From Library Voices: Re THE CURST (a pop as f**k fantasia) POSTPONED

from Michael Scott Dawson of Library Voices:

"A telltale sign that a band has jumped the shark is when they announce that they're going to make a rock opera...

Things have been relatively quiet around the ol' Library Voices camp for the last few months (years) but I'm happy to share that we have been quietly collaborating with award winning playwright Kelley Jo Burke on a new work titled The Curst. The story centres around the fictitious characters that exist within our lyrics. It also features a bunch of new LV songs that likely won't ever exist elsewhere.

The Curst runs May 1-17 at Dancing Sky Theatre and there are only a limited number of tickets remaining. https://ontheboards.ca/events/the-curst/

Just so it's clear, I also wanted to point out that we are not in the theatre piece. They've cast a wonderful group of immensely talented professionals who portray a far more believable band than Library Voices ever could... We do plan to be around though, sipping wine and eating chicken burgers from the gas station up the street. xo"

"The Curst" heading into premiere production, Dancing Sky Theatre, May 1 2020

From the Dancing SKy Theatre website:

The Curst

by Kelley Jo Burke

​

May 1-17, 2020

“All my friends are buying diamonds for their girls

And bringing children into this world

Signing their name to a home on land they’ve captured

Me? I’m still writing songs I’m scared you’ll hear someday” — Carver, Library Voices

 The Curst may be the unluckiest band ever. They’re from small-town Saskatchewan, and they don’t play country. Their lead singer Merle is too neurotic to actually show anyone his songs. And it seems they’re being stalked by some kind of guardian angel gone really, really bad.  Their life on the road is such a series of injuries, freak catastrophes, and grueling hours in a beat-up van, that they are starting to wonder whether it’s just time to quit.

But sometimes, just sometimes, they make magic together and fly. Maybe it’s all worth it?

Then good fortune shows its face. To The Curst. All they need to do is keep it together and avoid any dodgy angelic interference for a few more days. What. Could. Go. Wrong?

Written by national-award winner Kelley Jo Burke (The Selkie Wife) and featuring the songs of Saskatchewan’s indi-pop legends Library Voices (Denim on Denim, Summer of Lust), The Curst is a funny, loving rock-musical about why year after year, generation after generation, bands climb into bad vans, and head out on another gig…no matter the cost.  

We've been through a series of amazing workshops. We have a killer cast (Tim Bratton, Kate Herriot, Felix Leblanc and Alyssa Billingly). We have the songs of the incredible Library Voices. And now the countdown starts--to the world premiere of this entirely made in Saskatchewan, pop as f*ck musical. Can't hardly wait.

Tickets are on sale here:  

Huge thanks to the Saskatchewan Arts Board, the Saskatchewan Foundation for the Arts, St. Peters College, and the Saskatchewan Playwrights Centre for their invaluable support of this project. 

Performance of "Leaving America" written and performed by Kelley Jo Burke, excerpt from upcoming memoir "To the Lighthouse (I know I need a better title)."

Thanks to Tic Toc TEN Short Performance Festival and a Thank you to ENC3000 videography.

Thanks to the organizers of the Tic Toc Ten festival of ten minute theatre pieces in Regina!

Whahoo! Thank you so much to the Paper Umbrella for supporting local arts, to the amazing three goddesses of Tic Toc Ten, Abbey Thiessen, Gabrielle Dufresne, and Robyn Sanderson for putting together such a totally successful event, and for all the artists and audience members for making it such an extraordinary night. 

Thanks to the Saskatchewan Foundation for the Arts

 Thanks to the SFA for funding the writing of "The Cursed" a musical with the amazing Library Voices. Look for it at Dancing Sky Theatre in the next year or so. 

Here's my favourite of their videos: