Steppin' Out to take cultural centre stage

Steppin' Out to take cultural centre stage MANDY HIGGINS The Moose Jaw Times Herald

Evie Koop and Jeffery Allan Sawatzky perform, All I Ask Of You from the musical Phantom of the Opera, as part of the Steppin’ Out, touring broadway musical revue at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre on Tuesday. Colin Dewar photograph

On stage at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre beginning Friday are Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music and Phantom of the Opera. Or at least there will be snippets of those Broadway musicals — songs from each of them will be performed in a revue called Steppin’ Out. “We wanted to showcase songs from a cross-section of musicals,” said Evie Koop, the show’s director, producer and choreographer. Koop and her co-star, Jeffrey Allan Sawatzky, selected the Broadway numbers in the show. Some they had performed in their stage careers, others were ones they always wanted to try. Some of the songs featured in the show are Gimme, Gimme from Thoroughly Modern Millie, All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera, Glitter and Be Gay from Candide, Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid, Wheels of a Dream from Ragtime and If I Ever Would Leave You from Camelot. The show’s title song, Steppin’ Out, is from the 1948 musical film Easter Parade. Together, the songs featured in the show create a range of moods, said Glenn Hagel, who is a featured singer for the song The Rain in Spain from My Fair Lady. “Some of the songs are mellow, while others are extremely lively,” said Hagel. Koop and Sawatzky will be joined on stage for many of the show’s songs by an all-female chorus comprised of seven singers. Jennifer Crawford plays piano, and there is taped orchestral background music for many of the numbers as well. Koop and her mother Ruth are producing Steppin’ Out through their company, RuBarb Productions, which is headquartered in Caronport. In the past, the company has produced The Wizard of Oz, Beauty and the Beast and Phantom at the cultural centre. Mandy Higgins can be reached at 691-1264.

Dear Patrons and Guests, RuBarb Productions is privileged to welcome you to our FOURTH summer production! Four Years! Years that began with the rarely heard musical Phantom, a commissioned holiday jewel A Vaudeville Christmas, and our first Classically RuBarb concert. We look back over the years with 20/20 vision and are so incredibly honoured that you joined us on this journey. With the presentation of timeless stories such as Anne of Green Gables, The Wizard of Oz, and Beauty and the Beast, my first joy was meeting the children after the shows.  Perhaps that is the real joy of the theatre… When we attend a show we can abandon all the responsibilities that tie us down and become like children. Our imagination lives again… So I wish to thank-you. Thank-you for your part… oh there are so many parts. For the teachers who welcomed our workshops in your classrooms, the sponsors who gifted us with materials and funds, the businesses who advertise with us, and the parents and grandparents who brought their children/grand children to the beautiful Mae Wilson theatre… we do this for you and with you. We welcome you to an elegant and surprising evening of Musical Theatre favourites. Steppin’ Out features Jeffrey Allan Sawatzky. So… we’ve adjusted our performances around his Roughrider anthem singing schedule. Go Riders!!! This visually captivating show is a perfect evening out for two. You will float through the evening on a string of timeless melodies from a variety of musicals such as The Sound of Music, The Little Mermaid, The Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, Westside Story and more…  Oh I am so excited… come celebrate our fourth summer at the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre! With deepest gratitude,

Evie Koop, Artistic Director

PRODUCED BY RuBarb Productions and Moose Jaw Cultural Centre ARTISTIC DIRECTOR – Evie Koop PARTNER IN CRIME – Jeff Sawatzky PRODUCTION AND BUSINESS MANAGER – Ruth Koop GENERAL MANAGER – Graham Hall CHOREOGRAPHER – Evie Koop ORCHESTRA REHEARSAL AND MUSICAL DIRECTOR: Jennifer Crawford DANCE CAPTAIN – Lauran Olmstead PRODUCTION ASSISTANT – Mikaela Sawatzky STAGE MANAGER AND FLYMAN – Ed Koop SOUND REINFORCEMENT – Ian Isaak LIGHTING DESIGN – Michael Shane Clark SPOTLIGHTS – Evan Fryatt and Matt Koop COSTUMES – Ruth Koop and Barb Raine BOX OFFICE – Judy Casey

