The search returns to Harbourfront Theatre
Published: Mar 22 at 12:48 p.m.
"Searching for Abegweit: The Island Songs & Stories of Lennie Gallant" returns this summer to the Harbourfront Theatre in Summerside. Submitted/Darrell Theriault - Contributed
Eight performances announced for "Searching for Abegweit: The Island Songs & Stories of Lennie Gallant"
SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. —
Harbourfront Theatre has announced the return of "Searching for Abegweit: The Island Songs & Stories of Lennie Gallant" for eight performances this summer 2019.
"It seems you can't keep this ship in port," says Gallant. "We are taking 'Searching for Abegweit' for another voyage this summer at Harbourfront Theatre and are very excited about it. So many folks have expressed disappointment at having missed it — or they just want to see it again with friends and family — so we felt the urge to cast off the lines and reunite the cast."
Hailed as a runaway theatrical hit with a solid track record of over 120 full house performances, "Searching for Abegweit" is a musical love letter to Prince Edward Island that stars the artist himself and presents his folk, roots and rock music, alongside comedic stories, Island legends and poignant tales.
"It seems you can't keep this ship in port. We are taking 'Searching for Abegweit' for another voyage this summer at Harbourfront Theatre and are very excited about it. So many folks have expressed disappointment at having missed it — or they just want to see it again with friends and family — so we felt the urge to cast off the lines and reunite the cast."
- Lennie Gallant
The show unfolds in a multimedia format that utilizes film and hundreds of paintings from Karen Gallant, a well-known P.E.I. visual artist and Gallant's sibling. Sharing the stage with Gallant are nephews Jonathan Gallant on vocals and percussion and Jeremy on piano, along with fiddler Sean Kemp and popular Acadian singer and multi-instrumentalist Patricia Richard.
The production headlined Harbourfront's summer 2017 season before Gallant toured it around the Maritimes that fall to a great reception.
"The Harbourfront production allowed us to up our game with this show, and the stage design, sound and lighting have never been better," says Gallant. "Join us this summer, and you will laugh, sing, move to the rhythm and shed a tear or two, while we celebrate this magical island."
Kieran Keller, the executive director of Harbourfront Theatre, is thrilled to welcome Gallant back this summer.
"'Searching for Abegweit' is a beautiful journey – the show leads you down a path of music, stories and imagery that fills your spirit to the brim. We're happy to be able to share it with tourists and islanders alike. Lennie is a true gift of and for Prince Edward Island."
A native of the Acadian village of Rustico, Gallant has recorded 12 albums (10 in English and two in French), which have won him a host of awards and nominations from the Junos, the East Coast Music Awards and Les Prix Eloizes. In the past year, Gallant has been busy with the creation and release of his latest album, "Time Travel" (released August 2018) for which he is nominated for the 2019 ECMA contemporary roots recording of the year and 2019 ECMA entertainer of the year. "Time Travel" was recently chosen as a top 10 folk album of the year by a panel of music industry critics.
A recipient of the Order of Canada, Gallant is an international touring artist, who is also involved in numerous charity activities. In recognition of his work and support of many worthwhile causes, he has received the P.E.I. Red Cross Humanitarian of the Year Award.
Tickets for the show at Harbourfront Theatre go on sale on March 27 in conjunction with the theatre's World Theatre Day celebrations. Learn more at harbourfronttheatre.com or through the theatre box office at 902-888-2500.
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