NEWS FILE PHOTO Cast from Crescent Heights High School perform a scene from “Newsies” in January.
cbrown@medicinehatnews.com@MHNBrown
To look back at 2019 we must first look forward to 2020.
Early next year Medicine Hat native Keri Kelly will perform at the Esplanade in the touring production of “We Will Rock You.” Kelly plays the role of Scaramouche in the musical based on the music of Queen.
The production was rehearsing at the Esplanade in the summer and when Kelly spoke with the News, the Hat High grad said she first performed at the Esplanade when she was about 12. For Kelly, the Jan 17 and 18 shows in Medicine Hat will be special and that it “really brings everything full circle for me.”
Kelly is one of two former Hatters making their name on national stages that we featured in 2019.
In May the News spoke with David Jeffery, who had recently made his debut on the Royal Alexandra Theatre stage in Toronto in the role of Connor Murphy in “Dear Evan Hansen.”
A veteran of Medicine Hat stages, Jeffery was noticed on YouTube by producers of the play and flown to New York to audition. He eventually signed a contract for 65 weeks as the understudy for three actors and was also part of the touring company of the show.
Just this week Jeffery revealed on Facebook that he’s headed to Broadway, where he’ll take over the role of Connor Murphy beginning in February.
As usual musical theatre in Medicine Hat set a high bar this past year.
Hatterland Children’s Theatre began the year with “Just Another Snow Day” in January, and Crescent Heights High School followed with “Newsies” in January and February. The Prairie Rose School Division-based Eagle Butte Drama Group presented “Beauty and the Beast” in March, and St. Mary’s School did “Aladdin Jr.” in April. Monsignor McCoy High School presented “Freaky Friday” in May and Medicine Hat High School finished the school theatre scene with “Elf: The Musical” in November and December.
Beyond the schools, Medicine Hat Musical Theatre presented 12 sold-out performances of the smash hit “Mamma Mia!” in February and March. A sold-out run of “Titanic: The Musical” kicked off the current MHMT season in October and November. The group also presented “The Last Five Years” and the “Treasure Island” panto in 2019.
Top Hat Productions skewed younger for performers and audiences with “Rent” in May and “Heathers: The Musical” in November.
The festival of the winter, Tongue on the Post Folk Music Festival, warmed up January. Musicians took over coffee shops and restaurants and other stages around the city before the headliner gala at Medalta featuring Amy Nelson, Zachary Lucky and Son of Town Hall.
Not to be outdone, the festival of the summer, Medicine Hat JazzFest, kept the city bopping to end June. Highlights of the week included Tara Kannangara, Shuffle Demons, Mazacote and Laila Biali.
Local filmmaker Luke Fandrich, also known as Editing Luke, put together a documentary on the Historical Clay District over five months in 2019. Fandrich worked with Telus to put together “Clay, Creativity and the Comeback” and the film premiered at Medalta in September.
Artistic talents were on full display throughout the year as the Esplanade, Medalta, the Cultural Centre and Medicine Hat Public Library each had exhibitions up. A Prairie Vernacular, Poul Neilsen: Light. Reconfigured, Medalta’s Artists-in Residence exhibition, Touch the Conversation and School Art 2019 were among the highlights.
And, a little outside the box, Medicine Hat native MacKenzie Porter announced her engagement in the summer. The singer, songwriter and actor – known for songs like “About You” and the recently released “These Days” and shows like “Travelers” and “Hell on Wheels” – told the News at the time she and fellow songwriter, singer and actor Jake Etheridge plan to wed in Medicine Hat in the summer of 2020.
Other noteworthy happenings on the local entertainment scene: Downtown South East Water Shed Alliance gallery, Culture Days, Booze, Burgers and Bands, new Medalta executive director Mike Onieu, Mahoney and Friends, Pops and Favourites, It’s Christmas, Banff Mountain Film Festival, Tone Bellydance’s Spring Spectacular, Sandfly Festival featuring Blind Monday, Prairie Dogz and Wide Mouth Mason, Cars and Guitars, The Up Front Project, the Hat Art Club and Medicine Hat Potters Association Biennial Exhibition, Rotary Music Festival.
This is by no means a complete list of what happened in Medicine Hat this year, and I apologize if your event was missed.
Look to next Thursday’s issue a look at the year in touring entertainment that visited Medicine Hat.
Note: This story has been updated to correct the year discussed. These things happened in 2019, not 2018 as originally printed.
