2019 CentreStage Spring Issue

SPRING HOT TICKETS 2019

centre stage

GRAMMY-winning vocalist with

THE ROLLING STONES

MS. LISA FISCHER

DOWNTOWN ST. CATHARINES

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

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Hot Ticket Member 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.

Join a community that supports bringing exceptional performing arts experiences to Niagara!

BFF shows - Members with Benefits!

HOT TICKET members are welcome to BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE to a few of our upcoming shows:

Antonio Sánchez - Birdman Live! | Wed 6 Mar Legendary Ladies of Country with Lisa Brokop, Patricia Conroy & Amanda Wilkinson | Wed 3 Apr Art of Time Ensemble - Doghouse Roses | Thu 2 May *Free tickets must be reserved by phone or in person only. If you've already purchased tickets to these shows, never fear, we can still add additional complimentary ones to your order.

No refunds for already purchased tickets.

We’ve sweetened the deal with three new enhanced experience

ticket packages!

SWE ET D EAL $

80

INCLUDES:

• Two tickets to Legendary Ladies of Country | WED 3 APR • $50 Elite Spa gift certificate (valid in St. Catharines or Beamsville)

ESCARPMENT SERIES SWE ET D EAL $

80

INCLUDES:

• Two tickets to Art of Time Ensemble - Music of STEVE EARLE THUR 2 MAY • $50 Vineland Estates gift certificate (valid in restaurant or gift shop) • Bottle of commemorative Cab Franc or Semi Dry Riesling

Showtime & Dine SWE ET D EAL $

80

INCLUDES:

• Two tickets to Antonio Sánchez: BIRDMAN-Live! | WED 6 MAR • $60 gift certificate (valid at WIND Japanese and Thai, MA Chinese Cuisine and EAST Izakaya restaurants)

S P R I N G

E V E N T S

2 0 1 9

Oscar Peterson International Jazz Festival

Niagara Symphony Orchestra

SAT FEB 16 8PM

Brock Musical Theatre

Sibelius In the House SUN 10 MAR 2:30PM

Singin' and Swingin': A Jazz Summit

21 Gun Salute

Explosive Tribute to AC/DC SUN 17 FEB 7:30PM

HEATHERS: The Musical A HOT TICKET presentation

THUR 14 - SAT 16 MAR

Gowan

Return of the Strange Animal THU 28 FEB 7:30PM [SOLD OUT!] Brock University Department of Dramatic Arts

King Ubu

A HOT TICKET presentation

Emily Brown and the Thing

FRI 1 - SAT 9 MAR

A HOT TICKET presentation

Chorus Niagara

with JW Jones THU 14 MAR 7:30PM

King David

SAT 2 MAR 7:30PM

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

Birdman: Live A HOT TICKET presentation

with Antonio Sánchez WED 6 MAR 7:30PM

By Theatreworks USA MON 18 FEB 1:30PM

Brock University

Bounty Enterprises

Vivek Shraya & the Queer Songbook Orchestra

FRI 22 FEB 7:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

Abbamania, The Bee Gees & Adele Niagara Symphony Orchestra

She’s Got It! (Vol.1) SAT 23 - SUN 24 FEB

DeAnne Smith FRI 15 MAR 7PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

Pete The Cat

The Robert Cray Band

A HOT TICKET presentation

Bahamas

with Ben Rogers MON 18 MAR 7:30PM

FRI 8 MAR 7:30PM

Roch Voisine

THU 7 MAR 7:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

Walker Cultural Leaders

By Essential Collective Theatre WED 20 - SAT 23 MAR

Alinka Echeverria

The Team

THU 7 MAR 6PM Brock University

Vivek Shraya & the Queer Songbook Orchestra FRI 8 MAR 7:30PM A HOT TICKET presentation Hear! Here! Niagara Music Series

Mark Lalama Trio

with Sarah Slean + Leroy Emmanuel SUN 24 FEB 4PM [SOLD OUT!]

A HOT TICKET presentation A HOT TICKET presentation

Murphy's Celtic Legacy FRI 8 MAR 7:30PM

Danny Michel

with Begonia THU 21 MAR 7:30PM Brock University Department of Music

Quartet for the End of Time Encore Concert #4 FRI 22 MAR 7:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

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

A HOT TICKET presentation

Girls Nite Out

SAT 9 MAR 4PM + 8PM [SOLD OUT!]

Confession Sessions Session II FRI 22 MAR 7PM

Gallery Players

NOSFERATU

SAT 23 MAR 7PM

Gallery Players

Gryphon Trio At 25 Years Young SUN 7 APR 2PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

Kevin Nealon

A HOT TICKET presentation

Erth's Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure

SAT 23 MAR 2PM + 6:30PM

WED 24 APR 7:30PM A HOT TICKET presentation

JUST FOR LAUGHS ROAD SHOW WED 10 APR 7:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

A HOT TICKET presentation Hear! Here! Niagara Music Series

Ms. Lisa Fischer

& Grand Baton THU 25 APR 7:30PM

Mark Lalama Trio

with Stephen Fearing + Jesse Cobb

SUN 24 MAR 4PM [SOLD OUT!]

A HOT TICKET presentation The Legendary

RockIt Boy concert

Gordon Lightfoot

Celebrating the Music of Roy Orbison TUES 26 MAR 7:30PM

Niagara Symphony Orchestra

The Lonely

Brock University Viva Voce! Choral Series

THU 11 - FRI 12 APR 8PM

The Force Is With Us! SAT 13 – SUN 14 APR

Niagara Symphony Orchestra

Snap Shots

SAT 27 - SUN 28 APR Movie Soundtrack Roadshow Cinephenia

The Power of Song in Film TUE 30 APR

United Way Niagara

Brock University Choirs Concert #2

Songs of the City

SAT 30 MAR 7:30PM

WED 1 MAY 7PM

A HOT TICKET presentation A HOT TICKET presentation

The Tea Party

SAT 30 MAR 7:30PM

The Incredible Adventures Of Mary Jane Mosquito

By Carousel Players SUN 14 APR 11AM + 2PM

Brock University Instrumental Ensembles TUE 2 Apr 7:30PM

String Orchestra Concert #2 WED 3 APR 7:30PM

Art Of Time Ensemble DOGHOUSE ROSES The Words and Music Of Steve Earle THU 2 MAY 7:30PM

The University Wind Ensemble Concert #2 Brock University Department of Music

A HOT TICKET presentation

A HOT TICKET presentation Classic Albums Live

Prince's Purple Rain WED 17 APR 7:30PM

St. Catharines Arts Awards FRI 3 MAY 7PM

Chorus Niagara

Peter Pan

SAT 4 MAY 7:30PM Ravenshead Homes

Garden City Comedy Festival Gala Night SAT 4 MAY 8PM A HOT TICKET presentation

Legendary Ladies of Country with Lisa Brokop, Patricia Conroy & Amanda Wilkinson WED3 APR 7:30PM

A HOT TICKET presentation

Kid Koala

Satellite Turntable Orchestra THU 18 - SAT 20 APR

Momentum Choir Concert

I've Got The Music In Me! SUN 5 MAY

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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 for large events 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 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

