Eclectic guitar performances and side-splitting comedy shows coming to New West theatre

Live performances continue to delight audiences at the Massey Theatre as the venue prepares to welcome the best in musical and theatrical presentations in their upcoming 2022 winter lineup.

Bringing the arts-loving community back together again since mid-November, future shows are apt to leave theatre-goers pleasantly satiated, especially with notable performances such as the highly acclaimed International Guitar Night (IGN) and the award-winning Arts Club Theatre Company production Noises Off.

Guitars without borders

Returning to the Massey for its sixth year, the 22nd edition of the International Guitar Night (IGN) presents four innovative guitar virtuosos delivering solo and ensemble acoustic concerts on Friday, January 28, 2022 at 7:30 p.m.

This year's travelling showcase brings the crème de la crème guitarists together from around the globe to express a range of their individual styles that represent varied genres and international musical diversity.

"The guitar is one of the oldest and most accessible instruments around the world, and as a result, there are literally guitar players everywhere," says Jessica Schneider, executive director, Massey Theatre Society.

"Artists each have their own way of interpreting the instrument and so it's one of those things that instantly connects people across their differences. What's possible is amazing and inspiring."

IGN founder, Brian Gore, is proud of the loyal and ever-growing audience each tour has amassed and believes each new lineup offers an enthralling view of the burgeoning acoustic guitar renaissance.

The evening features Italy's acoustic rock sensation Luca Stricagnoli, Vietnam's progressive classical guitarist Thu Le, Canada's Jim Kimo West, world renown "kī hōʻalu"

(Hawaiian for Slack Key) guitarist, and Germany's Latin Swing pioneer Lulo Reinhardt. 

Stricagnoli has brought his unique style of re-arranging rock classics for acoustic guitar to over 20 countries, played on self-invented instruments like the Reversed Triple Neck Guitar and the Reversed Slide Neck.

Le is an international, award-winning classical guitarist who began playing at age four under her father's guidance, and is the youngest student admitted to Hanoi's prestigious National Conservatory of Music.

West is one of the world’s master Slack Key players, inspired by the Hawaiian Islands, earning millions of streams on Spotify and Pandora. He's a three-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano

(Hawaiian Grammy) nominee and won the LA Treasures Award for keeping this important acoustic tradition alive.

The most revered member of IGN, Reinhardt, the grandnephew of legendary guitarist Django Reinhardt, has maintained the family tradition while incorporating new Latin rhythms, he calls Latin Swing.

Exercise your funny bone

From the humourous mind of playwright Michael Frayn springs the rib-tickling farce Noises Off, the Arts Club Theatre Company's rollicking play-within-a-play, and 2020 winner at The Jessies. The 1982 play received three top awards, including outstanding direction by Scott Bellis.

A two-week run opens on Tuesday, February 15 to 27, 2022 with evening shows and matinees. Its outlandish premise hits on the absurd, drawing a fine line between expertly crafted chaos and order.

When one door closes, another opens. Literally. Lightening wit, meticulous comedic timing, a dose of slapstick, and tricky pitfalls unfold in three acts, mastered brilliantly by a stellar cast: Tess Degenstein (Jessie winner), Charlie Gallant, Ming Hudson, Kayvon Khoshkam, Andy Maton, Nora McLellan, Andrew McNee, Emma Slipp and Colleen Winton.

"It is a testament to the resiliency, determination, pure energy and spirit theatre people have," says Schneider. "It's absolutely complex and challenging to deliver and they make it look so easy; it's a fantastic opportunity to celebrate those talents."

The title is a nod to the noises made off-stage during a performance. The audience is given a behind-the-scenes peek at the follies of theatre folk, an inept acting troupe rehearsing and performing the farce Nothing On. Act one reveals dress rehearsal glitches onstage, act two, the opening night's backstage mayhem, and three, an onstage disaster on the play's final night of its uninspiring tour.

"It's probably going to be one of the biggest productions of the year in Canada because it's a fully-built set," reveals Schneider. "We're always looking for opportunities to utilize the large space and all the theatrical capabilities of the venue, and this fills every inch of the stage."

For tickets and more information visit, masseytheatre.com.