New West Theatre’s new artistic director Jeremy Mason, can’t wait to introduce his new season to the stage this summer.

“I guess there is a bit of pressure, but I”m fortunate to have worked for the past three years as in an administrative capacity with New West (as general manager,” said artistic  director Jeremy Mason.

“ I’m really excited to help give Southern Albertan audiences a really great theatrical experience,” he continued.

 As usual there are two massive musical/ comedy revues in July and August. Bandstand will focus on the hits of the ’60s and ’70s including Motown, surfing hits, British hits and  anything that might appear on the musical variety shows of the ’60s. It takes place July 4-28.

“Bandstand features the hits of the ’60s from the Beatles to the Beach Boys, and there will be lots of really great comedy,” he said adding “Party On” will, focus on the hits of the ’70s.

 New West gets ready to “party on” in August, from Aug. 8-Sept. 1, supplying the soundtrack to summer including a plethora of hits from Billy Joel, The Eagles, Whitney Houston and many others.

 But Mason is exciting about the first Canadian play of the season, Billy Bishop Goes to War, which  runs Sept. 27-Oct. 6.
“I wanted to choose a really good Canadian play,” said Mason, adding Billy Bishop is one of his favourites.
“I’ve been wanting to put on Billy Bishop for a long time. I studied Billy Bishop in university,” he said.

“It’s a one act play with one actor, but there is a piano player on stage like Kathy Zaborsky was in ‘Marg Szkaluba; Pissy’s Wife.’ (which ran in October 2009),” he said.

“It takes place in the First World War. There is some great ragtime music, but  and it really talks about a point in time when Canada really found its identity,” he enthused adding it will appeal to all ages.

Glenda Warkentin is returning to Lethbridge in her first starring role in Andrew Kooman’s  drama “She Has A Name,” which runs at the Yates-Sterndale Bennett Theatre, May 23-27.

 It is the second run of the five cast member play which explores the issue of human trafficking.

Warkentin plays Marta, a social justice advocate as well as one of the ghostly, angelic voices, which help the characters understand the issue.

“Marta is involved in a lot of social justice causes. But human trafficking is what she is interested in now,” said Warkentin, rehearsing on one of the stages of Rosebud Theatre east of Calgary, where she earned her  four year degree after earning an interior design certificate from Lethbridge College.

Burnt Thicket is putting on the play, which opens in Lethbridge, then moves to  Saskatoon, Ottawa, Montreal Fringe Festival, Halifax, Winnipeg Fringe Festival, Calgary Fringe Festival, Victoria Fringe Festival, Vancouver Fringe Festival, then Kelowna and Edmonton before closing in Red Deer Oct. 2-6.

This is her second  round of playing Marta, since the play debuted last year,  her character has undergone a lot of rewrites.

“She’s definitely more well rounded. It has definitely helped me understand her character better, but not so huge. They give her a little more heart and will help the audience understand her better,” she said.

A Common Chord is looking for extras, Friday and Saturday, May 18-19.
 The film, starring Peter Seadon and Jason Cermak, combines the resources of the University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge College and numerous Lethbridge film makers and actors.

 It is the story of Kyle, a former foster child and talented flamenco guitarist who must become the father he’s never been to his daughter Teigan when her mother dies. Her grandfather wants Kyle to be completely removed from her life. Their conflict over it blinds them to their love for the little girl.

The movie will be shot in June 2012. It was written by Trevor Carroll and Deric Olsen and features original music by Josh Reuban Fritz. George Gallant is the producer.

 While principal cast has been chosen, many extras are needed. Some of the scenes include Grade One and Grade Two children, who look like they could be in kindergarten plus parents who look old enough to have children that age.

Also needed are male and female medical personnel for a nursing home, playground families including parents and children, mourners at a funeral in a cemetery.