Opera Cabaret! Meet Alastair Kierulf

Alastair has been singing on stages since he was 6 years old. A recent graduate from Queen’s University with a BSc in chemistry (and a minor in music), Alastair has continued to follow his love for music and is involved in the Queen’s Choral Ensemble, Queen’s University Chamber Orchestra, and also sings in the Kingston Chamber Choir with Ariel. In his free time, Alastair enjoys pursuing a master’s in analytical chemistry at Queen’s University.

Alastair’s favourite piece in the show: “I like 'Tonight' because it was one of the first musicals I was introduced to as a kid. We had West Side Story ON VINYL!”

Tickets are available online through the Grand Theatre Box Office and by phone 613-530-2050 or in person 218 Princess Street.

Opera Cabaret! Meet Kristen English

Kristen English is an enthusiastic soprano from Lindsay, Ontario. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance and Music Education with a minor in French from Wilfrid Laurier University as well as a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. Kristen currently resides in Kingston, Ontario, where she is a soprano section lead in the Kingston Choral Society, the Melos Ensemble and Period Instruments and the St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church choir, and is a member of the Martello Alley Cats.
She currently works as a French teacher at the River Falls Grade 2/3 Class where she teaches the Waldorf curriculum, as an occasional teacher with the LDSB, and as a private voice teacher. Last year, she was the choral teaching artist for Sistema Kingston.
Kristen was a Young Artist for the Arcady Ensemble’s 2014-2015 season. While at Laurier, she performed the role of Barbarina in W.A. Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro (2013) as well as the partial roles of Gretel in E. Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel, Despina in W.A. Mozart’s Cosi fan tutti and Servillia in W.A. Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito (2012). Kristen has a passion for oratorio and has performed as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah (2015), J.S. Bach’s Mass in A Major (2013), and G. Fauré’s Requiem (2012). As a chorister, Kristen has extensive experience, having performed large works with the Peterborough Singers, Laurier Singers, and Arcady choirs. She was a member of the 2014 National Youth Choir and a six-year member of the Ontario Youth Choir (2008-2013).
Kristen’s favourite piece in the show: “Vive le vin because I love the boisterous energy. It's exciting to sing and gets my heart pumping!”
Don’t miss Kristen’s gorgeous singing by purchasing your tickets through the Grand Theatre Box Office online, by phone 613-530-2050 or in person 218 Princess Street.

Opera Cabaret! Meet Mallory Brumm

Mallory is a second year Bachelor of Music student specializing in voice at Queen's University. She has been an active part of their Opera Ensemble and worked as an actress with the Classic Theatre Festival this past summer. Mallory has also been in multiple musicals with Two Rivers Musicals and Really Cool Initiatives. She is excited to be a part of this production and is thankful to Ariel for this experience!
Mallory’s favourite piece in the show: “I love the flower duet because the harmonies are absolutely stunning!”

Mallory will be performing at The Grand Theater from Nov. 29 - Dec. 2. Tickets are available online through the Grand Theatre Box Office and by phone 613-530-2050 or in person 218 Princess Street.

Opera Cabaret! Meet Emily Helferty

Emily is a third year Bachelor of Music Vocal Major at Queen’s University. She has been performing in various musical genres since childhood, but Opera is her passion. In her first two years at Queen’s she had the opportunity to take on various operatic roles through Queen’s Opera Ensemble, including the Second Witch in the full production of Dido and Aeneas. Her favourite role to perform has been Dorabella from Cosi fan tutte, and you will hear Emily sing one of her arias in today’s show. Whether you are a seasoned Opera-goer or a newcomer to the operatic experience, we hope you will enjoy our Opera Cabaret!

Emily’s favourite piece in the show: “The Les contes d’Hoffman prologue because it uses voices to create imagery"

See Emily and the rest of our awesome cast! Tickets available through The Grand Theatre box office 613-530-2050 and https://www.kingstongrand.ca/events/opera-cabaret and in person at 218 Princess Street.

Opera Cabaret! Meet Jenn Wilson

Soprano Jennifer Wilson is from Ajax, Ontario and is in her fourth year of voice studies at Queen’s University. Jennifer has been studying voice for the past seven years, and playing piano for the past fifteen years, and she absolutely loves music! 

Outside of the Queen’s community, Jenn is a choral scholar at St. George’s Cathedral, and she also loves running and walking around town (especially on the waterfront). Jennifer was also the 2017 winner of the Melos Baroque Idol competition.

Jennifer’s favourite piece in the show: “Vive le vin, vive Pluton, because I think it’s harmonically interesting and fun to sing!”

Opera Cabaret opens Thursday Nov. 29 and finishes with a matinee on Sunday Dec. 2 at the Grand Theatre.

Tickets for Opera Cabaret! are available through the Grand Theatre Box Office online, by phone 613-530-2050 or in person at 218 Princess Street.

https://www.kingstongrand.ca/events/opera-cabaret?fbclid=IwAR1YWz1airqgyORp4ZrLMKalBFlgm8oq83vjZNrM8p5fBunUhCuRGewnhOc!

Opera Cabaret! Meet Zoe Clarke

As the show rapidly approaches, we would like to take the opportunity to start introducing you to some of our amazing artists!

