By Jose Argerami
Variety Night is an initiative of the Archdiocese of Regina’s Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. The show began in 2009 as a fundraiser for pilgrims attending World Youth Day. It was much smaller back then, with only a 5-piece band and a stage of tables stacked together. But it was fun, well attended, and, most importantly, a great community builder.
The show has evolved significantly in the last 14 years. Not only do we have a proper stage and high-quality lights and sound equipment, but we are also blessed with an incredibly talented 14-piece orchestra, and our cast and crew are made up of 40-50 young people each year. Because the show has gotten so big and is quite expensive to put on, it is no longer a great fundraiser but remains an amazing community builder.
Variety Night provides a taste of “Christian community” for many kids who have never experienced such a thing. It is a fun, joyful, and safe space for anyone and everyone who wants to participate. We don’t hold auditions, we simply welcome those interested in being part of the show and find a way to let them shine. We pray together as cast and crew before each of our four performances and often during our practices as well. We invite them to “next steps” in exploring their faith, and a number of them come to the Archdiocese of Regina Leadership Camp in the summer as team members or participants. Some of them start attending events like Source or Gloria Patri. Variety Night provides a place to “come home” for former cast members who have moved away (literally or figuratively). It serves as a place to reconnect and hopefully “keep the doors to ‘church’ open” for them when they are ready.
The show serves as a wonderful bridge between our faith community and the community at large. This year we were blessed to have the Kawacatoose Boys Singers and Dance Troupe join us for all four performances and they have expressed a strong desire to participate again next year. We have heard from families that have had a lot of division over the last few years say that coming to watch their young person in the show started a process of healing. People have shared that the Lord answered their prayer through a worship song in the show. Strong friendships and even some romantic relationships have come out of Variety Night.
I have been attending Variety Night as an audience member or helping with things like tickets and concessions for years. Last year was my first time being involved behind the scenes, and I could not be more grateful to be a part of this community. The amount of time, energy, and effort that everyone puts into preparing their acts is inspiring. Some of those in the show are used to singing, dancing, and performing, but others have never been on a stage before. It’s so cool to see a diverse group of people from around 14 to 30 years old come together to harmonize, learn choreography, memorize lines, and spend time together. I have met and become friends with so many amazing people through this show and I could not be prouder of each and every person that has been involved in the last two years.
If you are interested in becoming involved in Variety Night (on or off stage!) please reach out to Michelle and Braden at [email protected].
Photos by Jose Argerami
