Are you that person? You know, the one who can’t go to a musical without desperately wanting to sing along and who will break into random snatches of Broadway at the slightest provocation?
Or, for that matter, the one who’s still crushing on the handsome Captain von Trapp after all these decades?
Either way, this one’s most definitely for you.
Royal City Musical Theatre and the Arts Council of New Westminster are presenting a fundraising screening of The Sound of Music – the sing-along version. Which means your penchant for yodelling along with Julie Andrews when Fräulein Maria leads the children in The Lonely Goatherd is not only permissible, it’s encouraged.
Swooning when Christopher Plummer appears on screen is also completely acceptable. (Actually, I just made that part up. But I’m pretty sure it’s cool.)
As is getting dressed up in your best curtains, or whatever other costume your heart desires, since there will be a fancy dress costume as part of the fun.
You know you want to. The fact that it’s all raising funds to support the arts in New West is really the icing on the already very delightful cake.
The screening is happening on Sunday, Oct. 16 at 2 p.m. at the Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave.
It’s $12 for kids, $17 for students/seniors and $22 regular. Check out www.masseytheatre.com for information and tickets.
CHORAL CONNECTIONS
Two New Westminster singers are heading abroad to perform in a prestigious international choral festival.
Alto Melanie Adams and tenor Erik Kallo are part of musica intima, an acclaimed self-directed choral ensemble that’s become known nationwide (and beyond) for its unique style and sound.
Now, musica intima is the only North American ensemble invited to perform as part of the Busan International Choral Festival in South Korea – running Oct. 18 to 21.
Before the choir leaves, it’s holding a concert featuring its touring program, set for Friday, Oct. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at St. James Community Square.
A write-up about the show notes that the repertoire is “eclectic and unexpected, with a dash of folk, strong Canadian content and a few surprises.”
Arrangements of pop songs such as Pharrell Williams’ Happy and Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly’s True Colors (popularized by Cyndi Lauper) take their place on the program alongside three Korean folk songs arranged by Imant Raminsh – and much, much more.
Ticket holders can turn up for a pre-concert talk at 6:45 p.m. to learn about the upcoming tour and meet the singers.
St. James Community Square is at 3214 West 10th Ave. in Vancouver. Tickets are $25 regular or $15 for students. See www.musicaintima.org for tickets and details.
BRUNCH AND POETRY
Eggs Benedict served with a side of poetry? That’s what’s on the menu for local poetry lovers next weekend.
Poetic Justice is returning to Boston Pizza for its next session on Sunday, Oct. 16 – but at a new time. Previously held later in the afternoon, the poetry reading session is now set for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (“a perfect opportunity to combine eggs benny and poetry,” as manager James Felton pointed out in an email).
This month’s session features Susan McCaslin and Richard Osler, along with an open mike.
Check out www.poeticjusticenewwest.org for the details.
VEGAS-STYLE FUN
You can enjoy Vegas-style drag show for a good cause this weekend.
Kitsch n’ Sync is presenting Chuck, Be a Lady Tonight! on Saturday, Oct. 15 at the Columbia Theatre, downtown.
The evening is hosted by Tatiana Sway and Dame Hope Diamond, featuring a cast of gender-bending professionals.
“The Kitsch n’ Sync cavalcade of beauties (loosely termed) conspired years ago to create a Vegas-style variety stroganoff with a pinch of Carol Burnett spice and legendary diva sides smothered in a modern pop culture gravy,” explains a press release.
Now how can you top that? With food – yes, there will be food. And with the knowledge that all the fun is happening in support of Parkinson Society British Columbia. So how cool is that?
Doors open at 6:45 p.m. and dinner starts at 7 p.m., with show at 8 p.m.
The Columbia is at 530 Columbia St. For tickets, see www.thecolumbia.net or call 604-522-4500.
MAGICAL FUNDRAISER
Do you believe in magic? Magician John Kaplan is bringing his AbracaDAZZLE show to the stage this weekend for two fundraising shows for St. Aidan’s Presbyterian Church.
The shows are set for Saturday, Oct. 15 at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the church, 1320 Seventh Ave. in New West.
Check out www.abracadazzle.ca for more details, or call 604-521-9580 for info.
FREE FILM TICKETS!
Community groups, take note: You may be able to qualify for up to 10 free tickets to NewWest FilmFest.
The annual film festival, which is running from Thursday, Oct. 20 to Saturday, Oct. 22 at Landmark Cinemas in New West, is offering a new complimentary ticket program.
The program is designed for groups or organizations operating in New West, Burnaby, the Tri-Cities or Surrey who help support people living in poverty or facing economic hardship. Each group may qualify for up to 10 free tickets (including membership).
“We are committed to ensuring that our film festival remains accessible to marginalized groups who would benefit from attending film screenings,” festival organizers explain in a press release.
Check out the application form at www.tinyurl.com/NWFilmFestFreeTix for details, or see www.newwestfilmfest.ca for more about the festival. You can also email [email protected] if you have questions.
LEARN ABOUT PUBLISHING
If you’re a writer starting to think about the world of publishing, here’s one for you.
The Royal City Literary Arts Society is presenting a workshop called Navigating the Publishing World, led by Sylvia Taylor. It will look at issues such as self-publishing versus traditional publishing, agents and publicists, editors and writing groups.
“Making your way into and through the publishing world can feel like wandering through the jungle,” a write-up about the workshop notes. “Learn what to pack, how to avoid the pitfalls and quicksands, and what trail to follow to get you happily and successfully to your goal.”
The workshop is set for Saturday, Oct. 15 from 1 to 3 p.m. It costs $15 for members, $25 for non-members. Check out www.rclas.com for all the details.
INCLUSIVE ART
If you’re out and about in downtown New West, be sure to stop in to the Anvil Centre to check out the newest exhibition at the Community Art Space.
The Inclusion B.C. Foundation is presenting Fire Ball, an exhibition of work by artists with intellectual disabilities, running from Tuesday, Oct. 11 to Friday, Dec. 9.
An opening reception is being held Friday, Oct. 14 from 5 to 7 p.m.
The works were selected for the exhibition after a tour of community inclusion art studios around the Lower Mainland – including Pottery Works in New Westminster, Artists Helping Artists in Burnaby, Bridge Art Studio in Langley and Alternative Creations in Vancouver.
The work focuses on the natural world and its “disasters and demons,” a press release notes.
“The works of Fire Ball are brazen in their points of view and as supernatural as B.C. itself,” the release says.
Artists featured in the show include Dennis Aiello, Daryl Dickson, Samira D’Souza, Piero Faccio, Grace Klemm, Harry Mander, Ricky Placek, Deidre Snow, David Tribe and Mark Wolak.
Check out www.anvilcentre.com for more details, or just drop in to check out the show.
QUAYSIDE VOICES
Love contemporary music? Love a cappella voices? Love the ambience of 100 Braid Street Studios?
Put it all together and you’ve got an upcoming evening you won’t want to miss.
Quayside Voices is a new vocal ensemble that’s been seen out and about at local festivals including Uptown Live and New West Pride, as well as gigging at private events.
Now, the group is putting on its first show at the 100 Braid Street Studios in New West.
The singers – sopranos Maggie Ma and Alyssa Inouye, alto Stephanie Lam, tenor Justin Pham and bass Troy Martell - arrange and perform pop top-40 hits and some throwback favourites, all performed a cappella.
Pham will also open the show with a set under his solo act, Trade Company.
The show is coming on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 regular, or $10 for kids 12 and under. You can buy through www.brownpapertickets.com (search for Quayside Voices) or check out www.quaysidevoices.com for more information.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment suggestions to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
