Run For Your Lives!!! A Chat With Erin & Shawn Pinder of Runner’s Soul

Shawn & Erin Pinder have been co-owners of Runner’s Soul since 2007. They took over the shop from Ron Bain who had started it all in 1994. I always marvel at how many people you see jogging in the city all year round not to mention the numerous running events that take place as fundraisers, competitive events or just fun-runs. The married couple took time out of “running around” to answer a few questions about their love of sport and how they maintain a successful business.

Talk about where you both grew up and what kind of childhood did you have?

Erin – I was born and raised here in Lethbridge, the oldest of 3 children. My family was fairly active, we spent a lot of time at the city pools (my mom was a lifeguard when I was young) and my parents were volunteer ski patrols so many winter weekends were spent at Westcastle. Summers involved camping and playing with neighborhood friends.

Shawn – I grew up in Fort Macleod and am also the oldest of 3 siblings. My dad was a teacher so we spent most of the summer camping in Alberta and BC. My parents were scout leaders and coached various sports so we were always busy with one activity or another.

Were you both active or did that come later in life?

Shawn – My parents valued sports and exposed me to a wide variety as a child. I tried baseball, basketball, volleyball, soccer, badminton, track and field, swimming, skating and skiing.

Erin – I was always active but not competitive. As a child I did lessons rather than sports – swimming lessons, skating lessons, ski lessons. My first experience with competitive sport was with swim club.

Shawn, you were a competitive swimmer. How did that come about?

I started swimming with a club at the outdoor pool in Fort Macleod when I was 11 years old and competed in the Southern Alberta Summer Games that summer. The following summer, my siblings and I joined the Lethbridge Summer Swim Club. I swam for 3 seasons with LSSC and saw a lot of improvement and success leading me to join the year- round Lethbridge Amateur Swim Club.

Erin, what got you started running and into triathlons?

I went to junior high school at Gilbert Paterson where they require everyone to participate in Cross Country running. It was hard and I hated it at first but over time started to enjoy the challenge and went on to join the Lethbridge Track and Field team. I met some amazing friends and had the most encouraging and supportive volunteer coach (Cal Stewart). I was also swimming with the Lethbridge Summer Swim Club which made for an easy transition into triathlon.

Where did you two meet? Was it at the finish line of race, one falling into the other’s arms after a tough last leg?

Ha-ha, not quite. We met when Shawn broke his foot playing ultimate frisbee, putting his regular swim training on hold. Instead, he came to a swim practice that I (Erin) was participating in and managed to swim circles around me without using his legs.

 Ron Bain started Runner’s Soul in 1994. You took over in 2007. I confess to thinking, “Hmm…a running shoe store in Lethbridge. I’ll give it a year, maybe two.” Boy, was I wrong. Talk about the culture of running in this city and why you’ve been able to sustain the business.

Lethbridge has a large and diverse running community that is inclusive and feels like a family to many. It tends to become an important social group for runners in the city and they often find themselves making connections with people they may not have otherwise crossed paths with. You might find an 18-year old running alongside a 70-year old or a farmer running with a surgeon.

While running is the focus of Runner’s Soul, many other people have come to value our service and product knowledge so the majority of our customers are people looking for solutions to foot issues or looking for comfortable footwear for work or everyday living.  

A married couple running a business together. Discuss.

It definitely has its challenges and benefits! We have different strengths and weaknesses so we have planned our work responsibilities accordingly with Shawn doing the majority of the event planning, clinics and accounting while Erin focuses more on product selection, staffing and customer service. With both of us involved in the business, it is certainly a challenge to leave work at work – it is not unusual to be discussing the store late into the evening.

You’ve just had the 37th running of the Moonlight Run. It sells out every year. What makes the run so special?

Moonlight Run is one of the first races on the calendar for competitive runners but what makes it unique is that there is always a large contingent of casual runners who love the atmosphere of the evening event and have made it a tradition to participate in with family and friends. 

I have been a casual runner most of my life until having two hip replacements plus a knee replacement. My longest run was the 10-mile road race which was always a challenge for a guy like me with stubby legs. I thought about a marathon but it never happened. I admire those who can do the distance. Then there’s triathlons and these ultra marathons. Take us through any advice you give to people who want to challenge themselves with longer runs but maintaining realistic and healthy goals.

Running long distances requires both physical and mental preparation. The distance can seem overwhelming at first but if you break it down into smaller goals and try not to look too far ahead, you will get there. It’s amazing how your perspective changes as you move up in distance. The first run of a marathon build up seems daunting at 7 miles but as you run further each week, you will eventually look back at that 7 miler and think it is short. As for realistic goal setting, the first time running a distance should be about getting it done and then you may find yourself looking for ways to cover the distance faster. That’s the great thing about running, there is always another challenge to be found!

Has the psychology of running changed over the years since you took over Runner’s Soul?

Years ago (pre 1970s running boom), running was really just for the speedy. That shifted years before Runner’s Soul opened its doors, running was already a very inclusive sport by 1994 as it continues to be today.

Who has been the most inspirational person you’ve met in the world of running?

There have been so many over the years that it is hard to choose but Tarrant Crosschild would have to be top of the list. Tarrant is a former Lethbridge Track and Field runner who struggled with addiction as an adult. He took up running again while in treatment and credits running with being an important part of his healing process. He has since gone on to create the Prairie Run Crew Outreach program which helps to inspire youth and break down barriers that inhibit them from starting their running journey.

How has the manufacturing of running shoes changed over the years?

Running shoe manufacturing has been moving to more sustainable practices over the years, from using recycled materials to reducing waste by 3D printing midsoles. Brooks recently released their first carbon neutral shoe this spring. 

One thing I’ve always appreciated about going to your store is that the people who work there are actually very knowledgeable about the kind of shoe you need. That, I’m sure is very important to you.

Absolutely! We spend a significant amount of time training our staff so that they are familiar with all the shoes and the fitting process. 

How old would you recommend someone should be when they’ve decided they want to get into competitive running?

There is no time like the present! We have had people of all ages graduate from our Learn to Run clinic so it is never too late to get started. 

What are some of the big challenges of the business today?

Being in competition with our vendors. All of the major shoe companies now sell direct to customers online. Unfortunately it is not unusual for us to have people come in for advice and fitting and then purchase their shoes online while they are sitting in our store.

What keeps you going?

Definitely the people! We have been so lucky to be included in the running journeys of so many local runners over the years. Running really can be life changing and it is rewarding and inspirational to be a part of.

What’s your go-to music for getting inspired for and during a run?

Erin – I have been running since before it was practical to listen to music while running (the walk man/disc man days) and have never started. Running is my social time if I am with others or my time to think if I am alone.

Shawn – I also prefer to run music free and enjoy the sounds around me.

What big marathons have you done? Ie: Boston/New York? LA?

Erin – I started picking away at the six World Marathon Majors starting with Boston in 2007 followed by New York in 2011, Chicago in 2013, Berlin in 2018 and London in 2023. Last one on my bucket list is Tokyo.

Shawn – The only Major I have done to date is Berlin in 2018. My race focus has always been more on Ironman.

Any chance of a unique yearly Lethbridge Marathon?

