GENTLE SONGS & BIG STORIES: KRIS DEMEANOR LIVE AT
GHOST RIVER THEATRE

Ghost River Theatre Presents an Encore Performance of a Sold-Out Success in 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Calgary, AB—Ghost River Theatre is delighted to present Songs for My Father to Fall Asleep To, an intimate evening of music by Mohkinstsis (Calgary)-based singer-songwriter, theatre and film actor, and Calgary’s first Poet Laureate, Kris Demeanor. This encore performance follows last year’s sold-out debut and runs May 1–3, 2025, at the West Village Theatre.

At the heart of this special evening is Kris Demeanor’s deeply personal yet universally resonant album, Songs for My Father to Fall Asleep To. Inspired by a simple yet poignant request from his father—“Have you ever thought about doing a collection of gentle songs?”—the album is a love letter to family and friends. With nods to 1960s singer-songwriters and rich storytelling, this performance showcases Kris’s ability to blend the deeply personal with themes that touch everyone.

The show also serves to highlight Kris Demeanor’s long-standing connection to Ghost River Theatre “As a devised theatre company, Ghost River Theatre thrives on collaboration,” says Eric Rose, Artistic Director. “Kris is a key collaborator on several of our major productions, most recently as musical director and Co-creator for Echoes of the Land. We are thrilled to spotlight Kris’s profound artistry in this deeply personal and moving set of songs created for his late father. Last year, we made the mistake of only presenting one performance of Songs for My Father, and it sold out! This time, we have heard our audience and are excited to present three performances of this encore presentation at the West Village Theatre!"

“A few years ago, my father, Wilf Wenzel, asked me: ‘Have you ever thought about making an album that was... I don’t know... gentle?’ I hadn’t. So here it is—Songs for My Father to Fall Asleep To: a record made for one man and a live show for everybody,” says Kris Demeanor.

"These shows will be a quilt—a loving nod to the past through stories and anecdotes, a visual blast of Wilf Wenzel’s original artwork, and a celebration of the wildly talented musicians I’ve played with over the years. The ambience will recreate the feeling I had lying on the brown shag carpet at my parents' house growing up, pulling a vinyl record out of its sleeve for the first time, and poring over the lyrics on the insert.”

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ella Jean Haggis will guest star at every show, in addition to 2-3 surprise local musicians featured on Songs for My Father to Fall Asleep To. Featured artists include Miranda Martini, Malcolm Mooney, Cedric Lightning, Quinn Curtis, Monika Wenzel Curtis, Jamie Konchak, Paul Jahn, and Sarah Ord. Together, they will perform the complete album alongside a second, high-energy set of Kris’s greatest hits.

"I can’t wait to recreate the truly special energy, the warmth, and the unspoken understanding that was felt in the West Village Theatre last year when we first performed this music."

Performances: May 1- 3, 2025
Location: West Village Theatre - 2007 10 Ave SW, Calgary, AB T3C 0K4
Tickets: $15-$35
For tickets and more details, visit https://www.ghostrivertheatre.com/songs-for-my-father-to-fall-asleep-to

About Ghost River Theatre & Kris Demeanor

Ghost River Theatre (GRT) is a Calgary-based leader in devised theatre, celebrated for fostering collaboration and spotlighting innovative artists. With over 30 years of experience, GRT continues to push artistic boundaries and connect with audiences through powerful storytelling. For more information, visit www.ghostrivertheatre.com.

Kris Demeanor is a Mohkinstsis (Calgary)-based singer-songwriter, poet, theatre and film actor, and storyteller. Known for his incisive wit and tender exploration of the human condition, Kris was Calgary’s first Poet Laureate and remains one of its most beloved and innovative artists. To learn more visit: www.krisdemeanor.com