Remember that time the world welcomed the first ever show made up entirely of music by Colleen & Akiva?

**INSERT 90s SITCOM FLASHBACK MUSIC (with feathered effect along the edges of your screen, of course)**

The show is The Subway Songs. The year is 2010. Cars are not yet flying, what a letdown. But the Bread & Circus in the heart of Kensington Market in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, World is starting to fill up on this late June evening. In fact, it is filling up so much that we need to sneak a few extra chairs into the theatre, fire code be damned.

We have been writing The Subway Songs  for over a year now. Its a series of songs all set on a subway car during the course of a day, and details the various stories and characters that pass through. The subway acts as a metaphor for transition, a microcosm of urban life and a catalyst for people who might otherwise not interact to do so. Songs range from rock to pop, country to musical theatre, but always retain that signature Colleen & Akiva sound.

Soon the cozy venue starts to simmer down as the lights come up on The Subway Songs, a brand spanking new song cycle by Colleen Dauncey and Akiva Romer-Segal. Colleen plays the first few notes on her snow-white keyboard “Rolanda”, leading her talented band made up of Sydney Galbraith strumming guitar, Bram Gielen slappin’ da bass and Tony Nesbitt-Larking drumming up a storm. Akiva sits nervously in the audience, as he tends to do.

The cast starts to assemble onstage. And what a cast it is.

 

 

 

 

 

 

L-R: George Masswohl, Evan Alexander Smith, Sara Farb, Sharron Matthews

Evan Alexander Smith, fresh off his Dora and Gemini nominated turn as the titular character in The Toxic Avenger is the first to sing. His boyish good looks and buttery smooth vocal chords are taking the notes on the page and sending them to rafters in ways we could have never imagined. Sharron Matthews, cabaret queen of Canada and World Dominatrix (hrm, that doesn’t sound quite right.. or does it?) sets off into some mighty fine belting, while injecting her signature humour and heart into every song. Her husband, the handsome and wise George Masswohl shows the audience his range of highs and lows, both vocally and emotionally. And Sara Farb… well she is a whole blog entry to herself. For now, lets just say that somehow after running around for weeks putting this show together, she expertly delivers her songs with a touch of sass, a ton of class, and a sublime voice you just must experience in person.

An hour has passed and the last notes are sung by the quartet and Colleen, who joins them for the closing song – “Ride”. We pause for a moment, at the end of two sold out nights, and can’t help but smile. Smile because these talented artists onstage and backstage have dedicated their time and talents to bring our songs to life. Smile because these audiences have embraced our show whole-heartedly. Smile because we, two best friends who started out writing some music just for fun, have actually written a show that is entertaining and effecting people.

Thanks everyone, you are awesomeness.

Colleen & Akiva