Lethbridge actually hosted a marathon (Music from the Soul) from 2006-2008. The children’s “marathon” that ran in conjunction with it continues to this day (Little Souls) but the marathon was discontinued when the Calgary Marathon moved their race date from July to the same weekend as the Lethbridge event in 2009.

Final thoughts?

Thanks for getting us thinking and reminiscing!

http://www.runnersoul.com

The Early Years

First Communion

In 2025 I’ll be turning 70 years old. With inflation that’ll be 74. It’s not that far away. So as one does when you keep on living, I find myself reflecting on my life. Adding to that reflection were some photos Maxine Tedesco sent to me recently. Maxine lived across the street from me and we were classmates from Grade 1 to Grade 12. She found some of our class photos over the years and it was a nostalgic look into hairstyles and fashion choices. It sparked a few memories.

It started with our First Holy Communion. I was pretty much a brush-cut kind of kid in my youth. There was a barbershop a couple of blocks away from our house. It was on 6^th Avenue where The Jasmine Room is today. The barber’s name was Burns Little, a kindly older gentleman with a great sense of humor. He’d tell us to get into his chair and he’d tie an apron around our neck. I usually needed the booster chair. He would then take out his barber shears and I’d get buzzed like a new recruit into the army. That probably took 2 minutes. And then he’d apply some kind of hair tonic onto my scalp and we’d be off. Of course there was that ever-present blue bottle of barbicide. I don’t think the smell of hair salons has ever changed.

Going to your first Holy Communion was a big day in the Catholic Church. We all were in our Sunday best-the boys wore a suit, the girls wore a Communion dress. If I recall it was a full ceremony involving a big procession. When I first started going to mass it was always in Latin. When the priest gave you the Communion wafer he said, “Corpus Christi.” (Body of Christ.) The response was “Amen.” The priest would place the wafer on your tongue. In retrospect I wonder if that was the most hygienic thing to do. When I later became an Altar boy, before you could serve mass you had to learn the Latin response to all of the prayers said during Mass. I still remember a lot of it. I don’t remember my current passwords unless I write them down.

See if you recognize former Allied Arts Executive director, Suzanne Lint in the photo.

Grade 3

This was our Grade 3 photo. Our teacher was Mrs. Reardon who I had a huge crush on. I remember seeing her going into the school and saying goodbye to her husband on the steps of St. Mary’s. He gave her a big kiss. I was so disappointed. How dare she?

Being among the shortest kid in the class I was obligated to sitting in the front. The brush-cut is still in play. Mrs. Reardon, where are you?

Grade 5

This is Grade 5 with Mrs. O’Connell. She was a real disciplinarian but I remember her getting a lot of respect from us for her ability to keep us in check. Notice I’m still in the front where all the short people are and I’m starting to show my potato chip body. I used to come home after school to watch Razzle Dazzle and have an entire bag of Old Dutch Potato Chips that came from the 3-pack box. We’d then save the box tops so we could go on Kid’s Bids with “Uncle Bob Lang” to bid on toys. I remember scoring a GI Joe Action Figure. Yes, it was an action figure, not a DOLL!!!

Grade 6

I don’t know what happened in Grade 6. The photographer put me in the back row for the first time. I’ve still got my timeless brush cut but I was still short. Our teacher for Grade 6 was Sister Louise. I loved her. (Not in the same way I loved Mrs. Reardon.) I remember her as being such a kind-hearted person. She taught some very rudimentary French before we got into the Madame & Monsieur Thibeault Film Strips. Those who took it would know what I’m talking about.  I remember we played the game La tete en bas, las pouuse en aire. You put your head down and put your thumb up in the air. Someone would come around and touch your thumb and you’d put it down. I think you had to guess who touched your thumb or something like that. I’m not sure it had any application to my life, but it was fun.

Grade 6 was when I got fully dedicated to being an Altar Boy. I actually ended up serving mass almost every day for a year. I was given a religious action award at the end of the year. I don’t know how spiritual I was during this time.  I think being an altar boy was kind of my first foray into being on stage. You were, after all in front of an audience on that altar.

I don’t know if it’s true but I heard that Sister Louise ended up getting married. Good for her if she did. She was like a Maria von Trapp to me.

It’s been a fun retrospective looking back at my formative years and seeing some of the people I grew up with. I’m happy to say I’m still friends with many of them today.

Here’s a shot of Paul Zook, Peter Sikora, Curt Lizzi, Greg Rohovie, Me, Pat Slemko and Maxine Tedesco taken last summer. All of us were together at that first Communion. I’m thinking of going back to the brush cut.

Thanks Maxine.

The Mousetrap Comes To Lethbridge!!

The Mousetrap is being performed by Hatrix Theatre May 1-4^th at The Moose Hall. Yes, it’s that Mousetrap whodunnit that opened in London’s West End in 1952 and ran continuously until 16 March 2020, when the stage performances had to be temporarily discontinued during the COVID-19 pandemic. But it reopened in May of 2021. If you can’t make it to England to see this play, just head over to the North Side of Lethbridge when the doors open at 7pm. It’s director is Karolyn Harker. I asked her a few questions about this famous murder mystery.

What went into the decision to do Mousetrap?

I’ve been doing THE MOUSETRAP for over fifty years in various places in the US and in Canada..  Since Hatrix hasn’t done it, it seemed like the logical choice since many companies stage it at one time or another.  It’s a clever Agatha Christie murder mystery which has her often used plot:  strangers trapped in a house, train, etc., and  one by one they are murdered.  Whodunnit!!  The characters are varied and interesting and the twist is great.

The Mousetrap is the longest running play in theatre history in England closing in on 30,000 performances. Does the play have to be done as it was written by Agatha Christie or is there room to do your own take on the show?

I wouldn’t alter the script.  Mrs Christie wrote a good script.  Nice rhythms and some good dialogue.  After 70 years of success I don’t think it needs a rewrite.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced directing this show?

Always when doing community theatre you’re working with people who have busy lives out of the theatre so having all actors at all rehearsals is often difficult.  I’m working with a fabulous cast.

Give us your best pitch as to why audiences should come to Mousetrap.

If you like a little murder and some classy mystery come and see this famous play performed by the gifted Hatrix actors.  Don’t miss this one.

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Karl Airey has been performing on the Lethbridge scene for 20 years now having gotten the acting bug with his first exposure in the Lethbridge Musical Theatre production of Annie Get Your Gun. He met his wife Stacey in the ensemble!  Following that, Karl had the lead role in a Playgoers play called Night Must Fall. Then, back to LMT for Grease, as the rebellious Kenickie (Karl believes he was definitely typecast!).  Next, he was introduced to Karolyn Harker of Hatrix Theatre Group where she cast him in the Neil Simon play, Rumours. Then back over to Playgoers, for Daisy, and a few years ago returned to Hatrix for The Gazebo.  He is excited to be here again with Hatrix, as Sergeant Trotter in Agathy Christie’s, The Mousetrap. Karl also adds, “3 of my 4 kids act and sing and play music. All are better than I so look out world.”

What got you hooked on theatre?

I got hooked on theater through the process of bringing a show to life!  From the initial awkward first meetings of fellow castmates (and those pesky directors); through all the stages of rehearsing lines, blocking and tech; to opening night and that unwanted final curtain; to the last cast party where we joyfully and sometimes tearfully say our goodbyes, until next time.

You’ve done musicals and dramas. Do you have one preference over another?

