Mixed Tapes from My Mom coming to Steinbach

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This article was published 07/03/2024 (434 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

If you could take a day in your life and set it to music what would it sound like? That is exactly what Cory Wojcik did and now he’s sharing that day with audiences across Manitoba.

As part of the Steinbach Arts Council’s concert series, Mixed Tapes from My Mom features Wojcik as he recounts the best and worst day of his life.

“It was an actual event that happened in my life. It’s the day that my mom died, but there’s also another joyous event that happens on the same day that’s how I came up with it. It’s just something that happened to me. The catalyst for me to do it was finding my mom’s old mixed tapes and finding that way that I could actually tell the story without it being largely depressing. The tapes make it buoyant and nostalgic and universal for everyone,” he said.

The music in the play is mostly classic rock with some country along with an original song by the playwright.

Wojcik’s mix of comedy and drama in the play is balanced. He said he comes from a boisterous family and that he basically relays family stories and stories from his life and his friends’ lives.

“I like to think I have a good sense of humour. So, because it’s a personal account the comedy just comes from my perspective and my slant on things. That’s just my own personal style. I like to keep things upbeat and comical as much as I can. I use comedy in that way to keep things light because I don’t believe life is all serious we have to make sure we have a good time too,” he said.

Wojick has been writing plays for 25 years on and off. This is the first time he’s had one of his plays produced at such a high level. Mixed Tapes was at the Winnipeg Fringe Festival and he has written for Celebrations Dinner Theatre as well as community theatres in Winnipeg. He said he gets ideas for his plays from his life experiences and his personal observations.

Mixed Tapes is on a 21-town tour of Manitoba and the Winnipegger said feedback has been good.

“There’s been a lot of positive responses and the thing that makes it worthwhile is people have been sharing their own personal experiences with me and telling (me) how it’s helping them in some regard. Whether it’s making them feel not so alone or it’s moving them along in their grief process or to bring back a fond memory of someone in their life. These personal encounters are really what makes it worthwhile for me to do it.”

And if there was a mixed tape of a day in the life of Wojcik what three songs would he have on that tape?

“I’d pick a Beatles song, a Tom Waits song, and I’d pick some sort of song that sort of related to my family – Always on My Mind by Elvis. That one really resonates with me and my grandma is a huge fan of Elvis.”

Mixed Tapes from My Mom will show at the Steinbach Regional Secondary School Theatre on March 11 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for students. Tickets can be purchased on the SAC website.