Performance

Alumni Weekend Special Presentation: Rock This Town - SOLD OUT

Zainab Mahmood — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 21:53:54 +0000

Alumni Weekend Special Presentation: Rock This Town - SOLD OUT Zainab Mahmood Mon, 04/10/2023 - 17:53

Rock This Town brings to life the exciting history of rock music concerts in KW from the 1960s & ‘70s. An insider’s look into the gritty reality of building the local live music scene. This 70-minute documentary features interviews with music business pros plus performances by today’s musicians. Rock stars come and go but live music is here to stay!

Rock This Town was produced by Betty Anne Keller (BA '69), who will join us for an exclusive post-screening chat alongside Joe Recchia (BASC '68, MASC '71) and other special guests.

Step back into Fed Hall and relive the music and memories that made history!

Event Program:

7:00 - 7:30 p.m. - Live music and reception
7:30 - 8:45 p.m. - Rock This Town film screening
8:45 - 9:30 p.m. - Post-screening chat

Watch the documentary trailer:

View "Rock This Town - Trailer" on Vimeo

Cost:

$15 per adult/alumni; includes a drink ticket and concession voucher
$10 per current UWaterloo student; includes a drink ticket and concession voucher

Meet the Speakers

Betty Anne Keller (BA '69), Producer, Rock This Town

A vibrant and thriving Arts and Culture community is vital to the health and prosperity of our cities. Since her graduation from UW Arts in 1969, Betty Anne Keller has applied her passion for the arts first as a self-employed music promoter, and latterly as a municipal employee with the City of Waterloo to support, build and promote a strong, diverse, and visible community here in Waterloo Region. She champions and celebrates Arts & Culture in all its formats. Betty Anne worked as a live music promoter for live music events 70’s and 80’s bringing groups to the region that would normally not have been scheduled here. She founded and led the summer “School for the Performing Arts” for teens at the Centre in the Square from 1984 to 1989. She served the Creative Cities Network of Canada on the Board of Directors from 2007 to 2012 and as Board President from 2008 to 2011. She has worked with several touring Canadian musicians, including Rita MacNeil and Loreena McKennitt. She has mentored numerous local artists and is currently volunteering with Ogo Tawa “Black to the Future-Statues of our Black Heroes-Community Arts Program” helping to create a welcoming and inclusive space for BIPOC artists in Canada. Betty Anne’s most recent success was to produce the documentary film “Rock This Town” in 2022. She continues to pursue her arts advocacy efforts in Waterloo and beyond.

Joe Recchia (BASC '68, MASC '71)

Recchia never dreamed he’d become a concert promoter when he entered Waterloo Engineering in 1963. But when his love for music went unrequited in his new social setting, he took matters into his own hands and brought some of the era’s biggest pop stars to campus and the surrounding community.

Ever heard of Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, the Bee Gees, Alice Cooper or Cat Stevens? Recchia had, probably long before you did. And he signed them all, plus others, to rock the town.

“When you want me to get something done, I don’t know the word ‘can’t’,” the gregarious grandfather says.

Campus life nearly six decades ago, Recchia recalls, didn’t offer much in the way of culture, and since nature abhors a vacuum of any kind, he filled it his own way. At first organizing engineering student dances, he persuaded popular Canadian acts like Little Caesar and the Consuls to come to Waterloo.

And after he connected with New York City promoters, things really took off. Recchia had to deal with prima donnas like Ike Turner. But he got to party with Supertramp. He set up a circuit that brought megastars to 75 universities across Canada.

And then in 1975 he moved on to an engineering career that eventually led him to a senior vice-president’s office with Michelin Canada.

“I’ve had an incredible life,” Recchia says.