Musicals are fun, but dramas are much more challenging and fulfilling for me.

Talk about your character in the show?

Sergeant Trotter has a big job to do in this play. He has to learn about each of the other characters, to find out what are their hidden secrets and what are their motivations for what they do and what they’ve done. As a policeman he’s pretty straight and nonchalant. There are definitely moments throughout the play where he loses his cool though!! And, of course he has a big surprise to learn about!

Always love to hear about things that have gone horribly wrong on the stage. Have you got a story?

The worst thing ever happened to me on stage, and really I think I’m pretty fortunate compared to some of the stories I’ve heard from other actors, is losing my grip on myself and falling into historical and uncontrollable laughter while in the middle of a scene, in front of an audience.

How important is theatre to you?

The Mousetrap is the longest running play in history for a reason. It’s a masterpiece and Agatha Christie is brilliant. I mean it’s always necessary to have a surprise ending in any murder mystery worth its name, but it’s more than that here. Christie’s writing is beautiful and it flows with grace, allowing the listener to really capture the innuendos. This is a very emotional drama.

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Kaela Lee is thrilled to be on the stage performing with the Hatrix Theater group again this year. She has worked with Taber Players performing the characters Kay Banks in Father of the Bride and Beth March in Little Women.  In High School, Kaela not only played Lily St. Regis in the Musical Annie but also played in the pit band at the same time! Completing all Royal Conservatory Exams for Piano, she went on to study classical piano performance at Brigham Young University and played second chair in the University Orchestra. In 2016 Kaela worked with the Tennie Weenie Theater Company in Waterton for the summer performing James and the Giant Peach, Jospeh and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, The importance of Being Earnest and a Melodrama.

The Gazebo, was the first Hatrix play Kaela had the opportunity to perform in and is so excited to be back on the stage in The Mousetrap, as Mollie Ralston!

When Kaela is not acting her heart out on stage, you can find her planning or decorating weddings with her new business Pink Tie Events on the weekends… or saving lives in the back of an ambulance!

When did you get your start in theatre?

I have been involved in theater and musical theater all my life.  I was four years old in my first musical theater production. It was a Hans Christian Anderson Musical in Spruce Gove, where I played the part of a sunflower. From there, a theatrical seed was planted!

Do you have a favorite character that you’ve played?

My favorite character that I have played was “Granny” in a melodrama I performed in the Tennie Weenie Theater company in Waterton.  It was so fun to play this crabby old woman from the south, running up and down the stage chasing after people with a shotgun.

Talk about your character in Mousetrap.

I play the character Mollie Ralston, a young married, retired schoolteacher, who just recently opened a guest house with her husband, Giles Ralston.  The guest house, Monkswell Manor, a Victorian era estate was inherited to Mollie by her late aunt. Mollie is constantly worried about the comfort of her guests and the condition of her guest house amongst the chaos, Mollie tries her best to run everything in order while assisting to the needs of her guests.

Theatre Horror stories?

Oh man…I have been so fortunate to not have any theatre horror stories…..knock on wood

What does theatre mean to you?

Theatre to me is another dimension, a world of new ideas and inventiveness which teleports me from everyday life to an entirely new place. The stage allows me to freely explore the many complex layers of the human imagination. I lose myself in someone else’s world, mind, or a time long passed.

Photo courtesy Richard Amery

Farewell Carol!!

My first real full-time job in what I hoped would be a long career in radio was doing the all-night show at 1090 CHEC in 1974. When you’re the new guy coming out of college with an unproven track record it can be a bit of a journey to be accepted by your peers. Let’s face it, the all-night guy is not the glamour position at a radio station. You’re meant to keep the banter to a minimum, play the hits, keep the listeners on the graveyard shift company and make sure you make coffee for the real star of any radio station: The Morning Man. (Please genuflect.)

For the most part, I was welcomed into the business by my fellow DJs. Some people didn’t bother to remember my name because there was a good chance I’d either be fired or I’d just move on sooner than later.

And then there was Carol Colwill, our head copywriter. She immediately made me feel a part of the station and encouraged me in my new career. In the 70s there were four or five people who would write commercials and then assign them to the various announcers. We were all given specific production times. In the beginning I had virtually nothing to do with that side of the business.

Eventually, Carol thought this new guy should be given a chance at voicing a commercial. I’m sure it was one of the “not that important” clients. I got a “Good job, Mark” from Carol.

Carol was kind to me from the very beginning. She was a joy to be around for the next four years until I took my hiatus to Australia. She welcomed me back when I returned in 1979. I was at CHEC until 1986 when I moved over to LA-FM. I came back to CHEC in 1991. And then there was that, “Mark we’re going in another direction” thing that happened in 1992.

The one big constant in my time in radio at CHEC was Carol. A woman who carried herself with grace, always showed kindness to everyone and had the tact to criticize when necessary without making anyone feel bad. She was the second mom to many of us. I don’t know that I ever saw her get mad. She laughed at my jokes which may or may not have been inappropriate.

She was married to Les who had a cup of coffee with the New York Rangers in the NHL. He was a great guy too and I loved having conversations with him at staff functions.

Carol passed away on March 31 this year. When I posted that news there was a tremendous response from nearly 40 of my Facebook friends who had worked with her.

Carol was famous for keeping almost all of the staff lists of CHEC employees over the years. Those are names from the 1960s to 1997 when she retired. I’m sure there are hundreds of names on those lists. I guarantee there is not one negative thing any of them would say about our Carol.

Memories Of Jesus Christ Superstar

I attended the opening night of the U of L’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar on March 12. My congratulations to director Doug MacArthur, Musical director Bente Hansen and the entire cast for making it a great night out at the theatre. It caused me to reflect on what has been a bit of a love affair with the iconic music and the various productions of the show that I have been involved in. I first discovered the music from the original concept album in 1972. I remember being blown away by Deep Purple lead singer Ian Gillan’s dynamic interpretation of “Gethsemane.” I loved Yvonne Elliman’s “I Don’t Know How To Love Him.” “King Herod’s Song” was comic relief. And I got a kick out of some of the lingo of the day with the Apostle’s asking Jesus, “What’s The Buzz, Tell Me What’s Happening.”

It was the first time I had ever heard the term “Rock Opera.” In the beginning I just enjoyed the music-a mix of rock n roll riffs, powerful vocals and tender ballads.

As I recall, the show was controversial at the time. It didn’t sit well with some people that Jesus was portrayed as having very human qualities that made him doubt why he was put on earth by His Father singing “Take this cup away from me for I don’t want to taste its poison.”

We had actual discussions in our religion class at CCH about the content of the show and what we thought it all meant. Quite honestly, I didn’t really have an opinion at the time. I just liked the music.

In the late 70s I got to see a see a stage production of Superstar in London’s West End. I was just getting into musical theatre at the time and I thought, “Well, this isn’t Annie Get Your Gun. This is the kind of show I’d really like to be in.

