Steve Ivings was born in Oak Bay and honed his craft by irritating his friends at Oak Bay High with impressions of famous actors of the time.
Now, after a lifetime of entertaining around the world, on hundreds of stages, including the big stage at the MGM Grand in Vegas, Ivings is returning home for a show in his home community.
Aug. 11 and 12, Ivings appears with long time friend and co-producer, Bob LeBlanc, at the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre in Oak Bay in a variety show that salutes the music of Broadway and Hollywood and the stars that created those iconic tunes.
Ivings is certain Curtain up! will be a hit.
“This show was really a lot of fun to put together and I’m sure that the audiences will feel that same feeling of fun as they watch the show unfold,” said Ivings.
It all started when LeBlanc called Ivings, who had recently returned to Victoria from working in Toronto, and asked him to collaborate on the project. LeBlanc had created a group called Variety Fare back in 2010 and although he had produced a series of projects for the group since that time, he was ready for a new concept for the group; a concept in which Ivings singular talents would be central.
LeBlanc’s vision was to put on a show celebrating the music of Broadway and Hollywood and he asked Steve to utilize his gift for mimicry to provide the personas behind the music.
“The first impression I learned how to do when I was 15 and going to Oak Bay High was Richard Burton,” said Ivings. “That’s one of the first voices I do in Curtains Up!, but it’s only one of more than 60 celebrity voices in the show.”
Ivings has included this impressions of Ed Sullivan, Rex Harrison (singing I’ve Grown accustomed to her Face), Jack Nicholson, Gregory Peck, and George Burns.
“I’m doing all kinds of voices that I haven’t done for a very long time, and the wonderful thing is that I learned most of those voices while attending Oak Bay High all those years ago,” he explained.
Ivings was born in Oak Bay in 1956 and has spent a lifetime as a broadcaster and comedian. He was shortlisted for a Juno award for his comedy album, Steve’s Album, and has gone on to appear around the world with his particular style of impressions.
In addition to the line up of celebrities of the past, Ivings has thrown in some more current personalities for good measure, including a recently developed impression of Donald Trump.
“I used to do Richard Nixon, but, as they say, the more things change…”, observed Ivings.
In addition to the two shows at the Dave Dunnet Community Theatre, the show will be featured at the Charlie White Theatre in Sidney on Aug. 4 and 5.
More information and tickets are available at varietyfare.ca.