2018/19 CentreStage Issue 1

CIRQUE LE ROUX from Paris to Niagara

DOWNTOWN ST. CATHARINES

FA L L H OT T I C K E T S 2 0 1 8

centre stage

On 30 July 2018, Niagara philanthropists Joe and Anita Robertson, and their daughter Laura, died tragically in a plane crash.

The community at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre is forever grateful for their sincere commitment to the betterment of Niagara.

The Robertsons will be deeply missed.

Thank You

DONORS AND SPONSORS SET THE STAGE “I’m so proud of the community for standing behind this unique and ambitious project. I’d like to thank our generous donors for their vision, partnerships and commitment to enriching lives through the arts.”

- Peter Partridge, Campaign Chair

SPECIAL THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING CAPITAL DONORS FirstOntario Credit Union Peter & Janet Partridge The Cairns Family Joe & Anita Robertson Algoma Central Corporation John and June Mann John and Harriet Lehnen COGECO Joy Williams

RBC Foundation Marian Gordon-Kendall The John Muratori Family Virginia Atkin and Keith Ambachtsheer Ineke Brinkman Art and Val Fleming Wynne Nicholson Christopher J. Slater

THANK YOU TO OUR COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN DONORS WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED $10,000 OR MORE TO OUR FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES. We would like to acknowledge The City of St. Catharines Mayor, City Council and staff (past and present), the Niagara Centre for the Arts Task Force, PAC User Group and the citizens of St. Catharines-Niagara, Brock University President, faculty and staff; Infrastructure Canada and the Province of Ontario for project funding support; and The Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Arts Presentation Fund), the Ontario Arts Council (Ontario Dances and Theatre Connects) for their support of our season programming.

Land Acknowledgment The FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre acknowledges that we are gathered on the shared traditional lands of the Indigenous Peoples of Turtle Island.

Long before today, there has always been Indigenous Peoples who are the original stewards of this land. We are grateful for the opportunity to live, work and play here.

We offer our thanks and honour all the generations of Peoples before us who have survived and thrived here since time immemorial.

This land continues to serve as a meeting place and crossroads for Peoples of many Nations.

Our recognition of the contributions and importance of Indigenous Peoples is part of our collective commitment to make Truth and Reconciliation real in our community as we strive for a harmonious, shared future.

Why do we acknowledge land?

Land acknowledgment is a way to promote an awareness of Indigenous presence and land rights in everyday life and to recognize the history of colonialism and a need for change in settler colonial societies.

Map provided by native-land.ca

NIAGARA

CULTURE OPEN HOUSE SUN 3O SEPT 11AM - 4PM

COME FOR THE CULTURE. STAY FOR THE CAKE!

FREE

EVENTS FREE ACTIVITIES FULL SCHEDULE AT FIRSTONTARIOPAC.CA

CELEBRATE OUR rd

3 BIRTHDAY WITH US!

N CAKE + COMMUNITY PHOTO OP @ NOO

Part of St. Catharines Culture Days stcatharines.ca/culturedays

@StCathCulture

StCathCulture

Fall +W inter E V E N T S

Brock University Music@Noon Gordon Cleland (cello) TUES 16 OCT 12PM

Rob Golfi RE/MAX Escarpment the Golfi Team

Confession Sessions FRI 21 SEPT 7PM

Progressive Concert Productions

Tribute to Grease FRI 21 SEPT 7:30PM

John Stinson Productions

A HOT TICKET presentation

The Jim Cuddy Band

WED 3 – THU 4 OCT 7:30PM A HOT TICKET presentation

Classic Lightfoot Live

Fortunate Ones

SAT 22 SEPT 7:30PM

TUE 16 OCT 7:30PM

Niagara Symphony Orchestra

A River Runs Through It SUN 23 SEPT 2:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

Blood Lightning

By Essential Collective Theatre THU 4 – FRI 12 OCT Progressive Concert Productions

Jersey Nights A HOT TICKET presentation Hear! Here! Niagara Music Series

SAT 6 OCT 7:30PM

with Harrison Kennedy & The Drumming Fools SUN 23 SEPT 4PM

The Ultimate Neil Diamond Experience

Mark Lalama Trio

A HOT TICKET presentation

Gord’s Legacy

THU 18 OCT 7:30PM

VaughnCo Entertainment WED 10 OCT 7:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

Peter Pan

By Carousel Players FRI 19 – SAT 20 OCT Live Is All You Need Inc. A HOT TICKET presentation

Gino Vannelli

WED 26 SEPT 7:30PM MEDIPAC and The CSA

Snowbird Lifestyle Presentations FRI 28 SEPT 7PM

Anisha Rhemtulla

A HOT TICKET presentation

SAT 20 OCT 8PM

The Hope Center Fundraiser

Niagara Symphony Orchestra Spooktacular 2.0 SUN 21 OCT 2:30PM

THU 11 OCT 7:30PM

Show Stoppers SAT 13 OCT 8PM

Niagara Symphony Orchestra

Sinatra with Matt Dusk SAT 13 – SUN 14 OCT

Mwanza Ki Rajkumari

A HOT TICKET presentation

SAT 29 SEPT 8PM

Lúnasa

SUN 21 OCT 4 PM

Brock University Music@Noon Patricia Dydnansky (flute) TUE 2 OCT 12PM CBC Radio

The Debaters with Steve Patterson TUE 2 OCT 7:30PM

ONES - Beatles #1 Hits

Serena Ryder

Invictus Entertainment Group

Brett Kissel A HOT TICKET presentation Hear! Here! Niagara Music Series

Mark Lalama Trio

with Dala & Alistair Robertson SUN 14 OCT 4PM

MON 22 OCT 7:30PM Brock University Music@Noon Zoltan Kalman (clarinet) and Gary Forbes (piano) TUE 23 OCT 12PM

Niagara Symphony Orchestra

Chorus Niagara

SUN 28 OCT 2:30PM

SAT 10 NOV 7:30PM

Passages

Ein Deutsches Requiem

Brock University Music@Noon Piano, Vocal & Instrument Students

TUE 30 OCT 12PM

A HOT TICKET presentation A HOT TICKET presentation

A HOT TICKET presentation

By Twitches & Itches Theatre THU 1 – SAT 3 NOV

WED 14 NOV 7:30PM

September Songs

James Mullinger

Irish Mythen & Christine Fellows SAT 24 NOV 7:30PM

Niagara Symphony Orchestra

She’s Back!

SUN 25 NOV 2:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation Added HOT TICKET presentation

Dean Brody

THU 1 NOV 7:30PM

Cottagers and Indians

By Tarragon Theatre THU 15 – SAT 17 NOV

Brock University Encore!

David Jalbert (piano) FRI 16 NOV 7:30 PM

with Luke McMaster & Christine Bougie SUN 25 NOV 4PM

Instrumental students

Anandi Bhattacharya

ASLCN & The Deaf Culture Centre Martha’s Vineyard: An Epic in ASL SAT 3 NOV 7PM

Mark Lalama Trio

Brock University Music@Noon

A HOT TICKET presentation FRI 2 NOV 7:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation Hear! Here! Niagara Music Series

TUE 27 NOV 12PM A HOT TICKET presentation

Classic Albums Live Supertramp SAT 17 NOV 7:30PM

Bravo Niagara!

