The star of Royal City Musical Theatre’s spring production of Annie will help open this year’s Variety – Show of Hearts.
Local arts promoter Tony Antonias reports that Julia MacLean, who has been selected to star as Annie, will open the telethon on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 7 p.m. Royal City Musical Theatre will donate $5 from any ticket purchased on the weekend to Variety – the Children’s Charity.
“See our Annie, Julia MacLean, and catch her rendition of Tomorrow,” Antonias told city council Monday night. “You’ll love what you see and what you hear.”
Royal City Musical Theatre is presenting Annie on the Massey Theatre stage for its 25th anniversary. The show will run from April 10 to 26 and features such memorable tunes as Tomorrowand It’s a Hard Knock Life.
Antonias noted that Royal City Musical Theatre has become famous for putting on Broadway-quality productions – at New Westminster prices. This year’s production is being dedicated to Royal City Musical Theatre’s founding artistic director Ed Harrington, who passed away in April 2013.
For tickets, go to www.masseytheatre.com or call 604-521-5050.
Winter kindness
The generosity of Queen’s Park residents made it a December to remember for local resident Robert Jost.
Jost, who delivers newspapers in the Queen’s Park neighbourhood, was overwhelmed by the gifts he received from residents on his route.
“The gifts I have received this year have been absolutely unbelievable,” he told city council Jan. 20. “I want to thank the people from the bottom of my heart.”
Thanks to the generosity of Queen’s Park residents, Jost said he enjoyed the best December of his life.
“It left me stunned,” he said. “I really thank the residents from the bottom of my heart for the generosity and kindness I have never seen before.”
Fest success
The Stage New Westminster is thankful for the support shown for its Festival of Trees.
Folks from John Robson, Richard McBride, Connaught Heights and Queen Elizabeth elementary schools and the New Westminster Home Learners volunteered to decorate a tree in the theme of their choosing over the Christmas holidays. After the trees had been decorated – and sponsored by a local business – community members were invited to vote for their favourite tree.
John Robson came out the winner, earning 27 per cent of the total votes. Funds raised at the event have been donated to the Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation and the New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society.
“The event truly embodied community spirit, just as we hoped it would,” said The Stage New Westminster owner/director Stefanie Swinnard in a press release.
The Stage also teamed up with Quayside Community Board on a food drive effort, raising more than 45 cubic feet of canned food.
“These were large boxes given to us by Great Little Box Company in Richmond, and they were full,” Swinnard said. “Immovable by a single person alone.”
All of the food collected at the festival was donated to the Lookout Emergency Aid Society and the New Westminster Food Action committee.
“We are so grateful to have been received so well in New West during our inaugural event,” Swinnard said. “The businesses that sponsored us, including Donald’s Market and River Market, the schools that accepted our invitation, and the community members who donated made this event the best it could have been in its first year.”
The Stage New Westminster hopes to run the event annually and encourages anyone who wants to be involved to visit www.thestagenew
west.ca or email [email protected].
Political life
Preston Manning will be coming to New Westminster to share his thoughts on life in politics.
Elected Official: An Evening with Preston Manning is taking place on Friday, Jan. 31. The event takes place at the Justice Institute and costs $20 plus GST. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the event runs from 7 to 9:30 p.m.
For more information, check out the event’s Facebook page – So you think you’d like to be an elected official.