Gary Stewart

When “The Beatles” landed on TV on February 9 1965 Gary Stewart was 8 years old and music was starting to drive the culture. Hairstyles, clothing, drugs, art and festivals were in constant flux. By 1973 he was revelling in the KW shows that he read about in Circus magazine or Rolling Stone. Universities, colleges and even local high schools were all providing live music. Driven to find a way to be involved, Gary entered the business program at Conestoga College and was soon booking talent as the entertainment programmer for the Doon Student Association. A fulltime position with the UW Federation of Students followed. Live Music was king. Grade 13 was still alive and most first year students were of legal drinking age. His venues included Village Pubs, South Campus Hall, the Bombshelter pub – and later Bingemans and Waterloo Inn. In 1984, Fed Hall opened with a kitchen, bar, 1000 seats, 20 x 40 ‘ stage , in-house PA. The team were off to the races.In 1985, “The Clash” sold out at the PAC, and on the high of this success Gary left UW to begin a 30-year career as the owner, operator of his own multi use venue – Super Skate Seven. Later to be known as The Twist, The Vid, The Flying Dog, Revolution, and Pearl. A key player in the local music scene, he provides this perspective on the music business: “It’s not always about the numbers. It’s about community, sharing experiences and making this world a better place for everyone. Never lose your heart. Never lose your soul. Arts and culture bring us together. Carry on.”

Moderator: Megan Vander Woude (BKI '12, MA '13), Senior Communications Officer, University of Waterloo

Meg Vander Woude is a two-time Waterloo grad, writer and podcast host. In her decade-long career, she's written on a plethora of topics, from cybersecurity to wineries. As the host of UWaterloo Alumni Podcasts, she leads guests through thoughtful conversations that dig into their career journeys, uncover their expertise, and explore timely topics. She's often in awe of the alumni she interviews, including an Olympic announcer, a top-rated financial advisor, Canada's first female Indigenous psychiatrist, and (of course) passionate entrepreneurs.

When Meg isn't making podcasts, she's listening to them â usually while she cooks a from-scratch meal or knits her next outfit. Please come find her after the panel if you'd like to talk about yarn.

Live Music from Matt Weidinger

Matt Weidinger has established himself as a full time musician since the age of 16 having surpassed thousands of hours in the trade. During his formative years, Weidinger found a home within the thriving blues scene in Kitchener- Waterloo, playing regular club gigs with its leading practitioners while still in high school. Since then Matt has worked his way up to being one of the most sought after and well known entertainers in Ontario. He is a singer/ songwriter and a multi instrumentalist. He has three original albums under his belt and although considers the Hammond Organ, his instrument of choice, is equally comfortable on piano, guitar, bass and mandolin. He joined forces with Lance Anderson in 12-piece band called "Matchedash Parish" whose debut album Saturday Night earned them a 2020 Maple Blues Awards nomination for New Artist of the Year.

Rock This Town Exhibits and Displays

Special Collections & Archives Rock This Town Exhibit

Special Collections & Archives’ latest exhibition, Rock this Town, showcases music in Waterloo Region both on and off campus, from Sangerfests to Oktoberfests, from polka to punk.

This exhibit was created to compliment the documentary Rock This Town, produced by Waterloo alum Betty Anne Keller (BA ’69), screening Friday, June 2 at 7 p.m.

Join us on the first floor of Dana Porter Library to celebrate the opening of this exhibit on Thursday, May 25 from noon – 2 p.m. Staff from Special Collections & Archives will be on hand and light refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

Rock This Town: Music and Memories

Can you imagine a day without music? It surrounds us from the moment we wake up. You had to own an instrument or know someone who did, to hear music being played. Before radios became common, you might only hear music at a concert or a parade. Music became a force that brought people together. Since the beginning, Indigenous songs, stories and ceremonies had a great deal more importance, meaning, and impact to their daily life.

This exhibit endeavors to highlight some of the multifaceted live music moments we have enjoyed in the area, which includes a rock and roll confessional of memories from those who were part of the local music backdrop from the late 60s to the 80s. Through interviews, memorabilia, and music interactives, the exhibit is packed with backstories of famous musicians who played in Kitchener-Waterloo. Not to be overlooked are the many local successes we have turned out such as 80s Juno award winner for R&B/Soul recording of the year Erroll Starr, Copper Penny, Major Hooples Boarding House Band, and Helix, just to name a few. You will learn why music and song continues to be an ingrained component of Indigenous life that flourishes in the modern era. It will celebrate early Waterloo when music was much rarer. How we hear music will be displayed with a history of musical devices featuring local industries Marsland Engineering, Electrohome and BlackBerry.

Learn more about this exhbiit at the City of Waterloo Museum website.

Annual Alumni Theatre Night

Eunice Ning Hsu — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 13:51:41 +0000

Annual Alumni Theatre Night Eunice Ning Hsu Thu, 01/28/2016 - 08:51

Join us for our Annual Alumni Theatre Night for a performance of Upstart 2016: Festival of Innovative Theatre, produced by the UWaterloo Theatre and Performance Programme.