SONG LIST (subject to adjustments)

Steppin’ Out With My Baby (Easter Parade) .........................................................Evie & Jeff Lauran Olmstead, Jordan Gyrlevich Some Enchanted Evening (South Pacific)......................................................................... Jeff Gimme, Gimme (Thoroughly Modern Millie) ................................................................... Evie On the Street Where You Live (My Fair Lady) ................................................................. Jeff Trolley Song (Meet Me In St. Louis) ............................................................. Evie & Ensemble Summertime (Porgy and Bess) ........................................................................................ Evie You’ll Never Walk Alone (Carousel) ................................................................................ Jeff If I Loved You (Carousel) ....................................................................................... Evie & Jeff Somewhere Over the Rainbow (The Wizard of Oz) ........................................................ Evie The Rain in Spain (My Fair Lady) ........................................................................... Evie & Jeff with special guest Glenn Hagel

Part of Your World (The Little Mermaid) ......................................................................... Evie Wheels of a Dream (Ragtime) ............................................................................... Jeff &Evie

INTERMISSON I Could Have Danced All Night (My Fair Lady) ................................................................ Evie Lauran Olmstead, Jordan Gyrlevich, Katie Cotter

Impossible Dream (Man of La Mancha) ............................................................................ Jeff Blue Skies (Betsy and White Christmas) ................................................................. Evie & Jeff Try to Remember (The Fantasticks) .............................................................................. Jeff A Spoonful of Sugar (Mary Poppins) ........................................................... Evie & Ensemble C’est Moi (Camelot) ......................................................................................................... Jeff If Ever I Would Leave You (Camelot) ............................................................................... Jeff Glitter and be Gay (Candide) .......................................................................................... Evie All I Ask Of You (Phantom of the Opera) ............................................................... Evie & Jeff Edelweiss (The Sound of Music) ........................................................... Evie, Jeff & Ensemble So Long, Farewell (The Sound of Music) ................................................................. Ensemble Evie & Jeff Moon River (Breakfast at Tiffany’s) ....................................................................... Evie & Jeff Somewhere (Westside Story) ................................................................................ Evie & Jeff

BIOS Jeffrey Allan Sawatzky born and raised in Saskatchewan, Canada. He received his formal vocal training in Winnipeg, MB and Toronto, ON. Jeff has performed across Canada with a variety of choral and vocal groups in venues such as the Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto, Centre in the Square in Kitchener-Waterloo, Centennial Concert Hall in Winnipeg and the Conexus Arts Centre in Regina. His popular repertoire includes contemporary classics that are sung in several languages including English, Italian and Spanish and is truly inspirational. He has been very active entertaining hometown crowds, performing lead roles in a variety of musicals from Carousel to Camelot. Frequently, Jeff performs alongside his Uncle Rory Allen and his long lost cousin Victor Sawa  with the Regina Symphony Orchestra. As a lifelong Rider fan, Jeff is proud to be the official national anthem singer for the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Jeff is pleased to announce the release of his first CD, Fields of Gold a collection of original romantic ballads and inspirational classics. He is excited to be touring Saskatchewan this fall and spring with the Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC) Stars for Saskatchewan concert tour. His genuine belief that song is truly meant to touch people is what is at the heart of his performances. www.jeffsawatzky.ca Jeff’s CD will be available for purchase at intermission and after the show.

Evie Koop, is so pleased to be returning to the Moose Jaw Cultural Centre for the 4th summer! As the Artistic Director and co-founder of RuBarb Productions, she has produced musicals such as Anne of Green Gables, Phantom, The Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast for the city and guests of Moose Jaw. She was thrilled to join the cast of Saskatoon’s Persephone Theatre as Babette in their inaugural Main Stage production of Beauty and the Beast. Some favourite roles have included Anne - with an E (Anne of Green Gables), Christine Daae (Phantom), Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Fanny Filburt (The Saints of Crooked Creek). Recently, she won the 2009 SGI Canada RSO Symphony Singing Star competition and is looking forward to performing with the Regina Symphony Orchestra on December 5th, 2009. She has studied in New York, Winnipeg, Caronport and is currently in Toronto studying voice with Marjorie Sparks & Brahm Goldhamer and ballet at the School of Atelier Ballet. Evie is passionate about storytelling through music, drama, and dance. For over a decade she has filled various roles in the Caronport Christmas Productions (choreographing, assistant directing, performing). "There is nothing like a dream to create the future" (Victor Hugo) and there is nothing quite like inspiring our future to dream.

