Markham Stouffville Review, November 2023

6 MARKHAM STOUFFVILLE REVIEW COMMUNITY NOVEMBER 2023
A great mix of shows this month at Markham Theatre
BY JEFF JONES
After a busy October with its Diamond
Season kicking into full swing, November
and early December find the Markham
Theatre with another packed schedule. The
lineup features a mix of Diamond Season
offerings and work by local and independent
producers.
“We’re beyond excited with the great
start to our season,” says Flato Markham
Theatre general manager Eric Lariviere.
The lineup starts off with audience
favourite Classic Albums Live performing
Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours on November 9 at
8 p.m. Rumours is one of the largest-selling
rock records of all time with over 40 million
copies sold worldwide. Despite the legendary
tumult within the band during its creation, the
album was instantly successful in 1977 and
has become a fixture in rock radio with an
influence that is difficult to overstate.
“They’re brilliant,” says Lariviere.
“Classic Albums gives our audience a chance
to enjoy their favourite artist’s studio work
and artistry in a live setting.”
Classic Albums Live treats the music of
legendary recordings like a modern chamber
orchestra might. Every part and every note
are faithfully and perfectly performed; with
an accuracy that the original artists themselves
rarely, if ever, matched. The second
half of the show features a greatest hits style
review of the band’s other important work.
Shifting from the Diamond Season to a
community producer, Markham Little Theatre
returns with The Game’s Afoot by Ken
Ludwig from November 15 to 18, with shows
at 8 p.m. through the 17th and at 2 p.m. on the
18th. This local company has been producing
theatre in Markham for more than half a
century and murder mysteries like this have
been a mainstay throughout its history.
“Our relationship to these groups is
absolutely essential to our mission,” explains
Lariviere. “It’s what makes us a whole community.”
Keeping with community producers, next
up is Markham at the Movies on November
21 at 8 p.m. The goal of this company is to
bring award-winning films from Canada and
the world to Markham. This month’s feature is
the Italian/Belgium film, The Eight Mountains
(Le otto montagne).
Following these shows is the unofficial
start of the holiday season at Markham
Theatre. A Very Merry Motown Christmas hits
the stage on November 23 at 8 p.m. Expect
the evening to dip into the surprising wealth of
seasonal hits from Motown history.
“We love celebrating the holidays at the
theatre,” says Lariviere.
The holiday season continues into the
Diamond season on December 1st at 8 p.m.
with Men of the Deeps: Christmas in the
Mine. This chorus of Cape Breton coal miners
is keeping their tradition alive from coast to
coast. The popular and iconic group returns to
the Markham Theatre with selections from its
first-ever solo holiday recording
“There’s something very beautiful
that just connects about this group,” says
Lariviere, “but it’s also the story of the artist
themselves; where they come from and where
they’ve been.”
The very next night, on December 2nd,
The Manhattan Transfer brings its Farewell
Tour to town for two shows at 3 p.m. and 8
p.m. This show is their only appearance in
the GTA as they celebrate an incomparable
career of pop and jazz hits while supporting
their 50th Anniversary and the release of their
new album, FIFTY. on this Farewell World
Tour.
“This show is about two weeks before
they finish, forever,” explains Lariviere. “We
are more than excited to add this show to the
best jazz series in the GTA.”
The legendary quartet have 21 Grammy
nominations and 10 wins, 29 albums, and
has been inducted into the Vocal Group Hall
of Fame. This legendary group choosing
Markham as their only local stop on their
final tour speaks volumes about the growth of
both the jazz program at the theatre and about
the vibrant scene in and around Markham
“To be able to host iconic artists like
The Manhattan Transfer is an honour that is
both affirming and humbling,” says Lariviere.
“We can’t wait for these shows.”
Finally, another perennial community
producer, The Markham Concert Band brings
their seasonal celebration to the theatre on
December 3rd at 2 p.m. The show features
the classic, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,
crowd favourite Xmas Swingin’ Collection,
and lots more. Sources have confirmed
at this time that Santa Claus himself is
expected for a surprise appearance.
Visit markhamtheatre.ca for more information.