Kings Arts scene - as of Aug. 27

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

Kings County Register

New arts, culture awards

Members of Nova Scotia’s arts and culture community are invited to apply for the first of $45,000 in new awards and scholarships.

Announced at the Creative Nova Scotia Awards Gala and Conference last fall, these new awards were recommended by the Nova Scotia Arts and Culture Partnership Council.

The funding for the new awards will come from a portion of the investment interest on the Nova Scotia Arts Endowment Fund.

Five Established Artist Recognition Awards for $5,000 each, a $10,000 Community Arts and Culture Recognition Award, five $600 Youth Arts Scholarships to disadvantaged children will be awarded; and the Nova Scotia Talent Trust will receive an additional $7,000 to support young artists.

Iinformation on the awards is available at www.gov.ns.ca The deadline for applications is Sept. 17.

Come join

The upcoming season with the Acadia University Chorus is getting underway soon. The choir is designed to encourage singers from the community to join in song with university students and staff.

“We are doing two very exciting major works this year. In the fall, we will be performing Handel’s Messiah, with full orchestra and soloists (chosen by audition from the community and students),” says voice department chairwoman Christianne Rushton.

The spring production will be Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, with accompaniment by the University Wind Ensemble.

“Both of these works are standard and well known in the choral world, and would be a great opportunity for those who love to sing to try out their voices,” says Rushton.

The first rehearsal of the Acadia University Chorus will be Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. in Denton Hall Auditorium.

Willpower plays

Willpower Theatre is hosting two plays this week in Wolfville from Festival Antigonish.

Boeing, Boeing is a farce written by Marc Camelotti, the story of two single men. One of them has three fiancées: each is a flight attendant with regular, two-day layovers in Paris. It works well - until all end up in Paris at the same time.

The other play is a Canadian love story, Molly’s Veil.

They run in repertory until Sunday at the Al Whittle Theatre.

See the pooch

The new play at CentreStage Theatre in Kentville is a delightful comedy about a man and his dog and, oh yeah, his wife.

Sylvia (played by Sharon Churchill) is a stray pooch found by Greg, a man on the verge of male menopause (Brian Smit). Although his wife, Kate, of 20 years (Nancy Henry) puts her foot down about a dog in the house, this guy falls head over heels. No flashy sports car or torrid affair for this middle-aged businessman: just a scruffy little she-dog, full of life. A street-smart mixture of Labrador and poodle, Sylvia becomes a hilarious bone of contention between husband and wife.

Sylvia is back by popular demand after sold out audiences several years ago. Churchill, who plays Sylvia, says, to this day, she is still being referred to as the “girl who played the dog.”

Although a delightful and funny romp, Sylvia may not be suitable for the younger members of the family. Aside from its adult theme, the play is peppered with adult language.

Directed by George Henry, starring Sharon Churchill, Nancy Henry, Brian Smit and Michael L’Oiseau; this is a not-to-be-missed show.

Sylvia runs Friday and Saturday nights from Aug. 31 to Sept. 29, with matinee performances Sept. 2 and 23. Phone 678-8040 to make your reservation.

In Berwick

New Brunswicker (and cousin to Union Street favourite Matt Andersen) Jens Jeppesen combines a bluegrass strum with traditional, country storytelling lyrics.

Now on the Canadian scene after a year of playing at the Rocky Mountain Tavern, Jeppesen has spent a year developing his musical stylings in preparation for his first studio album. At the age of 24, Jens has already traveled the globe, performing in Seoul South Korea for over a year in western pubs and bars. He'll be hosting the Kitchen Party Aug. 31.

Upcoming events include: Sept. 7 - Sheesham and Lotus, 8 p.m.; Sept. 9 - Big Dave McLean and Doc MacLean, 8 p.m.; Sept. 14 - Darrin and Monica Beaton; Sept. 22 - Don Brownrigg; Sept. 28 - Cort Delano; Sept. 29 - Hal Bruce.

At the Verge

August 31, it’s Zumbini Circus at 10 p.m. Tickets are $10/$ 8 advance. The circus is a seven to 10 piece band - depending on the weather - with a mission to push all the boundaries and border crossing they find.

September 7, Caledonia takes the stage at 10 p.m. Tickets are $7/ $5. Caledonia’s new Waiting to Burn independently sold 1,000 copies in its first seven months and has broken the top-20 in college radio stations across Canada.

Season ends

The Ross Creek Centre for the Arts will end its summer season with a down home supper and hootenanny Aug. 31 at 6 p.m.

Centre staff and supporters will gather for a barbecue dinner, and then let their hair down with an all ages ceilidh dance. Dinner is just $5 a person and the dance $10 a person, or $7 for seniors and student.

For information or tickets, contact mail@artscentre.ca or call 528-3842 or 1-888-895-4545.

Plan ahead

September 18 and 19, CentreStage Theatre, in conjunction with the Glooscap Curling Club, will be hosting a dinner theatre. This includes a full dinner along with the play Sylvia by A.R. Gurney. The reception begins at 5:45 p.m. at the Kentville club, followed by the play at 6:45 p.m. and then the dinner. There will also be a silent auction.

Tickets are $50 each, available by calling 678-8040 or by emailing lauracd@ns.sympatico.ca

Coming up

Aug. 28 – Sept. 2

Molly’s Veil/Boeing, Boeing, Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville

August 30

Johnny Cash: Man in Black, Mermaid Theatre’s Imperial Performing Arts Centre, Windsor, 8 p.m.

Until Sept. 2

Sara Hartland-Rowe exhibition, Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, near Canning

Sept. 6-8

God’s Middle Name, Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville

Until Sept. 21

Carol Pye exhibit, Harvest Gallery, Wolfville

Send arts news to welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca