This spring, Showplace Performance Centre in Peterborough continues to present an eclectic range of shows in its 20th year.
There’s alt-rock, Celtic music for the entire family, iconic Canadian folk, classic ’60s rock, tributes to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Carol Burnett, and more.
Here’s a selection of upcoming shows this spring at Showplace:
The Piano Men starring Jim Witter on Saturday, March 11 at 8 p.m.
The Piano Men is a critically acclaimed musical show that takes you on a time machine through the 1970s.
While pianist Jim Witter and his band play the classic hits of Billy Joel and Elton John — year by year and hit by hit — the era’s news headlines, people, fashion, cars, TV, movies, and pop culture memorabilia are displayed on a giant screen behind the performers.
VIDEO: The Piano Men starring Jim Witter
In this fundraiser for Showplace, you’ll hear tunes such as “My Life”, “Candle in the Wind”, “Rocket Man”, “Just the Way You Are”, and many more. Jim’s personal memories and easy-going on-stage presence add to a remarkable evening of nostalgia.
Tickets are $45, available at the box office (290 George St. N., Peterborough), by phone 705-742-7469, or online.
Matthew Good on Tuesday, March 14th at 8 p.m.
Canadian rock musician Matthew Good comes to Showplace to celebrate the release of his new EP, I Miss New Wave: Beautiful Midnight Revisited.
Matthew was the lead singer of the Matthew Good Band, one of Canada’s most successful alt-rock bands of the 1990s (they broke up in 2002). In 1999, the band released Beautiful Midnight, their most commercially successful album. It sold over 300,000 units in Canada alone and won the 2000 Juno Award for Best Rock Album.
VIDEO: “Suburbia” – Matthew Good
In the years since, Matthew has pursued a successful solo career and established himself as a political and mental health activist. Recently, he recorded new versions of selected songs from Beautiful Midnight and has released them as an EP. On his current tour, he’ll be performing Beautiful Midnight in its entirety.
Tickets are $49.50, available at the box office (290 George St. N., Peterborough), by phone 705-742-7469, or online.
As an added bonus, when you buy a ticket, you’ll receive an email with a code to download a digital copy of I Miss New Wave: Beautiful Midnight Revisited.
Next Generation Leahy on Sunday, March 19 at 3 p.m.
Most people have heard of Leahy, Lakefield’s famous Irish-Canadian musical family who have been recording and touring since the 1980s (originally The Leahy Family, they rebranded as Leahy in the late 1990s and subsequently won two Junos, for Best New Group and Best Instrumental Artist, in 1998).
Next Generation Leahy is, as the name implies, the next generation of the musical family. One of the original members of Leahy, Doug Leahy, together with his wife Jennifer and six of their eight children, are keeping the family’s musical traditions alive through music, song, and dance.
VIDEO: Next Generation Leahy at the 2016 Mariposa Folk Festival
In a Next Generation Leahy show, fiddle, cello, french accordion, piano, singing and (of course) French-Canadian step-dancing all find a place on stage. With their parents leading the action on stage, the children — ranging in age from 5 to 13 — bring to life the high-energy and infectious Celtic music people associate with the Leahy heritage.
The Leahy children are all accomplished multi-instrumentalists with a level of musical mastery rarely seen in a group so young, and they have the remarkable ability to enamour audiences of all ages — making this the perfect show for the entire family.
Tickets are $39 for adults, $35 for seniors, and $30 for students. You can get them at the box office (290 George St. N., Peterborough), by phone 705-742-7469, or online.
Danny Bronson presents The Essential Lightfoot on Friday, April 7 at 8 p.m.
Peterborough’s own Danny Bronson has been a professional musician and entertainer for over 39 years. A regular with The Citiots Improv troupe, as a musician he’s performed with the likes of Colleen Peterson and Sylvia Tyson — not to mention his work as an actor, musical director, jingle writer, studio musician, teacher, and much more.
On Friday, April 7th, Bronson will be celebrating Canada’s 150th anniversary with a concert of tunes from Gordon Lightfoot, one of our country’s best-loved folk singer-songwriters.
Along with Bill Crane, Barry Haggarty, John Roynon, and Alison Porter, Bronson will perform the classic songs of Lightfoot that have helped define our Canadian identity, including “If You Could Read My Mind”, “Sundown”, “Rainy Day People”, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”, and many more.
Tickets are $28 and are available at the box office (290 George St. N., Peterborough), by phone 705-742-7469, or online.
Classic Albums Live: The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s Are You Experienced on Saturday, April 8 at 8 p.m.
On Saturday, April 8th, the popular series Classic Albums Live returns to Peterborough with a note-for-note re-creation of The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s seminal album Are You Experienced.