Flash forward to 1987. Fran Rude was putting on a Lethbridge version of Jesus Christ Superstar. I was thrilled when I got the part of Simon who has a great song in the first act. I was also double cast as a leper. I may have also been a heathen who gets thrown out of the temple. It was a great experience. Mind you it was rather terrifying to watch my good friend Lyndon Bray who was Judas plummet to the stage after his harness broke when he was being lifted into the rafters during his suicide scene. That was dress rehearsal night. We ended up postponing the show for a week and Lyndon may have been the first Judas in the history of Jesus Christ Superstar to be wearing a walking cast. I believe there was one person in that cast who was unavailable for the amended run of the show. I felt really bad for her. But there wasn’t an understudy for Lyndon and learning the role of Judas in less than 24 hours would have been virtually impossible.

A few memories from that show: It may have not been exactly like this but as I recall the cross for Jesus came from a trap door under the stage. On one of the nights, when it was getting put up, there were some wires attached to the cross that got tangled up and it got stuck. A quick thinking backstage crew member was able to sneak on stage and untangle it. It could have been a disaster.

In my Simon song I sing “For ever & ever & ever” eight times. On the eighth and final time I go up a few notes. Because when I’m not stage and can’t count to 8 I relied on our conductor to point up when that time in the music came. On the last night he pointed up with his middle finger. Thankfully I didn’t break out in laughter. But it was close.

Another memory: The last night of our run was on Saturday April 18. It was NHL playoff time. I started to watch the New York Islander-Washington Capital game before I made my way to the theatre. It was game 7. I watched the first period then headed to the U of L. We did the show and a number of us went to what was then Fiddlers Restaurant. (It’s now Andrew Hilton Wine & Spirits.) I had a couple of drinks and headed home. I turned on the TV to find out what the final score was and to my shock, the game was STILL GOING!! It turned out to be one of the longest playoff games in NHL history lasting over 6 hours and ending with a Pat LaFontaine goal. It ended just before 2am Eastern Time which somewhat ironically was Easter Sunday.  

I thought that would be it for my Jesus Christ Superstar on stage experiences. But 13 years later I got a call from Fran Rude. She was doing the show again only this time she wanted me to play the part of Judas. When I first thought about what role I would love to do in JCS if given the opportunity my first response was Jesus mostly because the big song he does, Gethsemane is so powerful. But having a discussion one year with the great Dick Mells who directed many Lethbridge Musical Theatre shows he said the real meaty role is Judas. He pointed out that you have to be able to sing and you really have to be able to act. Judas is a complicated character and it’s a real challenge for the person who takes it on. Not only that, if I was Jesus and I was hanging on the cross, I’m so hairy I’d have to shave my chest.

I was honored to be Judas. This time the venue was The Yates. Thankfully there was no chance of Judas dropping from the rafters. It was a strong cast and well received. It definitely was challenging for me to hit some of those high notes.

To my surprise in 2016, Fran wanted to do the show one more time. This time it was a fundraiser for the Lethbridge Senior Citizens Organization. And once again she asked me to play Judas. And once again, because I love the show so much I said yes, absolutely. This time around I found myself digging a little deeper into the role. There was more historical discussion about what was going on politically during the time of Christ. We talked about how dangerous it really was for the disciples to be spreading this gospel. It wasn’t going over well with the powerful Romans. We talked about how Judas truly loved Jesus and respected him but he was really worried about going too far and that their lives were in jeopardy. Was Judas just trying to save everyone from an imminent death? Was Judas the first whistle blower? Judas was a tortured soul. Why did he have to be the one to turn him in? Why was it predestined to be that way? He didn’t want Jesus to be beaten half to death, he just wanted to stop the movement. He couldn’t live with what he had done, and he hated that he would be “damned for all time.” Thus, his suicide. When I first did Jesus Christ Superstar I was 32. By the time I did it for the 3^rd time I was 61. I think there is something to say about living a life to understand a character. The first time I did Judas I just wanted to hit the notes. The second time around I felt so much more emotion on stage than I ever had. I had legitimate tears in my eyes every night when I gave up Jesus to the Romans. I felt true regret when singing, “You beat him so bad that he was bent & lame. And I know who everybody’s going to blame. I’d save him all this suffering if I could!”

One unfortunate thing I will remember from this show is how sick I got. I have never been that sick before nor have I been that sick since. It was a horrible flu bug going around and I was taking every decongestant, as much Tylenol as possible plus some herbal teas to help clear out my sinuses. Fortunately, I was able to sing but it was tough sledding.

A real big thrill for me was reaching out to Yvonne Elliman. She played the part of Mary Magdelene on the original concept album and she played the same role in the movie. I asked her if she could send an inspirational note to our cast. To my amazement she agreed and wrote this:  

To the cast and crew of the Lethbridge production of “Jesus Christ, Superstar”…

Have a fabulous run with this miraculous rock opera, and know that the audience is there to love and support you.  Answer that with heartfelt enthusiasm as you put your own special spin on this classic story, and you will weep with your audience as you gaze at the man on the cross in the final scene.  Carry on, with love and aloha,

Yvonne Elliman xxoo   

I wrote her back to say thank you for what she did and this was her reply:

You’re very welcome, Mark. Go break a breadstick! ( I can’t bring myself to quote the traditional ‘leg’ line,  having just gone through a knee replacement! ) Aloha, Yvonne

I’m also proud to say the show raised $42,973.08 for the LSCO.

Another thrill I’ve had over the years was getting to do a phone interview with Ted Neeley who played Jesus in the movie. He was coming to Lethbridge for the touring show. He told me to come on back stage after the show. I did. It was awesome.

Another thing I did that was JCS related was doing an audition for the old DuMaurier’s Search for the Stars. It was kind of like a Canada’s Got Talent show. I did Gethsemane. I screwed it up and didn’t make the show. Not my best audition ever. I did get to meet Fred Davis from Front Page Challenge. He was a judge. For those who don’t know him or that show google it.

There were a few of us who did all three shows between 1987 and 2016. One of them was George Gallant who played Jesus. I’ve never heard him sing better than in 2016. It was a privilege to get to watch him every night. Bill Lawson played Herod and he was brilliant. Marty Madge was Caiaphas. His deep voice sounded exactly like the concept album. On the last night of the 2016 show he’s supposed to dangle the bag of silver in front of me to get Judas to reveal where Jesus is going to be. He inadvertently dropped the bag prematurely. It took everything within my power to not laugh out loud. It would have been very inappropriate because it’s one of the most dramatic moments of the show. Frank Zappone and his sister Maria were there 37 years ago at the U of L show. Frank’s son Tony was Caiaphas in the 2024 show. How cool is that? I’m sure I’ve missed some others who did all three shows. I apologize. I’m still trying to use my brain cells to remember my passwords.  

George and I talked about seeing this year’s U of L show and we both admired what talent we witnessed and some of the interesting bits they did compared to what we did. That’s the beauty of the show. There’s many interpretations you can use to make the show your own version.       

George finished our conversation with this: “I was thinking how much time we spent with that music and over the 3 shows we did it was like a year of our lives.”

It was a good year.

And I’m sure for this 2024 cast it will be a memory of a lifetime.  

