Press Release/Media Call
For Immediate Release – August 25^th 2011

Calgary, AB – To kick off our 2011/2012 Season, Lunchbox Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of Peril in Paris by Calgary’s Ethan Cole and Eric Rose. This quirky, madcap musical sees our heroine songbird lured into a Parisian trap – can her farm-boy boyfriend save her from a life of songstress servitude? Directed by Rose with musical direction by Cole, see their musical vision come to life!

“Ethan Cole’s Awesome Girl and Radical Boy was a big hit for Lunchbox in 2008, winning Cole a Betty Mitchell award for Original Composition” says Artistic Director, Pamela Halstead. “The combination of Ethan’s musical talent and Eric Rose’s brilliant direction promises a dynamic start to the season.”

Peril in Paris is the story of a talented singer with stars in her eyes, a shyster who lures her to gay “Paree” and a young prairie boy determined to rescue her no matter the danger. This is a madcap musical, with all the glamour and charm of its 1930’s Parisian setting and a large does of zany to spice things up. It’s sure to leave audiences smiling and humming tunes for the rest of the day.

Peril in Paris features Jamie Konchak as Trish, Scott Shpeley as Tony and P’tit Richard and Daniel Mallett as Chuck. The production team features director Eric Rose and musical director Ethan Cole, set and costume designer Tyler Sainsbury, lighting designer Anoton de Groot and stage manager Kelsey ter Kuile. Peril in Paris runs September 19^th to October 15^th, Monday to Saturday at 12:10 pm, Fridays at 6:10pm and Saturdays at 7:30 pm.

The world’s longest running lunchtime theatre, Lunchbox Theatre is a professional company that caters to downtown office workers over the noon-hour by producing seven plays per season, as well as the Suncor Energy Stage One Festival and the Emerging Director Program. Lunchbox Theatre is located at the base of the Calgary Tower.

Media are invited to a Media Call on Monday, September 19 at 1:15 pm.

1:15 pm – B-Roll of Peril in Paris (2 minute scene)
1:30 pm – Interviews as requested with actors Jamie Konchak, Scott Shpeley and Daniel Mallett, playwrights Ethan Cole and Eric Rose, or Lunchbox Theatre’s Artistic Director Pamela Halstead.

www.lunchboxtheatre.com

For more information, to RSVP, or to request an interview:
Kathryn Blair
Marketing and Communications
Lunchbox Theatre
403 265 4292 x 229
kathryn.blair@lunchboxtheatre.com

West Carleton man wins Calgary acting award

West Carleton man wins Calgary acting award. West Carleton's Paul Welch won the Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Comedy or a Musical at a ceremony on Aug. 8 in Calgary. Submitted photo

A West Carleton man won a prestigious acting award in Calgary on Aug. 8.

Paul Welch grew up in West Carleton before moving to Calgary to pursue his career in theatre.

He was nominated for the Betty Mitchell Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Comedy or a Musical for his role in the play With Bells on at Lunchbox Theatre in Calgary.

At a ceremony at a Stage West dinner theatre on Aug. 8, Welch won the award in a tie with another contender, Christopher Hunt, for his work at Vertigo Theatre.

“It was a lot of fun to see everyone dressed up and ready to celebrate, particularly since we usually only see each other in rehearsal clothes and costumes,” Welch said of the ceremony.

“It was a wonderful opportunity for the professional theatre community to come together and celebrate the passion and creativity and hard work that brought these stories to life over the past season.”

Welch’s award-winning role was a drag queen dressed up as a Christmas tree who gets stuck in an elevator with an uptight business man.

The recognition and honour of the theatrical community wasn’t the only positive result from the award, Welch said.

“What’s more important to me is the amount of excitement and pride both my parents have at my achieving this sort of success in my career,” he said. “This isn’t an easy profession to pursue, and I know that my parents are invested in my success and happiness.”

Welch’s parents used to live in West Carleton, but have retired to their cottage home in Renfrew County.

The excitement of the award hasn’t died down yet, but Welch is already looking ahead. He has been offered the position of voice, speech and text instructor at Rocky Mountain College in Calgary for their two-year theatre arts diploma program.

“I am very excited for this opportunity to teach and inspire young students of the theatre,” he said, “and I am also excited to further explore my own understanding of the craft, to take my own skills deeper and further.”

The Betty Mitchell Awards celebrate and honour the professional theatre community.
Read More: http://www.yourottawaregion.com/community/article/1058987–west-carleton-man-wins-calgary-acting-award

And the Betty winners are …

CALGARY HERALD AUGUST 9, 2011

Mark Bellamy, seen here announcing Vertigo Theatre's 2011-12 season, took home the Betty for best direction for The 39 Steps. Photograph by: Dean Bicknell, Calgary Herald

Outstanding Production of a Play — ONE, Ghost River Theatre.

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Drama — Esther Purves Smith, Girl in the Goldfish Bowl, Sage Theatre.

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Drama — Patrick MacEachern, Reasons to Be Pretty, Ground Zero Theatre/Hit & Myth Productions.

Outstanding Production of a Musical: Nevermore — The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allen Poe, One Yellow Rabbit/Vertigo Theatre/Catalyst Theatre.

Outstanding Direction — Mark Bellamy, The 39 Steps, Vertigo Theatre.

Outstanding New Play — Mieko Ouchi, Nisei Blue, Alberta Theatre Projects.

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Comedy or Musical — Christopher Hunt, The 39 Steps, Vertigo Theatre; and Paul Welch, With Bells On, Lunchbox Theatre.

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Comedy or Musical — Allison Lynch, Twisted, Forte Musical Theatre Guild/The Bitter Suite Society.

Outstanding Musical Direction — Joe Slabe & Kris Demeanor, Twisted, Forte Musical Theatre Guild/The Bitter Suite Society.

Outstanding Choreographyor Fight Direction — Adrian Young, Kung Fu Panties, Ground Zero Theatre/Hit & Myth Productions.

Outstanding Sound Design or Composition — Matthew Waddell, ONE, Ghost River Theatre.

Outstanding Costume Design — Bretta Gerecke, Nevermore: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allen Poe, One Yellow Rabbit/Vertigo Theatre/Catalyst Theatre.

Outstanding Set Design — Deitra Kalyn, Reasons to Be Pretty, Ground Zero Theatre/Hit & Myth Productions.

Outstanding Lighting Design — Snezana Pesic with Lester Lee, ONE, Ghost River Theatre.

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role — Jamie Konchak, The Penelopiad, Alberta Theatre Projects.

Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role — Trevor Rueger, One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, Theatre Calgary/Manitoba Theatre Centre.

© Copyright (c) The Calgary Herald

Read more:http://www.calgaryherald.com/entertainment/Betty+winners/5224892/story.html#ixzz1VmGCGDtC