New West Theatre’s new artistic director Jeremy Mason, can’t wait to introduce his new season to the stage this summer.
“I guess there is a bit of pressure, but I”m fortunate to have worked for the past three years as in an administrative capacity with New West (as general manager,” said artistic director Jeremy Mason.
“ I’m really excited to help give Southern Albertan audiences a really great theatrical experience,” he continued.
As usual there are two massive musical/ comedy revues in July and August. Bandstand will focus on the hits of the ’60s and ’70s including Motown, surfing hits, British hits and anything that might appear on the musical variety shows of the ’60s. It takes place July 4-28.
“Bandstand features the hits of the ’60s from the Beatles to the Beach Boys, and there will be lots of really great comedy,” he said adding “Party On” will, focus on the hits of the ’70s.
New West gets ready to “party on” in August, from Aug. 8-Sept. 1, supplying the soundtrack to summer including a plethora of hits from Billy Joel, The Eagles, Whitney Houston and many others.
But Mason is exciting about the first Canadian play of the season, Billy Bishop Goes to War, which runs Sept. 27-Oct. 6.
“I wanted to choose a really good Canadian play,” said Mason, adding Billy Bishop is one of his favourites.
“I’ve been wanting to put on Billy Bishop for a long time. I studied Billy Bishop in university,” he said.
“It’s a one act play with one actor, but there is a piano player on stage like Kathy Zaborsky was in ‘Marg Szkaluba; Pissy’s Wife.’ (which ran in October 2009),” he said.
“It takes place in the First World War. There is some great ragtime music, but and it really talks about a point in time when Canada really found its identity,” he enthused adding it will appeal to all ages.