Taking On Judas: A Chat With Jillian Bracken

The University of Lethbridge is putting on Jesus Christ Superstar March 12-16 at the UofL Theatre. I remember hearing the iconic Webber-Rice musical in high school at Catholic Central in the 70s. It was a very provocative work at the time. We had big discussions in our religion class about how Jesus was struggling with why he was put on earth. The emotional song “Gethsemane” is one of the most powerful moments in the show: “Take this cup away from me for I don’t want to taste its poison.” I remember talking to Dick Mells many years ago. He was the director of countless Lethbridge Musical Theatre shows in Lethbridge. I said, if I ever get the chance, I would love to do the role of Jesus. He said, that’s all very good, but the meatiest role of the show is the part of Judas. I’ve had the chance to perform in Jesus Christ Superstar three times since 1987. Dick was right in my opinion. Judas is an amazing role. One might argue the show is just as much about Judas as it is about Jesus. Which is why I had to talk Jillian Bracken. She has been cast as Judas in this very unique production of a beloved rock opera.   

When you first auditioned for JC Superstar, were you looking for a specific role?

I saw an audition notice in the early 2023 for a 2024 production of JCS at the University of Lethbridge. It was exciting to see that the auditions were open to community members. Even though I knew that casting priority for the production would (rightly!) be given to students, I thought I would throw my hat in the ring. Call me strange, but I really enjoy auditions. I treat them as performance opportunities. I will always go and perform at auditions even if I don’t see an obvious role for myself in a show. And by golly, did that approach pay off in this situation! I went into the JCS auditions thinking I could be a convincing ” Ecstatic Palm Frond Waver #7″ or perhaps a captivating “Weathered Prostitute #4.” I would have been happy with anything. I have never done a show at the U of L and was seeking an opportunity to work with a new community of creatives in a new-to-me performance space.

What was your reaction when you were offered the part of Judas?

The audition process for this show was a long and thoughtful one. There were multiple rounds of call-backs. I was excited when I heard the production was doing gender-blind casting but never anticipated how that approach would impact me. After my initial audition, I was called-back for both Simon and Judas. My mind was blown. I’d never contemplated playing either of those characters! I didn’t know any of their rep! I had to very quickly learn callback music that was foreign to me as a performer and figure out how to navigate music not written for my voice type. THANK GOD for the almighty Shoshana Bean and the 2022 all-female studio recording of JCS. I used that as a touchstone to help guide me through call-backs and have consulted it during rehearsals when I’ve felt stuck. I am no Shoshana Bean, but I do aspire to emulate her vocal brilliance in my interpretation of Judas.

I was offered the role of Judas in the fall of 2023. I took some time to think before accepting it for two main reasons: 1) at that point in time, I had already signed on to music direct LMT’s “The Full Monty” in October-November 2023 and had accepted an ensemble role in New West Theatre’s production of “Elf” in December 2023. I was worried about doing three consecutive shows that would consume my life for seven months; and 2) the gravity and importance of the role of Judas scared me. I’ve performed a lot in my life and love musical theatre, but I have limited experience in big roles. And this role felt even bigger than big, it felt iconic. Could I do it? Would I embarrass myself? Was I good enough?

I thought long and hard before accepting the role, and talked it through with my husband, knowing that adding another show to an already busy season would greatly impact him and my two kids. I cried a lot during the decision-making process, I’m not going to lie — a mixture of fear and excitement. But when else in my life would I ever get this kind of opportunity? The answer was NEVER. So, I said yes. And though it’s been hard balancing family and work and rehearsals, JCS has been an incredibly fulfilling creative experience.

Does being a female in that role change any dynamic between Jesus and Judas?

To me, the relationship between Jesus and Judas is a profound friendship that is little concerned with gender. Gender-blind casting gives this production a freshness and modern awareness that does not at all take away from the power of the story. If anything, it enhances the story by making it more universal and relatable. A gender-blind approach may challenge audiences who are used to the show being cast in a particular way but I hope that even the most ardent musical theatre traditionalists will come see this production… and will approach it with an open heart and an open mind… and will find it compelling and meaningful!

I should note that I am not the only person in this production cast in a traditionally-male role. There are several of us. One to highlight is Geneva Murphy who is playing the role of Simon. She absolutely annihilates “Simon Zealotes” with her charisma and vocal acrobatics — that number is a highlight of the show!

Is it fair to say that the role not only challenges your singing abilities but also your acting chops?

That is a very fair statement! This role has challenged me to grow both as a singer and as an actor. Judas fills the narrator role in the JCS story. The character follows a devastating trajectory, moving from (spoiler alert) concerned observer to betrayer to being riddled with regret to taking their own life to reincarnation as an epic angel rock god/dess. All of this happens over the course of a handful of songs. Judas’s lyrics are intense and I’ve been working hard to develop a singing style for this show suited to the lyrics, one that allows me to sing in a healthy-and-sustainable-yet-balls-to-the-wall style. All of Judas’s acting happens either in silence or while singing as there is basically no music-less dialogue. This is all a tall order but I’ve loved the challenge of figuring it out.

Singing “Jesus Christ Superstar” is my favourite moment in the show. It is such a spectacular song but it takes place at a really difficult time in the story. How does Judas feel about Jesus at this point in their journey? The song is so upbeat but the emotions surrounding it are heavy and complicated. The song serves as a strange type of pressure-release. It requires a kind of detached engagement that I have been working hard to find. The entire production team has really helped me navigate these challenges, with special thanks to Director Doug MacArthur and Acting Coach Zoë Bracken (my long-lost younger sister) for the energy they have invested in my growth.

As you’ve mentioned Judas is a conflicted apostle. On one hand she believes in the message that Jesus is delivering. On the other hand she is worried about how dangerous things are becoming with the Romans. One might say she is the first ever whistle blower who then regrets her decision to turn over Jesus when she sees how the Romans ended up beating Him to the point where he was “bent and lame.” She also questions why she was chosen to be that person and ultimately (spoiler alert) commits suicide. What emotions have you been going through for this character and are you discovering anything new about Judas or even about yourself.

Throughout the rehearsal process, Doug has given the cast needed time and space to explore and talk about our characters in the show. This supportive creative environment has helped me wrestle with the complexities of Judas. Judas cares for Jesus and the other apostles. Their heart is in the right place.  They are concerned about the consequences of Jesus’s growing fame and try, out of worry and love and fear, to put a stop to what they think is a very dangerous situation. I don’t think Judas ever anticipated the devastating result of the betrayal and is genuinely shocked by the horrible atrocities that befall Jesus. The story brings up questions about free will. Did Judas have a choice in any of this? Was it all pre-determined, predestined? And if Judas did not have free will, should they be held accountable for their actions? The “Jesus Christ Superstar” number suggests that Judas is not punished for the betrayal.

I read somewhere during my research for the role that JCS lyricist Tim Rice found inspiration for the musical in the following Bob Dylan lyric: “Through many dark hour I been thinkin’ about this / that Jesus Christ was betrayed by a kiss / but I can’t think for you, you’ll have to decide / whether Judas Iscariot had God on his side.” JCS poses that question and challenges audiences to look at Judas as more than the cardboard cut-out portrayal offered in the Bible. The story is as much about Jesus as it is about Judas. The idea that Judas is a sympathetic character–dare I say a hero?–pervades the entire musical, and is what makes this version of the crucifixion story devastating and compelling.

Who is playing Jesus and talk about that on-stage relationship?

Jesus is played by the inimitable Franz Faeldo. I did not know Franz before this production. Sharing this experience with him has been one of the greatest gifts this show has given me. He is in his final year of an undergraduate voice degree at the U of L and has amazing things ahead of him in his career as a performer. Franz is a tender, sweet, and sassy soul who has led the production with grace and confidence. It has been an honour over the past few months to watch him grow into the role of Jesus. I am one of his biggest fans.

