Tickets are still available for the Sunday, February 12, performance of Lyric’s annual fundraiser, The Best of Broadway: The Songs You Know and Love, at the Hotel Saskatchewan Radisson Plaza.

This year’s fundraiser will feature a three-course meal in the Regency Ballroom at the Hotel Saskatchewan at 12 noon, followed by the entertainment at 1 p.m.

All tickets are $45; a tax receipt issued for a portion of the ticket price. Tickets are available at Bach & Beyond, Golden Mile Centre (cash or cheque only).

This year’s show features an amazing selection of songs from a century of Broadway hits, spun out over a series of well-crafted medleys, with a plethora of solos, duets and chorus numbers. The cast features both Lyric veterans and newcomers: Stacy Allan, Deborah Amor, Andrea Armstrong, Rob Armstrong, Aiden Barker, Tyler Burton, Leah Constable, Brandee Demyen, Sharon Eisbrenner, Tajzanna Hall, Michael Hamann, David Hopkinson, John Johnston, Norma Lemmerick, Ruaridh MacDonald, Joan Miller, Dwight Muller, Carly Phillips, Elizabeth Popowich, Celia Ricker, Owen Ricker, Hayley Robinson, Jessica Scheuer, Michaela Solomon, Mason Sontag, Brittany Soriano, Linda Weir, Caitlin Bolduc Whelan, Virginia Wilkinson, Alice Willett, Edward Willett, Margaret Anne Willett and Marianne Woods.

It’s a wonderful show and the fabulous way to spend a winter weekend. Don’t miss it!

Auditions for Lyric’s fall production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown will be held Thursday, September 1 from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Lakeview United Church, 3200 McCallum Ave. (Use the west front entrance.)

Director Evie Sawatzky is seeking energetic adults, 16 years of age and up, to play Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, Sally and Snoopy in this funny musical adaptation of Charles M. Schultz’s classic comic strip, with book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner.

Please prepare a musical theatre song. An accompanist will be provided; please bring sheet music. The director may ask you to read a monologue from the show and/or move while singing or speaking. Monologues are posted here. Although not required, you may wish to memorize your solo and a monologue.

To arrange an alternate audition time or  for more information, contact  Production Manager Joan Ziffle, 535-3728, joanziffle@yahoo.com.

The show runs November 2 to 6, 2011, at the Shumiatcher Theatre, Mackenzie Art Gallery.

Tickets are now on sale for Regina Lyric Musical Theatre’s production of Baby, which runs May 25 to June 1 in the ShuBox Theatre, Riddell Centre, University of Regina.

With music by David Shire, lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr., and a book by Sybille Pearson, Baby tells the story of three couples on a university campus as they deal with the painful, rewarding and agonizingly funny consequences of this universal experience. There are the college students, barely at the beginning of their adult lives; the thirty-somethings, having trouble conceiving but determined to try; and the middle aged parents, looking forward to seeing their last child graduate from college when a night of unexpected passion lands them back where they started.

Directed by Robert Ursan, with Jane Ursan as musical director, Lyric’s production of Baby stars Jeff Tonita and Donna Trainor as Alan and Arlene, the older couple; Rob Armstrong and Leah Constable as Nick and Pam, the couple in their 30s, and Lucas Popowich and Jamie Lemmerick as Danny and Lizzie, the younger couple. Rounding out the cast are Bonita Dolmage, David Hopkinson, Elizabeth Popowich, Jason Fisher, John Jonhston, Kelly Sanchuk and Sophie Yannitsos.

The show runs Wednesday, May 25, through Wednesday, June 1 (except for Monday, May 30), with shows at 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students, and are available at Bach & Beyond in the Golden Mile Centre (cash or cheque only) or online here (credit card or PayPal), using the form below.

Note: RUSH SEATING. Tickets purchased online will be held at the front of house for pick-up. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before curtain.

ONLINE TICKET SALES  HAVE NOW ENDED. PLEASE BUY YOUR TICKETS AT THE DOOR.

Funny, poignant and down-to-earth, Baby will appeal to anyone who has ever had, wanted to have, or been a baby!

Auditions for Regina Lyric Musical Theatre’s spring production of the funny and poignant musical Baby, about three couples anticipating/hoping for the arrival of a baby, will be held this Thursday, February 17, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Lakeview United Church, 3200 McCallum Ave. Use the west front entrance.

Bring a song that shows off your voice; an accompanist will be provided.

Auditions are open to anyone interested from older teens on up.  The production runs May 25 to June 1 in the Shu-Box Theatre, Riddell Centre, University of Regina. It’s being directed by Robert Ursan.

Here’s a brief description of the show:

Is there anything more exciting, frightening and utterly transformational than impending parenthood?

“Baby” tells the story of three couples on a university campus as they deal with the painful, rewarding and agonizingly funny consequences of this universal experience. There are the college students, barely at the beginning of their adult lives; the thirty-somethings, having trouble conceiving but determined to try; and the middle aged parents, looking forward to seeing their last child graduate from college when a night of unexpected passion lands them back where they started.

You can read more about the show, its music and the available roles here .

Hope to see you at auditions!

