We Walk the Line - A Tribute to Johnny Cash

For Immediate Release-February 17th/2014 Bottle Tree productions presents A Mother’s Day Special; We Walk the Line-A tribute to Johnny Cash at The Regina Rosen Auditorium in The Grand Theatre.

WE WALK THE LINE is a Musical Tribute to Johnny Cash spanning the entire length of Cash's musical career from the 1950's at Sun Records through to his American Recordings label (2003). The Rockabilly Pioneer, Country Legend and American Poet left his mark upon many millions of fans.

The performance features Ward Cornforth as a 1960's era Johnny Cash with the signature "Boom-Chicka-Boom" sound of his long time touring band the Tennessee Three. The show includes a dynamic performance by Jace Prohaska as June Carter singing lead and many classic duets with Johnny. The seasoned musicians in the Tribute show replicate the stylings and sounds of Cash's original recordings. The show features a variety of Johnny Cash's styles including Rockabilly, Country and Gospel.

At the Regina Rosen Auditorium, Grand Theatre 218 Princess Street, Kingston, Ontario.  Phone 613-530-2050 or go to the Grand Theatre website at http://kingstongrand.ca/event/we-walk-line-tribute-johnny-cash      

Sunday May 11th at 7:30 pm.

    

Tickets are $32.75 plus HST and handling fee     

                    

Make this Mother's Day something special with a musical evening reliving the songs and story of this legendary man and his music.

For more information ContactThe Grand Theatre Box Office at 613-530-2050 or email grandtheatre2@cityofkingston.ca

Child Performers

"Where did you find those kids?"

Charles and I are frequently asked that question after people see one of our shows. The short answer is - we get them from our acting classes. Once in a while a young person who we don't know will come into an audition and really impress us, but most of the child actors who you see in speaking or featured roles in our shows are also students in our acting classes.

We try to choose our main stage shows so that we can either add a young-person's chorus or we choose shows that have child roles already written in. This is on purpose, so that we can get young people on stage in front of audiences. There is no substitute for performance as a learning tool.

Our students compete for their roles, just like everyone else who auditions. They are in with the pool of auditioners who all want a role in a show. We regularly have 60 to 80 young people vying for roles and most of them are female.

Being a student of ours gives the auditioner both an advantage and a disadvantage.

We know them; that is an advantage. We know what level they are performing at, and what they are likely to be able to aspire to over the course of the rehearsal process. We know if they can get along with other people and if they are reliable. We know if they are team players.

We know them; that is a disadvantage. We know what they can do and if they do not bring their best effort to the audition then we know it. The expectation for our students is higher than for others auditioning. We know if there are personality issues or diva-like behaviours. We know if they or their support team (normally parents) are unreliable, or difficult. We know if they are not team players.

There are many talented young people auditioning that we would love to work with, and we try hard to find ways to bring them into our shows, normally in smaller or chorus roles so that we can get to know them better, and see what the possibilities are for the future.

Where did we find those kids? They found us, and we held the door open for them.

The Sound of Music Kingston Ontario 2013

Bottle Tree Productions is pleased to be able to offer the Rodgers and Hammerstien classic "The Sound of Music' for their holiday production again, this year. The venue remains  St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church 130 Clergy East in Kingston, with performances nightly at 7:30pm Thursdays through Saturdays from December 5 through the 14th, 2013. One matinee performance is scheduled for Saturday December 7 at 2:00 pm.

As well as the classic musical, producer Anne Marie Mortensen has worked with a local restaurant and hotel to bring a special offer to heighten the impact of your evening out.

Brian Breitwieser, of Amadeus Cafe is offering a traditional Austrian three-course meal themed around one of the most famous songs from the show. The 'My Favourite Things' special features soup or salad to start, schnitzel and hot German potato salad for a main course, followed by home-made apple streudel and coffee or tea - all generously portioned and priced to please at $15.00 .

The Amabassador Hotel's Jonathan Rebello has created an overnight special for guests during the show. If dinner and the show means a late night drive home, we recommend a luxurious rooms at one of Kingston's top hotels. The room special features two queen-sized beds (can sleep up to 4 people) for $99.99.

Why not take advantage of this opportunity to create lasting memories with your loved ones this holiday season? Enjoy The Sound of Music live - in an intimate venue, and make this one of your favourite things.

For tickets to the show, please visit The Sound of Music tickets or phone The Grand Theatre Box Office 613-530-2050.

