By Wendy Elliott
Metre and rhythm
On Sunday afternoon Jan. 29, the Valley Chapter of the Nova Scotia Registered Music Teachers held a workshop attended by 60 of their students at Acadia University's Denton Hall.
In a fun way, playing drums, shakers, sticks, tambourines and other percussion instruments, the students learned the concept of metre by sound, feel and script, how rhythms relate to metre, the importance of steady beat in ensemble playing, and how rhythm and metre combine in popular
styles.
After a brief introduction to reading and clapping various rhythms, the students were divided into three groups according to age and skill level, where they composed rhythms in four different metres and practiced them. The groups came back together and played their compositions simultaneously, creating a rhythm orchestra. The rhythm orchestra then accompanied teachers playing some popular piano pieces that many of the students learn. At the end of the afternoon the best compositions were performed for parents. The workshop and the performance achieved high ratings by the participants and their parents.
See cartoons
An international exhibit of editorial cartoons is in Kings County. The Freedom of Expression in Broad Strokes exhibit runs 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, 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 more information or to register, write programs@writers.ns.ca or call 423-8116. For more information about the federation, including membership rates and benefits, visit www.writers.ns.ca .
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 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 flick
Fundy Film screens Urbanized Feb. 15: From the director of Helvetica, this feature-length documentary 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 are $8 and available 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
The Annapolis Valley Honour Choir will present their annual fundraising concert, Sweets for the Sweet, Feb. 26, 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.
Presenting 12 Angry Jurors
A 19-year-old man has just stood trial for the fatal stabbing of his father. When the jury tries to reach a verdict, the strengths and weakness, the biases and attitudes of 12 ordinary people from varied backgrounds are exposed through dramatic conflicts, passions and bitter squabbling. With constant tensions and developments, the audience is kept on the edge of their seats. It's layered like an onion, and the characters are real people, not stereotypes.
CentreStage Theatre presents 12 Angry Jurors, A drama adapted by Sherman Sergel based on the Emmy award-winning TV movie by Reginald Rose. The original 12 Angry Men was a male-biased product of it's times in that all the roles were written for men. 12 Angry Jurors corrects this imbalance be filling half the roles with women, making for a more modern story. The show is most suitable for teens and older.
12 Angry Jurors is directed by Candy O’Brien and stars Paul Abela, Carole Ball, Geoff Ball, Colleen Hagan, Michael Jorgenson, Branaghlee Lane, David Lane, Alan Slipp, Brian Smit, Liz Stern, Richard Stern, Kim Taggart and Cherie Zinck.
12 Angry Jurors runs Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 p.m. from March 3 to 31. There will be two Sunday matinees on March 11 and 25 at 2 p.m. Phone 678-8040 to make reservations.
CentreStage Theatre is located at 61 River St., Kentville. For more information visit www.centrestagetheatre.ca.
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, at the Valley Regional Hospital Art Gallery, the 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.
Send arts news to welliott@kingscountynews.ca
