Frost Manor residents enjoy first live, outdoor entertainment since the pandemic began

Keith Kirkpatrick’s one-man show delivered an engaging performance the residents enjoyed

After a year and a half without live music at Frost Manor, residents were overjoyed when Keith Kirkpatrick brought his one-man show to the Lindsay, Ont. long-term care home for an Aug. 5 outdoor performance.

Keith is a long-standing favourite entertainer among residents, so it was fitting he would be the first live entertainer to perform at an outdoor show since the pandemic began, says Frost Manor life enrichment co-ordinator Amy Whitehead.

“He had reached out to us and I thought he would be a great (performer) to try our outdoor entertainment with,” she tells The OMNIway.

To keep everyone safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, Keith performed from the Frost Manor parking lot while residents sat socially distanced on the patio.

Keith performed two 45-minute sets for separate groups of residents in order to keep the gathering small. He had a microphone and speakers so everyone could hear, Amy notes.

The show was all residents had hoped it would be, Amy says, adding Keith always plays the songs residents want to hear.

“Keith has a really good mix (of music), and he tailors his act to the crowd,” she says. “We have residents who love Elvis, so he threw some Elvis in there, and we have residents who love Charley Pride, so he did some Charley Pride songs.”

Keith is also an engaging performer, Amy says. He has a large repertoire of songs, and he always tries to keep the music upbeat and will play numbers residents recognize so they can sing along, she says.

“He does a good mix of everything and he knows what the residents like.”

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