Arts Scene

BY WENDY ELLIOTT

welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca

NovaNewsNow.com

Grease at Horton

The popular musical Grease is going onstage at Horton High School this weekend. Not surprisingly it’s being produced by several other high schools in Nova Scotia this year, says producer Don Coates.

Horton has a tradition that goes back about five decades of first-rate musicals.

This one stars Shannon Coates as Sandy and Erich Burton as Danny, along with experienced supporting performers like Tess Etienne and Sonja Marinkovic.

“Horton has never done Grease before,” notes Coates. “We’re trying to alternate contemporary musicals, like Once on this Island, and musicals that have stood the test of time, like Fiddler on the Roof. Grease fits in perfectly.”

There are over 50 students in the cast. The crew includes Josh Butcher and Angeline St. Amour.

Chloe Ferguson, who spent last summer taking a course at the Parsons School of Design in New York, is putting her research project on 1950s clothing to good work.

Music teacher Maggie Helms will lead an eight-piece band and plans to play tenor sax herself. Director is drama teacher Rod Murray. Olivia Frampton is tackling design for what will be three musicals this year.

Grease runs over two weekends: March 29–30 and April 3–4. Show time is 7 p.m., except for the March 30 matinee at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 students and seniors.

Violin students perform

The Suzuki Violin group will hold a free concert at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Belcher Street, Kentville March 29 at 7 p.m. Special performances are anticipated from Katie Gordon, Clara Hodder, Ben Potvin and well-known pianist Lucas Porter.

Last in series

The Acadia Performing Arts Series will present the finale of this year’s series with Edo-King Matwawana and Afro-Musica March 29 at 8 p.m. at the Festival Theatre in Wolfville. The 2008/09 series will also be announced at this performance.

A celebration of multiculturalism and creativity, Afro-Musica has delighted audiences since 1992. The Halifax-based Afro-pop band, founded by Edo-King Matwawana, showcases the cultural diversity of the African continent in music and dance.

Afro-Musica is comprised of seasoned, talented musicians from around the world: Peter Drakes from Guyana on rhythm guitar; Leo Grouse from Halifax on bass guitar; Jerome Thomas from Antigua on drums; Elidjo Mpati from Congo on lead guitar and keyboards; and the always-dynamic horn and percussion section’s Sean Webber, Jody Lynn and Martha Kelly. The band also features two dynamic dancers: Maggie Sweenie from Sudan and Hylia Katjinjotjimue, dancing in the traditional East African style.

Edo-King is the visionary, lead vocalist, instrumentalist, songwriter and arranger. Born in the Kingdom of Kongo (Northern Angola) and raised in Southern Congo, Edo-King has presented Afro-Musica to an ever-increasing audience.

Tickets are $26, $17 (students) and are available at the Acadia Box Office at 542-5500 or 1-800-542-TICK (8425) and at the door. Any remaining tickets will be available at 7 p.m. March 29 for half price (adults) and only $10 for students.

Country Hall of Fame

The extraordinary general membership meeting for the N.S. Country Music Hall of Fame has been rescheduled for April 5 at 11 a.m.

The meeting is set for the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 74, 310 Main Street, Wolfville.

Concert coming

The Kings Community Concert Band with special guests Scotia Brass will present Show Time next month.

Music from the movies and Broadway will fill the program for the concert at the Wolfville United Baptist Church April 7 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.

Talk reset

The Authors @ Acadia series has rescheduled Ian Storey’s talk on “C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien: Sub-Creation and Imagination”. It will take place at the Beveridge Arts Centre, Room 141, Friday, March 28 at 4 p.m. Storey’s earlier engagement was cancelled because of weather-related travel disruptions.

He is professor of classics and ancient history and Principal of Otonabee College, Trent University, Ontario. He’s the author of A Guide to Ancient Drama (2005), and Eupolis: Poet of Old Comedy (2003). One of his current research interests is the life and fiction of C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia.



Music @ Acadia

The Singing Theatre Production Ensemble will present Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado this weekend.

Directed by Mary Lou Martin and Tara Scott, it will go onstage Saturday, March 29 at 8 p.m. in Denton Hall.

Then, on Thursday, April 3 the Acadia Jazz Ensemble, directed by Mark Adam, will perform at 8 p.m. in Denton Hall.

Anniversary show

Come help CentreStage celebrate its 25th season. On Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29, Kentville’s community theatre will host Songs and Snippets featuring music and sketches from various shows produced during the first 25 seasons.

Don’t miss performances by former and current CentreStage stars such as Diana Bishop, Allen Hume, Chérie Zinck, Gertrude Bishop, Sharon Churchill, Fiona and Brian MacInnins, Donna Holmes, Angie Campbell and Gerry Morine.

The songs will be from such musicals as the Sound of Music, Nunsense, Oklahoma, Annie, Oliver, and Guys and Dolls.

The evening will begin at 6:45 p.m. with a cash bar and finger foods. Tickets are $25 and available by calling 678-8040; from any board member; from Camera Corner in New Minas; and Chisholm’s in Kentville.

Guitar recitals

A fine young guitarist, Emma Rush, who performed in the Acadia Guitar Festival two years ago, will be on hand Thursday, March 27. Tickets are $10.

Mitch Burke will perform his graduation recital Friday, April 11 at 8 p.m. in the chapel, while Ross Chaisson will present a recital Wednesday, April 16. Finally, Matt Martin will offer his graduation recital Friday, April 18.

All concerts are at 8 p.m. in the Manning Chapel, Acadia University.

On screen

Fundy Film wraps up its Winter Doc Series with Trains of Winnipeg, a visually opulent, almost hypnotic work, made up of 14 film poems. It will be on the screen at the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville Wednesday, March 26 at 7 p.m.

Coming up

Until March 28

Acadia Art Show, Beveridge Arts Centre, Wolfville