who will cheer the loudest? tattoo 2013 - Royal Canadian Legion

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BEHIND THE SCENES Costas Halavrezos by Leah Whitehead “When you’re in the same space as that many musical performers and you feel the air vibrating with sound - nothing compares with the Tattoo.” The final performance of the 2005 Tattoo began with the same pomp, colour and vigour as the eight that came before it - with one difference. The anticipation that can grow into something electric hung in the air slightly longer than ever. The performers were poised and ready, the cannon was filled with gunpowder, awaiting its cue. “Ladies and Gentleman, the 2005 Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo.” The Metro Centre shook with the roar of a cannon as the final show opened. The delay was only about two seconds, but to one person, it felt like an eternity. It was announcer Costas Halavrezos’ first year behind the microphone at the Tattoo and he had been getting the hang of his new job all week. “I was pretty used to the drill by then,” says Halavrezos. “I had started reading a short story by Ian Rankin and since I was alternating between paying attention to the sequence on the floor and the twists in the story, all of a sudden I became aware of a terrible silence in the Metro Centre. I looked up and sure enough…” he laughs. Halavrezos was a last-minute fillin that year, but he would return in 2009 and has been the voice behind the Tattoo, along with George Jordan, ever since. “I really enjoy doing it and above all, I love live performance,” says Halavrezos. “There’s nothing that compares to the physical effect of a live performance on that scale – your whole body experiences the sound. It’s so much better than a recorded performance, which is what most of us hear and see most of the time,” he says. “When you’re in the same space as that many musical performers and you feel the air vibrating with sound - nothing compares with the Tattoo.” Halavrezos says there is a craft to being an announcer during the liveshow as well, perfecting the pacing by making slight adjustments to improve cues. The role is part of a bigger picture of which Halavrezos is very much aware. “It’s fascinating to watch the team work together. And team means those working full-time with the Tattoo, those on contracts, the volunteers - it requires clear leadership, cooperation, and a lot of give.” Anyone who works on the Tattoo will tell you, there are plenty of those attributes backstage, Costas’ favourite place to be before show time. “I enjoy showing up early to get my headset downstairs and seeing everyone milling around,” he says. “There’s such a wide age range from kids in the dance and choral numbers up to the grizzled old vets. And towards the end of the run, it’s amusing to see romance blooming between certain young people backstage.” What started as a fill-in role has now become a staple at the Tattoo as Halavrezos shapes the show year after year and – after that chastening experience in 2005 – remains vigilant about his cues until the last cannon is fired. 10
The Costume Shop Gets a Makeover! Last fall, the Costume Shop was painted by graffiti artists from across the globe as part of a local Urban Festival, HopScotch. DID YOU KNOW? The Costume Shop has thousands of costumes from various time periods and it rents them out to schools, theatres, movies and individuals! Call 902-422-6894 to arrange your viewing today! 11
Page 1 and 2: A PUBLICATION OF THE ROYAL NOVA SCO
Page 3 and 4: TATTOO MISSION To produce and prese
Page 5: Who Will Cheer the Loudest? The 201
Page 8 and 9: they literally light things up with
Page 10 and 11: Tickets are on sale now... 2013 CAN
Page 14 and 15: Give a Gift to the Tattoo Fan in Yo
Page 16 and 17: LEGAL BLONDE T H E M U S I C A L BA
Page 18 and 19: LETTERS TO THE EDITOR After being a
Page 20 and 21: WHOOPS YOU WON! Congratulations to
Page 22 and 23: Wanted: Tattoo Volunteers Are you e
Page 24 and 25: A Big Year for Awards! The Royal No
Page 26 and 27: IN MEMORIUM Jake Wttewaall By Craig
Page 28 and 29: Congratulations on Your 25th Annive
Page 30 and 31: TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE! HALIFAX METR
Page 32: PUBLICATION MAIL AGREEMENT #4005078

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