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

EXPERIENCE THE RICH WORLD OF CINEMA DOWNTOWN + SEE THESE ACCLAIMED FILMS! top, left to right

Bohemian Rhapsody

Fri 15 Feb - Sun 24 Feb

Academy Awards Nomination: Best Picture; Rami Malek, Best Actor; Best Sound / BAFTA Nomination: Best British Film; Rami Malek, Best Actor

Shoplifters

Thu 21 Feb - Sun 3 Mar

Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and BAFTA Nomination: Best Foreign Language Film / Cannes: Winner of Palme d’Or

A Star is Born

Thu 28 Feb - Sun 10 Mar

Academy Awards Nomination: Best Picture; Bradley Cooper, Best Actor; Lady Gaga, Best Actress; Sam Elliott, Best Actor Supporting Role / Golden Globes Nomination: Best Motion Picture; Best Actor; Best Actress; Best Director / BAFTA Nomination: Best Film

Cold War

Thu 7 Mar - Sun 17 Mar

Academy Awards Nomination: Best Director; Best Foreign Language Film / BAFTA Nomination: Best Foreign Language Film / Cannes: Paweł Pawlikowski, Winner Best Director bottom, left to right

Science Fair

Wed 13 Mar - Wed 20 Mar

Stan & Ollie

Thu 14 Mar - Sun 24 Mar

Sundance Film Festival Audience Award Winner: Festival Favourite / SXSW Film Festival Audience Award Winner: Festival Favourite

Golden Globes Nomination: John C. Reilly, Best Actor / BAFTA Nomination: Best Actor; Best British Film

If Beale Street Could Talk

Thu 21 Mar - Sat 30 Mar

Academy Awards Nomination: Regina King, Best Supporting Actress; Best Original Music / Golden Globes Nomination: Best Motion Picture; Best Sreenplay / BAFTA Nomination: Best Film Music

Vice

Thu 28 Mar - Sun 7 Apr

Academy Awards Nomination: Best Picture; Christian Bale, Best Actor; Sam Rockwell, Best Supporting Actor; Amy Adams, Best Supporting Actress; Adam McKay, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay / Golden Globes Nomination: Best Motion Picture; Best Director; Best Screenplay; Best Supporting Actor and Actress

Join a Community of Film Lovers

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

Save $2.50 off all films, 15% off concessions, 2-for-1 tickets for first screenings and more!

THE FILM HOUSE

AT THE FIRSTONTARIO PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE / DOWNTOWN ST. CATHARINES

Lizt Alfonso

DANCE CUBA MADE IN CUBA Regardless of what the weather forecast tells you, things will be heating up in downtown St. Catharines this February when Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba hits the stage in Partridge Hall. There’s no better way to warm your spirits in the heart of winter than through soulful song and exuberant dance that radiates with the true Cuban spirit. Get swept away to the lively country without even having to leave your seat!

Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba’s troupe of 17 superb dancers and eight outstanding musicians and singers will be wowing audiences

at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre stage on Wednesday 27 February during a stop in its cross-Canada tour.

A love story told through 15 story boards, Made in Cuba evokes scenes of Cuban life with the artists taking the audience to the four corners of the tropical country. Through music and dance, the audience soaks in a snapshot of the

“

STUNNING! ONE OF THE BEST CHORUS LINES THIS SIDE OF BROADWAY!” - THE TORONTO STAR

culture that defines the people.

Infusing a sensual mix of fire and spice, Made in Cuba offers up authenticity, synchronism, technical precision, elegance and an explosion of energy — the hallmarks of any Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba show. It is a powerful accolade to the country’s brave and determined people, while at the same time being artistically flamboyant and musically fulfilling.

Lizt Alfonso, director and choreographer, founded the fusion dance and music company nearly 30 years ago and it has gone on to impress audiences of all ages across five continents, performing in hundreds of cities, all the while promoting the strength and rhythm of the Cuban people.

Alfonso has been recognized internationally for her contributions and influence, most recently earning a spot on the BBC 100 Women 2018 list of inspiring and influential women worldwide.

“

ENCHANTING! OUTSTANDING! THE STAGE THROBS WITH VIBRANCY! - THE GLOBE AND MAIL

Her shows are a genuine expression of the cultural melting pot that identifies Cuban culture. Often referred to by critics as "unique and different", the ensemble presents a kaleidoscopic fusion of ballet, flamenco, chacha, rumba, bolero and salsa dance in a theatrical manner that emphasizes impressive ensemble unity.

- Melinda Cheevers NiagaraThisWeek.ca PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $59 MEMBER: $49 COLLEGE/UNI/CHILD: $25 Wed 27 Feb 7:30pm SPONSORED BY

420 VANSICKLE RD., ST. CATHARINES

LIVE!

ANTONIO SÁNCHEZ

BIRDMAN

TAKING FLIGHT WITH “BIRDMAN” “I cannot describe how life changing this has been in every different angle,” says master percussionist and composer Antonio Sánchez in reference to his experience with Birdman, the Oscar-winning movie that earned him GRAMMY and Golden Globe nominations for Best Original Score. “A lot of people saw the film, so a lot of people started recognizing my name and my drumming. All of a sudden I was part of a project that was very far away from the jazz realm, which can be very limiting.”

SPONSORED BY

There is certainly no limitation to the drumming talent possessed by Sánchez, a Grammy-winning solo artist who has released seven albums and also regularly toured as part of The Pat Metheny Group. After the worldwide success of director Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s Birdman, which won four Academy Awards in 2014 (including Best Picture and Best Director), Sánchez has been accompanying screenings of the film with live performances of his original drum score. It’s a unique blend of cinema and live music that should appeal to both movie purists and concert goers Sánchez says.

“I really try not to stand out in the sense that the show isn’t really about me. It’s about the movie and I’m part of the show. It’s an interesting combination between going to a movie and going to a concert, because once you put one live musician on stage the whole energy of the event changes.

With one live musician there’s an exchange of energy that you don’t normally get at a movie.”

Given the almost seamless integration of the Sanchez score into the often frantic pace of the film, a live solo drum accompaniment to the screening might seem intrusive in less capable hands. However, regardless of the improvisational nature of his original composition, the Mexican-American jazz virtuoso says he strives to stay true to the movie soundtrack despite the uniqueness of each night’s performance.

“I definitely try to fulfill the dramatic effect that was intended, because to me that is the most important part, to tell the story alongside with the movie so that the audience will get the feeling that Iñárritu intended.

But once I’m achieving that, I’m completely doing my own thing.

Basically, as a jazz drummer, I’ve been doing that my whole life. You can play the same tune night after night and play it a different way while still making it the same tune.”

The evening is capped off by a drum solo that continues long after the credits have finished rolling, which Sánchez says provides him the opportunity to showcase the limitless musical possibilities of the

instrument to people who may not fully appreciate the sounds drums can produce. However, performing in a city that was home to one of his drumming heroes, Sánchez is confident there will be plenty of drum aficionados in the audience in St. Catharines.

