19 will see Grammy Award-winning Donald Ray Johnson bring Ray Charles to life on the Dekker Stage. Backing him up will be a rhythm section, killer horn section and backup singers known as Soothe Your Soul.
McGuinty was proud to announce that the Ennis Sisters, one of the most highly enjoyed performances of last season, will be back. Friday, Dec. 9. Maureen, Teresa and Karen (the funny one) will help the Battlefords celebrate Christmas.
More Christmas entertainment will come from Patricia O’Callaghan and friends. TheGlobe and Mailsays, “A genuine phenomenon in the making, Patricia O’Callaghan turns heads and opens ears. Her devotion to her craft may make the Canadian singer the unlikeliest new star in ages.” Her show is Friday, Dec. 16.
The University of Saskatchewan will be back again this season. The Greystone Singers and the U of S Jazz Ensemble will perform Friday, Jan. 29, 2017.
“You have to hear these young people,” said McGuinty.
Thursday, Feb. 9, perennial favourite, country singer Lisa Brokop will present the Patsy Cline Project. Buoyed by supporting multi-media imagery, the Canadian Country Music Awards winner will take the audience on an incredible musical journey featuring some of Patsy Cline’s most memorable songs.
“She does Patsy Cline justice,” said McGuinty.
Following up on the response to Ballet Jazz de Montreal in last year’s season, McGuinty said he looked around for another amazing dance performance. Friday, Feb. 9, 2017 will see a otherworldly dance performance titled NeoindigenA, by award-winning artistic director, choreographer and performer Santee Smith, produced by Kaha:Wi Dance Theatre. Urban Native Magazine says, “Smith’s performance was raw, animalistic and enlightened, changing tone and narrative smoothly through a thousand years on stage. All I can say is get yourself to this show.”
From the Obama inaugural ball to North Battleford, three time Juno Award winner Crystal Shawanda performs Friday, March 3. Shawanda grew up on the Wikwemikong reserve on an island in Ontario and always longed to be a blues singer. A tenacious nature has realized her dream.
The University of Saskatchewan Amati Quartet performs Sunday, April 9. The group performs on 17th century instruments crafted by the Amati family of Italy. The quartet has delighted audiences in Rome and Cremona, Italy and has performed for Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
The final “Dekker Centre presents” show of the season will be crooning by Tim Tamashiro along with piano by Tommy Banks, Canadian pianist, conductor, arranger, composer, television personality and former senator. Tim Tamashiro, who grew up in Blackfalds, Alta., is described as a jazz evangelist. The host of Tonic on CBC Radio 2, he supports jazz artists throughout Canada and around the world and he participates as a singer.
Each of the Dekker Centre season shows is sponsored locally, and McGuinty thanked all last year’s sponsors and the coming year’s sponsors for making it possible to bring in high quality entertainment for the Battlefords’ enjoyment.
In addition to the “season” shows booked by the Dekker Centre, a variety of other performances are on the agenda as well, some local. To help offset the cost for local performers, the Dekker Centre holds a yearly fundraiser calls Celebrate the Arts. This year’s is themed Celebrate the Art of Being Irish, and takes place on St. Patrick’s Day, Friday, March 17, 2017. Entertainment booked so far is the popular Saskatchewan Celtic band Back of the Bus.
Local events to take place at the Dekker Centre include: a reprise of last year’s amazing Dances of India, Sunday, Sept. 11; the annual Battlefords Union Hospital Foundation Festival of Trees Dec. 2 through 8; the Joy of Christmas with the North Battleford City Kinsmen Concert Band Sunday, Dec. 4; Wintersong with the Battlefords Children’s Choirs, the Gallery Singers and guests Sunday, Dec. 11; the Svoboda Dance Festival April 6 through 9, 2017; the Battlefords Kiwanis Music Festival Gala April 12, 2017; and In Celebration of April by the North Battleford City Kinsmen Band Sunday, May 7, 2017.
Also happening in 2017 is TheatreFest 2017, the annual competitive community theatre festival. It is being co-hosted by Theatre Saskatchewan Inc, and the Battlefords Community Players at the Dekker Centre for the second time.
The Dekker Centre will also be producing for the second year an event dubbed On Stage at the Dekker Centre, in which local talent is showcased. The event has been made possible by a gift to the Dekker Centre by the Rawlinson family in recognition of retired radio executive David Dekker. Organizers are looking forward to a successful second year.
The Dekker Centre will also be making good use of its abilities as a theatre with a series of family movie matinees October through February.
As a venue available for rent, the Dekker Centre will also host even more than already listed.
Thursday, Sept. 15, the Blackwood Quartette from Nashville will host an evening with the Gospel Side of Elvis.
The children’s show Toopy and Binoo will be at the Dekker Centre Thursday, Oct. 6.
The Louisiana Hayride Christmas will be in town Friday, Nov. 12.
The Fitzgerald Family Band, featuring fiddle music and exhilarating dance routines, will appear Friday, March 24, 2017.
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