Magic is always in the air at Rainbow Stage, Winnipeg’s beloved outdoor stage which has been putting on Broadway shows for over six decades (making it Canada’s longest-running outdoor theatre).
It’s a place that has been creating memories for Winnipeg families for generations, and each year it seems to be getting better and better.
In the past couple years we’ve been enamoured with hilarious performances like The Producers, enchanted and singing along at family friendly performances of The Little Mermaid and dancing in our seats during Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story.
And last night those good times continued with Cash: Ring of Fire, which was a highly entertaining ode to the Man in Black (playing now until July 15th, you can get your tickets here).
Utilizing an ensemble cast of eight ridiculously talented actor/musicians — like seriously I think they all could play five instruments and their voices, sweet mercy! — Cash traces the life of one of America’s greatest ever songwriters, with all the actors each playing the roles of Johnny and June Carter Cash.
Johnny Cash fans will be thrilled with the renditions of some of his biggest hits — in particular “Folsom Prison Blues” by the whole cast got the crowd in a ruckus, while the melody of Cash’s famous version of Nine Inch Nail’s “Hurt” was utilized to great effect in between scenes.
Rainbow Stage production of the musical “Ring of Fire” a tribute to Johnny Cash. (Rainbow Stage production of the musical “Ring of Fire” a tribute to Johnny Cash. (Robert Tinker)
Worth the price of the ticket alone was pianist Gerry Atwell’s solo (he and drummer Greg Black were the only two musicians onstage who did not at some point play the roles of Cash or Carter) which got all our butts right out of our seats.
The whole night left us immensely satisfied, while we still have what surely will be a gem for the whole family this August (11-31), when Shrek: The Musical hits Rainbow Stage.
Rainbow Stage has a knack when it comes to translating cartoons to the stage — the aforementioned Little Mermaid is perhaps our family’s favourite-ever performance there — so when you consider that Shrek is a masterpiece, surely we are in for a treat. (I for one would relish the role of the Ginger Man, “not my gum drop buttons!” #bestlineever).
Photographer Rob Tibbs (@robtibbs on Instagram) took this shot last year on our Instagram tour and ended up winning the contest
And get this kiddos, you could join some of our Tourism Winnipeg crew for a performance of Shrek: The Musical, where beforehand we’ll be doing a behind the scenes tour that we’ll be documenting on Instagram (with the winner of best shot getting a sweet prize package).
The date of this special performance night is going to be on August 15th, and we’ll be sharing the invite soon on our Instagram page, @Tourismwinnipg so check back in the next week, as there is limited availability and spots will fill up fast.
