Several Wellington County residents will be in the spotlight when the Grey Wellington Theatre Guild (GWTG) stages the world premiere of an original blues musical this fall.
Job’s Blues, by R. William Muir and featuring music by Chris Michie and Andy Kulberg, is a modernized adaptation of the Biblical story of Job. Set in a bar room, the story involves a cast of characters including a bartender, waitresses, bar patrons, God, the Devil, Job and his wife.
After moving to the Kitchener-Waterloo area in 2005, Muir began to make connections that led to the Grand River Blues Society, which put him in touch with the Grey Wellington Theatre Guild and arrangements were made to stage the show.
The production is being brought to the stage as collaboration between the GWTG and the Grand River Blues Society.
“We’ve put together a cast with tremendous talent and they really do justice to the blues genre, which encompasses a wide range of musical styles,” said director Peggy Raftis.
“There’s ballads, numbers with a Motown sound … there’s even a number with a country feel to it. Audiences will be amazed by this production. We’ve never done anything like it.”
The show will be performed by a cast of 11, including Mark McKechnie of Kitchener, Christine Wick and Amber McCraney of Listowel, Warren Wray of Atwood, Daryl Miejer of New Hamburg, Elaine Luymes of the Moorefield area, Dan Bieman and Crystal Hay of Harriston, and Mike Broomhead, Dave Moran and Mark Hillis of Mount Forest and area.
The cast will be backed by a five-piece band of Kincardine-area musicians, which includes musical director Brenda Manderson, a former Harriston resident, on keyboard, John Stewart on lead guitar, Karen Weber on bass, Brian Tovey on harmonica and Dave Banks on drums.
Performance dates at the Harriston Town Hall Theatre are Nov. 2, 3, 8, 9 and 10 at 7:30pm and Nov. 4 at 2pm. Tickets are available at Harriston Home Hardware, Shoppers Drug Mart in Mount Forest or through the GWTG box office at 519 338-2778 or ticketsgwtg@wightman.ca.