Voices of Freedom SAT 3 NOV 7:30PM

VaughnCo Entertainment

Rumours

SUN 4 NOV 8PM Gallery Players

Shantero Production Liona Boyd SUN 18 NOV 7:30PM Brock University Music@Noon Voice, Guitar & Piano Students TUE 20 NOV 12PM

Songs of Life

SUN 4 NOV 2PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

Royal Wood with Elise LeGrow WED 28 NOV 7:30PM Brock University

The University String Orchestra

Brock University Music@Noon Tim Phelan (guitar) TUE 6 NOV 12PM

WED 28 NOV 7:30PM A HOT TICKET presentation

Trace A HOT TICKET presentation

By Red Sky Performance WED 21 NOV 7:30PM

The Elephant in the Room

By Cirque Le Roux WED 7 NOV 7:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

Choir! Choir! Choir!

FRI 30 NOV 8PM A HOT TICKET presentation

Added HOT TICKET presentation

FRI 9 NOV 8PM

Fri 23 NOV 8PM

Shad

A Tribe Called Red

Brock University Viva Voce! Choral Series

Brock University Choirs SAT 1 DEC 7:30PM

Niagara Conservatory of Music

Chorus Niagara

SUN 2 DEC 3PM

SAT 15 DEC 7:30PM

Christmas Concert

Messiah

Brock University Music@Noon

Niagara Symphony Orchestra

TUE 4 DEC 12PM

SUN 16 DEC 2:30PM

Piano students

Brock University Instrumental Ensembles

The University Wind Ensemble

Eyes of a Child

Paquette Productions

Elvis, a Christmas Special

With Pete Paquette and Guests SUN 16 DEC 7:30PM

TUE 4 DEC 7:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

Outerbridge Clockwork Mysteries SAT 29 DEC 1 + 4PM

Canadian Bandurist Capella

Woman’s Bandura Ensemble of North America Christmas Concert

Wellspring Niagara

The Mantini Sisters: Concert for Wellspring Niagara

SAT 29 DEC 6PM

THU 6 DEC 7:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

John McDermott

MON 17 DEC 7:30PM A HOT TICKET presentation Man By Sølvi Edvardsen

A HOT TICKET presentation

Thunderbird’s Transformation, Part Two

A Very Electric Christmas

By Lightwire Theater FRI 7 DEC 6:30PM

Niagara Symphony Orchestra

By Brian Solomon TUE 15 JAN 8PM

Under The Mistletoe

A HOT TICKET presentation

Yellow Door Theatre Company

By Ballet Jorgen Canada WED 19 DEC 7PM

SAT 8 – SUN 9 DEC

The Nutcracker

Robin Hood

SUN 12 – SUN 23 DEC

A HOT TICKET presentation

I Mother Earth & Finger Eleven THU 17 JAN 7:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation A HOT TICKET presentation

A Holiday Cabaret

By Suitcase in Point SAT 8 DEC 7 + 9:30PM

The Music of a Charlie Brown Christmas with TD Jazz Festival

A HOT TICKET presentation

FRI 21 DEC 7PM

Lighthouse

Melissa-Marie Shriner

Niagara Symphony Orchestra

Sings The Songs of Christmas SAT 22 DEC 7:30PM

FRI 18 JAN 7:30PM

Happy Birthday Wolfgang SAT 19 JAN - SUN 20 JAN

A HOT TICKET presentation

Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy TUE 11 – WED 12 DEC Shantero Productions

A HOT TICKET presentation

THU 13 DEC 7:30PM

THU 27 DEC 7PM

Lunch at Allen’s

Sing-a-long Grease

A HOT TICKET presentation Hear! Here! Niagara Music Series

Mark Lalama Trio with Susan Aglukark SUN 20 JAN 4PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

Canadian Jazz All-Stars WED 23 JAN 7:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

A HOT TICKET presentation

WED 6 FEB 7:30PM

THU 14 FEB 7:30PM

Rumble: The Concert

Holly Cole

A HOT TICKET presentation

Alicia Svigals A HOT TICKET presentation

The Yellow Ticket THU 7 FEB 7:30PM

By Michelle Thrush THU 24 - SAT 26 JAN

Brock University Encore!

Brock University Encore!

FRI 8 FEB 7:30 PM

Inner Elder

Libre with Amanda Martinez

A HOT TICKET presentation

Emily Brown and the Thing

By Tall Stories of England MON 18 FEB 9:30AM + 11:30AM

Torq Percussion Quartet FRI 25 JAN 7:30 PM

A HOT TICKET presentation A HOT TICKET presentation

Classic Albums Live Pink Floyd SAT 26 JAN 7:30PM

Things My Fore-Sisters Saw

By Leslie McCurdy SAT 9 FEB 2PM

Musical Event Solutions

Legends Of Motown SAT 9 FEB 7:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

Pete The Cat

By Theatreworks USA MON 18 FEB 1:30PM Niagara Symphony Orchestra

Women Rock!

SAT 23 - SUN 24 FEB

A HOT TICKET presentation

Djuki Mala

WED 30 JAN 7:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

Toronto Mass Choir & Ben Heppner SUN 10 FEB 4PM

A HOT TICKET presentation Hear! Here! Niagara Music Series

Mark Lalama Trio with Sarah Slean SUN 24 FEB 4PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

Choir! Choir! Choir!

FRI 1 FEB 8PM

Niagara Symphony Orchestra

Game On!

SUN 3 FEB 2:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

This Is The Point

By Ahuri Theatre THU 14 - SAT 16 FEB

A HOT TICKET presentation

Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba Made In Cuba WED 27 FEB 7:30PM

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Westc heare For those arriving by car, there than 1,000 spots available in nearby parking stermore Cresce nt garages, surface lots and on city streets within a five-minute walk to the FirstOntario PAC. Metered parking on the streets surrounding the venue is available at a rate of McGuire Street $1.50 per hour, with a three-hour max limit, between 9am to 6pm. After 6pm during the week and all day on Saturday and Sunday downtown meter parking, garages and nearby municipal surface lots are free of charge.

The exception being when a special event parking flat fee of $5 cash at municipal surface lots and parking garages is in effect when large events are happening at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and/or Meridian Centre. Special event parking is cash only and is paid upon arrival at the entrance of the parking garage or municipal surface lot.

We highly recommend arriving up to an hour before show time to ensure time to park.

Visit StCatharines.ca/Parking for a complete list of parking locations.

Due to proximity and accessibility, we recommend the multi-tiered covered Garden Park / Carlisle Street Garage across from FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre. The public entrance for vehicles is off of the street Garden Park. It is conveniently within a two-minute walk and has 595 spaces and 26 accessible spaces. The garage features accessible parking on every level, but the third level is also free of curbs, providing easy access to elevators that take you to street level on Carlisle Street.

Accessible curbed ramp drop-off points are available in front of the Box Office entrance at 250 St. Paul Street as well as along Carlisle Street by the front doors closest to Partridge Hall.

