I had the great privilege of working with Neil Munro a number of times over the course of my time as General Manager of Workshop in the Performing Arts (WPA) in Vancouver. 

Neil Munro’s classes were always inspiring, humbling, insightful – and very popular…Actors loved being in his workshopped productions because he took such care with the text, helping actors mine every word and phrase for meaning.

Neil was an extremely accomplished director, becoming resident director at the Shaw Festival, appointed first by Christopher Newton, and remaining under Jackie Maxwell. Neil was also a two-time ACTRA Award winning actor and perhaps best know as Beethoven in the film Beethoven Lives Upstairs.  

As a playwright, he won both a Dora Award and a Chalmers Award, the first for “Bob’s Kingdom” and the second for “Extreme Close Up.”  

Neil Munro was passionate about the work and about theatre in Canada. Many good artists have touched greatness because of what they learned from him.

Neil Munro, gone at 62. Theatre in Canada benefited greatly from his life and will feel his absence for a long time to come. He will be missed.

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There are some celebrities who truly embrace the spirit of giving back. ET’s Rick Campanelli and Triumph’s Rik Emmett and Dave Dunlop are three such men.

Emmett, who is one of the original Triumph members and Dunlop, a more recent addition to Triumph, played the Kerr Street Celebration in Oakville last week under the banner of their fabulous band, The Strung-Out Troubadours.

Rick Campanelli did the hosting honours and by all accounts, did a fabulous job. Co-sponsored by Kiwanis Oakville, the event benefited Kerr Street Ministries, a group that looks after Oakville’s neediest. I’m not sure the final numbers are in but word is that a good chunk of change was raised to help this truly fine organization.

About the Strung-Out Troubadours

Since Rik Emmett and Dave Dunlop formed the Strung-Out Troubadours in 2006, the duo has garnered significant critical acclaim including being named “Group of the Year” at the 2007 Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards. They perform both original pieces and covers and have come to be known as an act that satisfies a wide range of musical preferences. Emmett was an original member of the band Triumph and Dunlop performs with the re-formed Triumph.

About Rick Campanelli

Already one of Canada’s most popular TV personalities when he began with ET Canada in September 2005, Rick Campanelli’s onair career started after winning the 1994 MuchMusic Temp contest.

His easygoing, up-front style quickly made him a favourite of TV viewers from coast-to-coast. From his flying leap off a jagged cliff with Sean Paul, to his dive out of an airplane with the Foo Fighters, to the pounding he took from pro wrestler, Cain, his willingness to go the distance speaks volumes about his work ethic and dedication.

“You won’t find a nicer guy in this business. What you see is what you get and that’s why he has legions of fans who can’t get enough.”

-Zev Shalev, Senior Executive Producer, ET Canada.

About Kerr Street Ministries

Kerr Street Ministries (KSM) helps and gives hope to Oakville’s most vulnerable  citizens. Serving over 1800 people, KSM provides holistic support and care particularly for children and youth and low income families.

About SoChange:

SoChange provides opportunities for capacity building and shared change around the world. As an organization dedicated to advocacy, SoChange’s activities include brokering relationships with charitable organizations, planning fundraising events, and writing and consulting on project proposals and raise awareness for the non-governmental community. The organization exists to advocate, educate and stimulate active dialogue and tangible social change. SoChange envisions a world where extreme poverty is eliminated, human rights are respected, and the impact of HIV/AIDS is significantly reduced. Working locally and acting globally, SoChange is about influencing leaders and individuals here and abroad.

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You can’t possibly have a bad day after listening to anything that Bobs & LoLo do. Bobs & LoLo are fabulous children’s entertainers who create kids music that adults love. Having seen them in action, it’s no surprise that this dynamic duo has just won the 2009 Parents’ Choice Gold Award.

Believe me, that’s no mean feat. It’s literally the Academy Award for anyone who does anything in the family arena.

If that weren’t enough, the Parents’ Choice Gold Award comes hard on the heels of a 2008 Children’s Music Web Award and a 2009 Canadian Indie Award nomination for Favourite Children’s Artist.  Bobs & LoLo are no slouches.

 So how good are they? I saw Bobs & LoLo in action a couple of years ago when they opened for the Kratt Brothers. They knocked our socks off. Seriously. They were ridiculously fun and seriously fresh.  I gush, I glow…and  I mean it.

 But don’t take my word for it. Lynne Heffley, long-time Parents’ Choice music critic and staff writer for 25 years at the Los Angeles Times writes, “Bobs & Lolo, a.k.a. Robyn Hardy and Lorraine Pond, meet a challenge that sinks many would-be children’s artists: presenting frankly good-for-you messages without sounding preachy or patronizing. The duo’s smooth harmonies and frolicsome approach impart refreshing life to original songs…instead of sinking under their own worthy weight, these tuneful tracks float and shimmer like soap bubbles in the sun.” 

 Well said Lynne. And I couldn’t agree more….

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If you don’t know Ryan McMahon’s name yet, you will soon. The singer song-writer, a favourite on the college circuit, is on the road right now in Western Canada with his “City to Country” Tour. His album, “Weeks, Months, Years” is available nationwide at HMV and Chapters Indigo and getting rave reviews.  

Ryan has been in the news lately for a couple of reasons. He is a featured artist on the Big Rock Brewery Juno Compilation CD, which went gold. He also arranged Megan McNeil’s beautiful song, “The Will To Survive,” which is being produced by legendary producer Garth Richardson (Rage Against the Machine, Nickelback).

“The Will to Survive” was created by, for and about children living with cancer and you’ll be hearing a lot about the song in the coming months closer to its release.    

