A mild-mannered high school English teacher by day, Kevin Doe鈥檚 nighttime alter-ego is none other than 鈥� what else? 鈥� a rock star.
The Toronto native landed a part earlier this year in the North American production of We Will Rock You, featuring the music of Queen; a production seen in one form or another by audiences around the world for over a decade.
After 75 shows in over 50 cities in the U.S., the production is on a Canadian swing with a scheduled stop at the South Okanagan Events Centre on Jan. 3.
鈥淚鈥檝e never done a tour like this before. We鈥檝e seen a lot of America 鈥� I鈥檓 very familiar with grits now 鈥� and we鈥檝e seen a lot of different audiences but we leave every show beaming from ear to ear,鈥� said Doe. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty empowering to see a cross-generational audience enjoy this music and enjoy the show, dancing and singing along with us.
鈥淓specially when you have kids that are six or seven dancing and grandparents with walkers or in wheelchairs on the floor as well.鈥�
He recalled hearing his students 鈥渇reaked out鈥� when they read in the Toronto Star about their teacher鈥檚 role in the production.
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Doe plays the part of Buddy, based loosely on legendary rock and roller Buddy Holly, who spends much of his time trying to figure out exactly when it was the music died.
鈥淲e鈥檙e in a post-apocalyptic world and he (Buddy) is the leader of the Bohemians. He meets the two main characters, Galileo and Scaramouche, and he helps lead them to their final destinations of making music come back to this fictional world,鈥� said Doe. 鈥淚t鈥檚 quite relevant to today鈥檚 society and how youth and young people are stepping up and trying to make a better world for themselves and others. I think it鈥檚 a relevant message to what鈥檚 happening in our world today.鈥�
Doe called it an interesting show and a funny concept, especially as his character is the comic relief.
鈥淚鈥檝e got the best job on stage I think,鈥� said Doe.
Getting the part came at a critical point in his working life, having had his full-time teaching contract cut in half just shortly before.
鈥淚 made the decision to tour the world and come back to teaching when things have kind of settled down here,鈥� said Doe, who, along with his parents, is a Queen fan. 鈥淕etting the news that I鈥檇 been chosen, it was overwhelming, it was exciting. I had a large-scale contract, I had an exciting reason to work.鈥�
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He admits the schedule can be gruelling at times, recalling one time in the U.S., when the all-Canadian troupe did eights shows in eight cities in eight days.
鈥淲e usually get to the city at seven in the morning in our very cool rock star buses and have a little bit of time to explore and see what the vibe is and do the show and get back on the buses at three in the morning. But it鈥檚 a lot of fun,鈥� said Doe. 鈥淲e鈥檙e (the cast) close alright. I can probably give you the coffee orders of every one of my cast.鈥�
And about what Penticton residents can expect to see when We Will Rock You comes to town, he said: 鈥淭hey are going to see a rock show, they鈥檙e going to see a comedy show. I think they鈥檒l be pleasantly surprised, we鈥檙e not doing just a concert, it鈥檚 a full show, very cool costumes and the set is incredible.鈥�
Tickets for the show are available in person at the Valley First Box Office at the SOEC, by phone at 1-877-763-2849 or online at www.ValleyFirstTix.com
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