For those arriving by public transit we are located kitty-corner from St. Catharines’ main bus terminal, which is only a two-minute walk to the venue.

For accessibility, audience and privacy policies please visit FirstOntarioPAC.ca/Online/Article/Policies

How to Book your Hot Tickets Online FirstOntarioPAC.ca

By Phone 905-688-0722

By Email BoxOffice@FirstOntarioPAC.ca In Person 250 St. Paul Street / Downtown St. Catharines, ON, L2R 3M2 Box Office Coordinates (43.158683, -79.242778) BOX OFFICE HOURS Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm Saturday, 10am to 2pm Summer and holiday hours may vary.

Outside of regular hours, the Box Office will open one hour prior to showtime or 30 minutes prior to films.

Gift

Certifi cates AVAIL ABLE

!

STUDENT TICKETS College / University - $25 tickets*, with valid ID High School - $5 eyeGO tickets*, with valid ID Proud partner of eyeGO to the Arts! * Limited discounted tickets available as of 28 August at 10am.

THE FINE PRINT • Accessible seating and assistive hearing devices are available.

• Tickets are non-refundable.

• Members can exchange shows or seats for FREE. A $5 fee applies for non-members.

• A ticket is required for every person, regardless of age.

• Each ticket price includes a $3.00 Capital Improvement Fee. • Additional handling fees may apply. Contact us for details.

BE GREEN Visit FirstOntarioPAC.ca to order your tickets online. We encourage you to print your tickets at home or send to your mobile device.

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU Email PACfeedback@stcatharines.ca

@FirstOntPAC

#FirstOntPAC

2018/19

hot ticket season ALL SHOWS ON SALE TO THE PUBLIC NOW!

Become a HOT TICKET Member BE THE FIRST TO KNOW BE THE FIRST TO GET TICKETS It’s never too late to JOIN THE PAC Hot Ticket Season Membership Benefits • • • • • • • • • •

Save up to 20% off regular ticket prices.

Bring your friends for free to selected events.

Order season tickets prior to the general public.

Order tickets to added shows prior to the general public.

Purchase up to 10 discounted tickets per show.

Invitations to exclusive events.

Convenient season order payment plan.* Complimentary ticket exchanges.* Discounts at partnering establishments.

NEW! Receive four free passes to any screening in The Film House!

$ 120 +HST

One membership per household.

Membership valid for one season (1 June - 31 May). *Some restrictions may apply.

Be part of a community that supports our aim to bring exceptional performing arts experiences to Niagara!

WELCOME Our vision is that our community values and actively participates in the performing arts.

WHY WE PRESENT Each season, I work closely with my team to program a variety of the best contemporary music, theatre, dance, family entertainment, film and interdisciplinary performances for our audiences. We see a lot of shows and do a lot of research to bring the best local, national and international acts to our home in the heart of downtown St. Catharines.

OUR HOT TICKETS We've chosen performances with care to ensure there are diverse options for our community to enjoy. We call them HOT TICKETS! When you see 'HOT TICKET' on a show, you’ll know that we programmed it for you with our guarantee of a high quality arts experience.

REACHING OUT We are proud to bring value-added programming to the FirstOntario PAC each season to deepen our audience and artist relationships. This includes Celebration of Nations Indigenous Arts Gathering, Culture Days, as well as an abundance of opportunities to participate in workshops throughout the season! We also have a robust imPACt Education Series to actively engage Niagara students in exceptional performing arts experiences, including field trips, hands-on workshops and more.

As you’ll see on the pages that follow, we have a stacked lineup of artists joining us this season. We encourage you to take a chance on something new when making your choices – there are lots of favourites and new gems to discover.

We are proud to be here, working for our community, and are looking forward to welcoming you back (or for the first time) to the PAC. Thank you for choosing to spend your time with us.

SARA PALMIERI

Programming and Marketing Manager, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre

NIAGARA MUSIC SERIES

SERIES SPONSORED BY

H A R R I S O N K E N N E DY & THE DRUMMING FOOLS | 23 SE PT 4 PM

DA L A & A L I STA I R ROBERTSON | S UN 1 4 OC T 4 PM

LUKE MCMASTER & C HRI STINE BOUGIE | S UN 2 5 N OV 4 PM

SUSAN AGLUKARK & G A RY BORDEN | SUN 20 JA N 4 PM

SARAH SLEAN & L EROY EMMANUEL | S UN 24 FE B 4 PM

STEPHEN FEARING & J ESSE COBB | SUN 24 M A R 4 PM

PASSION, TALENT AND CREATIVE ENERGY BLEND IN THIS AFTERNOON SERIES IN ROBERTSON THEATRE. ENJOY SONGS, STORIES AND SPONTANEITY WITH OUR INCREDIBLE FEATURED BAND AND THEIR SPECIAL GUESTS.

A L L T I C K E T S : $ 3 5 | TA B L E O F 6 : $ 1 8 6 ( s a v e $ 2 4 )

ADDED SHOWS!

Dean Brody DIRT ROAD STORIES ACOUSTIC TOUR

featuring

Andrew Hyatt

THURSDAY 1 NOVEMBER 7:30PM REGULAR: $80 | MEMBER: $65 | COLLEGE/UNI/CHILD: $25

A TRIBE CALLED RED

FRI 23 NOV 8PM

REGULAR: $30 MEMBERS / STUDENTS: $25

NOTE:

PATRONS ARE ENCOURAGED TO GET UP AND DANCE DURING THIS PERFORMANCE!

i

a n V n o e ll n i G

SPONSORED BY

There was a stretch from 1974 through 1978 when legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Gino Vannelli released six full-length albums, five of which made the Top 100 North American Billboard charts.

That’s unheard of in today’s finicky music market, when artists are hardpressed to deliver an album once every two or three years. Perhaps it’s a reason why the multi-JUNOwinner and four-time GRAMMY nominee has been taking his time on his latest project, an uncharacteristic acoustic album slated for release in early 2019.

“It took me a little more time with this record, because I really wanted to change the idiom and do something more than another jazzy pop fusion album,” said Vannelli, who has sold more than 20 million records since releasing his 1973 debut, Crazy Life. “I wanted to do something different, and one thing was to create using mostly acoustic guitar and then to tell stories in a way I haven’t told them before. That took me a little while to really hone.

I started about three or four years ago, and things like touring would interrupt my flow sometimes. I just realized that if I really wanted to do it right it would take time, because that’s not my usual standard. It’s been an entirely different process.”

Regardless of which process he applies to his craft, it has always been the results that have made Vannelli one of Canada’s most accomplished artists. With a string of hits spanning nearly four decades including “I Just Wanna Stop,” “Brother to Brother,” “People Gotta

Move,” “Wheels of Life” and “Black Cars,” Vannelli has remained one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary music. However, it’s the songwriter in him that has the singer on heightened alert these days, as Vannelli the social observer looks for lyrical inspiration.

“You’re always on, it’s true,” said Vannelli, whose song “Words for My Father (Parole Per Mio Padre)” caught the attention of Pope John Paul II and earned him an invitation to The Vatican to perform. “There’s a time when you can turn the spigot way on, but it’s always dripping. And I’ve always got my wares up looking at things, trying to take in things and filtering them through my process.

