MR. NEW YEAR'S EVE Comes to the Blyth Festival

At its heart, the Blyth Festival was built for one reason: to bring people together. The best in new, live, 100% Canadian theatre, right here in Canada's hometown. And it doesn't get any more Canadian than Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians.

With the re-opening of Blyth Memorial Hall just a few weeks ago, the Blyth Festival is set to ring in its 43rd season with the world premiere of Mr. New Year's Eve: A night with Guy Lombardo, written by London native David Scott and being directed by the Festival's Artistic Director Gil Garratt. This true-life, music-driven extravaganza runs from June 28 to August 19 in Blyth's newly-renovated Memorial Hall. Make it your resolution to get to Blyth.

Reserve your seats by calling the Box Office at 519.523.9300, Toll Free 1.877.862.5984 or online at blythfestival.com. For 48 consecutive years Guy Lombardo was North America's "Mr. New Year's Eve," bandleader of the biggest holiday broadcast on the continent. Together with his band The Royal Canadians, Lombardo sold more than 300 million records internationally. To this day, they still play his recording of Auld Lang Syne as the official ball drops on the annual festivities in New York's Times Square. A son of Italian immigrants, Guy was born and raised in London, Ontario, but it was his summers, playing the biggest beach bandstand in Huron County's Grand Bend, where this local musical titan cut his teeth and learned to play both his many instruments and the teeming crowds.

Though his own father adamantly opposed Guy's love of Jazz, and Canadian radio stations showed active disinterest, Guy's dedication to his craft was all consuming, and no obstacle could block his path to his dreams. Friend and influential colleague of some of the biggest names in show biz, including Louis Armstrong, Sophie Tucker, the Andrews Sisters, Al Jolson, Bing Crosby, and others, Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians blazed a path from Huron County to the Big Apple, the likes of which has never been seen, before or since. Mr. New Year's Eve: A night with Guy Lombardo features a nine-piece band: Klaus Anselm, Rebecca Auerbach, Jason Chesworth, Nathan Howe, Ron Kennell, George Meanwell, J.D. Nicholsen, Birgitte Solem, James Thomson, and Jim Shea (alternate).

This is playwright David Scott's third play produced at Blyth since 1997, the other two being There's Nothing in the Paper and The Ballad of Stompin' Tom. He has worked as an editor in newspaper (Huron Expositor and Lakeshore Advance), in a medical journal (Stroke - American Heart Association), and magazine (Alumni Gazette, Western University). The former Mayor of Seaforth (1998 to 2000) and now teaches writing part-time at Western and Fanshawe College in London.

Director Gil Garratt has been involved with Blyth since 1999, including 17 seasons as an actor, director, co-creator, and the director of the Young Company. Notable past shows with Blyth include The Last Donnelly Standing, Death and the Hired Man, The Drawer Boy, The Outdoor Donnellys, Against the Grain, Vimy, The Nuttalls, and Early August (performer); Our Beautiful Sons: Remembering Matthew Dinning, Mary's Wedding, Spirit of the Narrows, World Without Shadows, and Another Season's Harvest (director); St. Anne's Reel (playwright). Gil's eclectic career has carried him coast to coast, collaborating with companies all over Canada.

Gil is the recipient of a Dora Mavor Moore award for Outstanding Performance and has been nominated for a Robert Merritt award in Nova Scotia. This is Gil's third season as Artistic Director. Providing digital dramaturgy and designing the set and projections for Mr. New Year's Eve: A night with Guy Lombardo is Beth Kates whose creative talents were evident last season in The Last Donnelly Standing and Seeds in 2016. Gemma James Smith is designing the costumes, Lesley Wilkinson is designing the lighting, and Verne Good is the sound designer. Heather Thompson is the Production Stage Manager and Katerina Sokyrko is the Assistant Stage Manager. Blyth Festival acknowledges the support of the Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Foundation, the Ontario Arts Council, the 2015-2017 Season Sponsor Parkland Fuels/ Sparlings Propane, Season Media Sponsor CTV, and Lake Huron Chrysler (Official Vehicle). Mr. New Year's Eve: A night with Guy Lombardo is generously sponsored by OLG (Production Sponsor) and AM920 CKNX, Classic Rock, 107.1 The One (Media Sponsor).

MR. NEW YEAR'S EVE: A NIGHT WITH Guy Lombardo | June 28 - August 19 Written by David Scott Directed by Gil Garratt
TICKETS: $39 preferred | $35 regular | $15 youth

Previews: $9.20 - CKNX Night | $17 adults | $15 youth
BOX OFFICE: 519.523.9300 | Toll Free: 1.877.862.5984 | Online: www.blythfestival.com
DATES OF NOTEJune 28 - Preview (AM 920 CKNX Night) at 8pmJune 29 - Preview at 8pmJune 30 - Opening Night at 8pmJuly 20 - An informal question and answer with cast members follows the 2pm matineeAugust 19 - Closing performance at 8pm
COUNTRY SUPPERSSelected Fridays and Saturdays - Enjoy a home-cooked meal served at a local venue at 6:15pmTickets are $19 each and may be booked by calling the Blyth Festival Box Office

SOCIAL MEDIAFollow us on Facebook and Twitter: #bfLombardo The Blyth Festival is a professional theatre that enriches the lives of its audience by producing and developing plays that give voice to both the region and the country. The theatre produces a repertory summer season of exclusively Canadian theatre, with an emphasis on new work. Blyth Centre for the Arts, including the Blyth Festival, was founded in 1975.

To post a comment, you must register and login.