Thursday, February 12, 2009

Take a hip hop journey into the world of addiction.

Horizon Stage presents Green Thumb Theatre’s Cranked on Wednesday, February 25th

Stan, a.k.a. "definition", was a rising freestyle MC who lost it all because of his meth habit. In Cranked, Stan confronts his demons as he preps for an upcoming competition without the 'fix' that has dominated his life. Memories of the highs and the rush of music all collide as he struggles to recapture what he once had. This play examines the rising epidemic of crystal meth use by teens and young adults. Using spoken word and hip-hop, playwright Michael P. Northey and Green Thumb Theatre offer a dramatic exploration of addiction and drug culture. Using slang and pop culture references that are up-to-the-minute relevant, Cranked gets a serious message across, while still being entertaining. Horizon Stage is thrilled to present Cranked on Wednesday, February 25th at 7:30 p.m.

Original music for Cranked was written by Kyprios & Stylust, hip hop artists from Vancouver. Kyprios is a founding member of the group Sweatshop Union. He has worked with several notable producers including Billy Mann (Pink, Kelly Rowland), Saukrates (Kardinal Offishall, Ginuwine, Method Man) and Rob the Viking (Swollen Members). Geoff “Stylust” Reich is an independent producer who has been DJing
in Vancouver clubs since 1998. This production was directed by Green Thumb Theatre’s award winning Artistic Director, Patrick McDonald. The part of Stan will be performed by actor and musician Kyle Cameron.

To keep up the ‘party’ atmosphere, there will be free pizza from Boston Pizza, prizes, music and activities by the Healthbusters team in the lobby starting at 6:30 p.m. Don’t miss Cranked at Horizon Stage on Wednesday, February 25th, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are just $10 and are available through the Horizon Stage Box Office, 780-962-8995, and any Ticketmaster location. Warning: Cranked contains PG rated language and mature subject matter. It is not recommended for very young audience members.

“The best performance I have ever seen! It was so incredible and so powerful. In other talks about Crystal Meth they just gave us information but in Cranked I really got to see what really happens when you are on Crystal Meth. Thanks so much!"
Moriah (student)


"I thought the play was awesome. Not such a typical take on a drug addiction. It was very entertaining and a nice change. Actor was great and the songs were too."
Anonymous

"I am a recovering Meth addict and watching this made me grateful to be recovering. It opened my eyes to see what Meth users such as myself really went through and the production hit me hard. Very moving and very believable. Some parts were hard to hold back the tears. Loved it."
Emma Hogg (student)

Search “Cranked by Green Thumb Theatre” on
www.youtube.com to see a teaser.

Horizon Stage would like to thank the following Cranked Sponsors and Supporters: Canadian Heritage, the Alberta Foundation of the Arts, Royal Inn Express, Boston Pizza, Sonic 102.9 and Safe City.

Thursday, February 05, 2009

Take Your Sweetheart to the Ballet on Valentine’s Day

Horizon Stage presents Ballet Jörgen Canada’s Romeo and Juliet on February 14th

Spend Valentine’s Day with two of Shakespeare’s best known lovers. Enjoy a magical night of dance and romance when Canada’s fifth largest ballet company performs their interpretation of Romeo and Juliet at Horizon Stage in Spruce Grove on Saturday, February 14th. Become embroiled in the feud between the houses of Capulet and Montague. Let yourself be swept away by the story of the two Verona youth whose struggle for love and happiness ends in the ultimate tragedy.

True to Shakespeare’s original story, Ballet Jörgen Canada mounts a poignant and humourous ballet which also holds an emotional lens to the dramatic love story of the title characters, danced by Hampus Gauffin and Tara Butler. Company co-founder and Artistic Director Bengt Jörgen’s masterful choreography entices audiences with its beauty and seamlessness. Glenn Davidson’s minimalist sets are fluidly integrated into the choreography, to the effect of stunning transitions. Sergei Prokofiev’s glorious score is one of his best-known works, and it contains some of the most inspired passages he ever composed including the ever-popular “March of the Capulets”.

Premiering in Banff, Alberta on February 27th, 1998, Romeo & Juliet has been showcased in major cities and communities across Canada, the United States, and China and has since won international recognition and critical acclaim. This 2009 tour will include 12 communities in Western Canada. In the Edmonton area they will also perform on February 12th in Leduc and February 22nd in Fort Saskatchewan. Continuing in their well-established tradition of education and outreach, Ballet Jörgen Canada will offer supernumerary roles to two local youth dancers in each of their tour cities. In Spruce Grove the lucky ballet students will be Kelsey Waddle and Krissy Kormos.

With a grand total of 16 dancers in its cast Romeo & Juliet promises to be a night of spectacle and romance, wrapped in exquisite costumes, brilliant choreography and a beautiful soundtrack. And, because Horizon Stage is such an intimate venue, audience members will experience this amazing performance in an Up Close and Personal way that can’t be duplicated in any other theatre in the capital region. Don’t miss the perfect Valentine’s Day romantic ballet, Rome & Juliet at Horizon Stage on Saturday, February 14th, 2009 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults, $25 students & seniors and are available through the Horizon Stage Box Office, 780-962-8995, and any Ticketmaster location.

"A production that looks like a ballet but feels like a play." Michael Crabb, The National Post

“Bengt Jörgen crafts a jewel-box Romeo & Juliet.”
Paula Citron, The Globe and Mail

“Shakespeare ballet woos the audience.”
Jason Gagliardi, The Hong Kong Sunday Morning Post Spectator

Horizon Stage would like to thank the following Ballet Jörgen Canada Sponsors and Supporters: Canadian Heritage, the Alberta Foundation of the Arts, the Edmonton Journal, Birdsell Grant Gardner Morck Barristers and Solicitors, Servus Credit Union and the Royal Inn Express.

Monday, February 02, 2009

Listen to Ian Tyson’s Horizon Stage concert on CBC 2 on February 12th

On Friday, January 9th CBC Radio recorded the legendary Ian Tyson live in concert at Horizon Stage. CBC will be airing that concert on Radio 2’s Canada Live with host Jacqueline Janelle on February 12th at 8 p.m. Radio 2 can be found on your FM dial at 90.9.

Ian Tyson has long been one of Canada’s most respected singer-songwriters. A pioneer who began his career in the 60s, he was one of the first Canadians to break into the American popular music market. In the years that followed, he hosted his own TV show, recorded some of the best country/folk albums ever made and became a rodeo rider and successful rancher. His list of honours includes a Juno Award, five Canadian Country Music Awards and 13 Alberta Recording Industry Association Awards. The 75-year-old icon is a member of the Order of Canada, the Alberta Order of Excellence, the Juno Hall of Fame and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Mr. Tyson has performed to 40 sold-out audiences at Horizon Stage in the past 18 years. He enjoys performing Up Close and Personal for Spruce Grove audiences which is why he has been coming back every second January since 2001.

Horizon Stage is thrilled to have formed this partnership with CBC Radio 2. Radio 2 has a coast-to-coast listenership of 1.2 million people. Being part of a Canada Live broadcast will increase our country’s knowledge and awareness of Horizon Stage and the City of Spruce Grove. Don’t miss the opportunity to listen to word-class singer and musician Ian Tyson, recorded live at Horizon Stage, on CBC Radio 2 on Thursday, February 12th at 8 p.m.