By Wendy Elliott
See cartoons
An international exhibit of editorial cartoons is making two stops in Kings County. The Freedom of Expression in Broad Strokes exhibit runs until Feb. 10 at the Nova Scotia Community College Kingstec Campus in Kentville and from Feb. 13 to 22 at the Acadia University Athletic Complex in Wolfville.
The travelling exhibit showcases work of editorial cartoonists from around the globe. The work is themed on freedom of expression and freedom of the press. The exhibit is open to the public, free of charge.
Boot Camp
Nova Scotia’s award-winning theatre company Two Planks and a Passion Theatre will be running a special Audition Boot Camp Weekend Feb. 17 to 19 at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts near Canning. This intensive workshop led by professional instructors is designed to assist emerging artists who are either developing materials for theatre school auditions or preparing for professional audition opportunities in the theatre.
For more information on these workshops, visit www.artscentre.ca or call 582-3073.
Learn to write
The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia presents Great Beginnings, a creative writing workshop with Christy Ann Conlin, at the Union Street Café in Berwick.
Great Beginnings takes place on Monday evenings from 7 until 9 p.m., starting Feb. 20 and concluding March 19.
The cost is $120 for federation members and $140 for non-members. For any additional information or to register, write programs@writers.ns.ca <mailto:programs@writers.ns.ca> or call 423-8116. For more information about the federation, including membership rates and benefits, please visit <http://www.writers.ns.ca/> .
AC/DC Tribute Night
A Dirty Deeds Valentines will take place Feb. 10 at Dooley's in New Minas. This event features the band, Dirty Deeds, considered by some to be the No. 1 AC/DC tribute in North America. These guys rocked over 10,000 folks at Apple Blossom and now, two years later, they are ready to bring back the rock to New Minas, but there won't be room for tens of thousands at this event.
Tickets are $12.50 if you buy two, or $15 each in advance, available at Everlasting Ink, Dooley's New Minas, Fanfare, Box of Delights, Mama Sofia's and Moe's Place. Tickets at the door will be $20 each with $5 off if with a food bank donation.
Annual concert
The Acadia Performing Arts Series presents the annual Tom Regan Memorial Concert, Saturday, Feb. 11 at 7:30 p.m. at the Festival Theatre in Wolfville. The concert is named for a former dean of arts who was a great supporter of the Performing Arts Series. The concert showcases the wealth of talent at the Acadia School of Music through performances by School of Music students, faculty, alumni and friends.
The feature piece of the evening will be the Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra by Jorge Sarmientos. The marimbist will be Jeff Kingsbury, winner of the School of Music Concerto Competition, with the Acadia String Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Christoph Both.
Tickets are $26 ($20 students) and are available at the Acadia Box Office 542-8425.
There Goes the Bride
CentreStage Theatre in Kentville is staging the comedy There Goes the Bride. The show is geared towards teens and adults.
The play runs each Friday and Saturday night at 8 p.m. until Feb. 11. To make reservations, phone 678-8040. www.centrestagetheatre.ca.
See Jump
Inspired by John Hughes’ Brat Pack movies from the ‘80s, this original musical is set during one zany semester of high school when the girls from Fairview Academy are forced to attend the boy’s school-George Downing.
The show was written and directed by Kerri Leier, with choreography by Tracy Fritz Nasson, and musical arrangement by Melissa Viditio.
Jump! runs Feb. 8 to 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 11 at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville. Tickets are children 16 and under $10,
adults $12, or $15 at the door or groups of four $45.
You can purchase tickets by calling 697-2515 or emailing jump_musical@hotmail.com.
At the Whittle
Fundy Film screens Café de Flore on Sunday: An unconventional dramatic love story in which two narratives are rhythmically intertwined: the relationships between Antoine, his girlfriend and ex-wife in present-day Montreal, and a devoted single mother and her young son with Down syndrome in Paris, 1969. Music plays a crucial role, weaving together powerful tales of emotion and destiny.
Sunday, Feb. 12: 4 and 7 p.m., Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville.
Tickets ($8) 30 minutes before screening
fundyfilm.ca <http://fundyfilm.ca/> <http://www.facebook.com/fundyfilm> or 542-5157.
Brandt in town
Country singer Paul Brandt will bring his tour to the Valley Tuesday, Feb. 14.