“Neil Peart was one of my biggest heroes for a long time, and he still is. He was a major influence when I started getting involved with rock, progressive rock and fusion. I actually got to meet him once in New York when I won the Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship in 1993-94. He was at the concert; I exchanged a few words with him. It was quite an experience for me.”

- David DeRocco GoBeWeekly.com PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $45 MEMBER: $39 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 SHOWTIME + DINE PACKAGE: $80 Wed 6 Mar 7:30pm MEMBERS BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE!

“

FEW NEW BRUNSWICKERS ARE BETTER KNOWN ON THE WORLD STAGE THAN ROCH VOISINE.” – 2014 Order of New Brunswick

THURSDAY 7 MARCH 7:30PM | PARTRIDGE HALL

REGULAR: $65 | MEMBER: $55 | COLLEGE/UNI: $25 DINNER + WINE PACKAGE: $150 All ticket holders automatically entered to WIN A CUSTOM-MADE VINELAND ESTATES SWAROVSKI NECKLACE (value $1500)!

SPONSORED BY

Acoustic Roch: It is with this unpretentious and playful wordplay that Roch Voisine’s new show was named, and not without reason. Indeed, it is a tour designed to offer a renewed experience to his audience.

A singer-songwriter and composer for the last three decades, Voisine invites fans to an inspiring, unique, and new way of experiencing his beloved live show. With only two accompanying musicians, keyboardist Gabriel Bertrand and guitarist Jean-Sébastien Bacìu, Voisine sails, guitar in hand, between the successes of yesterday and today. He will perform his greatest hits, plus a few songs that have seduced him over the years, in their purest and most intimate format yet.

It is with the idea of building an acoustic spectacle, resting as little as possible on modern electronic instruments, that the singer has embarked on this adventure. He has remained ever-present and loyal to his fans throughout the years, and his new concert will bring him even closer to his beloved audience.

As for those who have only recently familiarized themselves with the musical universe of this artist and his 30-year career, Voisine’s new “Unplugged and Intimate” formula will give them the opportunity to hear the singer tell his many humorous personal and professional anecdotes interwoven with his music.

On Thursday 7 March, Voisine will once again connect with those whom he has charmed with his melodies by performing in Partridge Hall for the Niagara community. It's a date!

- Philippe Thivierge Le-Regional.ca

Roch acoustic : c’est avec ce jeu de mot sans prétention et un brin facétieux que le nouveau spectacle de Roch Voisine a été nommé et non sans raison.

En effet, c’est en misant sur la proximité avec le public et sur le dépouillement des arrangements musicaux que l’artiste a entamé, l’automne dernier, une tournée destinée à offrir une expérience renouvelée à son public.

Avec seulement deux musiciens accompagnateurs, le claviériste Gabriel Bertrand et le guitariste Jean-Sébastien Bacìu, Roch Voisine navigue, guitare à la main, entre les succès d’hier et d’aujourd’hui, sans compter, au passage, quelques reprises de chansons qui l’ont séduit au fil des ans. C’est avec en tête l’idée de construire un spectacle acoustique, c’est-à-dire reposant aussi peu que possible sur les instruments électroniques modernes, que le chanteur s’est lancé dans cette aventure, de sorte que les membres du public qui sont familiers avec son répertoire pourront redécouvrir certaines pièces sous un autre angle. Quant à ceux qui n’ont entrepris que récemment de se familiariser avec l’univers musical de cet artiste qui compte 30 ans de carrière, la formule de Roch acoustic, légère et intimiste, leur donnera l’occasion d’entendre le chanteur raconter, souvent avec humour, de nombreuses anecdotes personnelles et professionnelles.

Le jeudi 7 mars, Roch Voisine aura à nouveau l’occasion de rencontrer ceux qu’il a charmés avec ses mélodies en se produisant au FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre de St. Catharines.

C’est un rendez-vous!

MURPHY'S

CELTIC LEGACY e c n a D Irish

! n r o b Re SPONSORED BY

Friday 8 March 7:30pm | Partridge Hall REGULAR: $59 | MEMBER: $49 | COLLEGE/UNI/CHILD: $25 Don’t blink, for this is no ordinary Irish dance performance! It is a battle of styles, a clash of colours. The cast of Murphy’s Celtic Legacy gives an invigorating performance of traditional Irish dance. Featuring dancers and musicians from Riverdance, Lord of the Dance and Celtic Woman, Murphy’s Celtic Legacy is the next-generation Irish dance spectacular.

SOME OF THE WORLD’S NIMBLEST, MOST EXPRESSIVE LEGS SET OUT TO CAPTIVATE A LARGE AUDIENCE. CLAD IN PERCUSSIVE DANCE SHOES, THEY POUNDED THE STAGE WITH DAZZLING RHYTHMS. - THE JOURNAL (UK)

THE

ROBERT CRAY BAND WITH JW JONES

ONE OF THE MODERN BLUES GREATS Though he’s often, and understandably, called one of the true blues greats of his generation, Robert Cray is not beholden to any rigid notion of genre. Well before downloading and streaming tore down what walls remained between genres, Cray was finding his own unique sound that instinctively blended rock 'n' roll, soul, R&B and, of course, the blues. That in itself may be his biggest contribution to the blues.

Growing up with a military dad, Cray’s family was constantly on the move – with stops in Georgia, Virginia, California, Washington and even Germany – and from the age of 12 on, the guitar was his main companion. His parents’ music, with records from Ray Charles, Bobby Bland and Sam Cooke, had formed his musical foundation, but it was The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix who inspired him to first pick up the guitar.

It was Cray’s 1986 album, Strong Persuader, and the hit single “Smoking Gun” that shot him into the mainstream. At this time,

Cray became not just an acolyte of other blues and rock 'n' roll legends, but a contemporary, as he was invited to play alongside Keith Richards, Chuck Berry, B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Eric Clapton, and others.

“All those opportunities really do have an effect on you. They’re confidence boosters, you know.

To be invited, it’s a welcoming.

And every time that I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of something of that stature, I walk away like my feet are off the ground. It lasts for a while and you feel good about what you do and go on to the next,” he explains in a typically modest way.

Likewise, and even though he’s been recording for nearly 40 years, he rebuffs the idea of being considered an elder statesman of the blues.

As for his three upcoming theatre shows in Ontario, Cray says every night on tour is different. The fan favourites – like “Smoking Gun,” “T-Bone Shuffle” and "Don't Be Afraid of the Dark" – are likely to be in the set list, but “we try to give a good mix of all the different styles and try to change it up so that if somebody were to see us

SPONSORED BY

three or four nights in a row, they’d see something different and hear different songs,” he explains.

Plus, he’s excited to test out Partridge Hall. “What I like the most is a venue that sounds good,” he says. “I want to be able to do what we like to do. We’ll play up-tempo songs and we’ll go so quiet you can hear a pin drop, so you want to have a nice-sounding

room where we can be creative in that kind of way.”

- Michael Raine CanadianMusician.com WITH JW JONES PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $75 MEMBER: $65 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Thurs 14 Mar 7:30pm

BAHAMAS EARTHTONES TOUR WITH BEN ROGERS With Earthtones, the Grammynominated new album from Toronto’s Bahamas (Afie Jurvanen), the award-winning songwriter displays both his evolution as a creative songsmith and his visionary approach to combining laid-back alt-folk with an exhilaratingly executed R&B and soul influence.

