WHITE ROCK - There's a new sound coming out of White Rock's Coast Capital Playhouse, and it's not just a revamped show tune.
White Rock Players' Club has teamed up with Alive Drive Interactive (ADI), an interactive media technology company spearheaded by veteran audio engineer Peter Young, to bring a broadcasted music series to the city, while utilizing the Johnston Road venue for a purpose other than live theatre.The series, called Music from the Coast, would be recorded using ADI's Hubcast, a mobile broadcast facility equipped for recording, webcasting and content distribution."Music from the Coast is a series of music concerts that we're going to package for a TV show," said Young, seated in the empty auditorium of the playhouse."It's a music series that gauges across a whole bunch of different genres, so it's not just a country show, it's not just a rock show."Filmed during the theatre's "dark days" - a day the playhouse isn't being used for theatre productions - Young records and packages the concert to be viewed through the Hubcast. The public can purchase tickets to the live show and be part of the audience, while others can enjoy the show on a subscriptionbasis via the Internet. A live image of White Rock's pier plays in the background of the small theatre, giving the illusion that you're watching a show on the beach.Young, who's extensive musical history includes sound-engineering Nickelback's Live at Home DVD, Joe Satriani's Live at the Grove and Megadeth's That One Night: Live in Buenos Aires, wants to see the thriving White Rock arts and music community get recognized. With his audio engineering and video background, as well as his invested interest in the White Rock community, he's just the person to do it."The whole idea of what we're doing is to bring more awareness to the facility, bring more entertainment to the Peninsula and capture it where we can actually showcase White Rock from a tourist's standpoint," Young said.The first Music from the Coast episode featured musician Russell deCarle, known for fronting Canadian country group Prairie Oyster, which can be seen on Music from the Coast's new website (Musicfromthecoast. com). The concert was recorded June 9 at the playhouse, on the set of the theatrical production Barefoot in the Park, which closed last Saturday night (June 21).One of the most important features of the concert series, Young says, is that ADI and the players' club will partner with a non-profit organization for each show."Every show that we do, we tie it to a nonprofit," he said. "The tickets pay for the cost of filming, plus honorariums for the bands, then a percentage goes to the related charity."Young expects to see the pilot series wrapped up by the end of the summer, with hopes that a sponsor and a network will take on the show for more episodes."We can be an asset to the city and turn White Rock, not only to be a destination because of the great scenery but because of the amazing fine arts and music that come out of this place. It's a great place to discover music," Young said. "It just needs to get out there to the world."The second episode of the concert series, "100 Days of Swing," was held on Monday, June 23, featuring The Other Big Band and Vancouver Groove Orchestra at Coast Capital Playhouse, 1532 Johnston Rd. The show was presented by Semiahmoo Music Society.