When Ryan gets back from his tour, he’ll be going into the recording studio with Garth Richardson, who is a big fan of the rising star: “Ryan’s music makes me believe from the first listen.  His lyrics are all true which makes him stand out from the cookie-cutter bands being flushed out today.”

I’ve had the chance to see Ryan perform live and he’s great. If he’s in your neck of the woods, don’t miss out. Here’s where he’ll be….

wednesday april 22. ARTS CLUB THEATRE BACKSTAGE LOUNGE, VANCOUVER, B.C. 9PM $5

thursday april 23. MINSTREL CAFÉ, KELOWNA, B.C. 8PM No entertainment charge

saturday april 25. IRONWOOD STAGE, CALGARY, AB 9PM $12

sunday, april 26. THE SLICE. LETHBRIDGE, AB 9PM No entertainment charge

friday may 1. AXIS CAFÉ, EDMONTON, AB 8PM $10

saturday may 2. AXIS CAFÉ, EDMONTON, AB 8PM $10

sunday may 3. THE VAT, RED DEER, AB 9PM No entertainment charge

tuesday may 5. THE DRAKE, CANMORE, AB 9PM No entertainment charge

friday may 8. IN THE BEANTIME , LADYSMITH, BC 7PM $10

saturday may 9. IN THE BEANTIME, LADYSMITH, BC 7PM $10

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Canadian Stars, Ontarians Gather to VOTE OUT POVERTY

TORONTO, September 28 — With a keynote address by Stephen Lewis, hosted by Mary Walsh, and featuring performances from such Canadian treasures as Susan Aglukark, Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, The Hidden Cameras and The Nylons, Vote Out Poverty takes to Massey Hall TONIGHT at 7:30 pm.

Vote Out Poverty is a community gala, a coming together of people from all walks of life and political allegiances gathering for an evening of entertainment united by a desire to reduce poverty in Ontario, Canada and the world.  The event coincides with the home stretch of the election in Ontario where one in seven people live in poverty.

Video vignettes in which Ontario’s poor talk about their experiences will be unveiled.  The leaders of the major provincial political parties have been invited to speak.

When:

Tonight, October 1, 7:30pm (run of show programme with scheduled times of who is on when below)

Where:
Massey Hall,
178 Victoria Street
Toronto, On. M5B 1T7

Who:
-Keynote: Stephen Lewis
-Host: Mary Walsh
-Susan Aglukark
-The Nylons
-The Hidden Cameras
-Blackie and the Rodeo Kings (Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden and Tom Wilson)
-George Stroumboulopoulos
-assorted politicians from federal and provincial levels, including representatives from Liberal, Conservative, NDP and Green parties

What:
-Vote Out Poverty, an evening of music, humour and thoughtful discussion on poverty.
-Ticket price minimum of $8.00 with suggestion that patrons pay the equivalent to their hourly wage.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.roythomsonhall.com

Or by Phone to the Box Office at 416-872-4255

Nearly one in six children in Ontario is growing up in poverty. Over one million people in Ontario earn less than $10 an hour, working in jobs where they have trouble making ends meet.  Vote Out Poverty is presented by The Ontario Coalition for Social Justice and Make Poverty History.

RUNNING SCHEDULE

19:00                           Doors open

19:30                           Curtain – House lights down

Play 1st VOTE OUT POVERTY video – 3 minutes

19:33 to 19:40             David Langille and Dennis Howlett – welcoming remarks

David Langille and Dennis Howlett intro Mary Walsh

Mary Walsh gives opening remarks

Mary Walsh intros MPH video and Nylons

19:40 to 19:55             Play Make Poverty History video – 30 seconds

Nylons’ performance

19:55 to 20:15             Play 2^nd VOTE OUT POVERTY video plays – 3 minutes

Brief patter, then intros and welcomes participating provincial politicians

Provincial politicians interact with Mary Walsh

Mary Walsh introduces  and interacts with federal politicians in the audience and they rise to acknowledge audience

20:15 to 20:35             Mary Intros Hidden Cameras; Hidden Cameras performance

20:35 to 20:40             Mary intros intermission and MMP video

Video concludes – House lights up and intermission

20:40 to 21:00             INTERMISSION

21:00– 21:05               House returns from intermission – house lights down

Play 3^rd VOTE OUT POVERTY video – 3 minutes

Mary Walsh’s very brief welcome back – intro to Blackie and the Rodeo Kings

21:05 – 21:25              Blackie and the Rodeo Kings performance

21:25 to 21:30             Play 4^th VOTE OUT POVERTY video – 3 minutes

Mary Walsh – banter and acknowledgements for evening

Mary Walsh intro to George Stromboulopolis

21:30 to 21:35             George Stromboulopolis intros Stephen Lewis

21:35 to 22:05             Stephen Lewis talk

22:05 to 22:10             Stephen Lewis concludes

Mary Walsh gives very brief acknowledgements and farewells

Mary Walsh intros Susan Aglukark and band

22:10 to FINISH        Susan Aglukark and band performance

Play 5^th VOTE OUT POVERTY video – 3 minutes

END

-30-

Note to editors: art available, select artist, speaker and organizer interviews available.

For further information, to arrange specific interviews or for any assistance please call:

Susan McLennan

Babble On Communications

Ph: (416) 699-1846;

Cell: (416) 568-5974   (with us on site)

Email:  susan at babbleoncom dot com

Deborah Keegan

Babble On Communications

Ph: (416) 691-5168;

cell: (416) 525-5177 (with us on site)

Email: deborah at babbleoncom dot com

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