Savoy Theatre to host world premiere next Mother’s Day

GLACE BAY, N.S. — After a seemingly never-ending run of COVID-related cancellations, the Savoy Theatre delivered some good news on Sunday.
Pam Leader, executive director of the venerable Glace Bay entertainment venue, announced that the theatre will host the world premiere of country music artist Johnny Reid’s "My Bonnie Lass" in the spring of 2021.
In fact, Leader said there will two performances of the show and both are schedule for May 9, which just happens to be next Mother’s Day.
The musical is based on the true story of Reid’s grandmother Maggie in her role as a working-class mother of three in post-Second World War Scotland. It was co-written with Toronto playwright Matt Murray.
Leader said she hadn’t expected to make the announcement so soon but did so after Reid expressed his desire to give shut-in Cape Breton residents something to look forward to down the road.
“Whenever I visit Cape Breton, I’m reminded of where I grew up in Scotland,” said Reid, whose family moved to Canada when he was a teenager.
“The rolling hills that lead you to the ocean, all the good-hearted, hard-working people who take time to simply say ‘Good morning — the Savoy is the perfect place to debut 'My Bonnie Lass' and to introduce my Gran’s story to the East Coast.”
Tickets for the two performances will go on sale on Wednesday at 9 a.m. Seats can be purchased by calling the Savoy box office or by visiting tickets.savoytheatre.com. There will be no in-person sales at the theatre. A pre-sale for members of Johnny Reid’s Tartan Army will open on Tuesday at 9 a.m.
All the proceeds from the initial release of tickets (50 per cent of available seating due to COVID concerns) will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross Stronger Together Nova Scotia Fund in support of the families of the victims of April’s mass shooting.
The Savoy has cancelled or postponed all its scheduled 2020 performances including "Dear Rita" and "The Cape Breton Summertime Revue."