Local playwright hits the right notes featuring 1950s Kelowna in original musical
Travel back in time to 1958, where rock and roll is causing trouble in Southeast Kelowna!
Michael Minions, recently retired as ߲Ƶ Education Technology Coordinator. Minions found an unconventional way to stay active in retirement – writing a musical inspired by popular music from the 1950s with plenty of references to Kelowna’s early days.
The play is titled Society for the Prevention of Rock and Roll and is proudly presented by ߲Ƶ Red Dot players.
“The idea for Society for the Prevention of Rock and Roll came to me while sitting at the piano paging through an old songbook. I came across ‘High Hopes’ and thought to myself ‘That would be a fun song to have a group of people sing in a show.’ It was written in 1959 for a Frank Sinatra movie,” said Minions.
Ultimately, it was a phone call with Minions’ mother that sparked the inspiration for the musical.
“A few weeks later I was on the phone to my mom and sang her the start of You Belong to Me — ‘See the pyramids along the Nile, watch the sunrise on a tropic isle.’ She knew all the words because she was 15 years old when the song came out in 1952. That’s when I realized that there was an audience for this kind of vintage music.”
Minions put pen to paper, creating a Kelowna-based rock and roll musical to sweep the stage.
“The play is set in 1958; various musical acts have gathered at the Belgo United Church Hall in Southeast Kelowna to audition for a Dominion Day talent show. The performers are allowed to sing any sort of music they like — any sort of music, that is, except that ‘evil’ rock and roll!” Minions joked.
The show is sure to delight audiences featuring a colorful cast of characters based on 1950s pop culture icons.
“I invented a collection of characters based on thinly disguised 1950s singers — like Frank Sonata, Don Morton, Ella Fitzpatrick, Julie Rutland, Marnie Monroe. I also wove in some local historical references such as the opening of the floating bridge,” Minions said.
Performances of Society for the Prevention of Rock and Roll are taking place at the following times:
Thursday, October 24, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 25, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 26, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 27, 2:00 p.m.
All performances will be held at the ߲Ƶ Theatre (Room S104, 1000 KLO Road, Kelowna).
Tickets are available at and will also be sold at the door (Cash only, please).
Tags: Red Dot Players
