Wednesday  March 1st, 2017

The 2017 ACTRA Toronto Awards took place Saturday February 25th at The Carlu. The star studded event recognize outstanding performances by ACTRA Toronto members and celebrate accomplishment and excellence in the industry. The awards included the ACTRA Toronto Award of Excellence, the ACTRA Toronto Stunt Award, Outstanding Performances in the categories of Female, Male, and Voice. Rudy Blair Entertainment Media was on the red carpet to Chat with Actor “Simu Liu”, one of the stars of the CBC comedy series “Kim’s Convenience”. “Kim’s Convenience” was nominated and won the “Series Ensemble Award” while Liu was nominated for “Outstanding Performance/Male for his role in the Canadian series “Blood and Water”. www.actratoronto.com/performers/community/the-actra-awards-in-toronto/ www.cbc.ca/kimsconvenience/

Tuesday February 28th,2017

She’s one of the most popular star on YouTube with over five million subscribers to prove it.  Canadian “Megan DeAngelis” also known as “MayBaby took part in a free concert at Vaughan Mills Shopping Center along with Juno Award nominee “Tyler Shaw” and Pop recording artist “Ryland James” of YTV’s “The Next Star”.  The trio put their talents together to help promote & support the youth empowerment group “Make Your Mark” to fight bullying. Rudy Blair Entertainment Media sat down with “MayBaby” before the concert to Chat about bullying, music and being a YouTube sensation.    https://www.youtube.com/user/maybabytumbler   www.makeyourmarkmovement.com/

Tuesday February 28th,2017

The 2017 ACTRA Toronto Awards took place Saturday February 25th at The Carlu. The star studded event recognize outstanding performances by ACTRA Toronto members and celebrate accomplishment and excellence in the industry. The awards included the ACTRA Toronto Stunt Award, Outstanding Performances in the categories of Female, Male, and Voice and also the ACTRA Toronto Award of Excellence. This years Excellence winner was Yannick Bisson, star of the the Canadian series Murdoch Mysteries. Rudy Blair Entertainment Media Chats with Bisson on the red carpet before he received this special honour. www.actratoronto.com/ www.cbc.ca/murdochmysteries/cast/yannick-bisson

Monday February 27th,2017

He’s considered one of The best celebrity interviewers in entertainment. He’s been a Much Music VJ, host of his own CBC Televisions show, hosted a show on CNN , was the host of Hockey Night In Canada, a Radio Jock and interviewed everyone from Bono to Hillary Clinton. These days he’s hosting a very unique live acoustic music event where artist of all genres perform in his house in front of fans who are also invited into his home. Rudy Blair entertainment Media Chats with Geroge Stroumboulopoulos about his music showcase known as “Strombo Sessions”. www.facebook.com/strombo

Monday February 27th,2017

Canadian Pop recording artist “Ryland James” took part in a free concert at Vaughan Mills Shopping Center along with YouTube star “Megan DeAngelis” also known to fans as “MayBaby” and Juno Award nominee “Tyler Shaw”. The trio put their talents together to help promote & support the youth empowerment group “Make Your Mark” to fight bullying. Rudy Blair Entertainment Media sat down with James before the concert to Chat about bullying, music and taking part in the music competition
tv series YTV’s “The Next Star.    https://csm21ent.com/artist-roster/ry..

Tuesday February 28th,2017

This Canadian recording artist from B.C is high on my list as one of the next big breakout stars of 2017. Combining Pop, R&B, Dance,Soul,Electro and Alternative music he’s created his own unique and original sound that stands out amongst his peers. He’s just released a new single. Rudy Blair Entertainment Media Chats with “Sebell” about his latest hit “Blow My Mind” and upcoming E.P. sebellmusic.com/

Friday February 24th,2017

Juno nominee “Tyler Shaw” took part in a free concert at Vaughan Mills Shopping Center along with YTV’s “The Next Star” actor & recording artist “Ryland James” and YouTube star “Megan DeAngelis” also known to fans as “MayBaby”. The trio put their talents together to help promote & support the youth empowerment group “Make Your Mark” to fight bullying. Rudy Blair Entertainment Media sat down with Shaw before the concert to Chat about bullying and upcoming new music.  www.tylershawmusic.com/       www.makeyourmarkmovement.com/

Wednesday February 22nd, 2017

A very special “FoodShare” fundraiser is taking place this Thursday February 23rd,2017 from 6:30- 9:30pm at the St. Lawrence Temporary North Market(125 The Esplanade) involving some of the Toronto’s top chefs, tasty meals while connecting families with high quality health food. Rudy Blair Entertainment Media Chats with “Sandro D’ Ascanio,” VP of Marketing for Hain Celestial Canada about “Recipe For Change 2017”.

Wednesday February 22nd,2017

Tuesday February 21st 2017

Recently I had the chance to see the  Mirvish Production of “The Bodyguard The Musical”at Toronto’s “Ed Mirvish Theatre” .  I was looking forward in seeing this show especially since I was a big fan of the 1992 film “The Bodyguard” staring the late “Whitney Houston” and Academy award winner ‘Kevin Costner”.   I wanted to see if the stage show worked as well as the film, how the music would be used and of course how the star of the musical “Beverley Knight” would sing the classic Whitney Houston hits including  “The Greatest Love of All”, “How Will I Know”,”Run To You” and THE song “I Will Always Love You”.  here’s a little background on “Beverley Knight”, she’s a British recording artist and a musical theatre actress.  She took over the lead roll, “Rachel Marron”  in 2013.  Since the show debuted in 2012, “The Bodyguard The Musical” has made it’s mark in several countries including France, Australia,England,the US and now Canada.

The story is very similar to the film with a few changes(I won’t reveal  the changes, you’ll have to see what I’m talking about) but it’s still about a secret service agent turned bodyguard,  who is  hired to protect the biggest recording artist in the world from an unknown stalker and how their personal relationship develops.   Some of the other stars include “Stuart Reid” who plays the bodyguard   “Frank Farmer”,  “Rachel John” is “Nicki Marron”(Rachel Marron’s sister) and “Mathew Stathers” is the unknown “Stalker”.  Before I tell you what I thought of “Beverley Knight’s” performance, I’ll talk about the show and the other actors first.  The show itself is fast paced, never giving you a chance to be bored (the story still draws you in).  The sets are dazzling, the dance numbers, spectacular and the music,THE MUSIC  is like listening to “Whitney Houston’s Greatest Hits LIVE”.  As for the actors I liked “Stuart Reid”  playing “Frank Farmer” but at times I felt he could have loosed up a bit with his roll.  “Rachel John” who plays “Nicki Marron”(Rachel Marron’s sister) is a stand out it this show.  Her vocal talent is so good she could have easily been put into the lead roll. As for our mysterious “Stalker” “Matthew Stather” he’s exactly what you expect..weird.cunning and dangerous.

Now for “Beverley Knight” who had the biggest shows to fill.  It’s hard not to want to compare her to Whitney Houston.  If you do then you’ll be happy to know you won’t be disappointed.  She nails it, the roll, the dancing and most important the singing especially when she sings “I Will Always Love You”.  “The Bodyguard The Musical” is the kind of show that has a little bit of everything and a lot of great music….4 out of 5 stars.

“The Bodyguard The Musical” runs until April 9th. for ticket info go to mirvish.com or call 416-872 1212.