The Lyric Theatre in Swift Current Hosts Canadian Talent
The Lyric Theatre, located at 227 Central Avenue North, provides a space for anyone looking to showcase their artistic talents through events such as Write Out Loud (WOL), Youth Talent Night, Open Stage, and the NEW Sparks in the Dark theatre series.
As with most things, the Lyric team has changed how they host their events due to COVID-19, however, this hasn’t stopped them. They continue to foster and promote artists through events such as a Youth Talent Night, an Open Stage Night on New Year’s Eve, and a musical virtual presentation of The Huron Carole starring Tom Jackson.
“Artistic and Executive Director, Gordon McCall, has worked diligently to organize and produce a wonderful variety of digital programming,” said Dianne Miller, a member of the WOL organizing committee.
In addition to these events, another that has shifted from in-person to digital is Write Out Loud.
Write Out Loud events, which average 20-30 guests, are held in the evening on the third Wednesday (second Wednesday in March) of seven months of the year, typically in the historic Lyric Theatre. The format of the evening involves an opening act (usually musical), followed by the guest author’s reading, and then questions and answers.
Write Out Loud shifted to online as the Write Out Loud on the Lyric Digital Stage on September 16th, 2020, and so far, they have showcased five authors, plus two book launches for local writers. Currently, authors such as Joan Thomas, author of four novels and winner of the 2019 Governor General’s Award for Fiction, Candace Savage, an award-winning author of more than two dozen books, and Dr. Val Korinek a U of S professor, cultural and gender historian, and gay activist, have graced the stage.
In March and April, Kristine Scarrow and Carol Rose Goldeneagle will be featured, with Swift Current musicians, Jess Rouleau and Dustin Olmsted, providing the musical interlude for the March event.
The Lyric team hasn’t forgotten about local talent, and in February they are hosting a local writers’ night. In addition to this, a twentieth anniversary celebration will be held in May for The Prairie Quills, a local writers’ group.
“The online readings and entertainment have proven popular, and the organizing committee is pleased to present authors for whom distance from Swift Current may prohibit their in-person appearance on the Lyric stage,” said Miller.
If all goes to plan and restrictions are lifted, the Lyric team aims to be back in the theatre by September, but until then, the theatre is open for performances through their Facebook page, The Lyric Theatre Swift Current, or at Lyric Digital Stage Write Out Loud on YouTube.
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