I find that anything could move me.

That’s what this album has really been about. It’s not so much about my personal feelings. It’s about things happening to other people that I have observed.”

Although his new project is acoustic, Vannelli will be touring with what he calls “the best band I’ve ever toured with” during a greatest hits show that covers his entire career. “The show goes all the way to 1972 and spans 40 years, songs from all my albums.

We have three horns, nine people on stage. It’s a pretty big show!”

- David DeRocco GoBeWeekly.com PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $79 MEMBER: $65 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Wed 26 Sept 7:30pm

35 years in, Jim Cuddy is still fascinated by music and the human experience.

“I thought when I was 30 years old that this was a young person’s game,” says the decorated Canadian singer-songwriter. “But...I’m still as fascinated by music as I ever was. I enjoy the mechanics of writing a song. I enjoy looking at the mechanics of somebody else’s songs. It’s exercising an enjoyable, acquired skill.”

It’s this sense of curiosity and wonder that’s bringing him to his debut performance at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in October - one of many stops on his cross-country tour to promote his fourth solo album, Constellation.

“We’re compelled [to perform]. We speak very naturally the language of music and it is super inspiring to play songs with other people,” he says about his experience with The Jim Cuddy Band, which is celebrating a milestone 20th anniversary this year. A founding member of iconic Canadian favourite Blue Rodeo who was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and won several JUNO Awards, Cuddy launched his solo career in 1998.

Fortunately for his loyal fans, he’s finding plenty of inspiration to create the music that takes him across the country to perform. He’s continually fascinated with the details behind human behaviour and his interactions with the world.

“Part of it is turning your instincts into a skill. I’ve always watched the world and been fascinated by the smallest details in a character or

situation and I’ve learned how to translate that into song.”

The songs on the band’s new album (released this past January) are very much about experiences Cuddy was immersed in at the time he crafted them.

“I was certainly attuned to everything that was going on in the year I was writing and recording the album,” he said. Those who have yet to take a listen will find a strong roots flavour, with a sense of ‘60s and ‘70s nostalgia tinged with country-rock and folk.

As he gears up for his fall tour dates, he relishes the opportunity to be back in Niagara.

“St. Catharines has always been a nice place to play...now they have the theatre and the new arena (Meridian Centre). It’s a little bit of, ‘If you build it, they will come,’” he said.

It’s fitting that CAA is sponsoring Cuddy’s October concert - he fondly recalls how the company has helped him and his fellow bandmates out of tricky situations more than once during their travels.

“Greg Keelor, (his Blue Rodeo bandmate), has used his membership enough for all of us!

He could not move around if it wasn’t for CAA!” - Allison Smith CAANiagara.ca PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $75 MEMBER: $65 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Wed 3 + Thurs 4 Oct 7:30pm

PERFORMANCES SPONSORED BY

CAA Members are invited to a pre-show lobby reception at 6:30pm

BLOOD

LIGHTNING E S S E N T I A L C O L L E C T I V E T H E AT R E

Created by Joseph Recinos + Colin Bruce Anthes

THIS IS A TRUE STORY. THIS IS A NIAGARA STORY. THIS IS A STORY THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MORE THAN A NIAGARA STORY. Or perhaps I should not introduce Blood Lightning as a story so much as a very human encounter with someone who’s life transcends many conventional notions of borders. At a time in which we watch children ripped from parents and placed in cages, we may need the latter more than the former.

Guatemalan-Canadian theatre artist, Joseph Recinos, was brought to Niagara by such parents, his mother pregnant with him when she was brought across the border by his namesake: Catholic priest Father Joseph. He was born and raised in Niagara Falls, though, as we shall see, not always accepted as a local.

In adulthood, Joseph began travelling back to Guatemala, learning his Mayan roots to garner a much-needed sense of grounding. Along the way, he discovered that many stigmas about Mayan culture had become embedded in the worldviews of those closest to him. His personal journey has meant facing major social factors beyond his control: imperialist histories, racist stereotypes, and profound fears.

But Joseph, the person and the artist, is a perpetual discoverer

of silver linings. Where many are broken, he becomes a healer.

Where many are shut down by despair, he creates. Where many have been torn apart, he offers radical acceptance and brings people together.

This is a story—an encounter, an experience—of interconnection, of people who are not from just one place, of a need for healing and the potential for it to happen.

I have been privileged to know Joseph for many years. He shares his story and his culture with great generosity. I humbly invite you to engage in what he offers: hopeful urgency, urgent hope.

- Colin B. Anthes ECTheatre.ca ROBERTSON THEATRE TICKETS: $30 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Thurs 4, Fri 5, Sat 6 Oct 8pm Sat 6, Sun 7 Oct 2pm Wed 10, Thurs 11, Fri 12 Oct 8pm

SERENA RYDER ELECTRIC LOVE When Serena Ryder graces the stage of Partridge Hall this October it will, in some ways, be as if she’s come full circle. The six-time JUNO winner was a part of the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre’s opening celebration in November 2015, and St. Catharines, she says, has always been a fun place to perform.

Known for her hit singles “Got Your Number,” “Stompa,” “Electric

“

Rich in pop hooks, infectious rock riffs and stadium-raising vocals that put her in league with Adele, Utopia is the album that should make Ryder a global superstar.”

- NICHOLAS JENNINGS nicholasjennings.com

Love” and the official theme song of the 2015 Pan American Games, “Together We Are One,” Ryder has spent much of this past summer touring in support of her latest album, Utopia. Oscillating between large-scale summer festivals and small intimate performances, Ryder said it’s not difficult to shift gears between the two.

“The energy of the crowd helps you out. Intimate shows are nice because you can see everyone’s face and it’s almost as if you’re playing for family, but then the large festivals are just so massive and are a big party,” she says. “It’s the difference between intimately connecting with someone and going on a rollercoaster ride. Both are fun, for different reasons.”

The smaller gigs along the tour have allowed Ryder to shake things up with her set, breaking down her act into acoustic sets and into a rock trio set. She’ll be bringing that

PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $59 MEMBER: $50 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Thurs 11 Oct 7:30pm

SPONSORED BY

s e On

e t a n u t r o F stripped down show to the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre on 11 Oct, as part of The Social Butterfly Series sponsored

by Wind Restaurant, Ma Chinese Cuisine and East Izakaya.

It will be Ryder, her drummer and guitar player on stage.

“For me, it’s a little bit more energy because I’m playing guitar the whole time. It’s a more intimate time with the audience,” she says.

Another opening celebration act making a return this October is Canadian folk-pop duo The Fortunate Ones. Also performing in Partridge Hall, both James O’Brien and Catherine Allan sing lead vocals while O’Brien plays guitar and Allan plays accordion and keys. A couple both on and off the stage, these Newfoundlanders bring a wide-eyed energy and pragmatic optimism to their performances, endearing audiences along the way.

