An Unconventional Life

Tickets: $18 plus service fee There is a 50-person capacity so we encourage you to BOOK EARLY

After a very successful debut in April 2018 An Unconventional Life is returning for a limited West Kootenay tour!

"Dare to Dream." This is a musical drama about a young Jewish woman who challenged the status quo. The creation of this show began when local soprano Noémi Kiss decided it was time to make her dream of singing all the songs from the movie Yentl come true. Noémi asked Kaslo thespian Lynn van Deursen if she could “write something theatrical” to showcase the songs as well as tell the story.. Noémi then asked Nelson pianist Judy Runions if she’d be willing to accompany her.

The piece examines gender inequality, what it means to challenge the status quo, and one young woman’s journey to find her way in a male dominated society with- out losing herself. Performed as if she is looking back on her life while speaking to a young graduating class, she tells her story, and sings about it as well.

The narrative is written by Lynn van Deursen, with songs by Michel Legrand (music) Alan & Marilyn Bergman (lyrics). The singer is Noémi Kiss, and the piano accompaniment is by Judy Runions. 
 Lynn van Deursen Lynn has lived in Kaslo for 15 years, where she enjoys working at the health centre and volunteering at The Langham Cultural Centre. She trained in theatre at UVIC and was a founding member of The Vancouver Theatre Sports League. Locally she will be known for her performances in Appearances (actor), Harvest (actor), Becky’s New Car (director/actor), Front Door Women (script development/actor), Langham Memories (playwright/actor) and I, Claudia (actor), The Foursome (director) and her many years performing in Jim van Horn’s The Incomplete History of Country Music (singer).

Noémi Kiss Noémi was born in Hungary where she studied voice and teacher training at the Liszt Academy of Music, and later at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in London, England. Her early career flourished in Europe where she performed early music and opera, taught voice masterclasses and made a number of recordings in Hungary, Czeck Republic, Norway and England. Noémi moved to Canada in 2009 where she continues to perform with orchestras and a variety of ensembles. She works closely with the Nelson Choral Society, teaches singing, is a founding member of the vocal trio Ananta (Allison Girvan/Kathleen Neudorf) and is currently the conductor of Cottonwood Singers.

Judy Runions Judy began a lifetime of accompanying musicians and choirs at the age of 12, when she became a church organist and pianist. She has performed throughout B.C. and Washington including numerous performances at the Capitol Theatre in Nelson with such diverse artists as Sherry Ulrich and The Christmas Pantomimes. In the early 1990s she attended Selkirk College's Contemporary Music Program, where she added jazz, blues and pop to her repertoire. She currently teaches private piano lessons and performs with Playmor Junction Big Band.