Bahamas released the debut album Pink Strat in 2009 to wide critical acclaim. The album received a Polaris Music Prize nomination, and Jurvanen has gone on to receive Polaris nominations for each of his four subsequent albums. The fanfavourite Barchords (2012) earned him an impassioned international audience through near-constant touring and was Certified Gold in Canada for sales both of the album and his hit single “Lost in the Light,” which has racked up more than 61 million streams. In fact, Bahamas'

music has been listened to more than 250 million times on digital streaming platforms alone.

2014’s Bahamas Is Afie not only achieved the JUNO Award for Adult Alternative Album of the Year, but Jurvanen also received the highly coveted JUNO for Songwriter of the Year. With songs that are at times vulnerable and emotionally stirring, and other times quirky, playful and fun, Jurvanen is deservedly considered one of Canada’s most respected guitarists, songwriters, performers and producers. His music is as equally admired around a campfire as it is on the most prestigious stages.

For his latest record, Earthtones, he recorded with his road band (Felicity Williams, Christine Bougie, Darcy Yates, Jason Tait and Don Kerr) plus the rhythm section from R&B master D’Angelo’s last album, Pino Palladino and James Gadson.

“How did you get those guys – to work with you? Jurvanen is asked.

"You e-mail them," he deadpans.

– The Globe and Mail WITH BEN ROGERS PARTRIDGE HALL ALL TICKETS: $39 Mon 18 Mar 7:30pm

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

TEAM

the

BY MICHAEL KRAS

“Do you know Michael Kras?,” I kept being asked by various colleagues.

I had to find out what the fuss was about, so I contacted the 25-yearold Hamilton playwright already making waves. These colleagues hadn’t steered me astray; Michael was the real deal, and it wasn’t long before Essential Collective Theatre was producing the world premiere of his award-winning script The Team.

The Team is the first play ECT has produced that directly focuses on—and invites in—an emerging adult population. Its ensemble cast of five female and non-binary performers portray an elite senior girls’ basketball team competing for not only the title, but their futures. With great empathy, humour, poetry and an optimism devoid of naivete, the play examines the complex topics of homophobia, the crushing weight of an increasingly uncertain adult future and the interplay between them. As relevant and human as it is entertaining, The Team is a significant addition to the Canadian theatre ecosystem.

Michael’s script has quickly garnered much-deserved attention. In 2017, it received the Herman Voaden Prize: a prestigious national playwrighting award. In that same year, it was shortlisted for the Safe Words New Play Award, and in 2018, was shortlisted for the Tom Hendry TYA Award.

Zooming out the lens, 2018/19 has been a “youthquake” year for Essential Collective Theatre, ushering in a diverse range of new-generation artists—from playwrights, to performers, to designers. This past autumn,

WINNER OF THE HERMAN VOADEN NATIONAL PLAYWRITING PRIZE ECT worked with Niagaraborn Mayan-Canadian theatre artist Joseph Recinos to create the original new play Blood Lightning. Now the exceptional young cast of The Team welcomes artists whom we suspect will be making noise in the Niagara/Hamilton arts scenes for years to come: Lennon Bradford, Kaylyn Valdez-Scott, Emily Lukasic, Laura Welsh and Kaitlin Race. Behind the scenes, we welcome a series of young designers and creators, including Michelle Mohammed, Jessica Campbell-Maracle, Jo Pacinda, Ethan Rising and James McCoy. Ushering in such a dynamic next wave of artists has been both thrilling and reassuring, as we look toward the future of our artistic community. Remember their names.

Now that I’ve found what all the fuss is about, I heartily encourage you to do the same.

We hope you’ll join us for the world premiere of Michael Kras’ beautiful and exciting play, and join The Team.

- Colin B. Anthes, Artistic Director ECTheatre.ca ROBERTSON THEATRE TICKETS: $30 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 HIGH SCHOOL: $5 Wed 20, Thurs 21, Fri 22 Mar 8pm Sat 23 Mar 2pm + 8pm

DANNY MICHEL THE COUNTRY’S MOST INTERESTING/INVISIBLE MAN There are lots of great reasons to be a Danny Michel fan. He’s a prolific songwriter, multiinstrumentalist, clever lyricist, charismatic performer, multitalented creative super force and compassionate humanist.

Here are a couple of short interesting tidbits to help you discover (if you haven’t already) the man behind the music.

KHELEBNIKOV Hand-picked by Canadian Astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield, Danny Michel embarked on an 18 day expedition in 2016 through the Northwest Passage aboard the infamous Kapitan Khlebnikov (the 24,000 horsepower Soviet icebreaker and first ship to circumnavigate both the Arctic and Antarctic).

He set up a make-shift studio in his cabin to record the album Khlebnikov which captured “the indescribable beauty and magnitude of this adventure through song.” Michel, Hadfield and composer (and childhood pal) Rob Carli went on to perform the haunting atmospheric suite live with symphony orchestras across Canada.

GARIFUNA COLLECTIVE After years of travel in Belize, Danny Michel found this unique AfroAmerindian cultural group and convinced them to make an album together. Black Birds Are Dancing Over Me was quoted as “One of the finest musical works of our time”

by Billboard and landed Michel his third JUNO nomination and a coveted Polaris Prize nomination.

OCEAN ACADEMY Education is not free in Danny Michel’s adopted second home of Belize. Ocean Academy high school provides academic and job skills programs that enable children to break free from systemic poverty. Michel motivates and works alongside students in everything from school repairs to talent showcases to scholarships. To date, over $90,000 has been raised by Michel and his friends and fans.

DAN’S SPACE VAN Michel also hosts, films and produces a mobile web-series in his all-original 1978 Chevy Vadura van/ Star Trek themed time-capsule.

The show boldly travels the world and features musical performances in the van’s crushed red velvet interior. Space Van alumni include Bahamas, Joel Plaskett, Alan Doyle, Blue Rodeo, Barenaked Ladies, Fred Penner, 54-40, Barney Bental and Mark Lalama!

Reluctant to be the poster boy for this debate, Michel says the outpouring of feedback and stories from artists and fans has been “revealing and concerning. Don’t feel bad about using streaming services. That’s not the issue. How little they compensate the creators of the content is the problem.

Music fans deserve to know how this all works and why the artists they love may soon be gone.”

THE INVISIBLE MAN “By this point, singer/songwriter Danny Michel must be a bit weary of being ranked as one of this country's undiscovered musical treasures. But it's true" The Toronto Star A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN Michel sparked a lot of buzz and necessary dialogue about the current state and economics of the music industry with a Facebook post this past November. His song “Purgatory Cove” had been in the Top 20 charts (CBC Radio 2+3) for 10 weeks, climbing to #3, yet his income for this success via streaming services was a whopping $44.99. His post has drawn almost 9,000 shares, likes and comments and has “sparked a heated cross-country discussion about the viability of music as a profession in the 'pennies per play' Spotify era,” writes The Toronto Star.