He’ll be appearing at Convocation Hall at 8 p.m., along with the band High Valley.
Tickets are available at the Acadia University box office.
Local band performs
The Chimney Swifts will be giving a concert on Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville. It will start at 8 p.m.
Concert time
Andy Duinker and Donna Rhodenizer will be giving an adult concert on Saturday, Feb. 18 at CentreStage Theatre in Kentville.
Doors will open at 7:15 p.m. for the 8 p.m. concert.
This duo is Juno nominees, ECMA winners and well-loved Valley performers. Their mix of music and stories, wit, charm and top-quality musicianship are just the right recipe for chasing away the winter blues. This performance will highlight songs from their adult recordings Fine Company and Musically Yours. Call 678-8040 to reserve ($20 per person).
Poetic film
Fundy Film screens Urbanized Feb. 15. From the director of Helvetica, this feature-length doc looks at issues and strategies behind urban design. While exploring questions Who is allowed to shape our cities, and how do they do it?, the film also frames a global discussion on the future of cities. It screens
Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 7 p.m.
On Sunday, Fundy Film screens Shi or Poetry: A lyrical film about Mija who enrolls in a poetry class to find perfect words to express her feelings. The onset of Alzheimer’s and a heinous family crime complicate the challenge already posed by creative writing, but through her poetry Mija overcomes the weight of difficult personal struggles. International multi-award winner including two from Cannes and a Palme d’Or nominee.
Sunday, Feb. 19: 4 and 7 p.m., Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville. Tickets ($8) 30 minutes before screening.
www.fundyfilm.ca or 542-5157.
Bye Bye Birdie
Good old-fashioned fun comes to the stage at West Kings District High School Feb. 22 to 25 when students present the 1960s hit musical Bye Bye Birdie.
The show, which created several musical theatre classics including Put on a Happy Face, A Lot of Livin' to Do, and Kids, tells the story of rock ‘n’ roll star, a la Elvis Presley, who is about to inducted into the army. Music and laughter follows when his managers plan one last publicity stunt that takes the star to the small town of Sweet Apple, Ohio.
Show times are nightly at 7:30 p.m. and a 2 p.m. matinee is being held Saturday. Tickets are now on sale and can be purchased in advance by calling 847-4440 or at the door.
Sweet singing
On Feb. 26, the Annapolis Valley Honour Choir will present their annual fundraising concert, Sweets for the Sweet, 2:30 p.m. at the Kentville Fire Hall. It promises to be an afternoon of homemade desserts, coffee and tea and entertainment. In celebration of Black History Month, music dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., and will feature some members of the choir who will share their talents with spoken word and artistic solo performances.
A Dottie Singalong
A family comedy and sing-along for ages eight to 108 will be staged at CentreStage Theatre. Beth Irvine wrote the Kitty Cat production.
KittyCat stars Ashia Penney, Beth Irvine, Bob Cook, Bryen Stoddard, Cassidy Lohnes, Charlotte Embree, Kayla Penney, Ronald Edmunds, Ryan Lindh, and Cherie Zinck.
This show will run one weekend only, Feb. 24 to 26. Friday and Saturday show time is 7 p.m., followed by a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m.
All tickets are $5. Call 678-8040 to reserve seats.
Kittycat will be playing as a special performance in the upstairs theatre at CentreStage Theatre in Kentville.
Hear Tommy
Country and western legend Tommy Hunter will be in Wolfville Saturday, Feb. 25 for his final tour. He performs at Convocation Hall at 2 p.m.
At the galleries
Woods and Water by artist Greg Dickie is on display at the Designer Café in Kentville until March 1.
- The Tours and Jaunts of Dr. Fox will be on display until Feb. 16 at the Gallery Annex in the Acadia University Art Gallery.
- Until March 29 Valley Regional Hospital, Art Gallery featured artist is Beverly Smith.
- Acadia Art Gallery’s non-juried art exhibition features the diverse work of gallery members and celebrates the visual creativity in the community.
The popular exhibition runs until Feb. 16.
- Jack’s Gallery in Wolfville is showing paintings
by Keshena Williams until mid-February.
- Jane Rovers’ work ‘Layered landscapes’ is on display at CentreStage Theatre in Kentville until Feb. 11.
Send arts news to welliott@kingscountynews.ca
