He’s hooked on a feeling.
When Cory Hicks started with Jubilations 15 years ago working in the box office and as a character server, the accomplished photographer (more on that later) didn’t know he would be starring in his 15th production during a pandemic in 2020.
But here we are.
“During that time, if you told me I was going to be doing this for so long and not only that, but to be able to persevere through a pandemic, 21-year-old me would have a hard time believing that,” Hicks says, adding he would love to see his younger self’s jaw drop at his career progression.
“But this place has literally become like a big family. It’s an easy job and it’s fun getting to travel to different cities, different theatres and taking great stories out on the road.”
Hicks loves the travel, but there’s nothing quite like performing at home for the proud Calgarian.
“There’s a lot of pride here this year for me. Did I think I would still be doing this 15 years later, still loving it just as much as I did the first year? It’s something amazing.”
And not only has Hicks worked in almost every area of the theatre company, he has also taken most of the headshots that can be found along the venue’s walls and in the program guides. Hicks specializes in headshots for actors and portraits and has been shooting for the past 10 years.
For this production, Hicks plays the character of Freddy Minor in Rockin’ the Jukebox, who starts off as a seemingly crazy old man who talks to aliens. As the show progresses, you realize he was actually the owner of the run-down bowling alley that is home to a magical jukebox. The rest of the show is a trip down memory lane with songs ranging from Hooked on a Feeling to Pretty Woman and everything in between.
“There’s a lot of nostalgia in this show. There’s some good ol’ fashioned rock and roll, some modern-day rock, and then we get into the 1960s and 1970s — there’s something for everybody,” he says.
And of course, while one of the key pandemic differences to keep the cast, the staff and the audiences safe is to feature pre-recorded vocals as opposed to live singing, they don’t miss a beat and the shows feature just as much energy as ever.
“We are doing things a little differently and a lot more safely, but it really does feel good to provide a venue where people can go out, feel safe and have a really good time while enjoying some music and dancing,” he says.
“There’s a lot of pride in our performance.”
Rockin’ the Jukebox runs until January 9, 2021 at Jubilations. For more information, show times and tickets, please visit jubilations.ca.
Krista Sylvester is a local freelancer writer and journalist with a flair for the dramatic and a penchant for whiskey.
