Memphis - The Musical

I attended this musical production http://www.memphisthemusical.com/ last week at the Toronto Center for the Arts. I was knocked off my seat with the first act, and tried to get back into it the rest of the show. This 2011 Tony Award winning play is worth every cent, not only because it is based on a true story, but also because of the talent of the actors and actresses that perform this blues musical live with so much energy and passion. Each song is live, and could easily make it as high quality blues vocalists in any club.
Few people know the challenges that breaking the colour boundaries cost to certain individuals. The risks that some artists took to follow their passion for music, that broke down the boundaries between whites and blacks of the south. The story of Memphis is about a young man who's sense of marketing and personality takes a stoggy white radio station and starts promoting black "race" music to the pleasure of the young white audience. I guess it takes young people to break down the fences and old ways of thinking that their parents created. The story touches on the racist white with the beating of the black singer, for enticing this white boy. Eventually, she has to leave Memphis to seek the safety of the north in New York, where black people already had established greater equality.
In fact the egalitarian and openness of the north, led and entire migration of music from the Mississippi Delta to Chicago, where it resides today. The American Civil war was actually initially based on the North's freeing of the black slaves, and how the south wanted to keep them as slaves. Isn't it fascinating that music was the medium to create the platform on which to create the equality. Isn't that what art does, challenge societal norms? I suppose that is why we must all support the arts.

For an evening of art, history and blues music, check out Memphis.

You won't be dissappointed.


The Adventure Guy

Downsview Toastmasters Club Achieves International Award

The Downsview Toastmasters Club, located at the 1201 Wilson Avenue Downsview Complex in Toronto,  has won the President’s Distinguished Club Award, the highest achievement a club can attain in Toastmasters. “Receiving this recognition is a great accomplishment for our Club. It speaks to the active participation and commitment of our members to meet their educational goals”, says Shawn Smith, a long-time member.

Toastmasters International is made up of over 13,000 clubs and 270,000 members worldwide. Since 1924, more than 4 million people around the world have become more confident speakers and leaders because of their participation in Toastmasters.

Toastmasters is one of the greatest dollar for dollar investments one can make in personal growth and leadership development. It is a fun place to experiment with your communication skills and a great place to network with a variety of interesting and education oriented individuals.

Seasons Greetings from our club

For more information about Downsview Toastmasters visit

http://downsview.freetoasthost.org/


The Adventure Guy
President, Downsview Toastmasters Club 8568