Playgoers of Lethbridge want you to “Exit Laughing,” in October.
 They are holding auditions for their Oct. 22-26 production of  Paul Elliott’s comedy “Exit Laughing,” June 26 and 27 in the Casa Meeting room from 7-9 p.m.
Director Linda Johnson is keeping her cards close to her chest about what the play is about.
“I don't want to give away too much info about the play other than: "When the biggest highlight in your life for the past 30 years has been your weekly bridge night out with the girls, what do you do when one of your foursome inconveniently dies,” she described in an e-mail.

Elliott’s new comedy “ Exit Laughing completed its developmental staging with the Reunion Theatre Group outside of Seattle  to rave reviews, then won the 2013 AACTfest with a record-breaking premiere  at the Springfield Little Theatre ‘s historic Landers Theater.  

By the end of its premiere run, Exit Laughing had broken a 50-year record for the amount of money raised and tickets sold and packed houses every night with standing room only.

 The cast requires three women in their late ’50s to ’60 to play the three southern ladies from Birmingham, Alabama , Connie, Leona and Millie who borrow the ashes of their recently deceased friend from the funeral home for one last card game and the most exciting night of their life begins as hilarity ensues involving a police raid,  a stripper and much more.
 The play also requires one woman in her early ’20s and a man in his 20s.
 They also need a producer and production staff
No preparation required.

The show runs in Country Kitchen, Oct. 22-26. Johnson hopes to begin rehearsals in mid-July.

There’s no dust on Victoria raised, Lethbridge based musician Leeroy Stagger.

In addition to running a busy studio Rebeltone Studio, raising children and being constantly on tour, this year he is releasing two new CDs and a companion book.
“I haven’t written a new song in about a year, so I guess this was about cleaning out the pipes,” said Stagger, spending a little time at home briefly in between tours.
“ It’s been crazy, but it‘s exciting,” Stagger said.

 He has just released  ‘Me and The Mountain,’ giving  a full house a preview of the new music at a special Geomatic Attic presentation at Brick and Mortar, June 4.
 ‘Strange Path’ comes out in September, featuring Elvis Costello and the Attractions’ drummer Pete Thomas.
 A new single “Strange Attractor” has already been leaked from “Strange Path.”

“ I think ‘A Strange Path’ is a masterpiece.  it’s the best I’ve done. But they just didn’t work together.  Though there is a song ‘ The Great Unravelling’  that might fit on ‘Me and The Mountain” he continued.
“Me and The Mountain” hearkens back to the alt country and roots rock of Stagger‘s early career.
“Strange Path is accessible. It’s more of a continuation of (his last album) ‘Love Versus,’” he said.
 David Korten’s book “The Great Turning,” influenced the subject matter of “ Me and the Mountain.”
“I write about what I see, feel and I write about what I read, whatever is important,“ he said, adding the book is a tough read about how human society has turned away from ecological concerns to a more selfish, empire and greed based society.

So there are a lot of heavier songs  on the CD, like “Broken Generation.”
“That’s a heavy song and I haven’t felt the need to song that one in a while, but I’ve been playing most of the CD on the tour,” Stagger said.
He has some pretty high powered talent on the “Me and The Mountain”  in addition to his hot touring band of bassist Tyson Maiko, drummer Kyle Harmon and  multi-instrumentalist  Ryland Moranz.
 Juno award winning musician and producer Steve Dawson plays on “Me and The Mountain,” as does Monkeyjunk’s Steve Marriner.

“ I produced both of the CDs myself,” Stagger said, adding he recorded them both in his own studio.
“ Usually I like to record in other locations to take me out of my comfort zone, but it was nice to be at home for these records,” he said.
 “It was great to have Steve Dawson on the CD. It was really special,” he said, adding it was also great to have Steve Marriner on board.
“ Steve Marriner is a really great friend and he’s super talented. He plays baritone guitar and harp on the CD,” he said.

Festival season is in full swing  in Lethbridge, with two big events happening this week.
 But first, tonight Gabriel Thaine’s High Level Variety show returns to the slice tonight with hosts Jolene Draper and the Inquisitive Few plus performances by Gabe Thaine and Derrick Grey. The show begins at 8:30 p.m. Admission is by donation. Thaine has a busy week as he will also be backing Keith Catfish Woodrow at the Slice, June 22 with his band, High Level Blues.

 The biggest event of the week is the annual Rotary Dragon Boat festival, which takes over Henderson Lake park, June  21-23. As usual, there is a good slate, if not familial looking, schedule of performers, providing the soundtrack to  the races.
 Things begin on Friday, June 21 at 5 p.m. with country musician Dusty Dee Litchfield, who will be followed by the opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. , at 6:30 the Chinook High School Rock & Pop program, led by Scott Davidson will be performing followed by The Desert Wind Belly Dancers at 8:45. p.m. and the popular classic rockers the Chevelles  at 9:15.
 Things start early at 11 a.m., June 22 with local doctor band DNR starting things off they will be followed by the rose ceremony at noon,blues rock band CODA at 12:30, then  Coda Blues by Global drums at 1:30 p.m. ,. Dory Rossiter’s band Horizon are playing the hits at  2 p.m. followed by LCI Arts Academy Dance  at 3 p.m., the LCI Jazz band at 3:30 p.m. , Expressions Dance at  4 p.m., new classic rock and country band Lawless Murphy at 4:30 p.m., aKoustic Harmony at 5:30 p.m.  featuring Kelliane Litchfield, classic rock band Old School at 6:30 and Alyssa McQuid and Coyote Junction close off Saturday night playing all the country and pop hits you want from 8:30-10:30 p.m.
Sunday, June 24 begins at 11 a.m. with the E-Free band followed by Karen Romanchuk at noon. Between Skies are on at 12:30 p.m. followed by Steve Keenan band playing blues and blues rock at  1:30  p.m. The Steve Keenan Band have a busy weekend as they are also playing Casino Lethbridge, Friday and Saturday night.
Urban beat are  on at 2:30 p.m. followed by more classic rock  from Suite 33 at 3 p.m. taking you to the closing ceremonies at 4 p.m.
 As usual, the Rotary Dragon bat Festival is a free, family friendly event.

 If you love classical music, the Centric Music festival is back with concerts  every day beginning Wednesday, mostly at St. Augustine’s Anglican church.
 The first concert is June 19 at 7:30 p.m. featuring pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin performing Chopin, Debussey, Enescu, Mendelssohn and Rachmoniov.
The second concert , is June 20 at 7:30 p.m. features members of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, Trio de Moda and pianist Alison Kilgannon performing the music of Beethoven,Schubert and Schumann.
 Lethbridge’s jamani percussion and flute duo (Jodi and Matt Groenheide) perform the dance of the drums, featuring musical styles from all over the world. beginning at 7:30 p.m. at St. Augustine’s  Anglican Church.
 The fourth concert also features local performers as soprano Madison Craig and Zain Solinski celebrate the female Muse and the reclamation of poetry by the female voice. They will perform works by Purcell, Messian, Strauss, Szmanowski and Previn beginning at 7:30 p.m. at St. Augustine’s  Anglican church.
The Centric Festival winds up at Casa at 2:30 p.m with a best of, farewell collaborative concert, June 23.
 Tickets for are shows are $30  and $25 for under 30.