The Saskatchewan Express made another stop in Estevan this year, on August 10, when the travelling performance took to the stage at the Souris Valley Theatre, as part of its 2016 summer tour. Aside from the top-notch Saskatchewan musical entertainment fans have come to expect form the show, the high-quality performance also featured a familiar face.
Estevan local Josh Wade was among the cast of this year’s Sask. Express, and he was thrilled to be part of the show.
“I feel incredibly honoured to (have been) a part of any arts production in general, but specifically the Sask. Express. They took me when I didn’t have as much dance experience as I thought would be required,” said Wade. “They’ve been teaching me to become a better dancer and performer, and I’m really happy they chose to teach me.”
Wade said a significant part of the reason he found performing with the Sask. Express as exciting as he did was because of the talented people he got to work with. He said the Sask. Express has many highly trained dancers who have been dancing great lengths of time, in some cases, devoting nine to 10 years of their lives to cultivating their talent.
“They are doing the ballet and the fancy stuff, and all the singers are involved in some simple choreography,” said Wade, who developed his talent as a dancer, performing with the Sask. Express. Wade performed a mix of dancing and singing he referred to as “singerography,” in a performance entitled “Takin’ Care of Business.”
The show consisted of three basic sets: a pop set, with sounds ranging from those of Adele, Pitch Perfect and Lady Antebellum; a rock set featuring the sounds of old favourites from Kansas, and Queen to Fleetwood Mac and Bon Jovi; and a Broadway set, with music from productions like Mary Poppins, and Kinky Boots.
“I had a lot of fun with the Sask. Express, because I enjoy singing, and I’d like to think I’m good at it. It’s been a not-so-difficult transition,” said Wade. “I’ve also been playing piano for about eight years of my life, so I’ve had a very musical background on top of my theatrical background.”
The 2016 tour of the Sask. Express took the traveling show to places like the Cathedral Village Arts Festival in Regina in the spring, several provincial parks in June and July, the 10th International Rangeland Congress in Saskatoon, the Village of Arran for its 100th anniversary, and ultimately, the Souris Valley Theatre to end the season.
“We’ve been to a ton of places,” said Wade, who added that preparation for his tour with the Sask. Express involved extensive rehearsals to get everyone in top form for the shows.
“We rehearse every weekend for about 20-something odd hours a weekend. It was a lot of hard work, but I feel as if it’s been worth it, with the performances we’ve had across the province,” said Wade. “There’s been a good reception, and I’m proud of the work we’ve put out.”
Wade noted that people, have expressed how impressed they were with the performances this year by the Sask. Express.
“People have been saying they feel like the music selections are more enjoyable, and the flow of the show and choreography and singing have all been exceeding expectations,” said a proud Wade, reflecting back on the season’s performances.
Wade noted he doesn’t suffer from much nervousness onstage, and fully enjoys what he describes as a rush he experiences, when performing.
“I enjoy the feedback we get from the audience, in terms of the applause and cheering. It’s been really nice,” he said.
Thinking back, Wade traces his love of performing to how he was raised, noting that his mother was a stage manager, and that he grew up being involved in dramatic productions, in school and in the drama community, when he lived in B.C.
“I was a big thespian. When I moved here, I was in Grease and in the Comp’s production of Humbug High,” he said.
Wade discovered the opportunity that awaited him with the Sask. Express through a call for auditions on Facebook. His interest piqued, Wade made the trip to Regina and performed a successful audition.
“If I can get into any form of performing outside of my high school career, which has just ended recently, it’s going to be amazing,” said Wade, when asked of what the future holds for him on the stage. “I’m mainly doing this for my leisure right now.”
Wade noted that his main interest is in the sciences, something he plans to pursue in post-secondary education.
He added, “If I could get any more experience, I’d willingly accept it.”
