Marie Gogo - Toronto Seniors Entertainer

A Couple Of Videos

I have some dresses/costumes for sale or trade at the following link.
mariegogo.com/index.php

Check out the new video of Marie Gogo and Don Guinn doing a couple of performance at The Queen's Avenue Retirement Home in Oakville."Besame Mucho", "La Cucaracha" and "The Mexican Hat Dance" for "Cinco De Mayo" and "You're Just In Love" for "The Academy Rewards Show". They're kinda fun. Thanks to Dan Beaman and Queen's Avenue Retirement Residence for the Videos

An Idea For Recreation Directors!
Have us entertain your seniors every month!
 
Marie and Don have enough theme shows to visit you ONCE A MONTH with a different theme, different songs and different costumes each time!
 
"We really like going to the same audience often because we get to know the residents a little bit and they get to know us. It makes it more fun for all of us. We get a rapport going and when we come to visit often, there is a level of comfort between us that's not there with an audience we hardly ever see." - Marie Gogo
 

Satisfied Customer -   Fiftieth Anniversary Party 

"Thanks again for a wonderful evening of entertainment, my mom sang along pretty much every song with you!"
June Towler (Fiftieth Anniversary Party for parents)
 
Compliments from LTC resident's family member.
Hi Marie
 
I just wanted to thank you and Don very much for the music and happiness you bring to the residents at Ballycliffe LTC. My brother Mike has lived there since last Sept. I brought him to the Christmas show, your afternoon of Robbie Burns music and then again yesterday to the Valentine's performance - your songs, enthusiasm and warm touch really lift him up. I can see that many of the other residents are also affected by the good cheer you and Don bring.
 
I did speak briefly with Don before the show, but please mention to him that his talent on the piano is really impressive both as an accompanist and soloist in his own right.
 
Thanks again Marie - hope to see you both in the future.
Peter (Oshawa)  
 

Here's where you can find entertainment for audiences 55+ in Toronto and surrounding area.

Marie Gogo is an entertaining singer who is known to many audiences as "The Lady with the Hats" or "The Lady who plays the Saw".
 
Her repertoire consists of a variety of popular and jazz standards, show tunes, sing-a-long songs and novelty numbers such as songs that were sung by Marlene Dietrich, Mae West, Gracie Fields and Fats Waller.

Sometimes she throws in a dance or a tune on the ukulele or the musical saw!  Shows are specifically tailored for seniors.
 
The funny and talented, Don Guinn accompanies Marie as a pianist and humorist. Together, with their warmth and humour, they engage the audience in a show that feels more like a visit than a concert.
 
Together, Don and Marie perform in appropriate costumes for each theme and Marie will often have costumes changes in her shows as well for a little more excitment and variety.
 
Marie and Don are available for to perform afternoon or evenings.

What Happens at a Marie Gogo and Don Guinn Show?

Don and Marie like to arrive an hour before the starting time to do a performance together. While they're setting up the sound system, props table and dressing room they like to talk with the early birds, resident or club members and staff. (If this is a new venue for them, this chatting and joking around gives them a chance to, in essence, warm up some of the crowd ahead of time. It allows for a degree of comfort that might not exist between and audience and new entertainers. Once relationships have begun between the performers and the audience members, a comfort level starts to grow and the some of the audience members will be more likely to laugh and sing along and interact during the show.) They also do a sound check to assure that the music will never be too loud.

The show begins. Don plays a theme tune for Marie's entrance and Marie will enter wearing a costume, usually a pretty dress, that is appropriate to the theme of the show they are presenting. They will perform approximately eight songs with some humour and dialoque interspersed, while Marie will often change her hat or make use of a prop or instrument that has been placed on the table.

While Marie goes to the dressing room to change into a different dress, Don's piano solo entertains the audience while giving them a chance to talk amongst themselves for a couple of minutes.

Marie returns, looking charming in a vintage outfit and the two performers do another eight or so songs with dialogue and humour.  They thanks everyone and end the show. Don and Marie take their time packing up so that they may chat with audience members who stick around to talk. Unless they have to dash off to another gig, the duo loves to continue to converse with the people remaining.

And that's about it. Another satisfied audience and two satisfied performers are left with smiles on their faces

 

Concert Announcements - Open To The Public

Free Noon Hour Concerts in the lobby of the Princess Margaret Hospital,
Ontario Cancer Institute, 610 University Ave.