ENSEMBLE Katie Cotter, Jordan Gyrlevich, Madeline Gabor, Emily Herridge, Emma Maelde, Lauran Olmstead, Savana Schanoski

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED WITH COSTUMING, PROPS, SETS, ADVERTISING…

Thank you to our cast, set construction, stage management and technical crew who without you this would not have been possible. Glenn Hagel – it is always so much fun to work with you…Thank you. And to Graham and Judy for your help and guidance – we have enjoyed working you again.

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• CLOGGING SUPPLIES

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• DECORATIONS & BALLOONS

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JEFFREY ALLAN SAWATZKY upcoming EVENTS… September 12, 2009 Ladies Evening of Elegance - Regina Beach, SK October 17, 2009 OSAC Concert Series - Watrous, SK October 18, 2009 OSAC Concert Series - Swift Current, SK November 20, 2009 OSAC Concert Series - Weyburn, SK November 21, 2009 OSAC Concert Series - Langenburg, SK November 22, 2009 OSAC Concert Series - Estevan, SK November 27, 2009 OSAC Concert Series - Melfort, SK November 28, 2009 OSAC Concert Series - Whitehawk, SK December 6, 2009 Regina Floral Conservatory's Christmas Event - Regina, SK January 22, 2010 OSAC Concert Series - Assiniboia, SK January 23, 2010 OSAC Concert Series - Moose Jaw, SK January 24, 2010 OSAC Concert Series - Shaunavon, SK March 5, 2010 OSAC Concert Series - Kindersley, SK March 6, 2010 OSAC Concert Series - Biggar, SK April 16, 2010 OSAC Concert Series - Melville, SK April 17, 2010 OSAC Concert Series - Kipling, SK April 18, 2010 OSAC Concert Series - Moosomin, SK

RuBarb Productions summer theatre day camp

August 10-14, 2009

BLAST TO THE PAST! STILL SPACE FOR A FEW MORE ! Who:

Ages 10-15 (limited to 20 students)

When:

Mon. Aug 10 to Fri. Aug 14, 2009 9 am—4 pm  Sunday Aug. 9th, 2009 @ 2:00 pm All students registered for camp will receive a FREE ticket to attend RuBarb Productions summer show

STEPPIN’ OUT

JEFFREY ALLAN SAWATZKY

fields of gold

Where: Moose Jaw Cultural Centre While the bulk of the classes will take place at The Moose Jaw Cultural Centre, field trips will be made to historical places around Moose Jaw to provide inspiration into portraying historical characters and encourage thorough and imaginative research.

Debut CD will be available for purchase at intermission and after the show CoCost:

Evie Koop, 2009 SGI Canada RSO Symphony Singing Star will be performing with the Regina Symphony Orchestra on December 5, 2009 during A Romanza Christmas

and meet the cast

afterwards.

How:

$120/child for the week Family rates: 1st child is $120 each addition child is $100 Payment is required at the time of registration EMAIL - your registration, headshot (picture of you) & resume (theatre/music/drama experience) to [email protected]

or phone 756-2780

A Romanza Christmas Saturday, December 5, 2009 8 PM Conexus Arts Centre Guest Artist: Romanza Conductor: Victor Sawa Victor Sawa has invited “Romanza”, a trio of Canadian tenors, to join the RSO for a Christmas celebration that will warm the heart and delight young and old.

Go to www.rubarbproductions.net for more information and to download registration form

Plan to stay a while with us again soon!

Uniting people in their passion for theatre …providing opportunities for emerging and seasoned artists …dedicated to uniting the talent and facilities of Moose Jaw …commitment to excellent and affordable quality entertainment www.rubarbproductions.net [email protected] 306.756.2780