Pops promises all that glitters
Performers are bringing on the glam factor for this year's Christmas Pops show, Dec. 3 to 6 at the Terry Fox Theatre.
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Updated: November 17, 2009 3:43 PM
Music lovers seeking high-quality entertainment don't have to head downtown for a Christmas variety show to rival the glitter and glam of Broadway.
That's because Christmas Pops is back this year at Terry Fox Theatre, featuring some of the best home-grown talent, much of it coming from the Tri-Cities, in a sparkling new show that will make even the grouchiest Grinch melt with pleasure.
Leading the home team on stage and in the orchestra pit are Jim Bryson, retired Pinetree secondary school teacher, and Brent Hughes, a colleague of Bryson's from his School District 43 days who will help Bryson with direction.
"We enjoy working together and he cares for the same things that are important to me musically," said Bryson of his new assistant director, who took over responsibility for sound last year and agreed to take on a larger role for the 2009 production.
Hughes didn't need a lot of convincing despite the work involved for the Dec. 3 to 6 production that occurs roughly at the same time report cards are due.
"The whole company is at such a high level musically, it was easy to say yes and working together with people of such high quality has been amazing."
In fact, Hughes openly admires Bryson, a leading figure in musical theatre in the Lower Mainland, who has helmed the orchestra for every Royal City Musical Theatre production since its inception. When the final curtain descends on Christmas Pops for the 2009 season, Hughes said he will be incorporating some of the things he has learned into his teaching job at Charles Best.
This will be the 10th year for Christmas Pops, a labour of love for Bryson who originally started the production company to showcase talented singers and musicians from around the Lower Mainland. As in previous years, Christmas Pops will feature many youthful performers from Surrey, White Rock, Burnaby, Langley, Mission, and Delta as well as the Tri-Cities. Music will range from slow, melodic Christmas ballads to high-energy Christmas pop songs, all specially arranged for the JP Chorus and Orchestra.
Adding to the vocal talents of the 17-member singing cast will be Diane Lines, an internationally renowned pianist who has performed with Michael Bublé and Gary Fjellgaard, and who has also been graced with a lovely voice. Bryson said Lines will display her vocal abilities in one or two songs and will be a featured pianist in a few swing-style songs, a genre she has perfected during several gigs with the Dal Richards Orchestra.
Costuming for the performance will be glamourous and fun, and this year the audience will be treated to a musical duel between Hughes and Bryson.
Bryson and Hughes say they are thrilled to work with so many talented performers, some of whom are veterans of Christmas Pops and others who are former students of Bryson and Hughes. Together they make for an amazing cast, they agreed.
"The fun of this thing is that you remember them as past high school students at the same time they have grown up and expanded their musical capability," Bryson said.
• Christmas Pops, directed by James Bryson, featuring recording artist Diane Lines, well known pianist and vocalist with the Dal Richards Orchestra, will perform at Terry Fox Theatre (1260 Riverside Gate, Port Coquitlam) Dec. 3 to 6 at 8 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on Dec. 5.
Tickets are $24 adults, $22 senior/child. Call 604-575-3760. Tickets will also be available at the door.
