Throughout the four-day event, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, more than 1,300 performers over age 50 will bring their talents to the Roy Thomson Hall stage. The emcee for the event is Sherwood Forrest comic Dick Joiner, whose sleight-of-hand tricks and belly-shaking laughs always keep the crowd in high spirits.
Today opens with performances by the Mississauga Swing Band in the lobby. On the stage, accordion player Joe Macerollo will be featured.
Also performing are the husband-and-wife duo Nihal and Caroleve Fonseka. Nihal, a tenor, and Caroleve, a soprano, met at the Toronto Opera Repertoire and have shared a life of making music together ever since.
Mississauga performers are back in the spotlight Thursday when dancer Joanna Rossi twirls through the lobby.
Local singer Sharon Purcell will perform on the stage. Purcell has appeared with the Canadian Opera Company and the Mississauga City Centre Opera Company and recently graced the Living Arts Centre stage for a concert.
Also performing at the jubilee are ballroom dancers Kim and Edith Lam.
Mississauga's Chartwell Seniors Housing REIT is the event's major sponsor.
"The enthusiasm, dedication and sheer determination of everyone who has contributed by performing, buying a ticket and rising to their feet to cheer on the jubilee is the reason for our ongoing success," said artistic director Wayne Burnett. "It's because of this magical combination that we have become the largest production of its kind in North America."
The lobby shows begin at 11 a.m. with the stage performances starting at 1 p.m.
Other performers at the event include Tony Award-winning actor Louise Pitre, Canadian roots music pioneers Joanne Crabtree and Paul Mills, singer/songwriter Brent Titcombe and lyrical tenor Mark DuBois, who will be making his first appearance at the event.
Tickets cost $19.50-$44.50. Call 416-872-4255.
For more information, visit www.roythomson.com.
cclay@mississauga.net
