All the world’s a stage for Glenlawn grads

St. Vital

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/03/2023 (1235 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Their creative juices flow in all directions, and some have travelled far and wide to perform, but all roads lead back to one place — Glenlawn Collegiate.

As part of its upcoming 100th anniversary celebration, the St. Vital high school will hold a number of events to mark the occasion between May 18 and 21.

These includes an event at Rainbow Stage on the evening of May 18, which will feature a celebration of the arts through the years and showcase performances by Glenlawn alumni who have gone on to excel in the entertainment fields and drama, as well as performances by current students.

MCs for the night will be two 1998 graduates — former broadcaster and journalist Holly Bernier, whose credits include CBC, CTV and APTN, and Bill Fortier, currently the Alberta bureau chief for CTV national news.

A quick glance at the scheduled lineup at press time shows things will kick off with performances by school and alumni bands, and then there will be performances by Kristen Einarson (comedy), Leigh Fischer (guitar solo), Tricia Magsino Barnabe (vocal solo), Joyce Storey (comedy) and Barb Best (a capella ensemble) — to name but a few.

One of the key organizers of the concert is Marilyn Redekop, who knows a thing or two about spotting local talent and putting on a show. Redekop was a teacher at Glenlawn between 1987 and 2005 and was involved with all the musicals the school put on during that period.

“So much talent came through Glenlawn, so we decided to try and put a show together,” said Redekop, who also coached the Grade 10 boys’ volleyball team with Irene Nordheim, and still plays volleyball herself today.

“Sean Watson, for example, has performed magic out of Vegas, and Jeremy Koz has been in three bands, including Juno Award winners Indian City. When you’re doing magic or singing full-time, it’s quite amazing to be making a living doing what you love,” Redekop said.

Watson, who graduated in 1993, credits Glenlawn’s influence — along with his father’s — for helping foster the talents that led him to a career in the world of magic.

“I will be performing my one-man magic show at Rainbow Stage, including levitation, manipulation and sleight of hand,” Watson said.

Watson also recalled a time when he performed at Spirit Week, when he was in Grade 10 and the audience in the school’s gym was at capacity.

“I performed a trick with flashpots, which is essentially pyrotechnics that cause a big explosion with smoke,” Watson said.

“I loaded it with too much gunpowder, and the breakers went off and all the lights in the gym went out and everyone started screaming. Not too sure why they invited me back for a reunion show, but I guess I did make the whole crowd disappear!”

“ So much talent came through Glenlawn…

A more recent graduate, musician Dane Bjornson, looks back fondly on his time at Glenlawn, and the influence of his teachers Rob Monson and Greg Crowe.

“My time at Glenlawn was very special. Between the musicals, choir, vocal jazz, band and jazz band, Mr. Monson and Mr. Crowe always pushed me to my fullest potential, even allowing me to arrange pieces for the vocal jazz group,” said Bjornson, a 2018 graduate.

Jane Fingler, who graduated in 2009, will be performing a classical vocal solo at the event.

“I will be singing selections by Bach and Purcell, since I am a singer who specializes in early music,” Fingler said, noting she’s honoured and humbled to be involved with the celebration.

“Glenlawn was definitely a formative time for me. Although I always loved music and performance of various kinds since I was a child — dance, theatre, music — it was at Glenlawn that my talent and skills as a singer were recognized and encouraged.”

Go online at glenlawn100.com for more information.