I should also praise our Mary, the incredibly talented Jessica Schnell. Her voice is stunning and her performance is wonderfully sensitive. She is another one who is going places — both as a fine arts teacher (her current degree program) and as a performer.

Talk about the on-stage talent you’re seeing in this show.

The ensemble members–all post-secondary students–are the true stars of this show. They do so much heavy-lifting as they are on stage more than the principals and they play multiple different roles throughout the production. They are constantly dancing and being called upon to sing complex harmonies both on and off stage. It has been a pleasure working with such a group of enthusiastic performers. They have kept me on my toes throughout the rehearsal process. The U of L has cultivated a wonderful environment for these students to explore and grow, and I have had an amazing time going “back to school” with them for the past few months.

With this show, you need a rockin ‘orchestra. How is that coming together?

We have had two rehearsals with the student orchestra so far and they are outstanding. They are a passionate group of musicians who really bring the show to life. They are conducted by the magnificent Bente Hansen who has helped guide the production throughout the rehearsal process as our rehearsal pianist. JCS is a sung-through rock opera so the music is unrelenting, in the best possible way! It is an intensely rhythmic score that blends together many different styles. The orchestra is handling it with great skill and it is a joy to sing with them.

Final thoughts?

In the past year we lost two Lethbridge theatre legends, Ed Bayly and Fran Rude. I had the pleasure of working with and learning from both of them. I strive to honour them and many others who came before me with the creative work I do in this community. I work hard, as I know many of you reading this blog do, to be a part of the movement that keeps Ed and Fran’s legacies alive and well in Lethbridge. I am excited by the enthusiasm for theatre shared across this production of JCS by students working both on and off stage. The future is bright for arts and culture in Lethbridge and I know both Ed and Fran would be touched to see this next generation so passionate about something that meant so much to them.

Ed Bayly

Fran Rude

Lethbridge is an amazing arts and culture community. I am grateful to be a part of it and thankful for the creative opportunities I have had since I moved here.

Please come see JCS! It is a production not to be missed!

Random Reflections and Memories

I’m finding that the older I’m getting, the more nostalgic I’m becoming. I’m closing in on 70 so there’s a lot of memory stored in the old hippocampus in my temporal lobe. (I googled it to find out where that memory goes in the brain.) At any given time of the day or night something from my past will be awakened. Maybe it’s because of an image that pops up on TV or maybe it’s a song that sends me back to an event in the 60s or 70s.

In my moments of reflection I think about what influenced me in my formative years. How did I turn out the way I did? Where did my sense of humor come from? Why did I get into radio? Why did I want to be involved in theatre? Why do I love sports? I don’t if I have any answers but because I started a blog that is called “Random Thoughts At Random Times” I thought I’d write down a schwack of those thoughts/memories. As I’ve said many times, writing is therapeutic for me. So maybe this is a form of defraging. Maybe if I clear out a few things I won’t have one of those conversations like,

“Who’s that actor in that movie about the thing that goes wrong?

“What thing?”

“You know the thing with the disease from the plant?”

“Um….”

“He’s really good looking and in real life he was married to that gal who was in that sitcom with that guy with the accent?”

“Can’t help you.”

Anyway, I’m going to randomly write down things that pop into my mind from my past that you may or may not relate to. Many things will be Lethbridge based. Some things are quotes from TV shows:

My first day at school in Grade 1 I peed my pants.

Kennedy assassinated in 1963. We went into the gym to pray.

The images of his funeral have stuck with me all these years:

The riderless horse with riding boots in the stirrup facing the opposite way.

John Jr. saluting.

The precision of folding the American flag that was draped on his coffin.

Sunday night ritual: Ed Sullivan at 8pm, Bonanza at 9.

The Beatles in 1964 on Ed Sullivan

My favorite Bonanza episode was when they had leprechauns on.

Razzle Dazzle with Michele Finney and Al Hamel.

Howard the Turtle.

The Friendly Giant.

Mr. Dressup… Butternut Square

Chez Helene.

Front Page Challenge with Fred Davis, Gordon Sinclair, Betty Kennedy, Pierre Burton.

Hamburgers every Saturday.

Bugs Bunny.

Foghorn Leghorn.

“I say, I say, I keep on sending but you ain’t receiving”

“I’m a Chicken Hawk.”

“Leopold.”

Rowan & Martin’s Laugh In.

“Sock It To Me”

“Verrry Interesting”

“You bet your sweet bippy.”

“Look that up in your Funk & Wagnalls.”

“Say Goodnight Dick.”

Red Skelton.

“Gimme my hat”

Gertrude & Heathcliff, the two seagulls..

“Goodnight & may God bless.”

Hogan’s Heroes.

“I see nothing!!”

Playing football with the Bombers.

I rode the bench the first year.

The smell of liniment in the dressing room.

Get Smart.

“Chief, this calls for the Cone of Silence.”

“Sorry about that Chief!!”

Piano lessons every Tuesday with Henry Waack at his house.

Bewitched. I liked the first Darrin the best.

I Dream Of Jeannie.

The Flinstones.

The Wonderful World Of Disney

Becoming an altar boy at St. Patrick’s Church.

Serving at mass every day for a year.

Going to Spedapso.

Kids Bids..

Uncle Bob!!

Minor Hockey. Started out as a goaltender. In those days you had to borrow all the equipment from the goalie in the previous game. It was gross especially if the guy sweated a lot.

Bidding on and winning a GI Joe action figure.

The greatest weatherman ever Bill Matheson.

My first Lethbridge Musical Theatre show was at The Capitol Theatre starring Bill Matheson.

The Phone Bill Show.

Terry Bland..

Jumpin’ Jim Elliot on CJOC

Stock Car Racing at the Exhibition. Jim Elliot would call the races.

“Bumper To Bumper, side by side..”

Green Acres Drive Inn.

“The concession closes in 5 minutes!!”

The Capitol Theatre balcony.

CJLH TV

My first day at 1090 CHEC: June of 1974. First song I played was “I’ve Been Searching So Long” by Chicago.

The Canada-Russia Series of 1972.

Play by play by Foster Hewitt…

Brian Conacher did color.

Howie Meeker was analyst in between periods…

The ride from the A&W on Mayor Magrath Drive to the one on Scenic Drive..

Anglo Stereo & Photo 419-5 St. S.

Woodwards

Eatons, Kresge and Woolworth stores all on the same corner…

Eatons had the only escalator

The College Mall, Centre Village Mall and Lethbridge Centre were the big malls.

The Marquis Hotel…

The Jean Jungle

The Statutory Grape clothing boutique.

Going to the College dressed in pajamas because the poster said it was Pajama Day!! (I was the only one.)

And that’s my therapy for today. Hope it worked a little for you.

Reflections On The Sound Of Music

When I first heard that The Little Lethbridge Opera Theatre and The Lethbridge Symphony were holding auditions for the stage production of The Sound of Music I thought about the movie (that I watch every year) and wondered what part I should be trying out for. I definitely couldn’t play Rolf because the song is “I am 16 going on 17, not “68 going on 69”. Trying out for Captain Von Trapp would be cringe-worthy. Maria didn’t fall in love someone old enough to be her grandfather. A cross-dressing nun would be too Monty Pythony.  Perhaps I could play one of the Alps.