Lyric’s musical fundraising brunch, From Camelot to Cabaret: The 1960s Broadway Revolution, was a great success again, as always. If you missed it, you missed a great line-up of songs from the 1960s sung by a terrific cast: Andrea Armstrong, Rob Armstrong, Janelle Bennett, Norris Bjorndahl, Lyndon Bray, Patrick Cherneski, Zachary Flis, John Johnston, Norma Lemmerick, Jamie Lemmerick, Graeme Mitchell, Julie Mombourquette, Dwight Muller, Elizabeth Popowich, Celia Ricker, Owen Ricker, Emily Schaming, Jessica Scheuer, Nathan Sgrazzutti, Carolyn Speirs, Amanda Trapp, Edward Willett, Margaret Anne Hodges, Thomas Williams and Sophi Yannitsos.

The songs included “Big Spender” and “The Rhythm of Life” from Sweet Charity, “Everybody Ought to Have a Maid” from A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, “Lusty Month of May” from Camelot, “Put on Your Sunday Clothes” from Hello, Dolly!, “Try to Remember” from The Fantasticks, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” from the musical of the same name, “As Long as He Needs Me” from Oliver!, “Bosom Buddies” from Mame, “I Believe in You” from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again” from Promises, Promises, “The Impossible Dream” from Man of La Mancha, “Is it Really Me?” from 110 in the Shade, “Make Someone Happy” from Do Re Mi, “Matchmaker” from Fiddler on the Roof, “On a Wonderful Day Like Today” from Roar of the Greasepaint (The Smell of the Crowd), “People” from Funny Girl, “Put on a Happy Face” from Bye, Bye Birdie, “Two Ladies” from Cabaret, “What Kind of Fool Am I” from Stop the World, I Want to Get Off, “Where are the Snows?” from I Do, I Do, and a medley from Hair that includes “Good Morning, Starshine” and, of course, “Age of Aquarius.”

Jane Ursan directed and the wonderful three-piece band featured Bill Sgrazutti on piano, Mark Limerick on bass and guitar, and Ryan Bennett on percussion.

Here’s a Flickr set of photos taken at the final rehearsal, and here’s the program!

Auditions for From Camelot to Cabaret: The 1960s Broadway Revolution, Lyric’s annual musical brunch, will be held on Thursday, December 2, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Lakeview United Church, 1440 14th Avenue. Use the west front entrance. Bring a song that shows off your voice; an accompanist will be provided.

From Camelot to Cabaret will be directed by Jane Ursan, and runs February 6 and 13 at the Hotel Saskatchewan Radisson Plaza. Tickets are $45, and will be available at Bach & Beyond in Januar…but why not purchase a gift certificate now as a Christmas present?

Email us to arrange for your certificate!

The show played to enthusiastic, hand-clapping singing-along audiences, and featured Andrea  Armstrong, Brittany Soriano, Carolyn Speirs, Dwayne Bechtold, Nathan Sgrazzutti, Rob Armstrong and Ron Blechinger.

The synopsis: It’s the 1960s. North America is coming out of 1950s into the hopes and dreams of a new decade. With the baby boomers representing a majority of the population, a “sea-change” is occurring in ideals and consciousness. Young people are getting together and standing up for what they feel is right. From the civil rights movement to peace, young people are sharing a message of love and togetherness. Everywhere you look you can read the signs.

The music of this time tells the story. Our story takes us from folkies such as Joan Baez all the way to Woodstock. Along the way we remember, learn, teach, love, and even laugh.

Songs included:

The Times They Are A Changin’

This Land is Your Land

We Shall Overcome

Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

Suzanne

When You’re Next To Me

The Circle Game

The Universal Soldier

Turn! Turn! Turn!

I’ve Got You Babe

Eve of Destruction

California Dreamin’

Sloop John B

Signs

Woodstock

After The Gold Rush

Give Peace A Chance

The final performance of Lyric’s production of Gypsy wrapped up today at the University Theatre in the Riddell Centre at the University of Regina…and a terrific production it was. Kudos to everyone involved…all of whom you can see in the photo above, or read about in the program by clicking the link below.

That also wraps up Lyric’s 33rd season. Up next: auditions for the first show of the 34th. See you there!

Gypsy Program

Once upon a time, Lyric shows were regularly reviewed by the Regina Leader Post, but it’s been years since that’s been the usual case. Which made it a pleasant surprise to discover that Gypsy did receive a review. And what makes it even better, of course, is that it’s a favorable one!

In today’s paper, Joe Couture wrote:

The show focuses on Rose, who is a polarizing character — perhaps the reason for the love-it-or-hate-it proposition that Ursan described. He also said that while he could never like or befriend Rose, he understands her — and hopes audiences will too. No matter what your opinion, she’s an interesting figure.

And the Regina Lyric Theatre — through a very strong performance by Trainor — has done a great job of bringing Rose’s story to life on stage.

It’s the first time that Gypsy has been done in Regina and opening night on Wednesday also featured strong performances from the other three lead actors and the rest of the cast, the list of members of which is 28 names long.

Read the whole thing!

Madison DeWalt (left), Jeff Tonita and Donna Trainor star in the Regina Lyric Musical Theatre's production of Gypsy. Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post

Lyric’s production of Gypsy, which runs May 26 to 30 at the University Theatre, was profiled in today’s Regina Leader Post by reporter Joe Couture.

An excerpt:

“It’s hysterically funny and you can’t help but felt that you’ve watched something incredible when you hear these voices singing,” Ursan said. “It’s a brilliant show — it’s always been one of those shows that people who know about Broadway musicals point to as being perfectly written. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry — it’s a great show.”

Read the whole story online here.