Zoe  Clarke is a fourth year student at Queen's University studying biology and music. Having studied the tuba for her first 3 years of university, Zoe has had a diverse musical background playing in various orchestras, wind ensembles, brass quintets around the city. Her singing journey began in grade 11 when she accidentally started taking voice lessons from an opera singer and then completely fell in love with the genre! Zoe, a mezzo-soprano, finds herself playing a man just as much (if not more) as she does a woman - she is incredibly excited to show you a little bit of both at Bottle Tree's Opera Cabaret!!

Zoe’s favourite piece in the show: “Vive le vin, vive Pluton, because I have the privilege of hearing the power in everyone's voices as we shout out our passion for wine.”

Tickets are available through the Grand Theatre Box Offic by phone 613-530-2050. in person 218 Princess Street, or online online: https://www.kingstongrand.ca/events/opera-cabaret

What the What?!

Ahh the world of non-professional theatre!

For those who are interested or curious to know what the heck is going on with Bottle Tree announcing Mamma Mia! and then Meistersingers posting a production of the same title in November - read on. If you don't care - stop here and congratulations.  :)

When I saw the title come available for amateur licensing, I applied within minutes. So did other companies. Amateur licenses for plays and musicals have no restrictions on them. Every single person in Kingston could have applied for the rights to perform Mamma Mia! and they would have all been granted - even if the productions were on the same dates.

Part of what we do at Bottle Tree is creating community (non-professional) theatre, especially large musicals. We think that this is important because it gives a professional level of support to people who love the art and may never get a chance to participate. I knew that Mamma Mia! would be a wildly popular title, and that it was likely that the Meistersingers would also have applied for the rights (and they had). I wanted to avoid the speculation that has happened in the past with productions that were done in the same year, by two companies, so I asked if they would like to do a co-production of the show with us.
 
Anyway - Liane and I talked and tried to figure out what might work and what might not work, and the timeline did not work out for us to work together. That is the short of it.

What people who do not produce don't really understand is that it is hard to book theatre space for shows in Kingston, especially on the big stage at the Grand Theatre. That theatre is booked at least 18 months in advance.  For me, the venue was very important. For Meistersingers, the number of possible performances was key.

I think that Meistersingers will do a good show.

I think that we will do a good show.

There is a bum for every seat. Mamma Mia! is a great title.  Stay tuned for Bottle Tree Productions'  audition and performance run announcement.

Meet Duncan Holt

Duncan Holt owns a well-respected recording studio, teaches drums, plays in many bands and is a musical fixture in Kingston. He lays down the beat for artists that include The Rain Kings, Georgette Fry, and Jenica Rayne, across all genres.

Holt has a quick smile and and a gentle sense of humour and could not say no to joining this outstanding group of musicians to present this music. Duncan is a fan of all of the music in “You've Got a Friend” - when pressed he picks Smackwater Jack and Copperline as two favourites. Despite not being the stand-in drummer for Charlie Watts in the Stone's Steel Wheels tour, Duncan counts his blessings in those shining moments that happen unexpectedly on stage.

We're looking forward to seeing Duncan shine on Saturday May 5 at 7:30pm in “You've Got a Friend” with bandmates Miss Emily, Doug Reansbury, Jamie Campbell, Zak Colbert, Ken Hall and James Wannamaker. Playing in the beautiful sanctuary at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 130 Clergy St. E @ Princess. Parking is on Queen in the same block as the church. 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 Zak Colbert

Charles and I walk into one of our watering holes (The Ports) and I show my poster to the barman and ask if I can put it up on the wall. The barman takes a look at the poster, there is a big photo of the singers-Miss Emily, Jamie Campbell, Doug Reansbury-and smaller headshots of James Wannamaker (sax), Duncan Holt (drums), Ken Hall (keys) and bass player Zak Colbert. The barman, Rick, smiles and says to me, “Little known fact – I used to play bass-and you know, everyone who found that out asked me exactly the same question, 'Oh, you play bass?! Do you know Zak Colbert?'”

Zak is a musician's musician. He has backed Georgette Fry, Ila Van, Sam Hopkins, and innumerable others. Zak was a founding member of Ghetto Express. He is a consummate player, accompanying any genre on his six string fretted bass. Fittingly, one of Colbert's favourite songs in this latest musical offering is Carole King and David Plamer (Steely Dan)'s 'Jazzman”.

Jazzman Colbert can be seen this Saturday, May 5 at 7:30pm performing “You've Got a Friend” at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church 130 Clergy St. E @ Princess. Parking is on Queen in the same block as the church. 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 Doug Reansbury

photo (c) 2018 Vanessa Head

Doug Reansbury is a household name in Kingston. He is a feature artist at The Stonewater Pub, and on the Island Star dinner cruises who plays soft acoustic rock, mainly hits from the 60's and 70's. His latest gig, singing the music of James Taylor and Carole King with Miss Emily, Jamie Campbell, Zak Colbert, Ken Hall, Duncan Holt, and James Wannamaker is right in his wheelhouse.

“You've Got a Friend” , written by King, was James Taylor's best-selling recording and it is the perfect name for their new show. Reansbury loves the simple/sublime guitar intro to the song, and his co-performer, keyboardist Ken Hall, happily recommends Doug's interpretation of James Taylor's songs. “He's remarkable,” says Hall, “his James Taylor songs are out of this world.”

You can catch Doug and his friends on Saturday May 5 @ 7:30pm, at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, 130 Clergy Street East (Clergy at Princess)/ Parking is on Queen in the same block as the church. 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 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!