PREVIEW
Café Wanderlust
Jan. 10 and 11 at 8 p.m.
Citadel Theatre
9828-101 A Ave.
Tickets: Call 780-425- 1820 or email [email protected]
Back in September 2019, Citadel’s artistic director Daryl Cloran introduced a new performance series known as The House, a series of eclectic offerings showcasing both local and out-of-town actors
It replaced what was formerly known as Beyond the Stage as a series of short shows in the basement level of the Citadel known as the Rice Theatre.
This experimental space, which has hosted everything from edgy plays to comedy shows to mystery whodunits, once again switches on the lights for Café Wanderlust on Jan. 10 and 11.
As the name gives it away, Café Wanderlust is an adult cabaret filled with songs about travelling and the stories that accompany globetrotters.
Award winning musical theatre performers Andrea House, Andrew MacDonald-Smith, Paul Morgan Donald and exciting newcomer Chariz Faulmino roam the hottest musical Broadway playlists in addition to singing memorable numbers from yesteryears.
The two sets traverse musical eras from The Bridges of Madison County and Avenue Q to Book of Mormon, Evita and Honeymoon in Vegas.
“When Darryl asked me to put together a revue, he requested I submit a number of themes. Since this would be coming out right after Christmas, I knew everybody usually wants to get away from the cold. Travel seemed to naturally fall into place,” said director Kate Ryan, former St. Albert Children’s Theatre actor.
“And the Rice Theatre with its tables and chairs feels like a café and lends itself naturally to a cabaret.”
In addition to travel songs, each performer is delivering a few stories of their own personal jaunts.
“Chariz is probably our biggest traveller. She’s gone from a small community in the Philippines and come to a large urban metropolitan city. She was blown away by how different it was.”
Paul Morgan Donald has an airport story to share while Andrew MacDonald-Smith once flew around North America in 48 hours.
Ryan hopes Andrea House, an acupuncturist in addition to enjoying a thriving career as a singer-songwriter, tells of her adventure volunteering at Doctors Without Borders.
“It’s a powerful story – something that would captivate everyone.”
So strap yourself in and prepare for a musical trek quite unlike any other.
