The Lester Centre for the Arts has released its 2023/2024 schedule.

The season, which has been named 鈥淩e-Boot,鈥� will explore the many ways that performers and audiences can get back into the flow of things.

鈥淓veryone needs to recharge, rejuvenate and relax,鈥� says Chris Armstrong, General Manager of the Lester Centre. 鈥淏ut once that break is over, you need to get back into the flow of things. You need to Re-Boot back into life.鈥�

With that in mind, the upcoming season will consider the many interpretations of Re-Booting, and how we can establish new beginnings and discover new paths for ourselves.

For musicians, one result of a Re-Boot is a new album. Many of the musicians featured in this year鈥檚 season have recently released a new album, or will be releasing new music this year.

Local artist Saltwater Hank (Sept. 23) has recorded a new album of songs inspired by his Tsimshian culture; in some cases, he鈥檚 Re-Booting those traditional songs with modern interpretations.

Canadian rock legends and Juno award-winners 54鈥�40 (Oct. 20-21) will be releasing a new album, 鈥淲est Coast Band,鈥� which was recorded remotely during the lockdowns of the pandemic, and which celebrates the common history they share as band members.

Another Juno award-winner, and winner of a Grammy award in 2022, Alex Cuba (Jan. 20), based in Smithers, will be touring his new album released earlier this year: 鈥淓l Swing Que Yo Tengo.鈥�

The word 鈥淩e-Boot鈥� can also be used to describe taking something that鈥檚 well known, putting a spin on it, and presenting it in a new, yet familiar, form. Shakespeare has been Re-Booted countless times over the past few hundred years, and the Lester Centre is following that tradition in our production of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare {Abridged} (Apr. 18-20), where three actors perform all of Shakespeare鈥檚 plays in 90 minutes.

While that may physically challenge the actors, our audiences may be challenged intellectually by the choreography of 鈥渢aq蓹拧 and Other Works鈥� (March 30), a stunning line-up of signature works from Ballet Kelowna鈥檚 contemporary ballet repertoire, where audiences will enjoy the fusing of traditional First Nations dancing with modern ballet in pieces by Cameron Fraser-Monroe in addition to Guillaume C么t茅鈥檚 riveting 鈥淏olero.鈥�

When you Re-Boot, you鈥檙e a bit different, but you鈥檙e still you. In that case, Re-Booting can be seen as a reprise. With that in mind, we鈥檙e bringing back comedian Mike Delamont with his popular show, God is a Scottish Drag Queen Christmas Special (Dec. 16).

We are also once again presenting a show by Lightwire Theater, who appeared on our stage a few years ago; this time, they鈥檙e back with Dino-Light (May 12), a show for all ages, where glow-in-the-dark dinosaurs go on a journey in a pitch-dark theatre. We will be ending our season, as usual, with the ever-popular young musicians of Ring System Studios as they stage another Rockstock (May 25).

Re-Booting, though, is mainly about something new, an experience that may change your perception.

That鈥檚 why we鈥檙e bringing in some artists that fuse musical styles like the T. Buckley Trio (Sept. 23), who bring a fine sense of musicianship and songwriting. The bluegrass, country and roots arrangements of this trio delivers Buckley鈥檚 well-crafted songs and unique interpretations of their musical influences.

We鈥檒l also be presenting a klezmer-influenced band out of Montreal, Oktopus (Feb. 8), whose eight musicians incorporate components of classical, Quebecois, and jazz repertoires.

While there is a common link between the Lester Centre presentations, you may also see elements of Re-Booting in other shows that come to the stage, including the Charles Hays Secondary School drama program鈥檚 version of Something Rotten (Nov. 30-Dec. 2), or perhaps through the talented dancers of the B.C. Annual Dance Competition (May 5-11), or the year-end performance by the Dance Academy of Prince Rupert (June 15-16).

鈥淭he very nature of the performing arts helps us to Re-Boot, to see things in a different way, and to be energized by a show with a live audience,鈥� said Armstrong. 鈥淲e hope these performances Re-Boot your mind and spirit, and your relationships to your loved ones and the world.鈥�

Tickets for the new season will be available next week. Season passes will also be on sale. The schedule is subject to change as the season progresses.

- Contributed article