- Melinda Cheevers NiagaraThisWeek.com

FORTUNATE ONES ARE FULLY CONTEMPORARY, YET WHEN YOU WATCH THEM YOU CAN’T HELP BUT FEEL YOU’RE WATCHING THE ‘NEXT IN LINE’ OF GREAT NEWFOUNDLAND ENTERTAINERS.” - TOM POWER, CBC RADIO

FORTUNATE ONES ARE A RARE GEM. TWO VOICES SINGING AS ONE.” - ALAN DOYLE, GREAT BIG SEA

PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $35 MEMBER: $25 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Tues 16 Oct 7:30pm

SPONSORED BY

GORD’S Legacy T H U R S DAY 1 8 O C TO B E R

SPONSORED BY

Walking the Path of Reconciliation CANADIAN ARTISTS CELEBRATE THE IMPACT OF GORD DOWNIE’S ART AND WORK With the passing of Gord Downie on 17 October 2017, Canadians lost one of our most beloved music icons.

Gord spent his final days shining a light on the reconciliation with Canada’s First Peoples. He asked all Canadians to join the call to action.

And now, a group of Canadian artists have joined our collective reconciliation journey with a concert to promote awareness, education and thoughtful action.​ In collaboration with The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, the FirstOntario PAC welcomes you to join us for a special evening to celebrate the man, the music and his legacy. Featured artists will include Twin Flames, Bruce McCulloch, Tom Wilson, Danny Michel, Trent Severn, Matthew Barber, Damnhait Doyle and more.

Funds raised will go directly to the Downie/Wenjack Fund and toward the erection of a Downie/Wenjack Fund Legacy Space at the PAC. PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $49 MEMBER: $39 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Thurs 18 Oct 7:30pm

Gord Downie’s journey inspired a nation and inspired our community on our own path of truth and reconciliation with our Indigenous brothers and sisters. We have taken Gord’s challenge to rebuild relations for the next 100 years.

As Gord illustrated so eloquently throughout his life and his music career, the arts can transcend time and space to deepen our understanding of social issues, giving us tools to be engaged and understand each other.

I’m very proud of the role of the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in leading us down this path.

Meegwetch.”

- Mayor Walter Sendzik

CAROUSEL PLAYERS presents

Adapted by Fiona Sauder & Reanne Spitzer Originally produced by Bad Hats Theatre

THIS PETER PAN IS A DELIGHT FOR ADULTS AND KIDS ALIKE This bumptious musical production of the J.M. Barrie classic was first staged two years ago in a Durham region brewery owned by the family of one of its creators. Last year, its producing company, Bad Hats Theatre, took it on a soldout holiday tour of Toronto brew pubs and it scooped up three major Dora Awards in the young audiences division.

This scrappy, playful, hey-kidslet’s-put-on-a-show energy infuses every aspect of Severn Thompson’s production, now being presented as part of FirstOntario PAC’s 18/19 HOT TICKET season.

The audience sits on three sides of a small stage and there are mats on the floor to allow the littlest viewers to be super close to the action.

Watching their enraptured faces becomes part of the delight of the show for adults.

The narrative conceit is that a cranky old man (Matt Pilipiak) is reading the tale of Peter Pan out of a book and it comes to life, and then we discover he actually plays a big part in the story.

Pilipiak, like all the performers, is more 20-something than old, but this becomes part of the let’s pretend.

Peter is played by a woman, the show’s co-adaptor Fiona Sauder; one of the Lost Boys is also female (Jocelyn Adema); and Captain Hook (Graham Conway) sports an obviously fake press-on moustache.

All of this goes to the point of the story, which is to celebrate the power of the imagination and particularly the power of theatre to make the seemingly impossible happen. Flying isn’t performed here with harnesses and poorly disguised cables: Peter sprinkles the Darling children (Landon Doak, Lena Maripuu, Victor Pokinko) with fairy dust and they sail through the air on another actor’s back or in another actor’s arms.

Perhaps the most engaging bit of invention is the staging of Tinkerbell, who’s physically represented by a sparkly ball and voiced by co-adaptor Reanne Spitzer in a charming high-pitched gobbledygook out of which key words are sometimes audible.

When an actor holds the ball, it darts around as if it were the object that is leading the action and not the performer themselves.

The 11 performers are onstage practically all the time, switching roles before the audience’s eyes through the change of pieces of costume (design by Amy Marie Wallace), vocal tone, and physicality. There is a great theatre in-joke when the Lost Boys (Adema, Matthew Finlan, Richard Lam, and Tal Shulman) figure out that there are no extra actors to play the pirates, and that’ll be their job too.

From time to time they pick up instruments for some lively musical numbers (composed by Doak and the company). While tuneful, the sound of the singing is not musicaltheatre polished, which adds to the feel of this being a lively party to which the audience is invited.

ROBERTSON THEATRE ALL TICKETS: $20 Fri 19 Oct 6:30pm Sat 20 Oct 11am + 2pm

SPONSORED BY

Everyone is invited to sing and gesture along at various points, and a few younger spectators get to participate in sword battles and other bits of action (fight and flight direction is by Jack Rennie). The night I saw the show, one little boy became so excited that for the last 10 minutes he was bouncing in and out of the playing area, and the performers took it in their stride (and gave him big high fives during the curtain call). That’s the joy of this production: it draws you into the light.

- Karen Fricker, Theatre Critic This review originally appeared in the Toronto Star and has been slightly edited for this publication.

One of Ireland’s most lauded folk groups.”

- NPR

SPONSORED BY

LÚNASA For Lúnasa, to still be touring the world to a hardcore fanbase in 2018 wasn’t part of the original plan. It was supposed to be just one album, 20 years ago, just for fun, and that was it. But when something’s good, why stop?

“We set about just doing a recording and we went on one tour and thought that that would be it. There was no long-term vision or plan and maybe that’s the secret to our success. We’ve always kind of just agreed that we would keep going until we didn’t enjoy it and we’re still enjoying it because there is no commitment as such, but yet here we still are,” says flute and whistle player Kevin Crawford.

With the release of their second album, Otherworld (1999), the roots music world took notice. The traditional, mostly instrumental Irish band took up the mantle of “hottest Irish acoustic group on the planet” by combining traditional Celtic tunes with modern sensibilities in a way that appealed to Celtic music fans across generations.

“We based our sound on the powerful and innovative sound of the Bothy Band who came out in the 1970s and they had flute and pipes and fiddle at the front of what they did.

That was the sound that influenced most of us when we were growing up. They were the first to really add a driving, propulsive backline, as well,”

says Crawford. “Then we just started to incorporate tunes from other Celtic regions and that was a bit of a different motif for us at the time.”

Crawford has great fondness for Canada and finds himself here often. “I go to Cape Breton quite regularly and have always loved the fiddling traditions up there, and the piping traditions, and recently I’ve been spending a bit of time in Nova Scotia,” he says. “We’ve always tried to pick up tunes or, not actually intentionally, but we’re drawn to tunes from different parts of Canada, whether it be Cape Breton or Quebec or Nova Scotia.”

For their St. Catharines show, the plan is to put on the blistering live show they’ve become known for.

“We still try to maintain that moniker that you’re only as good as your last gig,” Crawford attests.

“We don’t expect people to treat our show like they’re coming to a recital.