Upstart 2016 is a performance featuring original projects from students that can take any form, including but not limited to theatre, dance, poetry, performance art, film installations, and augmented reality experiences.

The evening of theatre is composed of three new scripts entirely written, developed, directed and designed by students under faculty supervision.

The plays are:

“The Rocket Man” adapted by Kelly Hornung from Ray Bradbury original short story

“Out of the Box” written by Jennifer Addesso

“Phone Book” written by Sam Beuerle and Emma Mann.

In the video below, UWaterloo student artists and faculty explain what plays audience members can expect at Alumni Theatre Night and the 2016 UpStart Festival.

View "" on YouTube

Cost is $5 per person, and includes light refreshments and snacks during intermission.

Important information:

*Free parking is available on campus in HV lot, however space is limited. Once the HV lot is full you will be required to pay for your own parking in C lot, payments can be made with coins or credit card at the blue machines.

*Latecomers will not be admitted into the theatre.

*Payments will not be taken at the door, tickets will not be provided. Seating in the theatre will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Schedule for the night:

7:00 pm – Welcome and introductions
7:20 pm – Performance #1
7:45 pm – Intermission
8:05 pm – Performance #2
8:35 pm – Nature break
8:45 pm – Performance #3
9:15 pm – Thank you and door prize draw
9:20 pm – Talk back – Optional
9:30 pm – Event concludes

Talk Back (Optional) is an opportunity for audience members to engage and ask students any questions regarding what goes into the production process.

For more information on Upstart 2016 please visit the official page.

Event Annual Alumni Theatre Night

Tori Gentile — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 14:29:05 +0000

Event Annual Alumni Theatre Night Tori Gentile Thu, 11/27/2014 - 09:29

Join us at our annual Alumni Theatre Night for a performance of Rhinoceros, by Eugene Ionesco, directed by Martha Ross and produced by the Waterloo Drama department.

Ionesco wrote Rhinoceros in 1959 as a critique of neo-Fascism that took hold in parts of Europe after WWII. This story is about the bourgeois inhabitants of a French town who one by one turn into rhinoceri until they become a mindless and savage herd, that is, all of the inhabitants except the ‘Everyman’ character of Berenger.

In the video below, director Martha Ross and play lead Alan Shonfield talk about this year’s play and explain why you should join us for the performance.

View "Alumni Theatre Night 2015 – Rhinoceros" on YouTube

Important Information:

*The performance will be in the revamped Modern Languages Building.

*Free parking is available on campus however space is limited. Once the HV and H-lot is full you will be required to pay for your own parking in C-lot, payments can be made with coins or credit card at the blue machines ($5 for the evening).

*Latecomers will not be admitted into the theatre.

*Payments will not be taken at the door, tickets will not be provided. Seating in the theatre will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information on Rhinoceros please visit performance's official page.

Annual Alumni Theatre Night

Cynthia Breen — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 20:43:06 +0000

Annual Alumni Theatre Night Cynthia Breen Mon, 02/03/2014 - 15:43

From Solitary to Solidarity: Unravelling the Ligatures of Ashley Smith

Written by Melanie Bennett (BA ’06)

Directed by Professor Andrew Houston

This multimedia performance explores issues of mental health in the context of the troubling story of Ashley Smith, a teenager who died at Grand Valley Institution for Women in 2007. Using a collaborative performance approach to try to understand the life and death of Ashley Smith, students investigate the social and political consequences of broken correctional and mental health institutions, and address the evolving perceptions and assumed objectivity of the media. Dr. Andy Houston, the play's director, and professor from the department of Drama and Speech Communication explains more on this unique approach to theatre, and its importance with such a relevant topic in today’s society.

The University of Waterloo Drama department invites alumni to fully engage in the topic of mental health. Beginning March 6^th 2014 in the Modern Languages Gallery the Small Acts of Repair Toward Mental Health: A Space for Engagement will be welcoming professionals, community members, alumni, students and guests to see the input from different disciplines across campus and the Kitchener-Waterloo area on mental health awareness in our region. This display will be open to visitors Monday-Friday 9:00 am-4:30 pm, and until 10:00 pm on performance days.

Important Information:

*Latecomers will not be admitted into the theatre.

*Payments will not be taken at the door, tickets will not be provided. Seating in the theatre will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.