If you want to see some of the top names in music performing some of the most memorable songs from the last 30 years right here in Westlock, you’re out of luck.
Fortunately, a performance at the Cultural Arts Theatre on Feb. 2 will provide the next best thing, “Rock of the Ages.”
A group of local educators and residents will perform air-guitar and lip-synch tributes to some of the biggest names
R.F. Staples teacher Jerry Buchko has spearheaded and organized this event, which will raise money for improvements to the theatre — hopefully some new seats.
“Because I work as a drama teacher in the theatre there, I know the seats need to be replaced,” he said. “They’re old, they’re creaky, they’re breaking and that’s a $50,000 touch.”
That experience working as a teacher is what gave him the idea to do an air-guitar fundraiser, as well. Every year he hosts an air-guitar competition for his junior-high drama classes, which has proven to be quite popular.
“When the teachers come, they just love watching it. It’s so great to watch because it looks like they’re singing,” Buchko said.
He was able to recruit teachers from R.F. Staples, Westlock Elementary School and some residents-at-large from Westlock to take part in the show.
The songs performed are certain to be crowd-pleasers, he said, and the crowd will appreciate the variety of performers, as well. R.F. Staples principal Pierre Ouimet, for example, will channel that perennially classic act, the Bee Gees.
The music will be mostly rock-oriented, but some performers have opted for the softer sounds of Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash and ABBA.
Buchko said he had chosen to perform as The King himself, Elvis Presley.
“I actually get hired to do Elvis lip synching for people who want to surprise people for their anniversaries, birthdays or retirements if they’re big Elvis fans,” he said. “It’s cheesy, but they love it because it’s Elvis.”
No matter what your individual tastes are, however, there’s likely to be something in the lineup to please you.
“It’s just a lot of songs where probably the 30-plus crowd would know all the music,” Buchko said. “The people in the audience will know most of the people on the stage, and it’s going to be a really fun night out.”
At this point, the event is planned as a one-off, which if it sells out could raise enough money to replace 16 of the 248 seats in the theatre.
If it’s popular, however, Buchko said he has not ruled out the possibility of this becoming an annual event, perhaps even morphing from a simple performance into a competition.
The performance will be limited to adults only, as wine and cheese will be served as part of the $20 ticket price. Tickets are available at R.F. Staples and at the Flower Shoppe in Westlock.