The fact that The Sound of Music is such a beloved musical with recognizable tunes and it’s an opportunity to sing with the incredible Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, I decided to audition.

To my surprise and delight I was given the role of Uncle Max. The age of an uncle can be wide-ranging. I may be 68 but I feel I can play 64. Not really knowing the original stage version I did not realize there were three songs that don’t appear in the movie: Two include Uncle Max-“How Can Love Survive” and “No Way To Stop It.” The 3^rd is “An Ordinary Couple” sung by The Captain & Maria. The stage production doesn’t have “I Have Confidence” nor “I Must Have Done Something Good.” And the placement of “Do Re Mi”, My Favorite Things” and “Lonely Goatherd” is different in the movie. Nevertheless the songs hold up no matter where they are. The story remains the same.

The show was cast and for the first time in my memory of doing theatre in Lethbridge, there were understudies. There were also two casts who were to play the children. Initially there were only going to be three shows so I felt bad for the one cast of kids who were only going to get one show. Fortunately, that would change.

The first read and sing through of the show happened on November 11. It was at Southminster Church with Maestro of the symphony Glenn Klassen and rehearsal pianist Greg Knight.

I was feeling a lot like a new kid coming to a new school because I really didn’t many of the people.

I had just finished the run of The Full Monty so I didn’t make a couple of the first rehearsals nor did I get a chance to learn Uncle Max’s songs. Thankfully, my understudy for Max, Dan Wright was there to help me get through.

We started at the very beginning. Which, by the way is a very good place to start.

The show opens with a very reverent Hymn sung by the nuns of the Abbey.

Right off the bat, I was blown away by the vocals.

Then we heard Maria played by Zoe Pepper singing The Sound of Music.

Wow!!

Vocal performance after vocal performance from this cast was eye-opening for me. They were remarkable.

All the children playing the Von Trapp kids.

Captain Von Trapp, played by Dr. Jeffrey Steed.

Caitlin McCaughey who was playing Baroness Schraeder.

Emerson Meierhofer who was playing Rolf.

Joni Thompson as The Mother Abbess.

After hearing all these terrific voices I thought to myself, “Um…what am I doing in this show? I better step it up.”

This was my first time working with directors Lisa Stanford and Megan Wittig who started the Little Lethbridge Opera Theatre. What a joy to be welcomed by them into this new theatre experience for me.

I have interviewed Symphony Maestro Glenn Klassen numerous times over the past 20 plus years in my past life as a TV/radio guy. I’ve always enjoyed his enthusiasm when he talks about his various projects. This was my first time working with him in a production and he brings that same zeal to the rehearsals and to the show. You can put your trust in the baton.

And so, I knew this was going to be a very, very good show.

I said to Zoe (Maria) on that first day, “You are going to make the audience fall in love with you.”

Not to brag, but I was so right.

I have been in musical theatre since The Allied Arts Council did summer shows for teens back in the 70s.

Over the years I have been in some tremendous shows. I have been in some duds. It happens.

Because the first 3 shows virtually sold out a couple of weeks before opening, the Symphony decided it would be a good idea to add the 4^th performance as a Matinee. It pretty much sold out as well.

It is not hyperbole for me to say that the response to this show after the Mother Abbess sings the finale of “Climb Every Mountain” was like nothing I have ever experienced.

Every audience at every show stood up spontaneously and applauded. When the children (both sets) marched out for their curtain call, the audience cheered wildly. And of course when the Captain and Maria took their bows, the audience hooted and hollered for them as well. The audience remained standing and joined the cast in the singing of Do Re Mi. Everyone was smiling and everyone was clapping in time. It’s a feeling I’ve never experienced before. I kind of got emotional about it especially because I’m sure this will motivate those kids to keep getting involved in theatre.

Some final thoughts:

-It was great to get to know some new people. Everyone has a story to tell. While I didn’t get to hear all of them it’s a fun part of getting involved with the community you live in.

-My understudy, Dan Wright who was playing the part of Franz The Butler ended up needing an emergency appendectomy and couldn’t do the opening night. He was able to make it for two of the shows.

Filling in for him was Emily Laidlaw who was playing the housekeeper Frau Schmidt. We had to make some minor changes in the script but she filled in wonderfully. While the main characters tend to get all the glory, I maintain that the greatness of a show includes the way the minor characters step up in their roles. And Emily was the personification of that with her delightful portrayal of the good Frau.

My good pal Dave Mikuliak played the part of Herr Zeller. We had some good laughs about some alternate endings of the Sound of Music. (None of them would ever happen.)

-If you ever get a chance to perform with the amazing Lethbridge Symphony Orchestra, do it. There’s nothing like it. They are such pros.

And finally. Take the advice from The Mother Abbess in your own life and be sure to climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow until you find your dream. And if you find a new Performing Arts Centre somewhere on the way, that would be great!!!  

Meet Mary. Our New Member Of The Family

Last year my wife and I got hooked on a show we discovered called, Orangutan Jungle School. It’s a documentary series filmed in Borneo, Indonesia, that follows the antics, triumphs and tragedies of a group of orphaned orangutans. These orangutans had been displaced due to forest destruction, separation from their mothers, or kept illegally as pets. The Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation manages the primate rehabilitation project and the series follows the group of orangutans as they are progressing through a forest school system where they will learn to fend for themselves in an already fragile ecosystem. The show was both heartbreaking and quite hilarious at the same time. We found ourselves falling in love with these amazing apes. Each orangutan has their own distinctive personality and often humanistic qualities. It made my wife jokingly say, “I want an orangutan!!”

When Christmas was approaching last year I found out about the Orangutan Project. As the website says, The Orangutan Project was established in 1998 by founder and world-renowned orangutan expert, Leif Cocks, as a result of his 25+ year career working with orangutans – including establishing the most successful breeding colony of orangutans in the world. The Orangutan Project was formed with a key mission: to ensure that endangered wild orangutan species would be protected against extinction, and would continue to live in secure populations for generations to come.

And you can adopt an orangutan.

I knew we never could or should own an orangutan as a pet so I thought this just may be the next best thing. So as a Christmas present to my wife, I adopted Mary on her behalf.

Our gal Mary

I’m happy to say she was thrilled to get the framed certificate. I also reached out to Orangutan Project founder Leif Cocks and asked him a few questions. He’s incredibly busy but I’m thrilled that he took time to respond to me:  

When did you come to the realization that you were going to spend a great deal of your life trying to preserve the survival of orangutans?

When I worked with 15 orangutans and discovered they are self aware persons, and they are the most intelligent beings that shares our planet. I also soon discovered they were being driven to Extinction in the most horrible way we can imagine – macheted, burnt alive, etc..

What makes orangutans so special?

They are self aware persons, and in many ways a more noble form of humanity. They do not process the inherent violence that humans and our closest cousins, chimpanzees have.

What kind of research was done to know that a Jungle School was the right thing to do for orphaned orangutans?

There are decades of particular experience with orangutan reintroduction, both good and bad. Each orangutan is monitored every day and activity and condition is recorded into an extensive database.

What is a “school year” like for an Orangutan and what does success look like after graduation?