Are You Experienced was the debut studio album by the English-American rock band led by electric guitarist Jimi Hendrix. Released in 1967, the record was an immediate critical and commercial success. Music critics widely regard it as one of the greatest debut albums in the history of rock and roll.
The professional musicians of Classic Albums Live will perform the entire record live on stage, cut for cut and note for note. Guitarist Clifton David Broadbridge has worked extensively to perfect the electric feedback and distortion technique emblematic of Hendrix’s playing.
You will hear some of Hendrix’s best-known tunes, including “Manic Depression”, “Hey Joe”, “The Wind Cries Mary”, “Fire”, “Foxy Lady” and, of course, the iconic “Purple Haze”.
VIDEO: Clifton David Broadbridge plays Jimi Hendrix
Tickets are $35.50 and can be purchased at the box office (290 George St. N., Peterborough), by phone 705-742-7469, or online.
“Broadway Bound with Andrew Lloyd Webber” on Monday, June 12 at 2 p.m.
Hear the songs by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber performed by local musicians while Beth McMaster presents the story of his career
The Legendary Icons Series is back for 2017 with a restaging of “Broadway Bound with Andrew Lloyd Webber” in the Nexicom Studio at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 12th.
Andrew Lloyd Webber is one of the most prolific musical theatre icons of all time, and Peterborough’s Beth McMaster will take you on a musical journey through many of his accomplishments and music. Beth will tell the story of the young British upstart who crossed the pond to take Broadway by storm and establish record breaking runs with his hit shows, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Phantom of the Opera, Evita, Cats and more.
Local performers Kate Suhr, Bob Trennum, Wayne Robinson, Gillian and Paul Wilson, and more will sing the songs of the legendary composer, including favourites such as “Memory” from Cats, “Any Dream Will Do” from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” from Evita. The show will also feature selections from Phantom of the Opera, Sunset Boulevard and other shows.
The music will be intertwined with the history of the times and the songwriters who influenced Andrew Lloyd Webber’s story, supported with images selected by Stuart McMaster.
This show sold out quickly in 2016, so don’t wait to get your tickets. Tickets are $20, and are available from the box office (290 George St. N., Peterborough), by phone 705-742-7469, or online.
“Carol Burnett: This Time Together” on Tuesday, June 13 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The Legendary Icons Series continues the very next day with “Carol Burnett: This Time Together”, with performances in the Nexicom Studio at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 13th.
In this new show, Beth McMaster tells the remarkable story of Carol Burnett, the American actress, comedian, singer, and writer, whose career spans six decades of television.
Burnett is best known for her variety show, The Carol Burnett Show, which premiered in 1967 and ran for 11 seasons. The show, which won 25 primetime Emmy Awards, featured performances by regulars Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, Tim Conway, and Dick Van Dyke.
With images selected by Stuart McMaster, Beth will lead you on Burnett’s journey from her childhood home in Hollywood, through the magic and memories of her fabulous variety show, to her continued popularity today. Burnett’s best-loved songs will be performed by Kate Suhr, Bob Trennum, Wayne Robinson, Gillian and Paul Wilson, and more.
You’ll hear “The Impossible Dream”, “Everything’s Coming Up Roses”, “Send in the Clowns”, “The Way We Were” and many more songs intertwined with the history of the times and the people who influenced Carol’s amazing career.
Tickets are only $20, and are available from the box office (290 George St. N., Peterborough), by phone 705-742-7469, or online.
Other upcoming shows this spring at Showplace
If you’re looking for something different at Showplace, there are a lot more performances happening this spring. Here are links to buy tickets to other upcoming shows at Showplace:
- Foley’s Irish Pub: Part 2 in the Nexicom Studio on Sunday, March 12th at 3 p.m. (sold out)
- “A Life’s Work” by the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, March 25th at 7:30 p.m.
- Matt Andersen with special guest Steve Hill on Sunday, March 26th at 7:30 p.m.
- Bubble Guppies Live! on Tuesday, March 28th at 6:30 p.m.
- “Hank Williams – The Lonesome Tour” starring Jason Petty on Tuesday, April 4th at 7 p.m.
- Gerry Dee Live on Thursday, April 6th at 7:30 p.m.
- “Oh What a Night!” featuring the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on Wednesday, April 26th at 7 p.m.
- “Ones – #1 Hits of The Beatles” on Friday, April 28th at 8 p.m.
- “A Tribute to Elvis in Concert” featuring Pete Paquette and Chris Connor on Wednesday, May 3rd at 7 p.m.
- “The Best of the Best: All Star Legends Tribute” featuring the music of Rod Stewart, Tina Turner, and Buddy Holly on Thursday, May 11th at 8 p.m.