We want people to react in whatever way they feel they should. They can go crazy if they want or sit tight if they want.”

- Michael Raine CanadianMusicianRadio.com PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $45 MEMBER: $39 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Sun 21 Oct 4pm

SPONSORED BY

Twitches & Itches Theatre Two years ago, our youthful band began a relevant investigation into the role of the university in the 21st century. We began with a handful of key guiding questions: what does it mean to be truly educated?

To become mature? To grow?

These questions, we found, are every bit as political as they are personal. Not everyone is aware of the enormous changes in higher education over the past few “neoliberal” decades. The corporatization of the university system across much of the developed world — especially in the Unites States — including Canada, has been astonishing.

Likewise, the goals of higher education are described very differently by many of today’s administrators than they were a generation ago. The university is understood as a microcosm of our broader society, and is organized accordingly.

September Songs is a humancentred work of speculative fiction.

It investigates the competing forces between an increasingly corporatized system, and the deeply personal journeys of young people achieving autonomy for the first time.

It is rooted in well-documented facts, and takes place in a world just a hair beyond our own.

The questions our company raises are imminent. We hope you’ll join us.

- Colin B. Anthes @TwitchesTheatre

Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself.”

- John Dewey

Yet university is also a time of enormous personal significance.

The philosopher Richard Rorty said that elementary and high school were primarily for learning how society functions; university is where we begin to question society.

Rarely have I seen a production so meticulous in its movement, so synchronized among its performers…It was mesmerizing.”

For many students, it is also their first time away from home.

University means new friends, new perspectives, new freedoms, new restraints, new financial burdens, new responsibilities, new risks and new rewards that may echo through a lifetime.

-VIEW

ROBERTSON THEATRE TICKETS: $30 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Thurs 1 Nov 8pm Fri 2 Nov 8pm Sat 3 Nov 2pm + 8pm

MODERN UPSCALE LIVING. Only 37 high-end special suites along the river on the historic Yates valley in the heritage district of St. Catharines.

There are 8 Yates View suites and 29 Valley View suites ranging in size from 1280 to 2600 sq. ft. The suites feature grand 9-11 foot ceilings and spacious terraces.

Walk for miles along the Merritt Trail right in your backyard. Enjoy world-class entertainment at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre and the Meridian Centre. Shop 3 days a week at the St. Catharines Market. Wine and dine at numerous venues all within walking distance.

Spoil yourself and enjoy the good life.

PURCHASE TERMS IN PLACE $641,000 - 1.3M I Book your appointment Sally@McGarrRealty.com I 905.687.9229 www.77Yates.com

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ROOF TOP AMENITY CENTRE WITH STUNNING 360° VIEWS

MCGARR I SCHWENKER I HUMMEL In Partnership with FirstOntario Credit Union, Sally McGarr, Broker of Record, McGarr Realty Corp., Brokerage

THE VOICE OF MODERN INDIA Anandi Bhattacharya and her seasoned quartet create ground-breaking music featuring Bhattacharya’s supple, sinuous voice that transports the listener with a subtle melodic beauty.

A child prodigy in a family filled with illustrious musicians and singers, Bhattacharya inherited the golden voice of her grandmother.

Her talent was nurtured by her family as she grew up on stage performing with them worldwide.

At the age of 22, Bhattacharya‘s latest release, Joys Abounds, is a contemporary exploration of her musical roots. It includes an enchanting piece by Nobel Laureate Poet Rabindranath Tagore. As Bhattacharya puts it, “the album is light-hearted but carries the true essence of ragas and their moods and evokes a sense of familiarity amidst uncharted waters.” Raga, in Sanskrit for “colour” or “passion,” is a classical style of melodic music traditional in India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The performer uses emphasis and degrees within scales to share vivid atmosphere and mood.

The tone and timbre of Bhattacharya’s remarkable voice can express the full gamut of emotions as she sings a repertoire of original compositions and folk songs.

Being mentored by her father, legendary Hindustani slide guitar master Debashish Bhattacharya,

provided her with Indian musical influences such as Vidushi Shubhra Guha, Ali Akbar Khan, Ravi Shankar, and Lata Mangeshkar. Bhattacharya also sites influences as diverse as Thom Yorke, Ella Fitzgerald and Joni Mitchell.

Bhattacharya shares her musical philosophy, “I do not believe that I was meant to imbibe my own culture alone; I think for me, finding my sound with all that I love to hear and all that churns within me is my path forward.”

The Voice of Modern India concert brings her global influences to the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre this November.

Bhattacharya will be touring with her father on the chaturangui (hybrid of the slide guitar and sitar); her uncle, tabla master Subhasis Bhattacharya on tabla, percussion and djembe; and contemporary Spanish musician Carola Ortiz on vocals, Spanish guitar and clarinet.

Their sublime arrangements modernize classical melodies and rhythms with multiple levels of vocalization and lightning-fast instrumental solos. Bhattacharya describes her innovative repertoire with traditional roots as having the sound of “knowing happiness without restraints.”

- Sarah Fraser FirstOntarioPAC.ca PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $39 MEMBER: $30 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Fri 2 Nov 7:30pm

Anandi

Bhattacharya

Cirque

LE ROUX The Elephant in the Room WED 7 NOV 7:30PM Deliciously retro and absolutely original, Cirque Le Roux delves into a smoky monochrome world of circus arts, Hollywood film noir and physical theatre. This intriguing circus show serves up a dose of wit and eccentricity, seamlessly blending storytelling with high-level acrobatics.

Mesmerizing, hilarious & entertaining.�

- Edinburgh Festivals Magazine

FROM PARIS TO NIAGARA

REGULAR: $55 | MEMBER: $46 | COLLEGE/UNI/CHILD: $25

SPONSORED BY

Everything in this show is skill and ingenuity - La Presse

A finale that will take your breath away.�

- Le Devoir

Recommended for ages 13+

Shad was born in Kenya on July 18, 1982. He grew up in London, Ontario.

Shad holds a business degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and a master’s degree in liberal studies from Simon Fraser University.

MUSIC

5 STUDIO ALBUMS:

When This Is Over (2005) The Old Prince (2007) TSOL (2010) Flying Colours (2013) A Short Story About War (2018)

5 EPs:

Two Songs (2011) (with Dallas Green), Melancholy and the Infinite Shadness (2012), The Spring Up (2013) (with Skratch Bastid), Holy Shad (2014) (with Holy F*ck), Boarding Pass (2014) (with DJ T.LO)

Self-released his debut album, When This is Over, in 2005. Financed by his $17,500-WIN from 91.5 The Beat’s Rhythm of the Future talent competition.

In the summer of 2016 Shad released a new 10song offering dubbed Adult Contempt where he ditches the name Shad and takes on the alter-ego: Your Boy Tony Braxton.

21 DIFFERENT

Shad has made guest appearances on

ARTISTS’ ALBUMS

7

Shad is the host of HipHop Evolution, a Canadian documentary series that explores the first 20 years of the genre. The four-part series can be streamed on Netflix.

ROBERTSON THEATRE ALL TICKETS: $20 Fri 9 Nov 8pm

Shad is a rapper who doesn’t swear and will blow your mind with his kind flows about needing more women in hip-hop, growing up as an immigrant in Canada, and love.

