Photo Coverage: Acting Up Stage's TAPESTRIES

Acting Up Stage held it’s annual fundraiser last night at The Royal Conservatory’s Koerner Hall.  Entitled ‘Tapestries’, the show featured the music of James Taylor and Carole King re-arranged by Reza Jacobs and performed by some of the cities hottest talent.  

This was the sixth annual event for Acting Up Stage and it has become a tradition of sorts for the relatively young company.  The unique combination of well known songs with new arrangements makes for an exciting musical evening and provides an excellent showcase for the tremendous talent we have in this city.

Artistic Director Mitchell Marcus and music director Reza Jacobs amassed an impressive list of performers, including Cynthia Dale, Jake Epstein, Josh Young, Arlene Duncan, and Sterling Jarvis. Joining the soloists were four terrific ladies on back-up vocals (who were also featured performing solos of their own), Sara Farb, Kelly Holiff, Amanda LeBlack and Eden Richmond.

Reza Jacobs talent and creativity as a musical director took centre stage throughout the evening as invention variations of classic tunes such as Fire and Rain and It’s Too Late were paired with more traditional variations of Taylor and King’s hits.  Some stand-outs included Sara Farb’s gorgeous rendition of Beautiful (which including a sampling of the Christina Aguilera hit by the same name) and Jake Epstein’s version of Carolina in my Mind.  Another highlight was Sterling Jarvis and Arlene Duncan dueting on a jazzed up version of You’ve Got a Friend.

Overall, the evening served as a reminder of Acting Up Stage’s goal to be a company that produces ‘modern musical theatre.’  This is a group who aren’t afraid to take risks, and that fearlessness shows in their choice of material for Tapestries as well as their programming for the rest of year.  If you haven’t been to one of their productions – you are in for a real treat.  And if you have, you already know what I’m talking about.

For more information on Acting Up Stage's programming, please visit their official website at www.actingupstage.com and check out their daily musical theatre blog at www.actingupstage.com/musical-notes

Photos by Carly Mills Photography

The Cast of Acting Up Stage's TAPESTRIES

Eden Richmond

Amanda LeBlanc, Eden Richmond, Sara Farb, Kelly Holiff and Arlene Duncan

Arlene Duncan

Cynthia Dale

Sterling Jarvis

Josh Young

Arlene Duncan and Sterling Jarvis

Sara Farb

Kelly Holiff

Jake Epstein

Jake Epstein