John Kolvenbach’s Love Song, a one-act reverie on the redemptive power of love, will be breathing life into audiences at the Studio Stage in Rosebud, January 27-28.
     This is the story of Beane, an oddball young man in exile from life. His successful and driven sister, Joan, along with her husband, Harry, try to make time for him in their busy lives, but no one can get through. Following a burglary at Beane’s apartment, Joan is baffled to find her brother blissfully happy and tries to unravel the story behind his mysterious new love, Molly.
Funny, enchanting and wonderfully touching, John Kolvenbach’s offbeat comedy is a rhapsody to the power of love in all its forms.
     Rosebud School of the Arts student Conrad Belau not only stars in Love Song as Beane, but is producing the show as his graduation project.  Originally from Outlook, Saskatchewan, Belau may be remembered from his memorable performances on the Rosebud Theatre stage in Jake and the Kid, A Bright Particular Star, and The Secret Garden.
    In choosing this play, Belau was inspired by Kolvenbach’s call to engage life in all of its fullness, both the good and the bad.
    “This is a play that doesn’t look away at life. Instead it takes a courageous and hopeful look at a reclusive and mentally unstable young man, and his sister’s faltering marriage, and says, ‘This is how the world is’”, said Belau. “Now what would happen if we added something called ‘love’ to the mix?’ The end result is incredible and will leave audiences with a challenge as well as a reward.”
     Supporting Conrad in this leap toward graduation is an entire team of Rosebud students, alumni and company members, including the hilarious Mike Thiessen (Rosebud Theatre: The Gifts of the Magi, Jake and the Kid) who keeps audiences in stitches, Aaron Krogman (Rosebud Theatre: The Gifts of the Magi, A Bright Particular Star) who leaves his acting shoes behind to step into the role of director, and Paul Zacharias (Rosebud Theatre: Jake and the Kid, The Diary of Adam and Eve) who is composing an original score for the show.
    The show runs January 27 and 28 at the Rosebud Studio Stage. Due to mature subject matter Love Song is not recommended for children under 14 years of age.

    Parents, teachers, RCMP, and many others are asking motorists to slow down and pay attention to the traffic lights in front of the new St. Anthony’s School.
    As the new location of St. Anthony’s School races towards completion, concern has been raised about motorists passing by on North Dinosaur Trail.
    For months now residents and tourists alike have passed under the new traffic lights set up at the intersection by the new school and the Fun Land Amusement Park. The traffic lights were put in place a year ago in anticipation of the school’s earlier completion estimates.
    Problems with the original contractors forced Christ the Redeemer School Division to find a new contractor early in 2011.
    The new completion date has been announced. Teachers will have February 27 and 28 to move their classrooms, and the first day of class in the new school will be February 29.
    Parents have raised a safety concern regarding the traffic lights.
    “It was brought forward at our parent council meeting. A couple of our parents activated the lights, walked across, and then noticed that drivers were driving through the red light,” said St. Anthony’s School Principal, Tim Gregorash.    
    Indeed, the presence of a constant green light at the intersection has conditioned many drivers to ignore it altogether.
    “Because it’s green and never been activated, people aren’t looking at it,” said Gregorash. “People are not used to paying attention to it.”
    Other questions that have been raised are whether the speed limit will be reduced near the new school and if there will be any early warning system to alert drivers if there is an incoming red light.
    “The speed limit is not going to be reduced, it’s staying at 70 km/h,” said Gordon Wilton, from Alberta Transportation. Wilton also explained that there are currently no plans to install early warnings sign.
    “It was not the system I recommended. I wanted a different system, but that’s what they put in,” said Staff Sergeant Art Hopkins of the RCMP.
    The Town of Drumheller had recommended early warning lights be placed leading up to the new traffic lights.
    For the time being, education and enforcement will have to make those lights safe for the children at St. Anthony’s School. Staff Sergeant Hopkins stated there would be an increased RCMP presence near the school when it is open.
    “We’ll be educating our parents and children about crosswalk safety, like don’t cross until vehicles are completely stopped. It’s basic education of everybody, because that is a new light,” said Gregorash. “We’ll make sure that the kids are safe, that’s our number one priority.”