By Dan White – Special to the Sydenham Current
As I write, it was just last weekend that the Sydenham Challenge Dragon Boat races happened.
While our boat did not win a single race, and despite what you may have heard musicians can be quite competitive, we had a great time.
It is a wonderful event that encourages a broad diversity of groups to pull together – quite literally.
The Wallaceburg Concert Band (and friends) boat had fun and we were there as much to support the community and other paddlers as to compete.
We arrived at the crack of stupid to set up our camp and get ready for a very full day.
Nine WCB brass musicians announced the big events of the day with the playing of our national anthem and a few fanfares from the docks or the bridge.
We cheered for every boat and in the end, we did defend our ‘spirit award’ recognition from the previous challenge in 2019.
Brain Armitage and his team did a fabulous job and the Raging Dragons from Chatham kept us organized and safe.
Thank you to them for the many hours required to prepare for this day.
A big thank you to Dave Babbitt who never fails to arrange music to enhance any event.
Also, a big thank you to the team at Glasstown Brewing Co. for sponsoring us, cheering us on during our races and offering several members of the band a sneak peak into the brewery as it prepares to open in the fall.
As thoughts turn to fall and the projects on the horizon, many of us are preparing to settle into a routine that will feel both strange and very familiar.
Dave and I recently toured the Capitol Theater in preparation for our WCB Christmas concert in December.
What a spectacular venue that is! It has a huge stage, fabulous acoustics, holds a maximum of 1,200 people and is simply beautiful to look at.
It is a far cry from the acoustics and uncomfortable seating of the WDSS gym.
While we love playing at WDSS, it will be nice to present in an actual performance space the week after our “home” concert.
Speaking of WDSS, welcome to Jeremy Gower, the new principal there.
I worked with Jeremy at SCITS for several years and he is a personable, level headed, and generally lovely human!
It will be fun to see his influence on WD over the coming years.
Joni and I are in the early stages of preparing for Remember, Maggy? the festival entry for Theatre Kent that will be presented at the Kiwanis Theatre in Chatham next February.
I am directing the production and Joni will be my left and right hand as she produces and stage manages with me.
We have been talking about this show for months and right now we are “setting the stage” for the auditions in October and rehearsals beginning in November.
Building a show is as much about preparation as it is rehearsal.
The cast is four women ranging in age from late 40’s to late 60’s.
If you would like to read the script and consider auditioning, you can email me at danlwhite61@gmail.com.
As we move through this process, I will regularly update readers on the trials and tribulations of mounting a live show.
Joni, Dave, and I (along with several unsuspecting band members) are also looking at mounting another dinner theatre in town to raise funds for the concert band.
It is likely that we will be doing improv “classes” to prepare for this event and we may even open it up to the public, just for fun.
So, stay tuned.
As the summer of 2022 comes to its unofficial end; be safe and have a wonderful Labour Day weekend!