Be sure to check out Danny. He’s one of the good ones. And if you can look me in the eye after the show and tell me I was way off, I’ll personally refund your ticket!

(Sorry for the pressure Danny.

Knock em dead!)

- Michael Chess FirstOntarioPAC.ca WITH BEGONIA PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $35 MEMBER: $30 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Thurs 21 Mar 7:30pm

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"SPECTACULAR - IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD." - SHARON OSBOURNE, AMERICA'S GOT TALENT

LEGENDARY LADIES OF COUNTRY

LISA BROKOP with Patricia Conroy & Amanda Wilkinson Canadian singer-songwriter Lisa Brokop is going back to her roots, singing songs by the female country icons who inspired her as she was learning her craft.

Following on the heels of her most recent show, The Patsy Cline Project, Brokop returns to Canadian stages with the Legendary Ladies of Country where she will sing some of the top songs from many more of the greatest female country singers of our time. Legends such as Tammy Wynette, Loretta Lynn, Tanya Tucker, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and of course, Patsy Cline, will be well represented throughout the evening, accompanied by stories from Brokop about what these songs have meant to her and the influences these women have had on her career.

Born and raised in Surrey, B.C., Brokop hit the stage at the tender age of seven, singing alongside her accordion-playing mother and her brother. By the age of 12, she was sitting in with bands throughout Vancouver, and at 15 she was touring. After graduating high school, like many country musicians before her, Lisa moved south to Nashville, where she found success on the country music charts, acted in films and went on to launch her own record label.

Throughout her career, Brokop has released seven studio albums

and has had more than 20 singles make it to the Canadian country music charts, including hits like “Something Undeniable,” “I’d Like to See You Try” and “How Do I Let Go.” Her music has evolved over the years, going from traditional country to contemporary country, and now, with this latest show, back to traditional country.

In this new show, she delves into the "golden era" of country music, giving her fans the chance to hear the music that gave her a foundation to build her awardwinning career. Never fear, she’ll also be playing a few of her own hits throughout the night as well.

Brokop will also be joined by country artists Patricia Conroy and Amanda Wilkinson, who will share vocal duties and stories about this beloved classic music.

- Melinda Cheevers NiagaraThisWeek.ca PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $39 MEMBER: $33 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 GIRLS NIGHT OUT PACKAGE: $80 Wed 3 Apr 7:30pm MEMBERS BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE!

SPONSORED BY

The Legendary

GORDON LIGHTFOOT

…there was something different about hearing the heartbreak and vulnerability of the song now, as if deepened by the age and experience of one of Canada’s most revered songwriters.

– SPILL MAGAZINE

Our standing ovation was a genuine display of appreciation for a lifetime of songcraft.

Lightfoot, for his troubadourial transmissions and cultural resonance, is indeed a boss, of the best, quietly stoic kind.

– OTTAWA CITIZEN

– GLOBE AND MAIL

He is a beloved National treasure and legend, and inductee into the Canadian and American Songwriters Hall of Fame, the incomparable Gordon Lightfoot returns to Partridge Hall for two up-close and personal evenings of stories and song.

Recently celebrating his 80th birthday, Gordon Lightfoot continues to perform extensively throughout the United States and Canada, performing about 80 concerts each year including his regular appearances at Massey Hall every second year.

Lightfoot has won 15 Juno Awards and been nominated for five Grammy Awards. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001. In May 2003, he was made a Companion of the Order of Canada and is also a member of the Order of Ontario. In 2004, he was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame and in 2012 into the U.S. Songwriters Hall of Fame.

THURS 11 + FRI 12 APR 8PM PARTRIDGE HALL | REGULAR: $109 | MEMBER: $94

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Carousel Players

The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito

BY TOMSON HIGHWAY

SPONSORED BY

MARY JANE MOSQUITO

BUZZES INTO TOWN

Ahem, in the language of mosquitoes, in the language of the Cree, that is, in the language of my people who live, away, way up north, “tansi, isqueewuk igwa napeewuk, tansi,” means “hello, ladies and gentlemen, hello!” Try it.

Tansi! - Mary Jane So begins Carousel Players’ production of The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito.

This delightful “Cabaret for Kids” for 'ages 4 and up' includes live music, puppetry and interactive moments, like the above, where the audience learns bits of the Cree language from Mary Jane.

Tomson Highway, who wrote the music, book and lyrics for this engaging play, is a renowned Indigenous Canadian playwright, author and composer. Perhaps best known for his award-winning plays for adults, especially The Rez Sisters and Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskassing, Highway has also written several books for children, including Caribou Song (2001), Dragonfly Kites (2002) and Fox on the Ice (2003). His picture book version of The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane

Mosquito was published in 2016, with illustrations by Sue Todd.

The play follows young Mary Jane, a mosquito from Petit Petit Le Paw, a tiny place way up in northern Manitoba. Mary Jane loves to sing, but she feels left out, because she was born without wings and doesn’t have any friends. She tries to make friends when she starts kindergarten, but things don’t go as she’d hoped. Then she goes to live with her Auntie Flo in the city and starts at a new school where she meets bees and flies and butterflies from all over the place.

But none of them want to be her friend. Then her wise Auntie Flo advises Mary Jane to change her perspective, and to think instead about what she can give to others.

She encourages Mary Jane to share her songs and her Cree language with the world, and to be kind to others, saying:

When you show ten times the kindness, to others, sooner or later, it will come back to you, ten times ten...”

The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito premieres at the FirstOntario PAC followed by school and public performances throughout Niagara this spring and then flies on to Vancouver and Saskatoon in November.

- Monica Dufault, Artistic Director CarouselPlayers.com ROBERTSON THEATRE ALL TICKETS: $15 Sun 14 Apr 11am + 2pm

s T JOIN THE ORCHESTRA. NO TURNTABLISM EXPERIENCE REQUIRED. Kid Koala (Eric San) made his recording debut with the playful turntable record Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in 2000. His techniques and styles were groundbreaking.

Many saw him as the first DJ to effectively show the world that a turntable could be manipulated like an instrument, not just used to complement MCs. A.V. Club called the record “a living, breathing work of art.” Pitchfork described San as someone who is “at the forefront of instrumental DJ brilliance.”

As the years progressed, San shifted and fully realized his DIY ethic. He performed with Deltron 3030, collaborated with Gorillaz and Handsome Boy Modelling School, wrote graphic novels, composed music for films and even collaborated on a breakdancing videogame called Floor Kids. His latest records, Music to Draw To: Satellite (2017) and Music to Draw To: Io (released in January 2019), are what San describes as “transportive ambient-vocal collaborations.”

When it came to live performances, San knew he had to change up the approach for these much mellower sounds. “How do we present some of this and not have to make it up

tempo or put beats on everything?

How do we keep the tempo of this music intact without putting everyone to sleep?” says San from his home in Montreal.

The result(s)? Music To Draw Sessions, a live ambient concert where the audience doodles, sketches, or finishes any kind of creative project; Nufonia Must Fall, a graphic novel performed live as a silent film with live editing, soundtrack and sound effects. And of course, the Satellite Turntable Orchestra which premiered at Toronto’s Luminato Festival in 2015.

