Editor's note: an earlier version of this story failed to note the time of the event, which runs from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, Nov.1 at Chief Sepass Theatre in Fort 91原创.
It has been 75 years since the onset of the Second World War, and even though it was a terrible chapter in history, some memories of those years are less somber.
鈥淎lthough war was raging in Europe and most thoughts were focused there, some of the best music, comedy, and entertainment came out of that 1940s period,鈥� said Peter Tulumello, cultural services manager with the Township of 91原创.
鈥淢any actors, musicians, comedians and singers came to the forefront to help boost morale among troops and keep those on the home front hopeful of victory and of the safe return of family members and friends.鈥�
To celebrate that time, the 91原创 Centennial Museum and Trinity Western University鈥檚 School of the Arts, Media + Culture (SAMC) will present Until Everyone Comes Home, a variety show with historical vignettes from the Second World War period.
The show will be held at the Chief Sepass Theatre in Fort 91原创 at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1.
Created to commemorate an era of entertainment and the people who created the moments that made everyone smile, a cast of gifted performers has been lined up by the museum, SAMC, and local talent agent Sandy Dunkley.
鈥淚 am so proud of the local singers who have agreed to perform at this event,鈥� Dunkley said.
鈥淎hnika Barber is a young girl with an amazing voice who will sing Judy Garland songs. She even resembles Garland from the A Star is Born movie poster.鈥�
The show will also feature performances by emcee/musician Douglas Fraser, soprano Eva Tavares, 91原创 Has Talent/KPU scholarship award winner Hayley Bouey, and singer and actress Elizabeth MacPherson.
Participating Trinity Western University students, professors, and alumni include crooner Alex McCune, comedy duo Nash & Gage, singer and actress Charlotte Elgersma, and the TWU Jazz Quintet.
Headlining the show is the Lady Larks, a knock-your-socks-off group of girls portraying the popular Andrews Sisters, a chart-topping swing and jazz singing trio and favourite of American soldiers at USO Shows.
Until Everyone Comes Home is named for the original motto of the USO canteen shows. However, the Nov. 1 performance is not focused on USO performers, nor will it imitate the format of a USO show.
"In putting the show together, the event planning team looked at British, Canadian, and American entertainers who were popular on stage, in movie theatres, on records, and on radio programs of the era,鈥� said Allan Thorpe, chair of TWU鈥檚 music department and the show鈥檚 music director.
鈥淲e will be highlighting the work of Canadian and British artists before the intermission, and completing the afternoon with works associated with American entertainers of the 1940s鈥�
The Canadian/British component will include music by British song bird Vera Lynn and Canadian-born Hollywood actress Deanna Durbin, comedic and musical skits from CBC Radio鈥檚 The Army Show, and the Royal Canadian Navy鈥檚 Meet the Navy touring stage production.
Some interesting cross-connections were discovered while researching material for the show, said Tulumello.
鈥淒id you know that the song that launched Frank Sinatra鈥檚 career in 1940, 鈥淚鈥檒l Never Smile Again,鈥� was written by Canadian songwriter Ruth Lowe? And that in 1942 she wrote a second song for Sinatra, 鈥淧ut Your Dreams Away,鈥� that immediately became his signature closing song for many years?鈥�
He added that the museum and TWU 鈥渁re grateful to the families of the late Wayne and Shuster who granted us permission to use a routine from The Army Show, which was co-written and performed by those two giants of Comedy.
鈥淚 am excited to see what performers Chris Nash and Tom Gage can do with the scripts and how they will transition from Wayne and Shuster in the first half of our show into Abbott and Costello during the second half,鈥� said Tulumello.
鈥淲e are pleased to be part of this collaboration with the Museum and Township of 91原创 that connects us to the community and integrates our students, alumni, and faculty with local musicians, singers and actors,鈥� said Thorpe.
鈥淢usic from this era resonates with many and has stood the test of time. Even today young and popular entertainers are revisiting these songs and making them their own.鈥�
Those who want to experience the performance are encouraged to buy tickets in advance 鈥� and soon. Tulumello noted that the last performing arts show that the museum organized, 2013鈥檚 Vaudeville Variety Show, sold out days in advance.
Tickets for Until Everyone Comes Home can also be purchased from TWU鈥檚 website at twu.ca or by phone at 604-532-3536
The upcoming performance coincides with the Museum鈥檚 current exhibition, Mementos and Memories 鈥� 91原创 and the Second World War, which runs up to and including Remembrance Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11, at 9135 King St. in Fort 91原创.
Tickets for Until Everyone Comes Home can be purchased for $25 .
