The versatile and virtuosic Andrew Penner returns this fall to the Musical Stage Company’s beloved UnCovered series for a performance that he eagerly anticipates year after year – and one which demands the full range of his many talents.
Now in its 18th iteration, this annual concert is developed by some of Canada’s most celebrated musical theatre artists, who perform the songs of legendary singer-songwriters, interpreted through the perspective of storytelling. This year’s concert uncovers the hits of legendary rock bands U2 and The Rolling Stones. The music is co-arranged by Musical Director Kevin Wong and Jonathan Corkal-Astorga, and in addition to Penner, features performances by Colin Asuncion, Hailey Gillis, Kelly Holiff, Penner, Lydia Persaud, Jackie Richardson, Shaemus Swets, and Enya Watson.
Known for his multi-instrumental talents and diverse performances and compositions, Penner has built a dynamic career in both music and theatre. He co-founded the duo Harrow Fair with violinist Miranda Mulholland in 2016, releasing albums in 2016 and 2020. He has performed in numerous major theatre productions, such as Soulpepper Theatre’s Spoon River and As You Like It, and appeared in the Canadian premieres of Dave Malloy’s musicals Ghost Quartet and the Tony Award winning Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, where he played Balaga during the show’s 16-week sold-out run at Crow’s Theatre. He co-created and performed in The Shape of Home, a theatrical concert that examines the life and work of Canadian poet Al Purdy, which earned 9 Dora Award nominations.
His work backstage as a composer and sound designer is equally impressive, and includes Soulpepper’s Blood Wedding and Stratford Festival’s Grapes of Wrath. His film compositions include scores for Eadweard and Small Town Murder Songs, and his contributions to television shows like FX’s Lost Girl have garnered critical acclaim. Penner’s sound design for the production BOBLO won him the 2013 Dora Mavor Moore Award, and he has also received nominations for the Toronto Theatre Critics Award and the Leo Awards.
Penner is unabashedly enthusiastic about his return to Uncovered: “I love doing this series. The performers are amazing. Singing at Koerner [Hall] is such a treat. And Musical Stage is great to work with.” And it’s a unique occasion where he can bring the full range and depth of his experience to bear – by channeling his copious musical instincts and skills through the lens of his theatrical expertise, in order to sculpt arresting, exquisite reinterpretations of iconic songs.
For this year’s show, Penner has been captivated by the Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black”, a deep dive into “an individual grieving about the sudden loss of his lover”. For Penner, the song is a tightrope walk between specific details and pervasive truth: “The isolation and process of grieving is so unique to an individual, but I think there’s a universality to this that will come through. I think my interpretation really connects with this.”
A second invigorating challenge has been crafting his take on U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday”, a track tied to Ireland’s history of sectarian violence. Penner shares, “even though this song is about a specific event in Ireland’s history, this song has unfortunately become more and more relevant to so many places in the world. It’s a very difficult song to sing, theme-wise, but one I thought was really important to include in this concert.” Penner also performs a seductive arrangement of “Sympathy for the Devil” in a trio with Lydia Persaud and Seamus Swets.“Temptation is real,” he smiles, “and I think the introspection of this arrangement will really affect and seduce the listener”.
When asked whether he identifies personally more with U2 or The Rolling Stones, Penner doesn’t hesitate: “The Stones. At their best, they’re a grimy rock and roll band that stood on the shoulders of, and took from American blues, and reminded us we’re not that innocent”. But he’s also quick to acknowledge the power of U2’s early post-punk work: “You can’t deny the beautiful, conflictive celebration that runs through their music.”
As Penner prepares to take the stage once more at Koerner Hall, audiences can look forward to a compelling remix of his own musical and theatrical expertise within a whole series of performances that pay tribute to – and uncover – two of the most iconic bands in rock history.
UnCovered: U2 and The Rolling Stones runs October 22 – 25, 2024 at Koerner Hall in the Royal Conservatory of Music. Visit musicalstagecompany.com to reserve tickets.
© Arpita Ghosal, Sesaya Arts Magazine, 2024
