Kyle Golemba and Adam White have reason to celebrate: the debut of the recording of their all-Canadian musical theatre revue, Making Love in a Canoe. A "sonnet to Canadian culture", Making Love in a Canoe features the work of 15 Canadian writers including Nancy White, Leslie Arden, and Jonathan Monro. With four never-before-recorded songs, the album promises to introduce even the most avid theatre-goer to the riches Canadian musicals have to offer.
Shar
Ron Matthews (star of Global's Canada Sings) says, "This album is one of a kind! Kyle sings with a warmth and wonder that is like pulling on a pair of long johns on a cold November day...with a mug of hot chocolate thrown in for good measure. A truly heartfelt and amazing love letter to Canadian musical theatre."
Recorded at Imagine Sound Studios in Toronto, the album features vocals by Golemba (Stratford, Shaw) and piano by Adam White (Artistic Associate at Smile Theatre), with engineering by
Mark Camilleri (Canadian Tenors, The Toxic Avenger, Mamma Mia!). The uniquely Canadian album will be toasted in a special performance of the revue on Monday, October 28 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.
'Buddies in bad times' is also an apt description of Golemba and White: the duo first started performing together when working in retail to support their budding careers. Seven years later, their cabarets have been distilled into a wildly successful revue which has enjoyed sold out runs across Canada, from The Golden Apple Theatre (Regina, SK) to the internationally acclaimed Stratford Summer Music Festival.
Golemba and White will be joined by a number of guests to help celebrate the fine work of Canada's best. Chief among them will be Dora-nominee
Thom Allison, currently earning rave reviews in the Shaw Festival's Guys and Dolls. From Broadway (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) to TV (CBC's Over the Rainbow) and stages from coast-to-coast, Allison is a
National Treasure who will revisit some of his favourite Canadian-written roles as part of the event.
Also joining the festivities will be emerging artists from Sheridan College's esteemed Music Theatre program. Graduates Camila Diaz-Varela, Joanna Fraser, and Trevor Patt will be on hand to establish a link between Canoe and Sheridan's Canadian Musical Theatre Project.
The tracks on the album are as follows:
1. "This is Home" - Written for the show by Golemba and White, this catchy opening number encompasses all there is to love about Canada, from poutine to bunnyhugs and everything in between.
2. "Gee, I'm Glad I'm No One Else But Me" - What Canadian album would be complete without a song from Anne of Green Gables, Canada's longest running musical? Norman and
Elaine Campbell's classic material takes on a new twist with Anne and Matthew played by Golemba and White....
3. "All You Can Do Is Wait" - By
Bob Johnston and
Jeff Hochhauser, this beautiful ballad from Anne and Gilbert evokes the romance of PEI's favourite love story.
4. "
Mr. Wilson's Class" - A cabaret tune from
Neil Bartram that tells the sweet story of a young boy finding his niche in life with a drum set and a little encouragement.
5. "Part of Me" - A tender ballad from the musicalization of Larry's Party by
Richard Ouzounian and
Marek Norman.
6. "Who I Am" - One of Canada's rising stars,
Jonathan Monro has written a defining song of the Canadian musical theatre from his song cycle Variations on a Nervous Breakdown.
7. "Another Heart" - Changing grooves to something a little more pop,
Paul Sportelli and
Jay Turvey bring a little contemporary flair to Canoe.
8. "A Day with Julia" - Another Canadian staple is Dora-winner
Leslie Arden. Golemba embraces one of her biggest divas in this sultry jazz tune.
9. "1003" -
Jim Betts' charming take on Don Juan's famous romances, sung with bravado, style, and innuendo.
10. "River Mend My Heart" - Changing gears to the folk style of Nancy White, Golemba and White bring a
Neil Young quality to this haunting ballad about Pierre and Margaret Trudeau.
11. "Kyle's Satisfactory Trajectory" - Another Nancy White original, this time a show-stopper about leaving Starbucks to work at Stratford that has had audiences in stitches from the first bell-tone.
This special performance of Making Love in a Canoe will be a fun-filled, star-studded celebration of the best of Canadian musical theatre. For more information, click
here, or visit
www.makingloveinacanoe.ca.
