Norman Foote brings early Halloween to Morinville

Almost exactly three years ago, iconic family entertainer Norman Foote brought his special brand of craziness and unpredictability to Morinville Community Cultural Centre.

Excited to return to the community-minded Town of Morinville, the Juno Award winning artist launches the centre’s 2016-2017 Kids’ Series on Thursday, Oct. 20.

In an effort to keeping his show fresh, Foote has created Musical Masquerade, a Halloween style mix of music, puppetry and interactive comedy.

“Halloween is the most creative, fun time of year. You dress up in these great costumes. And it’s very community minded. You go door-to-door asking for treats,” said Foote.

The modern-day vaudevillian invited nearly 120 students from Morinville Public School and Ă©cole Notre Dame, dressed in Halloween costumes, to perform with him.

“They will be on the stage and there will lots of interplay between us,” Foote noted. “It’s not just about them singing harmony parts. It’s about them celebrating their music and voice and having fun. There are a lot of music competitions out there. Music is not about competition. It’s about believing in your own voice. ”

That is the voice of experience speaking. A West Coast farm boy, Foote received his first guitar at age 12. Three years later, at the urging of his best friend, they fronted Wood & Foote, a duo that sang during the school lunch hour.

A year after graduation, the 19-year-old Foote hightailed it to New Zealand busking as a folk musician. After a few months, Foote moved his gear to Australia in search of more adventure.

While busking on a street, he was invited to provide backup for a four-month touring puppet show performing throughout South Wales.

By day, the cast fit in as many shows as possible. By night, they bunked at campgrounds. It was a grind, but after the tour, Foote’s musicianship and puppetry apprenticeship set a new bar.

The Vancouver-based entertainer clocks more than 100 shows annually at theatres, festivals and school outreach programs.

After notching two decades as a touring showman, Foote has a strong sense of what works on stage. Case in point is the song titled The Halloween Howl.

“It’s all about sound effects. There’s a monologue that’s been adapted and it goes through a series of sound effects and kids love it.”

And then there’s Always Be Yourself, the song title of his Juno Award winning 10-track.

“It’s amazing how much passion they sing it with.”

Foote is also planning a comedy sketch with impressions from the Sound of Music and Old MacDonald as well as a few fun numbers such Johnny Cut Grandpa’s Wood Too Long and I Love My New Shirt.

Oh, yes and he’s bringing back Rosalita, his life-size, star puppet head.

“I created a puppet head and couldn’t get it to work. So now I invite a member of the audience to come up. They don’t know I’m going to ask them to wear a puppet head. The combination of the element of surprise and them wearing a puppet head always brings the house down.”

Foote has one simple message to give his audience.

“My message is always believe in yourself and stick with it until you’re really proud of it. Amazing things happen when you try your hardest.”