Tonight... Piaf - world premiere with Vancouver Island Symphony

Festival Nanaimo presents

Tonight… Piaf
Produced by the Vancouver Island Symphony
Guest Artists: Joëlle Rabu, Actor and Singer; Nico Rhodes, Pianist and Arranger
Conductor: Pierre Simard
Saturday, March 21, 2015, 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Port Theatre, 125 Front Street, Nanaimo
Tickets: 250-754-8550 www.porttheatre.com

Magnifique! Tonight… Piaf

World premiere for Joëlle Rabu and son Nico Rhodes
Second show added!

Excitement is building - as Nanaimo artists Joëlle Rabu (actor-singer) and son Nico Rhodes (composer-arranger-musician) prepare for the world premiere of their brand-new, powerful and emotionally-packed, fully orchestrated presentation of Tonight… Piaf. On Saturday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. in the Port Theatre, Maestro Pierre Simard will direct the Vancouver Island Symphony for this electrifying performance. And because of the overwhelming response to date, a second show has been added at 3 p.m.

It’s been 25 years - since a pregnant Joëlle Rabu first co-wrote the original show Tonight… Piaf as an intimate and dramatic re-enactment of Edith Piaf’s final North American performance in 1961 at New York’s Waldorf Astoria. Joelle was five-months into her pregnancy when the show was premiered at Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Says Joelle, “One more month and the dress would not have fit!”

Since then, Joëlle and her musicians have toured the show from coast to coast. In tow - the child, her son Nico Rhodes. Now Nico has taken on the mammoth task of transforming the stage show into a full-scale musical for orchestra. In addition, he will be appearing on-stage with his mother, in character, as Piaf’s pianist/arranger.

Joëlle Rabu – Critics have hailed Joëlle as being Piaf in voice and style. However Joëlle, who was brought up “a la française” on Vancouver Island by French parents, with a lust for life, joie de vivre, and with the songs of Piaf engraved in her heart, believes there was only one Piaf, and considers it a privilege to perform her songs, and to be accepted by the public who knew her. Joëlle’s passionate voice, her profound knowledge of the life of Piaf, and her skillful acting have made Tonight… Piaf a show that has astounded public and media alike. And with the magnificent sound of full orchestration – this too will be a historical performance!

Nico Rhodes – Raised on tour with his singer-mom, lighting-designer-dad and a quartet of musicians, Nico’s natural skills as a musician and arranger were certainly enhanced by osmosis. By the time he was 16 he had already won several classical piano and jazz saxophone competitions, and since the age of 17 he has been a highly successful director-arranger for musical theatre. His debut in orchestral writing was for Rick Scott’s My Symphony which was launched by the VI Symphony in 2014. He then immediately began work on orchestrating his mother’s long-time hit show and the music that has been with him since birth.

Not to be missed - The life and music that is Edith Piaf, the acting and vocal talent that is Joëlle Rabu, the masterful musicianship that is Nico Rhodes, and the sensational sound that is the VI Symphony – now bring that all together – experienced LIVE – it can be nothing but magnifique!

Tickets: $42- $74 / Students $20 / eyeGO $5. Available at www.porttheatre.com and by calling 250-754-8550.

 

More information – can be seen at www.festivalnanaimo.com and www.vancouverislandsymphony.com. For information about Joëlle and Nico’s latest CD Full Circle, and Tonight… Piaf, visit www.joellerabu.com.