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" . WATER“) CHIONICLE . Wednesday. lune l3. 2007 Don't expect tables and chairs at this festival - instead. audience members will relax on hay bales while listening to the entertain- ment, which runs from 2 p.m. to IO pan. on Saturday. Hot young artists headlity attttallpppowp9oyptTyfHtjiHu, ountry music will fill the air in uptown Waterloo this weekend as the UpTown Country festival draws thousands to the city's core. Waterloo residents can grab their cowboy hats and head on down to the fifth annual event, which will be held in the Regina Street parking lot beside Waterloo City Hall. Going Country mmortality! The stuff of leg- lends? But were you given the chance. would you choose to live forever? No matter the cost? These questions. among oth- ers. are at the heart of Kitchener Waterloo Little Theatre's produc- uon of the off-heal comedy Dun luan in Chicago. David Ive! play marries two classic stories -. that of Don Juan and Doctor Faustus, Don Nan makes a deal with the Devil to grant him immortality; the catch being that Don Juan must seduce a different woman every day 1mtortunatety, the first woman Don Juan seduces is Dona Elvira. his one true love. Infuriated by Don luan's abandonment. Dona 1 he event, sponsored by KICX l06.7 FM, the uptown businesses and the city, will run rain or shine, but Patti Brooks, the executive director of the UpTown Business Improvement Area, admits they K-W Little Theatre does interesting take on Don Juan "We expect (he Th [autumn ORMSIDN - _ftet1icLit' Stu, crowd will go absolutely crazy when he sings that. " - Patti Brooks Executite dimmer BIA don't have a rain contin- gency. - "So we always pray for, terrific weather." Over the years, the festival has seen steady growth, with 1,000 people attend- ing the rtrst one, and 3,000 last year. And Anne Barry, the chair of the festival's volunteer committee, is pleased with its growing success. "When you bring a new festival into the area, you worry about whether or not it will take off." She attributes its \ popularity to the fact the country market has- n't really been tapped into locally. Elvira cuts her own deal with the Devil: she won’t die until she sleeps with Don luau a second time, Four-hundred years later, exhausted by endless sex and still pursued by Dona Elvira. Don luan grapples with the mores of con. temporary urban America. But beyond the word play (a good amount of the play ts written in verse) and the humour, there are real questions about existence. The organizers are hoping to beat last year's attendance record, and headliner Aaron Lines may help them achieve that goal. "This is not a play for children to show up to," warns director Andrew Frey V Don luau in Chicago is a fasci- nating play because at first glance " appears to simply be a quirky cdmedy about Sex. "‘(He) is one of the priemier male country artists in the country" said Brooks, adding his most popular Ht's about the meaning of life ARTS FOCUS song is probably You Can't Hide Beautiful. ' "We expect the crowd will go absolutely crazy when he sings that." Little Rock, a welt-respected local band that plays a lot of cover tunes, and Cathy Korpi will also take the stage that day. As for the cast of Don Juan in Chicago, "lt's a very talented group. with a variety of back, grounds," said Frey ' Une dancers will put on a show. and the audience will be invited to kick up their heels throughout the festival. and makes a strong comment about the extent that people will go to to find t?elortgilyr" says Frey. __ KWLT prides itsigfbn pioviding opportunities for anyone to get involved in theatre. ___ “auditions are open. and that includes both on-stage and off» stage roles. A - =e Three members of the cast are UW drama students. Half the cast is brand new to KWIT. Performances run lune 2l-23 and 28-30, at 8:00 pm, in the St, lambs Church theatre Email the KWII box omce at boxoffice6Bkwlt.org or call 519- As well. KICX 106.7 FM will run its StarQuest challenge from the stage. . ”local talent can register. and then sing for judges at the festi- val. The winner gets to perform for 30 minutes at the 2008 fes- tival; last year's victor. Mandy Chandler. will sing from 5:30 to 6 pm. on Saturday. Vendors selling hats. food and ice cream will surround 'h's amazing to see how many kids do come up and get up and dance..." UpTown Country volunteer the stage. And alcoholic beverages will be served at this licensed event, which caters to children as well as adults. Ht's amazing to see how many kids do come and get up and dance when the band is playing," Barry said. "They're probably hav- ing the most fun." - "it'sgoirutdtkareuy hm day, and the music just keeps on going" “Brooks. meanwhile, encourages people to attend because it's a great family day, plus, it'1trte. _ 886-0660 for ticket prices and information. Don Juan in Chicago is pro- duced by special arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. The Kitchener Waterloo Little Theatre has been a mainstay of community theatre in Kitchener- Waterloo. Even after the theatre building burned down in 2002. the compa- ny has never cancelled a show while still looking for a permanent home. KWLT welcomes everyone to take part in their productions, holding open auditions and pro- duction calls " every show. V For more information oh KWLT's shows and how you can get involved. please visit wwwkwft.org.