Slowly increasing independence with the support from their carers. Success is learning over 120 different food sources, including those important in the non-fruiting season, making night nests and staying off the ground.

Is there ever a time when an Orangutan just can’t make the transformation into the wild and the safest place is to stay with the humans who tried to help it adapt?

Yes, and we are currently building the first rainforest sanctuary for such individuals, so they can live in the forest in dignity, breed and have their offspring join the reintroduction program.

You believe that we may only have the next decade to ensure the survival of viable ecosystems, preserving megafauna and combating climate change. It’s a daunting task. How optimistic are you and what is your message to the world as we begin 2024?

I think it is a big challenge, however with enough support we can achieve our vision. We have great people and technical skills. The rate determining factor is money. It is hard to raise enough money, however not impossible. For the price of one missile each year that kills people, we can save entire ecosystems that support orangutans, elephants, tigers and indigenous communities.

When I read about the incredible work that you have done over the years along with others like Jane Goodall and Dian Fossey and how intense and dedicated you have to be, I wonder about personal relationships. Is it possible to have a life outside of The Orangutan Project? (Like do you binge-watch the Crown or cheer for the West Coast Eagles of the AFL?)

A life of selfless services to others is rich and rewarding. Nothing else is required. I enjoy music, reading philosophy and walking my dogs.

My wife and I are thrilled to have adopted Mary for a year. Can you tell my readers a little about her what my donation or any potential donation they may make will be used for.

The donations are used to support her and other orangutans through the rescue, rehabilitation, and release process, as well as support the ongoing protection of the habitat they are released into.

Any final thoughts for my fellow Canadians who have been dealing with -30 temperatures and may not have orangutans top of mind at the moment. 

All living beings are connected. The survival and protection of orangutans supports the welfare and enrichment of all living beings. It is our disconnect with our shared beingness that causes problems and unhappiness. It is the concept that some lives matter more than others is the route of all evil. If we leave any being outside our circle of concern, we all suffer and can not achieve lasting success.  On a practical level, the destruction of Indonesian rainforest drives climate change. The killing of animals for their meat, also drives climate change, as well as pollutes the environment, reduces antibiotics effectiveness and impacts consumers health.

Leif Cocks of The Orangutan Project

For more information on The Orangutan Project or you want to get involved check out their website:

https://www.theorangutanproject.org/

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? Cast Zoe Pepper To Play Her

Zoe Pepper has been cast as Maria in the Little Lethbridge Opera Theatre and Lethbridge Symphony’s production of The Sound of Music. With her charming stage personality and brilliant singing voice you are going to fall in love with her just like the Von Trapp kids do in the show. I asked her a few questions about her love of theatre and tackling this role.

When did you first get the “bug” for wanting to be a performer?

My first experiences as a performer began as a dancer at the age of 4 so I believe the ‘bug’ started from a very young age. Something that I find rather embarrassing is that my ‘inspiration’ when I was young was ‘CATS’ the musical. I remember being so mesmerized by those dancers that I would say time and time again ‘I wanna do that!’. My first memory was having to do my first dance dress rehearsal by myself because no one from my class showed up. My teacher gave me the choice to dance or not and I didn’t really give it a second thought I just did it. Then on, I truly do not recall a time when I did not want to go on stage. Sure I get nervous and anxious but regardless of how I feel before I go on stage I know it is something I NEED and I guess you could call it that ‘bug’. As I’ve gotten older and my experience has increased as a performer, that pull to the stage keeps getting stronger and stronger. The performance ‘bug’ isn’t going away anytime soon.

Talk about some of the favorite roles you’ve had in your career?

So hard to pick favourites because each role has taught me something about myself and has stretched me as a performer. If I have to pick, I would say Ariel in ‘The Little Mermaid’ and Morticia in ’The Addams Family’ – two opposites! Ariel was an absolute dream role for me and I really wanted her to be more than just a 16-year-old princess. Morticia was a role that turned into a dream role for me. The role challenged my acting, comedic timing, vocals EVERYTHING and I love her for that. She was so eccentric and offbeat that I learned to put down my barriers and give into the character.

How excited were you when you were cast for the part of Maria?

Excited is definitely an understatement when I received the news, I was genuinely surprised. Maria has always been a role where I would think ‘That would be nice but that’ll never happen.’ NEVER SAY NEVER because you honestly never know what the future has in store. A part of me still cannot comprehend that this is my reality, it feels very surreal. I really try and soak up every minute I have at rehearsal because this has been so much fun. I love Maria, I love the cast and crew and I am thrilled to be a part of this production. 

Playing Maria in the Sound of Music, people will undoubtedly compare you to what they’ve seen with Julie Andrews or with Carrie Underwood. How do you approach what you want to do with this iconic role?

This comparison is something I have been very aware of through this process. I won’t lie, I have felt that pressure to rise to the ‘Julie standard’ but the truth is, there is no one like Julie. I love Julie’s portrayal dearly and she will always be the Maria that stands out in everyone’s mind and rightfully so! With every character I play, I hope to bring myself into that character and realize that no two portrayals are alike. I have to remind myself that I will never be Julie Andrews or Carrie Underwood because there is no one like them- that is why we love them. I hope that the more that I try and lean into my strengths as a performer, the closer I will be to recreating this beloved character.

Who has been most influential in getting you to where you are today?

I have been very lucky to have been taught and mentored by extremely encouraging and seasoned professionals. From dance teachers to choir instructors to my first vocal teacher David Shefsiek and my university professors  Dr. Blaine Hendsbee and Dr. Sandra Stringer have all been vital parts of my vocal journey. I have worked with some incredible directors and actors who have helped shape me as an overall performer. Of course, I cannot underestimate the amount of strength my family has given me over the years. I suppose there is not one single person who has been an influence because I needed all of these people to get me to where I am today.

Who are some of your favorite singers?

The primary favourites that immediately come to mind are Isabel Leonard, Audra McDonald and Kelli O’Hara. Having said that, I know there are a handful of singers that inspire me in different ways.

I always have to ask…have you ever had disaster or major blooper on stage while performing?

Hmm, honestly nothing super disastrous or crazy! I have had a couple of laughing attacks in the middle of a scene, forgotten lines, missed entrances…I do remember at the end of The Little Mermaid Ursula threw me off stage but I threw myself a little too hard and rammed my shin into a chair and now I have a nice scar to remember that one! No big bloopers, let’s hope it stays that way for now!

What’s the long term goal for you?

The long-term goal, for now, is to keep performing as long as I can and as much as I can! It is a strange feeling being graduated and having to seek out my own opportunities, but it is also very exciting. I have no idea what the future holds but as I said before, I do not anticipate the performance bug going away anytime soon.

Talk about what performing means to you and why it is vital for a community

For me, performance is a part of who I am, I cannot imagine a life without it. I feel that ‘performance void’ when I am not involved in a project, I love having a new performance project that I can get my hands on. As you will be able to see in this show we have so much young talent that we have to nurture and facilitate. Let’s provide those opportunities for new artists and tell them ‘Yes you can!’ The arts can connect individuals from various backgrounds because performance goes far and beyond superficial barriers. The arts bring people together and allow people to feel things that words cannot.

The Sound of Music goes Feb. 1-3 at Southminster United Church. Get your tickets at http://www.lethbridgesymphony.org