WELL MY NAME AIN’T LIL WAYNE GRETZKY BUT Y’ALL KNOW BETTER THAN TO CHECK ME IN THE GAME, I HOLD RECORDS LIKE A TECHNIC TELLING REFEREES TO PEEK AT THE PRESS SEATS A SEC PLEASE DROP YOUR GLOVES OJ, HAHA I KNOCK YOU INTO NEXT WEEK “Yaa I Get It” from TSOL (2010)

s e m Ja

r e g n i l l Mu

id Green with Dav

JAMES MULLINGER DID A GIG AT THE HARBOUR STATION STADIUM ARENA IN SAINT JOHN AND SOLD MORE TICKETS THAN GUNS N’ ROSES, IRON MAIDEN, ALICE COOPER AND HIS COMEDY HERO JERRY SEINFELD.” - BEYOND THE JOKE

SPONSORED BY

James Mullinger is living the Canadian dream. Since moving to Atlantic Canada in 2014 with his young family, the hardworking British comic has taken to his new homeland like maple syrup to a pancake. Mullinger is one of Canada’s biggest cheerleaders around the world and has raised more than $100,000 for Canadian charities. With multiple sold-out arena shows in his adopted hometown of Saint John (where he outsold Jerry Seinfeld!) and numerous festival, TV and film credits under his belt, Mullinger has become one of Canada’s top comics, and is set to unleash his unique brand of wit upon St. Catharines.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO MOVE TO CANADA? My wife is from the East Coast of Canada and it is the most beautiful, most friendly place in the world.

There’s no traffic, there’s barely any crime. The day I arrived the local newspaper ran a cover story about a recent “crimewave” in which 50 chickens were stolen from someone’s yard. When I lived in South London stabbings sometimes wouldn’t even make the front page!

HOW DOES PERFORMING IN CANADA DIFFER TO THE UK? The comedy scenes are very different. There isn’t a star system here. Which is both a good and a bad thing. The good news is that the biggest and best comedy festivals in the world are here. The

biggest comedy club chain is here.

And stand-up comedy has been a regular fixture on prime time TV here for much longer than it has been in England. There is a real passion in the circuit. There’s no panel shows, no-one is getting rich here. The only people doing comedy in Canada are the people that really love comedy.

We love what we do, we work hard and we have made a career out of it.

And this was always my dream.

WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE CAREER ASPIRATIONS? Just to maintain where I am at. Which is hard in itself. My dream in life was to become a stand up comedian and to feed and house my family from that job. The fact that I now do that is the greatest thing and I just want everything to carry on exactly as it is now.

CAREER HIGHLIGHT SO FAR? Selling out Harbour Station Arena in New Brunswick a second time was the most enjoyable night of my professional life...but I fully expect my show in St. Catharines to top that, so let’s make that happen!

- David Green GardenCityComedyFestival.com

PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $35 MEMBER: $30 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Wed 14 Nov 7:30pm MATURE CONTENT

COTTAGERS INDIANS

AND

TARRAGON THEATRE

by Drew Hayden Taylor

NO HEROES OR VILLAINS IN COTTAGERS AND INDIANS There are many crucial stories about Indigenous rights unfolding across this country. The inquiries into missing and murdered Indigenous women, and the injustice of the Colten Boushie case may make the trials and tribulations of a rice farmer from the Curve Lake First Nation seem somewhat trivial, but Drew Hayden Taylor chose this particular tale because it hits close to home.

Taylor, an award-winning Anishinaabe playwright, grew up in Curve Lake, in the Kawartha region of Ontario. He was moved by the ongoing struggle of James Whetung, an Anishinaabe man who, in an effort to reestablish food sovereignty and the Indigenous presence in an environment that has always nurtured it, tried to seed wild rice (manoomin) beds on the lakes manoomin first sprung from. Local cottagers organized an uprising against Whetung to stop this project, claiming that the marshy plants spoiled their use of the lake for swimming and other recreation, and brought down property values.

There’s no doubt that Taylor chose this particular controversy because

he was able to serve it up with his unique comic flair.

“You can heal through humour as much as you can through anger or sadness,” the playwright says, and indeed Cottagers and Indians is made richer by moments of levity.

Taylor’s version of the story focuses on Arthur Golden, an Anishinaabe rice farmer who locks horns with cottage owner Maureen Poole. Both characters are regular people just trying to take care of their families.

There are no good guys or bad guys. Each has a point to make and represent their own unique history and personal connection to the land.

- Catherine Skinner IF YOU LIKE THE JOKES IN COME FROM AWAY, THEN LOOK INTO COTTAGERS AND INDIANS.” – The Globe and Mail

FULL OF MISCHIEVOUS GOOD HUMOUR”, “SINCERE AND AMUSING” – Mooney on Theatre

TAYLOR HAS A DEFT TOUCH FOR MIXING COMEDY AND COMMENTARY IN AN ENTERTAINING AND ALLCANADIAN FORM OF SOCIAL SATIRE.” – Vancouver Sun

ROBERTSON THEATRE TICKETS: $30 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Thurs 15 Nov 8pm Fri 16 Nov 8pm Sat 17 Nov 2pm + 8pm

RED SKY PERFORMANCE

trace Wedn esday 2 1 Novem b er 7 : 3 0 p m Powerful… hypnotizing...flawless articulation.”

- The Dance Current

The choreography is raw and frequently ferocious.”

- The Calgary Herald

Makes an original statement about the continuity of continental cultures that speak to each other and to us, across the centuries.”

— Toronto Star

Trace is a sumptuous new dance, music and genre-defying production that explores Indigenous connections to ancestral origins and all things traceable. Inspired by Anishinaabe cosmology, our star and sky stories, Trace maps our origin and our future evolution.

REGULAR: $39 | MEMBER: $33 | COLLEGE/UNI/CHILD: $25

Irish Mythen & Christine Fellows Two talented Canadian singersongwriters come together for a special evening of lyrical storytelling. Irish Mythen will be sharing the stage with Christine Fellows on 24 November.

Born and raised in Ireland, Mythen has been calling Canada her home since 2006. “It was all Stan Rogers’ fault!” Mythen has said of her move to Canada’s East Coast where she has settled in Prince Edward Island.

“In 2006, I was brought over to play the Stan Rogers Folk Festival; absolutely fell in love with the place.” Mythen beautifully blends and balances humour with poignant, deeply personal emotive lyrics.

Possessing a masterful synergy of voice and lyric, her powerful and impassioned performances deliver

When you have 5,000 people singing your song back to you, it’s amazing.

For the first time in my life, I broke down and cried on stage. Then I looked out and saw other people crying. It was a real moment for me.”

her evocative songs with maximum effect. Her songwriting reaches deep within to express emotions and the experiences tied to them.

