With pandemic closures hopefully behind us, Red Deer’s Memorial Centre is preparing for a full fall season — starting with the ABBA tribute show and a comedy tour supporting a serious cause.
Abra Cadabra, the quartet that’s opened for Bony M and Cool and the Gang is again donning disco shirts and bell bottoms for the I Still Have Faith in You Tour, stopping at the Memorial Centre on Saturday, Sept. 17. ABBA fans will hear all the hits, including Mamma Mia, Dancing Queen, Take a Chance, Waterloo and Fernando, as well as ABBA’s new song, I Still Have Faith In You.
On Sept. 24, The Laughter Saves Lives Comedy Show will take the Memorial Centre stage in support of the Team Alex suicide prevention organization. The team is named for Alexander (Al) Ennis, a former player with Red Deer Pond Hockey. Despite supportive family and friends, Al was bullied and struggled with health limitations. He took his life in 2019. Team Alex was formed to stop this from happening to other families.
Comic headliner Rahul Kapoor will be supported by Red Deer comedian Niek Theelen, Alexx Seguin, Robert Crane, Nick Fraser, R.J. Bjornson and Papa Larry.
October at the Memorial Centre will kick off with A Tribute to Elvis in Concert, starring tribute artists Pete Paquette of Canada and Chris Connor from the U.K. This “dynamic duo” have won over audiences with their showmanship and 10-piece band. Elvis’s entire career — from 1950s rocker to the studded jumpsuit years, will be covered.
On Oct. 15, the songs, dances, trends and memories of the 1950s and ’60s will unfold in the Broadway-style Relive the Music show. Performers will deliver tunes from Roy Orbison to Doris Day, Dean Martin to Fats Domino, Little Richard to Led Zeppelin, and more. Through costumes, music and videos, this show will cram 20 years into an evening’s entertainment.
The music of Ian Tyson will resound during the Oct. 16 tribute show, The Gift, presented by the Central Music Festival. Pianist Stewart MacDougall, who’s written, toured and recorded with Tyson, will lead a band of other Tyson alumni in this critically acclaimed presentation with vocalists Tracy Millar, Ian Oscar and John Wort Hannam and special guest Amos Garrett.
Rounding out the rest of the fall season at the Memorial Centre is Rumours, the Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute on Oct. 22, The Wiggles Big Show entertaining kids on Oct. 26, and the adult, Bucket List Comedy Tour by Jackass star Steve-O on Nov. 3.
The Australian Bee Gees, voted best tribute show in Las Vegas, are on Nov. 13, and Canada’s beloved stand-up comedian Ron James is back in Red Deer for two shows on Nov. 25 and 26.