A Kootenanny good time

Julie Johnson-Murray (seen here in rehearsals for last fall’s Jesus Christ Superstar performance) has pulled together a great night of entertainment set for this Saturday which she is calling Kootenanny.

Bob Hall photo

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A number of local musical theatre stars have teamed up for  what promises to be a raucous night at the Old Church Hall this Saturday.

Opera singer Julie Johnson-Murray (Mary in Jesus Christ Superstar) pulled together 15 local artists to help her put on her first Kootenanny. The theme for the evening is Unexpected Music.

“I’m hoping to put on a number of these — maybe four per year — with a different theme each time,” Johnson-Murray explained.

For the inaugural event she required performers to prepare something outside their regular repertoire.

“It can’t be something we’ve seen a million times,” she said. “I told them to have fun with the theme and try to really surprise us.”

The result is an eclectic mix of music with everything from comical opera and Broadway numbers to hip hop and original tunes.

“There’s also some fun, interesting covers and popular songs,” Johnson-Murray added.

There will be many familiar faces on stage, including Lisel Forst, Lucas Myers, Sydney Black, Michael Graham, Kevin Armstrong and Amber Star Pypper.

The Kootenanny goes Saturday at 8 p.m. at the Old Church Hall (602 Kootenay Street). Tickets are $10 to $20, sliding scale with proceeds going to the local HIV/AIDS support society, ANKORS. This is a licensed event with a cash bar.

Advanced tickets are available at ANKORS (101 Baker Street) and Enso Hair Design (336 Baker Street) and Hall Printing (471 Baker Street). Tickets will also be available at the door.