An evening of song, music and courage, Songs of the City came roaring back to life at the Imperial Theatre this month.
After two years of lockdowns and pandemic restrictions, the United Way celebration was a symbol of re-emergence and rebirth for so many in the audience and onstage.
“Those two years did a lot of damage mentally and physically. I fell into one of the darkest places I never wanted to go. I was truly losing control and I myself became like a person I did not want to be,” says one of the onstage storytellers, Lorna Reinhart.
The opportunity to share her story of courage in front of the audience and then be celebrated with a song written just for her and performed live by Jessica Rhaye with Prepper & MacKay was transformative.
“It truly was one of the best experiences I have ever had,” Lorna shared later. “The song was amazing and so very fitting. I would recommend to anyone that if given the chance to take the leap it was very freeing for me.”
Others, from a teen musician to a recovering alcoholic, took to the stage through the evening of June 1 to share their own stories of transformation thanks to the support of United Way-funded organizations.
Local musicians lent their talents to pay tribute to the storytellers through original song and live performances.
The evening drew laughter to tears as the audience learned how powerful the United Way and the organizations we support can be as a catalyst for change for those with the will to make their lives better.
“Every story had that trigger moment where you caught yourself fighting back tears. It was always when someone breaks through whatever challenge was keeping them down. Amazing,” one audience member remarked later. “All the organizations highlighted do such great work. Thank you and well done.”
Look for another inspiring Songs of the City event in 2023!