Meet James Wannamaker

Sometimes, when everything is going right in a performance – everyone is in the pocket- a tune will hit the next level. For saxophonist James Wannamaker, that is an amazing feeling.

James has been a staple in Kingston for many years – a known sax man playing with groups like Filet of Soul, Jenica Rayne, and The Downtown Trio. Drummer Duncan Holt invited him to play in “You've Got a Friend” with Miss Emily, Doug Reansbury, Jamie Campbell, Ken Hall, and Zak Colbert doing songs of Carole King and James Taylor. King's songs lend themselves to sax, and Natural Woman has a fun solo for Wannamaker, and he enjoys chilling and listening to the rest of the band play the James Taylor tunes.

Like all good musicians, James is busy! He has a performance at Homegrown Live with Michelle Kasaboski in the same day that he will perform with Holt and the band for You've Got a Friend, and he plays at Olivea every second Tuesday, with The Downtown Trio.

You can see James' newest venture “You've Got a Friend” live in the beautiful sanctuary at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church 130 Clergy St. East (at Princess) this Saturday May 5 7:30 pm. Tickets $25 for You've Got a Friend are available in advance at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3356784 or at the door on the night of the show (cash only at the door).

Meet Miss Emily

Imagine an idyllic summer day. You are eight years old and you are with your best friend at her cottage in Prince Edward County. On the radio, James Taylor's velvet voice sings a song of love and loss-“Fire and Rain”.

Miss Emily,  2018 (photo cred. Vanessa Head )

Imagine a disc on constant rotation in your household. Every song is a hit- “Natural Woman”, “Beautiful”, “So Far Away”- and a woman's voice fills your ears with earthy passion, and longing. Imagine singing along, trying to express the soul of the singer with your own small frame; trying to impart the wisdom of the words with your young being.

These songs have such an impact that years later, you recall the moments, the place, and the company you kept when you listened to them.

If you have heard Miss Emily's raw, bluesy vocals, it is not hard to imagine that the artists who created those songs have influenced her music.

Miss Emily is, herself, a passionate artist who brings energy to everything she does. She is a huge fan of Carole King, “My favourite Carole King song is actually... the entire Tapestry album! I can’t choose one. I’m such a fan.” so when keyboardist Ken Hall asked her if she would be interested in performing songs of Carole King and James Taylor, she jumped at the chance.

Miss Emily, Doug Reansbury and Jamie Campbell front an all-star band with bass player Zak Colbert, James Wannamaker on sax, Ken Hall on keyboard, and drummer Duncan Holt.

Kingston audiences can see Miss Emily, Doug, Jamie, and the band performing her much-loved Carole King and James Taylor songs this week on Saturday May 5 at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 7:30pm. Tickets $25 for You've Got a Friend are available in advance at https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3356784 or at the door on the night of the show (cash only at the door).

Miss Emily's next performance is a fundraiser for Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto on May 16. Catch her in Kingston while you still can!

A Little Princess-Theatre for the Whole Family

Bottle Tree Productions presents a stage adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's children's classic; A Little Princess. Starring Emily Flake, Martin Fobert, Fiona Beech, Lynn Kerr Sid Anjilvel and Catie Parks and directed by Charles Robertson, this play will tug at your hearts strings. The play runs at the St Andrews Presbyterian Church at 130 Clergy St. Kingston, ON from Dec 14-16 and you can get tickets online at the Grand Theatre website, or in person at the box office or by phoning  613-530-2050.

A Little Princess is adapted from the children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett,

Born in India, Sara Crewe is a privileged student at a prestigious private school for girls in London in the late 19th century. Her doting father is a wealthy captain in the British army. When Sara's mother passes away, her grief-stricken father acknowledges that he can't look after her properly and takes her to London to Miss Minchin's private school. He insists that nothing is to be denied his little girl. He will spare no expense to make sure she is well-looked after. Though she is treated as a little princess, she is kind to everyone and especially the unfortunate scullery maid; Becky.

When her father suddenly dies, Sara's fairy-tale existence comes crashing down. She is left an orphan, without relatives or money. She is forced by the cruel Miss Minchin to work as a servant in the school with little food or rest and without pay. The only other option would be to beg on the streets. She and Becky live side by side in the rat-infested attic of the school.

A mysterious neighbour then moves in next door to the school and brings with him, redemption, forgiveness and salvation. A story that will tug at the heart strings and uplift the spirits of young and old alike.