For dinner reservations, please call Amadeus Cafe (613)546-7468.

For room reservations please call Jonathan Rebello 613-548-3605       800-267-7880

Schnitzel and Strudel - My Favourite Things - Served Up Hot at Amadeus Cafe

How do you solve a problem like an affordable, delicious dinner out for 40 people of various ages and appetites? You make a reservation at Amadeus Cafe and suggest that they all try chef Brian Breitwieser's "My Favourite Things" special.

Breitwieser has graciously agreed to offer a special meal to his patrons,  themed for our production of The Sound of Music -- quickly suggesting the name (My Favourite Things) and the menu; soup or salad to start, schnitzel with hot German potato salad and veg, and for dessert crisp, home-made apple streudel -- all for $15.00. It sounded so good that we had to try it for ourselves!

Dinner was in the private dining room at six thirty - and it was a cold, snowy, Santa Claus Parade evening. The cast and their guests were fresh from the glow of the parade and the sharp air, and it was lovely to be in the warm atmosphere and hospitality of the restaurant.


The starter soup (of the day) was a mildly-flavoured cream of celery; the starter salad was a soup plate with three taster-sized servings of different salads. On my plate, there was a chilled potato salad, carrot salad and green salad. They were all tasty and fresh.


Most of the cast and their guests ordered the special. Zack Betts shares the role of Friedrich, the oldest VonTrapp boy, and when he was asked what he would order answered, "Oh I am definitely having the special! I'd like an extra large schnitzel." The special was a small schnitzel, however,  it filled half of the plate --  the other half was potato salad. The vegetable serving was placed artistically and pragmatically on the rim  of the plate. The schnitzel and German potato salad both had starring roles - each was delicious and was the perfect companion to the other.

Dessert is always a hit. The apple streudel was light and crisp, and served hot with fresh whipped cream. It was the perfect end to a great dinner.

Everyone in the room commented on the quality of food and service, and the beer menu features many German and Austrian selections. I am already planning another visit.

If you would like to treat yourself and your family to the My Favourite Things special, it is available at Amadeus Cafe on Princess street (between Montreal and Bagot streets). Of course, we recommend pairing the dinner with tickets to The Sound of Music for a holiday family outing that will create memories for a lifetime.

Amadeus Cafe 613 - 546-7468

170 Princess Street

Tickets for The Sound of Music available online at www.bottletreeinc.com and via The Grand Theatre Box Office

Meet the Marias

Bottle Tree Productions is pleased introduce Erinn Roberts and Sara Sturgeon, the two women who are sharing the leading role of Maria in the holiday production of The Sound of Music, which runs December 5 through December 14, Thursdays through Saturdays, 7:30pm at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church.

Director Charles Robertson says that despite the extra work of rehearsing two leads (and he has also cast two Rolfs and two sets of VonTrapp children!) there are so many talented young women who auditioned, that he wanted to create as many opportunities as possible. Roberts and Sturgeon, he says, are 'very different in appearance, but very similar in their passion for the musical and each brings charm and talent to the role.'

Erinn Roberts, who has performances on December 5, 7, and 13, is the mother of two young boys, and holds a PhD in opera/vocal music performace from the University of British Columbia. She has performed in operas and musical theatre throughout western Canada and has toured extensively through British Columbia and Europe with the University of British-Columbia Opera Ensemble. She has a music studio in Kingston, and is sought after as a clinician and adjudicator. When asked about the rehearsal process of this show compared to others that she has done, Roberts says, "The schedule is similar - they are busy - but having the children in the cast makes it fun and more relaxed. It is always uplifting to be around such positive people."

University student Sara Sturgeon reprises her role as Maria on December 6, 12, and 14. Sara attends Queen's University, studying French and Concurrent Education. Sara is fluently bilingual in French and English, and grew up in a military family. She has been on stage in Kingston several times over the last five years, both in school and community theatre productions. This is Sara's second year as Maria, and her enthusiasm for the production is infectious. "I love this show so much - I was so happy to be cast as Maria, but honestly, I would have played anything just to take part," says Sturgeon.

These two 'Marias' can be seen and heard performing on alternating evenings from December 5 through December 14, Thursdays through Saturdays. For more information about "The Sound of Music" or to buy tickets, please contact The Grand Theatre 613-530-2050 or Bottle Tree Productions info@bottletreeinc.com

*Sara Sturgeon photo courtesy of Mark Bergin.

.