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PTE in Concert celebrates motherhood with Dear Mom
Local musicians are tuning up to tug on some heartstrings this Mother’s Day.
Prairie Theatre Exchange (PTE) is bringing back its PTE in Concert series with a special one-afternoon-only event, Dear Mom, happening Sunday, May 11 at 3 p.m. The concert features a lineup of Winnipeg musicians performing songs that celebrate the complicated, tender, and often funny realities of motherhood.
Much like last season’s Valentine’s Day concert, Dear Mom is built around real stories submitted by PTE’s audiences. These short tributes, memories, and even poems about mothers and mother figures will be woven into the show as introductions to each song, curated by PTE Artistic Director Ann Hodges.
One submission captures the tone of the afternoon perfectly:
"When my mum was dying, I never left the hospital. [...] Each evening, I would go brush my teeth and freshen up in a bathroom at the end of the hall. On one particular evening I said, 'I'm going down the hall to make myself beautiful.' She said, 'See you in an hour.' She had her sense of humour right to the end. The toughest and most beautiful woman I have ever known."
Music Director Paul De Gurse, with associate music director Brady Barrientos, has put together a set list packed with familiar favourites. Expect songs made famous by Jann Arden, Dolly Parton, and Carole King, performed by a six-person ensemble featuring guitarist Kyle Cobb, cellist Patricia Vanucci, and vocalists Carlyn Graff-Czehryn, Aaron Hutton, and Rochelle Kives.
“I’m so excited for audiences to hear the team Ann and I have put together,” says De Gurse. “This concert is designed to be the perfect afternoon for Mom.”
Dear Mom will be performed at PTE’s Cherry Karpyshin Mainstage Theatre, located inside Portage Place in downtown Winnipeg. Tickets are on sale now: general admission is $30, while VIP tickets are $50 and include a pre-show reception, premium seating, a complimentary beverage, and a gift for Mom.
Tickets and more information are available online at pte.mb.ca or by contacting the box office at 204-942-5483 or boxoffice@pte.mb.ca.
About Prairie Theatre Exchange:
Celebrating more than 50 years of bringing theatre to Manitobans, PTE is known for presenting contemporary works with a focus on Canadian playwrights. The theatre’s 2024-25 season is sponsored by Manitoba Liquor Marts and supported by Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Arts Council, Winnipeg Arts Council, and Prairie Theatre Exchange Foundation Trust.