“We created a bunch of harmonized tone records that have different notes or atmospheres and they’re all colour coded. How we conduct the audience is using the lighting at their station, where they try to find that colour record and play it on their turntable,” explains San. “It’s set up so that everybody can hear their station and hear how it blends with their neighbours’ stations and the stations from the other side of the room. You get a bit more spatialization and also have fun with the doppler effect.”

“It’s interesting because we’ve had afternoon shows where I’d say up to a third of the audience was under 10 years old…we were like, ‘I wonder how this is going to sound

satellite TURNTABLE ORCHESTRA – it’s going to be crazy, it’s going to be insane and chaotic.’ We actually found it was the opposite. It was almost like they were able to tune in and pay attention and play and fade the sounds with the nuance as it was being conducted. They were able to synchronize much better than say a Saturday night drunk crowd full of adults.” laughs San. - Jordy Yack, FirstOntarioPAC.ca

ROBERTSON THEATRE TICKETS: $30 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 CHILD: $20 HIGH SCHOOL: $5 Thurs 18 Apr 7pm + 9:30pm Fri 19 Apr 7pm + 9:30pm Sat 20 Apr 2pm + 7pm + 9:30pm

KEVIN NEALON

SPONSORED BY

We're Pumped Up! “When I see someone who is just going out to a comedy club for the first time, I think, ‘wow, what rock have you been under,’” laughs versatile American funnyman and Saturday Night Live alumnus Kevin Nealon. “There’s really kind of been a resurgence in comedy these past few years, almost like it was in the ‘80s. I’ll go to these comedy clubs in L.A. and there are lines and everything’s sold out.”

Given the divisive political climate in his home country, making people laugh should almost be considered a public service – or at least a mandatory prescription for improving mental health. However, as someone who made his television comedy debut back in ’84 on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, the veteran comedian and actor suggests comedy is an artform that’s easily adaptable to the times regardless of who’s in office.

“I think the world is always changing and as a comic you have to kind of change and adapt as well,” said Nealon, a former Weekend Update host who created such memorable SNL characters as Mr. Subliminal, Tarzan, Mr. No Depth Perception and Franz (of Hans and Franz with Dana Carvey.) “If you’re a seasoned comic you’re able to adjust and make jokes about anything really. I think the hardest part about being a comic is the challenge we make to ourselves.

For me, it’s being more disciplined and sitting down and writing more.”

Discipline doesn’t appear to be a major issue for Nealon, whose expansive career resumé includes published author, movie star and critically acclaimed television actor

PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $65 MEMBER: $60 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 Wed 24 Apr 7:30pm *Mature Content

for his role in the series, Weeds.

However, it was the nine years he spent as a cast member with SNL – including replacing Dennis Miller as host of Weekend Update – that secured Nealon’s place in the lexicon of American television.

Despite the risks involved in mocking the famous, Nealon said many of the Weekend Update targets actually relished being mentioned on the influential SNL segment.

“I think controversy is always expected on that show and that’s kind of the cog in the wheel there that makes it work; because it is live and things happen and people react. The interesting thing was, a lot of times you made fun of people on that show and they loved it, because it brought attention to them and helped their careers.

Invariably, they’d send you gifts for making fun of them.”

As for who and what he’ll be making fun of when he appears at the PAC, Nealon says the audience could be the benefactors of a new side to his comedy writing.

"I’ve been writing a lot more and a lot of my material has become a little more introspective. You evolve as you get older and I think my new material is a little more risqué.”

- David DeRocco GoBeWeekly.com

LISA FISCHER & G R A N D B ATO N

GIMME SHELTER Lisa Fischer may not be a household name, but her voice has been emblazoned on the consciousness of a generation of music fans.

It is her distinctively soulful voice that powers the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” a performance that still brings the house down worldwide. Singing backup for many other artists, including Chaka Khan, Teddy Pendergrass, Roberta Flack, Tina Turner, Sting and Chris Botti, Fischer’s scandalous anonymity began to change with the release of the 2013 documentary film, Twenty Feet from Stardom. The film brought into the spotlight such previously “unsung” vocalists as Darlene Love, Merry Clayton, and Fischer.

If she went largely unheralded for years, the Stones certainly appreciated Fischer’s vocals: she has sung on every one of their tours for 30 years, and her duets with Jagger are often featured.

Regarding the art of background singing, Fischer says that her

approach “truly depends on the project at hand.” “Mostly,” she explains, “the focus is support and blending and weaving within the music, melodies and sound textures that exist within the piece.” Unsurprisingly, she brings the same sensitivity to her solo career, for which she earned her first GRAMMY in 1991.

While Fischer cites Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, The Stones, Freda Payne, Marvin Gaye and Melba Moore as her biggest influences, her approach is nevertheless wholly distinctive.

She has an impressive range and she knows how to use it as only a true soul singer can.

While capable of the flashy vocal acrobatics of so many other performers, Fischer doesn’t need to rely on them. Just listen to her haunting version of “Gimme Shelter” accompanied only by guitar and you’ll hear a voice unmistakably her own. She’s able to explore a song with remarkable delicacy, as if examining its very texture with her phrasing.

For her debut show in St. Catharines, Fischer is

accompanied by Thierry Arpino on drums, Aidan Carroll on bass, and vocals, and Jean-Christophe Maillard, her musical director, on guitar, vocals and keyboards. Of her musicians, collectively known as Grand Baton, Lisa Fischer says, “Every time we do a song it’s never quite the same.”

Their celebrated sets often feature a few ethno/funk/R&B/ prog-jazz-rock renditions of her favourite Stones or Sting tunes as well. “I know all of the backgrounds by heart. It’s taking me a while to learn the rest of the words!”

But while her arrangements may change with the impulses of improvisation, one thing we can be certain of is that Fischer will sing them with the depth of feeling that only the greatest of singers can achieve.

- Barry Keith Grant BrockU.ca PARTRIDGE HALL REGULAR: $55 MEMBER: $46 COLLEGE/UNI: $25 GIRLS NIGHT OUT PACKAGE: $200 Thurs 25 Apr 7:30pm

She brought down the house in the single best show I’ve seen in many years.”

- The New York Times SPONSORED BY

Ms. Fischer has paradoxically emerged as a star partly because of her decision not to seek stardom.”

- New York Times

Art of Time Ensemble

Doghouse Roses - The Words & Music of

STEVE EARLE Thurs 2 May | 7:30pm | Partridge Hall REGULAR: $55 | MEMBER: $46 | COLLEGE/UNI: $25 DINNER + WINE PACKAGE: $80 | MEMBERS BRING A FRIEND FOR FREE!

A folk artist for contemporary America, Steve Earle’s writing and music has captured the spirit - and the struggle - of this great land of contradiction. Singers Andy Maize (Skydiggers), Susie Ungerlieder (Oh Susanna), Tom Wilson (Junkhouse, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings) and Gregory Hoskins perform Earle’s music, and actor Rick Roberts reads his words. This concert highlights Earle’s brilliant storytelling and presents his songs in original arrangements that honour and celebrate his music.

