Billy Bishop Goes to War to be Staged at Meaford Hall

Staff

Billy Bishop Goes to War is coming to Meaford Hall on November 4 for one performance only, in honour of Remembrance Day and the 100^th anniversary of Billy Bishop receiving the Victoria Cross medallion.

Billy Bishop Goes to War, the award-winning Canadian musical, written and composed by John MacLachlan Gray in collaboration with Eric Peterson, brought audiences leaping to their feet at the Roxy Theatre earlier this season.

This beloved show, which won the Governor General’s Literary Award for Drama, pays tribute to Owen Sound’s iconic hometown war hero and flying ace, Billy Bishop. The two-man musical featured Owen Sound Little Theatre veteran actor Matt Evans portraying the legendary Bishop as well as an astonishing 15 other characters. Evans is well-known to local audiences, having garnered five Best Actor Awards with the Western Ontario Drama League, and appearing recently at the Roxy Theatre in Owen Sound in roles such as lawyer Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, Robert, in Kiss the Moon Kiss the Sun, and John Barrymore in I Hate Hamlet. Matt has also appeared in Canadian feature films including Beowulf & Grendel, Black Swan, Things To Do, and The Birder.

Musician Michael Mulrooney co-piloted Billy Bishop Goes to War with Evans, and will use the on-stage baby grand piano to score and punctuate battle scenes, taking us from bar rooms to ballrooms, capturing both humour and heartstrings with skillful musicianship. Mulrooney is a sought-after music director, conductor, pianist and arranger, having worked on the Canadian theatrical productions of The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime, and Showboat. Michael has taught at York University and the Randolph Academy, and is currently a professor at the prestigious Sheridan College musical theatre program.

Country Radio 93 said, “Matt Evans is FANTASTIC as Billy Bishop. This is a MUST-see! And, it’ll make you laugh”.

Directed by Corry Lapointe with assistance from Bill Murphy.

For further information about the upcoming performance of Billy Bishop Goes to War, please contact Meaford Hall online at www.meafordhall.ca, by calling 1.877.538.0463 or stop by the box office at 12 Nelson St E.