A perfect Christmas story for the whole family.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Opens Nov. 23 2017!

November 16, 2017

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kingston, ON – Bottle Tree Productions presents the Kingston premier of Christopher Durang's Tony Award winning comedy Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Starring Sean Roberts, Amie Bello. Helen von Bretzke, Daniel Pauley, Cassel Miles and Hannah Smith, and directed by Gord Love, this play will keep you in stitches. The play runs at the Grand Theatre in the Baby Grand from Nov. 23-Dec. 2 and you can get tickets online at the Grand Theatre website, or in person at the box office or by phoning 613-530-2050.

Durang's take on sibling dynamics is pointed up in this comedy, as Helen von Bretzke's aging starlet, Masha , comes home to visit her brother and sister. She brings news and a young man – a VERY young man. Her life is perfect, she has ventured out into the world and has been successful in her career--and she has Spike (Daniel Pauley), her handsome young lover, to decorate her arm.

Sean Roberts and Amie Bello as Vanya and Sonia (photo H.Smith)

Her brother, Vanya (Sean Roberts), and her sister, Sonia (Amie Bello), have stayed in the family home to care for their aging parents, who have since passed on. Theirs was a life of apologising to neighbours for the inappropriate antics of their unwell parents, changing adult diapers, and waiting for the blue heron to make its appearance at the pond. They are dissatisfied with their lives, and with each other. Masha's visit only serves to highlight to them that they have not lived their lives and they find themselves in middle age with nothing behind them, and no prospects for the future.

Sean Roberts, Cassel Miles, and Daniel Pauley

Cassandra, their prescient housekeeper, expertly played by Cassel Miles, brings premonitions about events that will come to pass, In true oracular style, she speaks riddles that contain advice for the siblings. Of course, they think she is crazy, but her warning “Beware of Hootie Pie” hits home.

Spike finds aspiring actress Nina (Hannah Smith) and invites her to meet his famous girlfriend and her family. Nina is a breath of fresh air and hope; young, optimistic, romantic, innocent. Masha is not impressed.

Can anything help this dysfunctional family dynamic? We must always hope.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike plays at the Baby Grand Thursday November 23-Saturday December 2. Due to strong language and partial nudity, it may be unsuitable for some patrons.

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Fall Acting Classes, PLUS Musical Theatre (Dancing and Singing), and Technical Theatre!

It's that time again--FALL-- and a new term of acting training for Kingston children and youth.

We are always considering what is needed in the community for training young people to become confident contributors to theatre and we have developed three new courses to help round-out our offering to the next generation of artists and practitioners.

Young actors rehearsing.

Singing for Musical Theatre takes a group approach to vocal class and is intended for a chorus of girls and boys with unbroken voices. We take ages 9-16 (boys likely a younger top end). Our Music Director, Darrell Bryan, teaches correct, safe vocal technique to improve the voice and to keep it healthy for life. Terrific class for  young people to gain confidence through correct technique and practise. Pitch-matching is important to this course, as it is a group endeavour. We retain the option to excuse students who are not able to match tones ("I will play this note, and you sing it back to me.") and will offer an appropriate refund or the option to transfer to a different class.  *If you would like us to test for pitch-matching before you enrol, please email a.mortensen@bottletreeinc.com and we can set up a time to get together.

Dancing for Musical Theatre trains those who may not necessarily have a dance background, but find that they need something to help with musical theatre auditions and performances. This class will boost confidence and understanding of dance terminology, and give your young thespian practise in dancing.

Technical Theatre is an upper-year course, training youth in the non-performance aspects of theatrical productions. Students will learn basic to intermediate costuming, lighting, sound, set and props design and creation, including safe use of tools and equipment. They will have access to and training on sound and lighting boards, hand tools, sewing machines, and video and sound recording and editing equipment.  There is also a stage management aspect to the course, as we take the class through managing a production from the ground up. The course covers three terms, and is paid in three installments. Once completed, the students will have an intermediate knowledge of the practical aspects of costuming, lighting, sound, set and props design and of stage management techniques. They will have been exposed to theoretical aspects of design, they will be able to put their ideas on paper, and they will be given the opportunity to execute their designs. This course is for middle to high school students (grade 8-12).

All of our courses culminate in term performances (every ten weeks). Actors need audiences!

Classes start Saturday Sept 23. Our class performances are on Saturday Dec. 2 at the Grand Theatre in the Baby Grand.  Winter Term begins after the Winter Break.