The Queen musical ‘We Will Rock You’ is a theatrical event

By medicinehatnews on January 16, 2020.

cbrown@medicinehatnews.com
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“We Will Rock You” will most certainly live up to its name. But the musical based on the music of Queen and with a book by Ben Elton will do so much more.

It’s not just a typical Broadway show says Kevin Doe of the production that will be at the Esplanade for shows Friday and Saturday. Doe and the rest of the cast and crew toured “We Will Rock You” across the U.S. in the fall.

“What’s really cool about this show is we have theatre-goers coming and then we have the average concert-goer coming and they don’y always come expecting to see this show,” he explained. “They think it’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ the movie musical or they think they’re coming to see a cover band and they get surprised. It’s a pretty interesting, pretty cool, pretty surreal show for audiences across the U.S.”

That’s just the way Queen’s famed frontman Freddie Mercury would have liked it.

“(He) always said that his concerts should not just be about the music but they should be a theatrical event,” said Doe, who plays Buddy.

Doe says “We Will Rock You” takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where a tyrannical leader, Killer Queen, has banned all art and music. The two main characters, Scaramouche and Galileo, run away from Killer Queen and go in search of music. They encounter Buddy and his fellow bohemians, who help Scaramouche and Galileo find music again.

A theatrical event indeed, and one that attracts a wide audience. Doe said that the 2018 movie “Bohemian Rhapsody” has helped reintroduce Queen and hits like “We Are the Champions,” “Somebody to Love,” “Another One Bites the Dust” and “We Will Rock You” to the masses.

“We have audience members who are seven years old and they’re rocking out to our music and then we have a lot of grandparents and they’re also rocking out. It’s a pretty cool cross-generation audience base.”

Friday will be the first time “We Will Rock You” will be performed in Medicine Hat, but the production already has a history here. Cast from the show spent a week rehearsing at the Esplanade in August, and Doe has fond memories He calls the Esplanade gorgeous and state of the art, and adds the staff were incredibly helpful.

They also found some time to explore the city a bit.

“There’s a coffee shop, I can’t remember what it was called, but it served amazing coffee and we would go there every day. I think we have a punch card there so I’m looking forward to continuing our punch card when we come back.”

Tickets are nearly sold out and are available online at tixx.ca, by calling 403-502-8777, and in person at the Esplanade box office or the Medicine Hat Mall customer service desk.

Shows are at 8 p.m. each night.

Former Hatter Keri Kelly a ‘powerhouse,’ says Doe

When the production was rehearsing here in the summer, the News caught up with Medicine Hat native Keri Kelly. The Medicine Hat High School grad is playing the role of Scaramouche. She said being back here with a national tour will be a special performance and bring everything full circle.

Doe said the cast is excited to help show off Kelly, who Doe says is a “powerhouse.”

“She is an incredible vocalist, a very smart singer and actor and she’s truly gracious to work with on stage,” he said. “I think it’s very exciting for her to come home and have a show of this scale and this notoriety coming to her hometown so. We are very proud of her as cast members and know that she is very proud to bring the show home.”

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