Renowned concert pianist Andrew Burashko formed Art of Time Ensemble in 1998 by inviting a group of like-minded musicians and prominent figures in dance, theatre and other art forms to perform oneoff concerts in Toronto. The company has gone on to become a leader in Toronto’s vibrant performing arts scene.

No one can put together music and musicians in a more dazzling, brilliant, and moving way than Andrew Burashko and the Art of Time Ensemble.

Every concert is thrilling, inspiring, and leaves you longing for the next one.”

- Adrienne Clarkson, The Right Honourable

SPONSORED BY

All ticket holders automatically entered to WIN A CUSTOM-MADE VINELAND ESTATES SWAROVSKI NECKLACE (value $1500)

Spring Ahead!

19 JUNE 17 AUGUST

HUMOUR

heart WITH

IN THE HEART OF NIAGARA!

Voted one of the TOP TEN Theatres in Ontario for the third year in a row!

The Foster Festival is the only Canadian theatre festival to celebrate the work of a living playwright. Norm Foster is the most produced playwright in Canadian history, and this year we’ll be presenting his 60th World Premiere plus a World Premiere musical as part of our 4th season of sparkling comedies.

Join us before and after the show in our beautiful licensed FORE & AFT LOUNGE featuring free audience talkbacks with Norm and the actors. Enjoy the relaxed hospitality you’ve come to expect at the Foster Festival!

TICKETS FOR THE FOSTER FESTIVAL ON SALE NOW. To learn more, please visit FosterFestival.com

THE WRITER

19 June – 5 July Norm Foster’s 60th World Premiere The Writer tells the story of Donald Wellner, a renowned playwright and his son Blake a travel writer with commitment issues. Full of Foster’s trademark humour with heart, The Writer explores this delightfully complex bond between father and son with touching clarity and a surprise ending that will leave you breathless!

HILDA’S YARD

BESIDE MYSELF

Hilda and Sam Fluck are finally on their own after their grown children leave the nest. As they look forward to rekindling their romance in their “Golden Years,” their love nest suddenly becomes a bit crowded with the unexpected return of their children and some very exotic visitors. Set in 1956, this delightful comedy is Norm Foster’s selfprofessed favourite. Holy Toot!

You’re gonna love it, too!

Paula and Sam have finally decided to pack it in as a couple. As they divvy up their possessions, they discover a forgotten wedding gift that magically allows them to hit the “reset button” when they are transported back to their college days and a hilarious attempt to rewrite their courtship.

Reuniting Foster and Thomas, cocreators of perennial crowd-pleaser Jasper Station, Beside Myself is a sweet musical examination of love lost…and found!

10 - 26 July A Greatest Hit starring Norm Foster and Artistic Director Patricia Vanstone

31 July – 17 Aug A World Premiere MUSICAL by Norm Foster and Steve Thomas

City of St. Catharines presents

2019 ARTS AWARDS Fri 3 May | 7pm

United Way of Niagara presents

The Arts Awards recognizes outstanding community members in five distinct categories: Arts in Education, Patron of the Arts, Making a Difference, Emerging Artist and Established Artist. This gala awards show also features nominee performances. Since its start in 2005, the Arts Awards have increased the visibility of St. Catharines' artists and cultural industries, honoured cultural leaders and cultivated financial and volunteer support for the arts sector.

SONGS OF THE CITY Wed 1 May | 7pm

Songs of the City is an event that is a wonderful example of bringing people together, an event that is the ultimate expression of community belonging.

StCatharines.ca/ArtsAwards

Songs of the City tells the transformative stories of everyday people whose lives have been changed because of gifts to United Way. Three compelling speakers from United Wayfunded agencies share their stories of struggle and afterwards, a musical composition written just for them is performed by award-winning Canadian singers and songwriters. This event is an appreciation of the generosity of our United Way donors.

Momentum Choir has been nurturing and promoting the musical talents of adults with disabilities for over a decade. Momentum has worked with more than 80 different musicians, performed at 100 different events, spent over 1,500 hours in rehearsals and performed for more than 10,000 audience members in and around the Niagara region. Come out to experience a unique concert that will leave you uplifted and inspired as this choir perseveres through the power of music and performance.

UnitedwayNiagara.org

MomentumChoir.ca

Momentum Choir presents

I’VE GOT THE MUSIC IN ME Sun 5 May | 4pm

Chorus Niagara presents

PETER PAN

Sat 4 May | 7:30pm Chorus Niagara’s silent cinema is back with the enchanting lavish film fantasy Peter Pan, accompanied by a live choral soundtrack curated by Artistic Director Robert Cooper. This firstever film version (1924) of J.M. Barrie’s magical boy who refuses to grow up- with cinematic effects of mermaids, mystical ships, secret hideaways and the everpopular flying sequences- still delights today.

ChorusNiagara.org

Niagara Symphony Orchestra presents

MASTERWORKS 7:

A Wild Ride! (On the Opera Train) SUN 19 MAY | 2:30pm Dizzying plot twists, wildly improbable characters, vocal fireworks, gripping melodrama and hilarious comedy – that’s opera, Italian style! Favourites by Verdi, Puccini and Donizetti are presented by the NSO with glorious soloists, Chorus Niagara and the Chorus Niagara Children’s Choir. Don’t miss this bravura, never-to-be-forgotten extravaganza of operatic highlights!

NiagaraSymphony.com

Ravenshead Homes presents

GARDEN CITY COMEDY FESTIVAL GALA NIGHT Sat 4 May | 8pm

The Garden City Comedy Festival Gala Night returns to the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre for an evening of world-class laughs! Headlining this years gala will be award-winning entertainer Deanne Smith. A Canadian Comedy Award winner, Smith is creating a buzz worldwide with her recently released Netflix special. The gala will also feature Hunter Collins (Halifax Comedy Festival), Leonard Chan (Winnipeg Comedy Festival) and Jeff Leeson. and will be hosted by Niagara’s own Mark Matthews.

GardenCityComedyFestival.com

Folk Arts Multicultural Centre presents

NIAGARA FOLK ARTS FESTIVAL Thurs 2 - Sun 26 May

Celebrate “World Culture” at Canada’s oldest continually running heritage festival. Festival Launch Weekend, held at 85 Church Street, is 3 to 5 May. Friday 3 May is a night of local indie-roots bands, highlighting our own growing talent. Saturday 4 May will feature cultural demonstrations, performing arts, experiential activities and workshops, as well as food and beverage offerings, inviting you to explore the diversity of the Niagara region and celebrate your own cultural history. This familyfriendly and free event has a pay-as-you go format and is followed by a month of 24+ cultural open houses, throughout Niagara.

Folk-Arts.ca/Festival

IN THE SOIL ARTS FESTIVAL

Suitcase in Point presents

IN THE SOIL ARTS FESTIVAL Fri 7 - Sun 9 June New warmer dates, same cool fest!

In the Soil Arts Festival is a multidisciplinary explosion of creativity.

Celebrating 11 years, the festival has grown into the premier showcase for the arts in Niagara.

The festival encourages audiences to discover new artists and art forms while promising a wide variety of offerings to choose from.

