New West Theatre welcomes some new blood this summer.
Tom Delbello is glad to be back home with New West this summer for their two summer shows beginning tonight, June 29 with the first day fir Fire & Rain: Folk Rock classics.
Delbello grew up watching New West Theatre’s shows, earned his BFA and carved out a career of his own including spending 10 years working in New York as well as lead singer for Princess Cruise Lines.
“I remember seeing New West when I was younger. I used to go see Kelly (Roberts), Scott (Carpenter ) and Erica (Hunt) all the time,” he said.
But he returned to work on his MFA at the University of Lethbridge and became part of the New West cast for both of the summer shows, beginning with Fire & Rain: Folk Classics beginning tonight June 29 at the Yates Theatre.
“I love folk rock like CCR, and Simon and Garfunkel,” he said.
He is excited to be part of the show, particularly working with people he grew up watching perform.
“I’m performing Stan Rogers’ Northwest Passage by Stan Rogers, that is my life. And I get to sing ‘You’re So Vain’ by with Erica Hunt and me, Kelly and Scott, two guys I grew up watching, singing together is incredible experience,” he said.
He worked with Princess Cruise Lines as lead singer for 10 years.
“Cruise ships are pretty structured, on this show, the cast gets a lot of input,” he said.
“The show is going to surprise people because it has more of a concert feel. The costumes are right out of the ’70s and the arrangements (music director) Paul Walker has come up with are great. He’s a very talented guy,” he continued.
Fire & Rain runs June 29-July 25 at 7:30 p.m. and every Tuesday through Saturday night except Canada Day. There are also 1 p.m. matinees, July 11,18 and and 23.