The Northland Barbershop Chorus is gearing up for its 58th annual show, promising an evening of entertainment with a twist.
The Barbershop Twilight Zone, a unique blend of a capella and theatrical storytelling, will hit the Sault Community Theatre Centre on April 12 at 7 p.m.
“It’s more than a concert, it’s a musical theatre experience,” said Bob Shami, the chorus’s music director.
“It’s not a play, and it’s not a concert, but it’s some kind of hybrid of the two.”
This year’s show takes inspiration from the iconic television series, The Twilight Zone.
Shami explains that the show borrows “that premise of the Twilight Zone where anything’s possible, and time is fluid, characters can move back and forth through time.”
The original play will feature the 40-man Northland Chorus performing about 10 songs in a four-part harmony.
Shami emphasized that “there are no musical instruments involved,” letting the audience immerse themselves in an a capella experience.
The central character in the play is Chester Field, a couch potato, with the story line highlighting the importance of living life to the fullest.
“I think the moral of the story is life is short, and one should live life to the fullest and experience life not vicariously by watching TV, but by actually getting out and living it,” Shami said.
The chorus aims to appeal to people of all ages by performing songs from all eras.
They perform songs as recent as a Coldplay song from 2019. Expect to hear tunes from The Beatles, Elvis, the Everly Brothers and more.
Following the first act, the audience will be treated to a performance by the Vocal Spectrum, a quartet from St. Louis, Missouri.
“It’s the only quartet I’ve ever invited back for a third visit since they’re really so incredibly entertaining and talented,” Shami said.
Beyond the entertainment, the Northland Barbershop Chorus has a long-standing commitment to giving back to the community.
Since 1995, proceeds from their annual show have supported the Speech-Language Pathology Unit at Sault Area Hospital.
“Up until last year, the total we’ve donated to the hospital is $125,000,” Shami said.
The Chorus’s motto, “We sing . . . That They Shall Speak,” embodies this dedication.
“In 1995, I got a call from a speech pathologist who needed $30,” Shami said. From that small initial donation, a bond formed between a Northland Chorus and speech pathology.
That speech pathologist contacted Shami in an attempt to help someone who had suffered a brain stem stroke. She asked Shami for $30 so she could purchase an Acrylic Eye Gaze board.
Touched by this story, Shami donated $100.
“I think I found a place where something as little as $30 can actually impact a patient’s life,” he said.
Looking ahead, the Northland Chorus has set a goal.
“Our objective is to hit $150,000 in lifetime donations by next year,” Shami said.
Tickets for The Barbershop Twilight Zone are available for $38 per person here.
The show promises an unforgettable evening.
“It’ll be great fun. It always is,” Shami said.