Wednesday  February 29/12 12-1 Marie Gogo and Don Guinn

Wednesday July 11/12 12-1 Marie Gogo and Don Guinn

Wednesday September 12/12 12-1 Marie Gogo and Don Guinn

Free Concert
Scarborough Civic Centre - 159 Borough Dr. Scarborough, ON
Sunday February 26/12 2-4 p.m. Hollywood Music theme as a tribute to The Oscars
Marie Gogo and Bathtub Gin - Don Guinn, Ron Johnston and Cam Jobson

 

 

Theme Planning for 2011 and 2012*

Themes Left For The End Of 2011

NOVEMBER 2011
Fifties and Sixties Sock Hop Show - first week
Rememberance Day - Women of World War Two Part Two - On and around Nov. 11
New fun theme - Sadie Hawkins Day - On and around Nov. 15 ’til end of Nov.

DECEMBER 2011
Christmas all month
Chanukah - starts Dec. 21
Christmukah - (a combination of the two) 

*Nothing is written in stone. Marie reserves the right to change the themes whenever nessesary.

2012 Marie and Don are trying to stick to two basic themes per month. The following is the list Marie is planning so far. Your input is encouraged especially in September and November.

JANUARY 2012
Tropical Winter Show
Robbie Burns Show

FEBRUARY 2012
(Tropical Winter Show CONTINUES)
Valentine's Day
Hollywood Show - On and around the Oscars - Feb. 26 -
In a black and white dress, Marie pays tribute to B & W film and stars then in a matching coloured dress,
Marie switches to colour film tributes.

MARCH 2012
(Hollywood Show CONTINUES)
(Tropical Winter Show CONTINUES depending on interest)
St. Patrick's Day Show - on and around Mar. 17
Spring Show (Girl Singers of the Golden Eras theme) - could start near Mar. 21 depending on interest

APRIL 2012
Spring Show

MAY 2012
(Spring Show CONTINUES)
Cinco Da Mayo - on and around May 5
Victoria Day Show - Blimey! It's The British Bash! - On and around May 21

JUNE 2012
Farewell To Spring (spring show CONTINUES)
Strawberry Social - starts around mid June
Hawaiian Holiday - on and around June 20
Summer Fun Show - could start around June 21, depending on interest

JULY 2012
Summer Fun Show

AUGUST 2012
New fun theme - Pinup Girls Show
(Summer Fun Show CONTINUES)

SEPTEMBER 2012
(Pinup Girls Show CONTINUES)
(Summer Fun Show CONTINUES depending on interest)
Around September 21- Country and Western Classics with Autumn songs

OCTOBER 2012
(Country and Western Classics with Autumn songs CONTINUES)
Oktoberfest
Halloween - one of our most popular themes. Book early! I'm serious!

NOVEMBER 2012(still have to solidify themes)
Roaring Twenties Show - on and around Nov. 7
Rememberance Day - depending on interest
(Country and Western Classics with Autumn songs CONTINUES depending on interest)

DECEMBER 2012
Chanukah - Dec. 8-16 - depending on interest
Christmakah - Dec. 8-16 - depending on interest
Christmas - all month

FLOATING THEME - depending on interest
Fifties and Sixties Sock Hop Show

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References

Angie Matthews (Shelburne, Ontario) Dufferin Oaks Home for Seniors (519) 925-2140
Brittany Russell (Mississauga, Ontario) Erin Mills Lodge (905) 823-6700
Sonia Stubbings (Mississauga, Ontario) Chartwell Classic Robert Speck (905) 501-9922

Marie Gogo and Don Guinn are among the five top most liked entertainers at Chartwell Classic Robert Speck. - They're interactive. (Sept. 2011)

"When Marie & Don are going to be entertaining at our facility, the entertainment is one less thing I need to worry about.  Our Residents look forward to the program and always leave satisfied."
Kate Pelton, Programs and Support Services Manager, Chartwell Seniors Housing REIT | Ballycliffe Lodge, Ajax, Ontario.


The LA Times Raves “Marie Gogo is a hit”

New York Today says “If you see any show this year Go see Gogo”
 
TMZ reports “Not only can Gogo sing, but she’s funny, too”
 
Chicago Tribune calls Gogo “The must see comedy act of this generation”
 
 “If you want quality seniors’ entertainment that your residents will love, I highly recommend Marie Gogo. She puts on a different show every time she comes and my residents just love her”
 
Dan Beaman - Activities Coordinator Queens Avenue Retirement Residence