New West Theatre’s December production has not only become part of Lethbridge’s Christmas tradition, but it is also a 
homecoming and a chance to catch up with lost cast members and old friends for the members of the Lethbridge theatre troupe.
New West Theatre will be lighting up The Yates Theatre with “Light It Up, Dec. 15-31.
“Light It Up Is a really delightful Christmas celebration with friends and family,” described director Nicholas Hanson.
The cast includes a lot of familiar faces like New West mainstays Scott Carpenter, Erica Hunt, Jessica Ens and vocal director Kathy Zaborsky plus relative newcomers like Jocelyn Haub, Devon Brayne and Jay Whitehead, who directed the two summer productions and Kyle Gruninger, who moved out to Vancouver to pursue a music career with his band Incura.
“ We’ve got some of the usual suspects. But we’re really excited about some of the ones who haven’t been around for a few years,” Hanson continued.
“ Kyle Gruninger performed with us in the early part of the decade, but he moved out west to pursue a very successful music career. So it’s great to have him home for the holidays to share his incredible rock star abilities,” said director Nicholas Hanson.
Gruninger is excited to share a stage again with old friends like Scott Carpenter and Erica Hunt.
“I’m singing ‘Don’t Stop Believing,’ by Journey with Erica (Hunt) and a John Denver medley and ‘Don’t Stop Me Now,’ by Queen. I’ll be doing a lot of other things and wearing ridiculous costumes,” Gruninger noted, adding the last show he did with New West Theatre was back in 2006.
“ I got an opportunity to see some of my best friends in the world,” he said adding he jumped at the opportunity to get involved when Hanson called him up and asked him if he wanted to perform with them again.
Coming back to New West is like returning home to the bosom of a long lost family.
“It was Erica’s birthday and there were balloons and cakes. Coming to rehearsal was like walking into a party. Of course you have to work at this party,” he continued. It has been a challenge.
“We’ve had to learn 20 songs, 20 dances and all of the comedy in about two weeks, so it has been a challenge. But there is a big support system,” he continued.
“ There are no barriers, you can bring anything to the table, any joke, any song and it will be looked at. The first thing they asked me was ‘what do you want to sing,’” he enthused.
After the show closes, Gruninger will return to Vancouver and put the final touches on Incura’s new CD which is due out in 2012, then will go back to California to do some writing.
Jay Whitehead, who directed both summer productions, is looking forward to being back on stage.
“It’s great to be back on stage with some of my old friends doing what I love to do,” said Whitehead, who taught a few of the cast members at the University of Lethbridge. He is pleased to see such a diverse group of seasoned veterans and enthusiastic newcomers.
“They’re like family. It’s great to share the stage with them again,” he continued.
So far the highlight for Whitehead is being part of Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now,” especially working with music director Paul Walker’s arrangements.
“It’s high energy. It’s always a lot of fun to sing what he has written for us,” Whitehead enthused.
Devon Brayne, who made his New West Theatre debut during the two summer productions, noted it has been a highlight to not only work with the experienced cast who he has looked up to for many years, but also to share the stage with a couple of his professors. He was in the University of Lethbridge’s production of the Government Inspector earlier this year under the direction of Nick Hanson.
“ It is nice to be on and actor to actor basis with Jay rather than an actor to director basis,” observed Brayne, who will be singing Conway Twitty’s “It’s Only Make Believe,” and Rick Springfield’s “Jessie’s Girl.”
“I’ll also be helping out on a couple instruments,” he said praising the rest of the cast for their support.
“Just finishing the semester at school, the cast has made it a really easy transition,” he said.
“I’m really thankful to be hired back on,” he said adding he is enjoying fine tuning his craft by working with a talented cast.
“I’ve enjoyed working with people I’ve looked up to for years like Erica and Scott,” he continued.
Erica Hunt always enjoys these productions and working with long lost friends.
“ It’s not like we’ve completely lost touch with them,” she said. She is enjoying the diversity of the show.
“We’ve got some country classics and even a Christmas song because ’tis the season. But only the one song,” she said.
She enjoys renewing these old friendships, not only with he older material but with previous year’s performers.
“ It‘s really fun. It’s great to be able to build these friendships. When people come back, it’s great to just hang out with these people for a month,” she said.
She noted it is not only the cast, but the backstage crew as well like stage manager Sara Trachsel, musical director Paul Walker and the costume crew headed by Kathryn Smith, who she is pleased to be able to work with again.
“They are a really great group of people,” she said.
“It should be fun, you should come and see it,” Hunt said.
“ A lot of businesses come to New West Theatre for their Christmas parties. They have dinner first, then come to the show. They get tired of the same old, same old. It takes the pressure off of busy businesses for party planning,” he continued.
“Those people all come here and have a great time,” he continued adding that, combined with ticket sales mean advance ticket sales are going really well already.
“We selected songs within the range of all of the performers and which everybody knows the words to. We’re refining the program, learning the choreography and developing new comedy bits,” Hanson said.
Hanson enjoys the positive spirit and energy surrounding the winter show.
“It’s that people are in such great spirit. They are looking to have a great laugh,” he said. New West shows are a great way to show off the breadth of talent living in Lethbridge.
“It’s amazing. There’s so many great singers and dancers and musicians living in Lethbridge. In these December shows, we like to showcase them to our audiences,” Hanson said.
Light it Up runs at 8 p.m. Dec. 15-17, Dec. 19-23 and Dec. 26-30. There are also 1 p.m. matinees, Dec. 26 and Dec. 31 with a special New Year’s Eve Show, Dec. 31 at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $18 for earlybird adults, $20 for the matinees and $25 for night shows. Tickets for seniors and students cost $15 for earlybirds, $17 for matinees and $21 for nights. Children under 12 get in for $12 or $15 at night.