MUSIC – More than 30 bands and solo artists will grace our venues’ stages to share rock, jazz, pop, experimental, hip-hop and more.

THEATRE - Over a dozen new plays and collaborative creations by local and national companies.

POETRY - A poetry slam, readings and special poetry performances created just for the festival.

ONE-TIME AUDIENCE EXPERIENCES - Streets filled with installations and interactive art opportunities and an expanded RHIZOMES choose-your-own-art-adventure.

FAMILY - Free interactive activities for families at our outdoor hub on James Street.

In the Soil Arts Festival aims to bring Niagara artists from a range of disciplines together to provide unique audience experiences. The festival nurtures the creation of new work, encourages innovation, offers learning opportunities for youth and provides intimate and unique platforms for audiences to experience artwork. In the Soil Arts Festival brings local and national artists and audiences together through the arts to nurture a Niagara that is selfdetermining and culturally distinct.

Get all the dirt at InTheSoil.on.ca

Driftwood Theatre presents

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

by William Shakespeare Sun 18 Aug | 7:30pm

The PAC is pleased to welcome Driftwood Theatre back with their take on a Shakespeare classic about four lovers who find themselves bewitched by fairies.

Grab a lawn chair or blanket and join us in the Mann Raceway for an evening of Shakespeare under the stars! PWYC performance.

DriftWoodTheatre.com

TD NIAGARA JAZZ FESTIVAL Fri 19 – Sun 28 July

The TD Niagara Jazz Festival is an exciting jazz festival dedicated to celebrating the art form of jazz throughout the year in the Niagara region with a focus on a summer festival the last two weekends of July. Now heading into its sixth season, the festival inspires, educates and develops future jazz audiences, while combining live jazz with an immersive Niagara experience – food, wine, culture and natural wonders. Signature events include: Niagara’s Summer Mardi Gras, Jazz in the Park, World Music on the Beach and more.

NiagaraJazzFestival.com

BILL CULP PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

THE EAGLES GREATEST HITS...LIVE

FEATURING THE ULTIMATE EAGLES TRIBUTE

“TAKE IT EASY” “HOTEL CALIFORNIA” “DESPERADO” “LIFE IN THE FAST LANE” “LYIN’ EYES”

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 7:30pm $45+sc

Complimentary Design

A little help from an expert can go a long way. Critelli’s in-home and in-store design services begin with a consultation to determine your perfect silhouettes, colours, textures and function that best suit your space and lifestyle. Your Critelli Design team will create a custom plan—just for you. Floor plans, furnishings, fabrics, accessories and lighting are pulled together to bring your project to life. Let Critelli’s Design Team help you make your home the nicest place you ever go!

1000’s of Designer Fabrics & Leathers You’ll love finding your perfect designer fabric or choice of top grain leathers for your unique look.

Building Your Room You’ll love seeing it all come together on layout design specifically for you and that fits both form and function.

The Home of Your Dreams You’ll love how it becomes the home of your dreams. Contact us today and start bringing your vision to life!

Contact Us and Schedule an Appointment Today 126 King Street St. Catharines, Ontario

CritelliFurniture.com

(877) 322-1172 (905) 684-8108 Mon. - Sat. 10am to 6pm Also By Appointment

169 St. Paul Street St. Catharines, Ontario

(905) 682-7600

TransitionsFurniture.com

We support the Performing Arts and Niagara Ice Dogs.

Mon. - Sat. 10am to 6pm Also By Appointment

© 2019 Knorr Marketing CRIT-1408 1/19

APPARENTLY, YOU CAN BUY TIME. IntroducIng the genesIs g70

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| PURCHASE | MAINTENANCE | WE COME TO YOU

If bringing the test drive and purchase experience to your door doesn’t buy you enough time, the performance-tuned engineering of the all-new 365-horsepower twin-turbo V6 Genesis G70 surely will. Developed on the world-renowned Nürburgring racetrack, cloaked with advanced technology and plush, leather-wrapped comfort, the G70 marks more than just the arrival of something unique — it’s a stark departure from the ordinary.

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reIn KnoL

Distributor Principal

AnthonY AcetI General Sales Manager

BrIAn BogusAt Genesis Experience Manager

rose LoBZun

Genesis Experience Manager

steVe rYAn

Genesis Experience Manager

GENESIS NIAGARA | 1-844-571-8180 ®/™The Genesis names, logos, product names, feature names, images and slogans are trademarks owned or licensed by Genesis Motors Canada, a division of Hyundai Auto Canada Corp. ♦Price of model shown: 2019 G70 3.3T Sport is $57,500. *♦Offers available for a limited time and subject to change or cancellation without notice. Inventory is limited. Visit www.genesis.ca or contact Genesis Niagara for complete details.

Vineland Estates Winery is more than just a tasting bar!

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1.888.846.3526 www.vineland.com

3620 Moyer Road, Vineland ON L0R 2C0

We look forward to your visit!

Like a great performance, wise investing is built on experience and talent.

Our objective and highly experienced advisors provide professional advice that’s built around you and achieving your financial goals. Our commitment to investing in our local communities demonstrates our belief that investing in people brings the highest returns.

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CAROLYN HUMBY CFP, CIM, Investment Advisor 905-988-3562 289-339-4478 Carolyn.Humby@FirstOntario.com

Visit us at www.FirstOntarioInvestments.com or call us at 1-800-616-8878

Here are Just a Few Reasons to Choose Allstate • Excellent coverage and options to suit your needs.

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St. Catharines Agency 275 Fourth Avenue

(905) 684-6103

stcatharinesagency@allstate.ca

WE KNOW NATURAL!

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

905-641-5009

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

COME MEET OUR GREAT TEAM OF

PET EXPERTS 10 %

OFF

SENIORS DAY The last Thursday of every month

today!

GROOMING AVAILABLE 7 days a week

SELF-SERVE DOG WASH WEEKLY NAIL TRIM CLINICS Thursdays from 5pm - 7pm

420 Vansickle Rd., St. Catharines | 905-688-5352

FRESH · CLASSIC · ITALIAN

The Best Seat in the House FRESH · CLASSIC · ITALIAN

...could be in your own new home!

ASKELLIOTT 905 380-9308

3518 PORTAGE ROAD NIAGARA FALLS, ON

www.ASKELLIOTT.ca

3518 PORTAGE ROAD NIAGARA FALLS, ON

FRESH HOUSEMADE PASTA • SOUPS • SAUCES • TAPAS• BREADS • PASTRIES

EXPERIENCE

the art of

FLAVOUR

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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.

67 ST. PAUL STREET olivstpaul.com | 289.362.5550 @OlivArtisanKitchen

Enjoy

10% OFF BEFORE THE SHOW!

210 Glendale Ave. St. Catharines 289 362-1358

REAL ESTATE... as it should be!

GORD GERRIE

SUZIE FINDLAY

Sales Representative

Sales Representative

905.650.1420 direct homes@gordgerrie.com gordgerrie.com

905.466.2503 direct homes@suziefindlay.com suziefindlay.com

WINE FOOD ART

EXPERIENCE.

CREATIVITY.

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