In an era where Canada's very existence is being questioned, The Belfry Theatre presents a profoundly Canadian experience 鈥� celebrating one of our nation's greatest troubadours and the timeless reflections of our country woven into his music.
Their production of may just be the cultural salve we need. This musical journey captures Lightfoot鈥檚 genius for storytelling, illuminating both the majesty of Canada and the everyday lives of its people.
"Music can bring people together," says composer Tobin Stokes, who created the show alongside Belfry artistic director Michael Shamata. "Music can heal. It can be a warm, comforting experience shared with others."
Together, Stokes and Shamata weave a rich musical tapestry with five gifted musicians 鈥� Evangelia Kambites, Pedro M. Siqueira, Kelt Eccleston, Melissa MacPherson, and David Lennon 鈥� bringing Lightfoot鈥檚 songs to life in fresh and unexpected ways.
"We're exploring relationships," Stokes explains, reflecting on the emotional depth of Lightfoot's work. "People coming back, people in love, love lost, love missed, and the opportunities that come in relationships."
Stokes and Shamata first collaborated on I Think I'm Fallin': The Songs of Joni Mitchell in 2016, a production that was remounted in 2023 due to its success. In fact, Kambites was one of the musicians in the Joni Mitchell performance and is returning to perform in their latest collaboration.
Though the setlist is still evolving, Stokes notes that the production will feature around 25 songs 鈥� some performed in full, others blended together in creative arrangements.
鈥淲e鈥檙e finding fresh ways to present his music,鈥� he explains. 鈥淪ome pieces will be just part of a song, or we'll be putting two songs together and finding fresh ways to transition his single-voice songs into ensemble performances, while others will stay true to Lightfoot鈥檚 signature style.鈥�
Each musician, Stokes says, brings their own unique talents to the show, shaping a performance that is both familiar and reimagined 鈥� an homage to Lightfoot鈥檚 legacy with the occasional fresh, musical twist.
鈥淐reating a musical event around the songs of this prolific and beloved Canadian hero is something that Tobin and I have been longing to do for some time,鈥� Shamata says on the Belfry鈥檚 website. 鈥淎s with our exploration of Joni Mitchell鈥檚 work, Lightfoot鈥檚 songbook provides an irresistible invitation to immerse ourselves in his lyrics and melodies. He was an international star, but he speaks most eloquently to us.鈥�
If You Could Read My Mind: The Songs of Gordon Lightfoot runs from April 22 to May 18 at the Belfry Theatre. All tickets for this show are offered with Pay-What-You-Can price options and are included as part of the 2024-25 Season Subscription Package. Tickets and additional information are available .
