A18 - PRAIRIE POST - Friday, January 20, 2012
Entertainment Popular Swift Current Lyric mainstay constantly improv-ing
BY JESSI GOWAN —
jgowan@prairiepost.com
Fans of live theatre can enjoy a
more relaxed alternative to a regular production with the Lyric Theatre’s Improv Nights. Since last June, the theatre has hosted a
number of Improv Nights,where the audience has the opportunity to interact with the small group of actors who come up with hilarious bits on the spot, based on audience suggestions. “The first one went over really well,we
started off with an even bigger turnout than we had anticipated,” explained organizer Brian Dueck. “It’s continued to be really steady,and we seem to have a new crowd coming out each time. It’s really nice to see.” Dueck has been an active member of Swift Current Little Theatre for many years, and was looking for a new theatrical venue for the community. As a board member with Southwest Cultural Development Group, he knew they were interested in offering more theatre content at the Lyric, and thought regular Improv Nights would be a good introduction into theatre.
“It’s really something unique for the community, a great alternative to going for drinks and sitting at a bar
,and also a great alternative to theatre.” — Brian Dueck,organizer of improv nights at the Lyric Theatre
“It’s really just a lot of fun, very similar to ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ with a host running the show and a small cast participating in various improv games,” Dueck said. “The audience has to write down suggestions for interesting situations, and sometimes have to get up on stage to help out the actors.” The evenings have been attended by the
Boys on the Move program in the past, and Dueck noted he is starting to see a response from the high-school drama
club.To get more young people involved, Dueck is hoping to host a kind of improv boot camp. “We do want to encourage people to let us know if they want to try it out,” Dueck added.“We have a practice night usually the week before an Improv Night, to get limbered up and to go over some
game ideas. If people are interested in coming out,we like them to come to a practice night to go through some of the games and stuff with us, to see if they would actually like to be on stage.” Dueck hopes eventually, they can build an improv troupe of 14 or 15 members, so performers can switch off and add a little more variety to the regular Improv Nights at the Lyric. “It’s really something unique for the community,a great alternative to going for drinks and sitting at a bar, and also a great alternative to theatre,” he added. “Live theatre is fantastic, and wildly entertaining, but it’s nice to have some variety of live
entertainment.This gives people who are interested in, but intimidated by theatre a chance to get involved and try it.Even just as an
audience member. It’s kind of a way of finding other people who are interested in performing arts and giving them a starting point.” It’s also another opportunity for
patrons to enjoy another night out at the Lyric,which has become a large proponent of culture within the community. Although many of the activities at the theatre are musical, Dueck noted they are working at offering a variety of cultural opportunities to the area.
“Swift Current provides a number of
activities related to sports and athletics within the community, but it’s also important to focus on culture and what that can do for the community as well,” Dueck explained. “The Lyric does a really good job of bringing that stuff forward, and I hope that people come out to support not only the Improv Nights, but all of the other things going on here.” The next Improv Night will take place
at the Lyric Theatre on Jan. 27, with doors opening at 7:30 p.m. and the show beginning at 8 p.m. For $5 at the door, patrons can enjoy hours of entertainment, with a concession and bar available as well.
Leading Cdn jazz composer performs for students
BY JESSI GOWAN —
jgowan@prairiepost.com
Instrumentalists at the Swift Current Comprehensive High School were treated to a unique opportunity to work with one of Canada’s leading contemporary jazz composers and
performers, trombonist William Carn. “My time in Swift Current was really too brief,” Carn admitted. “We did have a lot of fun, though. I played a short set and talked with a handful of kids who were really keen to talk about jazz.” Carn has been a fixture on Canada’s jazz scene for years. His debut release,
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Other Stories, was nominated for a 2007 Juno Award as Traditional Jazz Album of the Year. He has been nominated for Trombonist of the Year at the National Jazz Awards from 2004 to 2008. “I started playing in Grade 8,when the band director put all of the instruments out on the floor and had us try them all.We were to write down our top three pics, and trombone was not on my list. I wanted the french horn, the trumpet, the saxophone... but when I tried those, I couldn’t make a sound with any of them,” explained Carn. “I picked up the trombone and a big sound came out, and since I didn’t want to fail music, I went with it. So I guess the trombone kind of picked me.” Carn studied classical music at the
University of Toronto, and although he enjoyed listening to jazz, he focused on classical to concentrate on improving his technical proficiency. By the time he had finished his four
years at university, a jazz program had started up, and he decided to stick around for a couple more years to get some experience with that. “Now, I’m a jazz / freelance
trombonist,” Carn said. “I play in a theatre festival doing musicals every summer,which is different than playing in a jazz quartet. I still get nervous and all of that, but it’s exciting
and eventually, that goes away and you can just focus on the music.” Carn has also taught throughout Canada for many distinguished institutions, including the University of Victoria, University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, Capilano College, Grant MacEwan College, Mohawk College, as well as for the Toronto, York and Etobicoke boards of Education. “I love teaching because it keeps me
on my toes,” he explained. “Kids ask great questions and it’s almost like being a doctor — you have to diagnose what the student may be doing wrong, and try to figure out a way for them to remedy that. It’s a fun challenge, and a great experience for sure.” He especially enjoyed his experience in Swift Current,where he was able to talk with the high-school students about aspects of improvisation, multiple tonguing, and different approaches to composition. “Aaron Thinglestad, the band
director, was a great help. I really can’t say enough good things about him,” Carn added. “He is trying to expose his kids to a bigger world of music, and in a small town where you don’t get too many acts coming through, it’s good for everyone. It’s a really great thing that he’s doing.”
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