Coquitlam residents can expect a high-energy holiday performance next month as pianists Nico Rhodes and Patrick Courtin bring their new show, Piano Heist: A Very Merry Heistmas, to the Evergreen Cultural Centre. The concert is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 11 at 7 p.m., according to a release.
In the announcement, Evergreen Cultural Centre said the performance will blend Christmas favourites with fast-paced piano duels, comedy, and audience participation. The program includes interpretations of A Charlie Brown Christmas, a rock-influenced Nutcracker Suite, and a ragtime version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Audiences can also expect a comedic take on The Messiah played on melodicas.
The release said the show is designed as a playful and family-friendly event with sing-along segments and moments of improvisation. Rhodes and Courtin have performed together for years and are known for combining classical training with theatrical humour.
According to background information provided by the performers, Rhodes and Courtin created the Piano Heist project in 2022 to highlight the versatility of the piano across genres. Their debut show, Keys are the Champions!, has toured more than 140 times across Canada and the western United States.
The duo’s holiday edition, A Very Merry Heistmas!, brings their signature format to seasonal music as they continue to tour community theatres across the region.