To date, Mythen has released three full-length albums (soon to be four) and two EPs and has evolved as a songwriter advancing and honing her craft. Mythen’s 2014 self-titled album won Best Roots Solo album of the year at the East Coast Music Awards in 2015. She is known for powerful and captivating live performances that capture and connect with her audiences. A hard-working and ever-travelling troubadour, Mythen has time and time again stolen the show and the hearts of her audiences. Festival goers of Orillia’s Mariposa Folk Festival voted her

among the ranks of Joni Mitchell and Gordon Lightfoot as their top three performers most requested to return. Mythen is consolidating her place as a legend in Canadian Folk at an impressive pace!

Christine Fellows has called many places across Canada home, including Windsor, Ontario, but since 1992, she has resided in Winnipeg.

An accomplished performer and songwriter, Fellows has released seven studio albums as a solo artist since 2000. Her new album Roses on the Vine is out on 16 November.

Fellows has a way with words.

Like Mythen, she is a storyteller with a unique and deft touch for songwriting that unravels complex and layered narratives. Her rich orchestral soundscapes serve as intricate sets for captivating stories.

In addition to her prolific career in music, Fellows teaches courses in creative writing at the University of British Columbia, confirming her mastery of songwriting that blurs the boundaries between lyrics and short stories.

Fellows’ four-piece band includes her longtime collaborators Alex McMaster (cello), John K. Samson (bass) and Jason Tait (drums).

Samson and Tait were the creative forces behind the Winnipeg-based indie rock band The Weakerthans, and have collaborated on a range of projects with Fellows for over 20 years. “Collaboration and community keep me going. Playing with this incredible group of musicians, sharing the stage with Irish, and visiting the wonderful community of St. Catharines—nothing could make me happier,” she says.

Irish Mythen and Christine Fellows span a wide and diverse

SPONSORED BY

spectrum of styles within the broad genre of folk. Part of what makes them such exceptional and unique artists is their liberation from convention and their command of versatile yet personalized styles. Mythen’s raw, powerful and forceful vocal performances will be complemented by Fellows’ subtle and delicate singing. Each of these performers present audiences with an intricate mosaic of grippingly emotive music. The fact that they are sharing the stage makes this event particularly special and a night not to be missed!

- Sarah English CAIRNS RECITAL HALL REGULAR: $35 MEMBER: $30 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Sat 24 Nov 7:30pm

EXPERIENCE THE RICH WORLD OF CINEMA IN DOWNTOWN ST. CATHARINES Here are just a few of the amazing films coming to The Film House this fall. Check out the most recent Film+Dining Guide for all of the September/October film listings. Or visit us online at firstontariopac.ca. top left: Bad Reputation / Won’t You Be My Neighbor / Whitney / Leaning into the Wind bottom left: Sorry to Bother You / Love, Gilda / Before the Streets / The Wizard of Oz

JOIN A COMMUNITY OF FILM LOVERS

Film House Memberships are only $30 +HST and are valid for one year from date of purchase.

Perks of membership include: A A A A A A A

$7 entry to all films (2 tickets limit per membership) 15% discount off concession products, excluding alcohol Buy-one-get-one free tickets for 1st screening of first-run feature films + receive a voucher to give to friends! (Reserve BOGO tickets at the Box Office.)

VIP access to meet and greets, artist chats, and receptions Exchange tickets, as needed Weekly e-newsletter, with updates on screenings hosted by BUFS Direct to home mailing of your Film+Dining Guide

FILM HOUSE ADMISSION $9 - general admission + HST $7 - member / 13 and under + HST FirstOntarioPAC.ca Box Office: 905-688-0722 250 St. Paul Street Downtown St. Catharines ON

THE FILM HOUSE

AT THE FIRSTONTARIO PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE / DOWNTOWN ST. CATHARINES

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WE KNOW NATURAL!

191 Welland Ave • Geneva Square • St Catharines 905•685•8848 • thepeanutmill.com

CONGRATULATIONS to The 2% Factor Inc. who has partnered with Tecnológico de Monterrey’s EGADE Business School, a QS Global Top 50 ranked business school, to incorporate Cooperative Action™ into its Business and Entrepreneurship curriculum.

Founders: Gavin Rouble Ted Mouradian

A Proudly Canadian Company

The Best Seat in the House ...could be in your own new home!

ASKELLIOTT 905 380-9308

www.ASKELLIOTT.ca

2018/19 HOT TICKET

PRESENTS Saturday November 3, 7:30pm Partridge Hall, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, St. Catharines HOSTED BY Cร LINE PETERSON

THEATRE SERIES

EXPERIENCE NATIONALLY TOURING THEATRE & INSPIRING EMERGING PLAYWRIGHTS. Featuring Molly Johnson, Jackie Richardson, Robi Botos, Mike Downes,Joseph Callender, Larnell Lewis, and the Laura Secord Secondary School Concert Choir

SIX SHOWS FOR JUST

BRAVONIAGARA.ORG FOR TICKETS OR CALL (289) 868-9177

imPACt education series Tarragon Theatre

Cottagers and Indians WED 14 + THURS 15 NOV

Intermediate + Senior School Performance

Mermaid Theatre

The Rainbow Fish THURS 22 NOV

Primary School Performance

Lightwire Theatre

Ballet Jรถrgen Canada

The Nutcracker WED 19 DEC

Junior + Senior School Performance

Niagara Symphony

The Hockey Sweater + Casey at the Bat MON 4 FEB

Primary + Junior School Performance

A Very Electric Christmas FRI 7 DEC

Primary + Junior School Performance

Presenting a curated education series of high quality THEATRE, MUSIC & DANCE for all grades.

$150!

($120 STUDENTS)

undecided

Perfect for the

Breakfast isn’t breakfast without eggs and bacon? But then, you like a little sweetness too? You’re not alone! Rosemary, Paul, Louis and Fanny are just like you. They’ve solved the dilemma for all you undecided, with their delicious sweet ’n salty combos!

Fanny the Foodie (870 C als)

als) Paul wa nts it all (860 C

Rosem s) ary’s Sunday (1210 Cal

Lou is

the U n

decided (1130 Cals)

210 Glendale Ave St. Catharines 289 362-1358

FRESH HOUSEMADE PASTA • SOUPS • SAUCES • TAPAS• BREADS • PASTRIES 570_INT18_PR Arts center_SweetSalty_St.Catharines V2.indd 1

EXPERIENCE the art of

2018-07-20

FLAVOUR

Before the performance, let your taste buds be tantalized by the taste of fresh pasta combined in our Artisan Kitchen with the exquisite flavour of our Premium Extra Virgin Olive Oil and True Balsamic flavour straight from Modena, Italy.

DINE IN or TAKE OUT 67 ST. PAUL STREET olivstpaul.com 289.362.5550 @OlivArtisanKitchen

FRESH · CLASSIC · ITALIAN

905-641-5009

3 Race Street, St. Catharines, ON Open 7 days a week Fully Licensed Events Catering Pre Show Menu Specials 3518 PORTAGE ROAD NIAGARA FALLS, ON

FRESH · CLASSIC · ITALIAN

3518 PORTAGE ROAD NIAGARA FALLS, ON

EXPERIENCE.

THE ARTS.

Offering degrees in Dramatic Arts, Music, Visual Arts, and Studies in Arts and Culture.

Find out more about the Brock experience at

brocku.ca/miwsfpa