A young Penticton man who is making a name for himself in Canada’s biggest city as a singer-songwriter, actor and multi-media artist is coming home to lead two workshops later in April.
Lucas Penner, who graduated from Penticton High in 2008, has released two solo albums over the past decade, acted in numerous productions and has recently started an arts program in 2016 called the Dead and Lovely Collective, that brings together musicians, artists, actors and other artists to create multi-media productions in Toronto.
“I always love coming home,” said Penner, in a phone interview from Toronto on Monday.
Penner, 27, will be leading two “arts boot camps” - one for teenagers and one for adults.
The first three-day workshop is designed for teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17. It will be held April 20-22 at the Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre.
The second is open to all artists ages 18 and over and will be held April 27-29 at the Shatford Centre.
The purpose of both workshops is to encourage artists from Penticton and area to create their own original work, be it as writers, dancers, poets, actors or musicians, he said.
“There’s not a lot of encouragement for artists across the Okanagan to create their own work and break out on their own,” he said. “I know there’s a lot of artistic talent in Penticton and around the Okanagan and I want to meet with them and encourage them to create their own work.”
After studying classical voice for one year at the University of Toronto, Penner recently graduated from the theatre program at George Brown College.
His two acoustic-based albums were released in 2009 and 2012 and he continues to write songs with plans to record a third album in the near future.
The Dead and Lovely Collective he’s helped create brings together artists from multiple disciplines and the goal is to create numerous arts projects for a summer festival in 2018, he said.
When he’s not acting or playing music, Penner works as an usher at the U of T Conservatory of Music and as a part-time bike courier.
“But my main focus is always on the arts,” he said. “I’ve got my hands in quite a few things, but working in music and acting and being around artists is my passion.”
During his years at Pen High, Penner was playing in bands, beginning to record his tunes and developing a taste for literature.
He knew he had a passion for theatre, but that didn't surface until he left home and settled in Toronto, he said..
Before leaving for Toronto, Penner studied music theory, classical and music theatre voice, starred in three Soundstage Productions musicals on top of releasing his two originals albums.
He competed in the Kiwanis Music Festival, completed Royal Conservatory of Music exams, performed as a bassist in a cover group and played guitar and sang in a funk band.
Penner said he will share all he has learned in various arts disciplines at the upcoming boot camps.
Each session is limited to 10 participants, who must all be able to commit to every day of their session.
The youth session is $200 and begins Friday, April 20 from 4-7 p.m. and continues Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m.
The adult camp is $230 and runs from Friday, April 27 from 6-9 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 1-4 p.m.
Those interested can access Penner’s Facebook page for info and to sign up at www.facebook.com/lucaspennermusic/
