It’s not Christmas until you’ve heard at least one choir singing – and I have just the one for you.
New Westminster’s own Amabilis Singers are offering up Christmas Joy on Saturday, Dec. 5.
The choir is fresh off a successful homecoming concert following a tour of Italy this past summer.
The afternoon concert promises to celebrate all the joyful magic of the Christmas season, with favourite carols and sing-alongs alongside other seasonal choral works – including such gems as Connor Koppin’s There Is No Rose, Will Todd’s Softly and Morten Lauridsen’s O Nata Lux.
Tickets are $20, or free for children under 12. You can buy from choir members, at the door or call 604-897-7258.
Check out www.amabilissingers.org for more details.
(And my usual disclaimer: Yes, indeed, I am an Amabilian. You’ll spot me hanging with the altos, so do come say hello if you come to the concert!)
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A veteran author from New Westminster has released a new book.
Trevor Carolan was in town in November to launch The Literary Storefront: The Glory Years, 1978-1985.
Carolan began writing at age 17 for The New Westminster Columbian, filing dispatches from San Francisco’s countercultural music scene. During the late 1960s he ran the Bohemian Orpheus, a Columbia Street coffee house that featured many top West Coast music acts of the period. He started his writing career right here in the city by freelancing for arts and music publications across Canada and the U.S., and he has since published more than 20 books.
“We emigrated to Canada in ’57, settled in New Westminster, and it’ll always be my hometown,” he said in a press release. “As a boy I was a maypole dancer at the celebrations in Queen’s Park, sang in the Lord Kelvin School choir, and played on the Lester Pearson football team. The Royal City produced a constant stream of fine athletes and artists. The late Joe Plaskett was our city’s art hero living in Paris, and it was Sam Roddan who got me started at creative writing in high school.”
The Literary Storefront: The Glory Years follows the story of Canada’s first non-profit literary centre, founded by Mona Fertig. The book has been released by Mother Tongue Publishing. Check out www.mothertonguepublishing.com for more.
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Getting older is serious business – or is it?
Golden Age Theatre is offering up a production of theatrical fun, Seriously Senior, at Century House on Dec. 4 and 5.
The production includes three one-act plays: Time Out, in a special return performance; Yogiisms, a monologue about Yogi Berra; and Profusion of Roses, a touching story about two older women.
Time Out is directed by Margo Prentice, with a cast including Joan Duffy, Muriel Grooves, Georgie Cole, Claudette Campbell, Elaine Nickel and George Bosnick. Yogiisms is also directed by Prentice, with Michael Anthony as the announcer. Profusion of Roses, directed by Anthony, features Betty Ann Wilson and Prentice.
Seriously Senior runs Friday, Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 5 at 1:30 p.m. at Century House, 620 Eighth St. Tickets are $8 for members, $10 for non-members, including refreshments and entertainment at intermission. You can buy them at the front desk at Century House.
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And here’s another from the “just being old is a laugh” files.
That’s not my quote, incidentally – it was one of the comments made when a new class started up as part of the Liberal Arts 55+ program at SFU: Finding Your Funny – Discover Stand-Up Comedy.
Janice Bannister, a New Westminster comic and comedy teacher and owner of Laughter Zone 101, leads the classes – and she’s showcasing the group’s talents in a show at Lafflines on Sunday, Nov. 29 at 2 p.m.
The Boomers, Zoomers and Seniors show features students aged 55 to 83, with jokes covering all aspects of the boomer and senior years.
“There will be no Depends jokes; those have all been done,” Bannister says. “This comedy material is authentic and covers a range of material dealing with families, technology, acceptance in the community and the good and bad parts of getting older.”
Tickets for the show are $15, with a $3 seniors’ discount. Check out www.lafflines.com.
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Take a journey into the past for an old-time live radio show in a new performance at the Columbia Theatre.
Christmas on the Air: A Musical Revue, is onstage on Saturday, Dec. 5 at 1 and 7 p.m.
The night is led by radio broadcasters and co-hosts Red Robinson and Rick Cluff, with a cast of tribute artists, a band, swing dancers, elves and, of course, Santa Claus. The night is set in a radio studio, with the audience as, well, the audience. You can enjoy tunes of the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s courtesy of the talents of the Hot Mammas, Candus Churchill, Michael Sicoly, Aaron Wong and the On The Air Dancers, with the band featuring Tom Arntzen, Arnt Arntzen, Brian Newcombe, Buff Allen and David Say.
Check out www.facebook.com/OnTheAirAMusicalRevue or www.thecolumbia.ca for more, or call 604-522-4500 for tickets.
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Hark how the bells, sweet silver bells, all seem to say, throw cares away …
Sorry, it’s coming up on Christmas, which means I can’t read the word “bells” without singing. My carolling digressions aside, however, be sure to mark Sunday, Dec. 6 on your calendars.
Queens Avenue United Church is once again hosting its popular Carols and Bells evening at 7 p.m., featuring handbell choirs from Burnaby, New Westminster and Surrey.
In between handbell performances, the audience gets a chance to join in and sing Christmas carols.
Tickets are available at the door or at www.queensavenue.org. Regular tickets are $20, with seniors and students for $15 and kids for $10. And, by the way, the organizers let us know that the concert is about 70 to 90 minutes long, without intermission, so even the young members of the family can get home for bedtime.
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Beer and bling? That sounds like a perfect combination for the festive season.
Kathy Brandon of Workingsilver studio in Sapperton is inviting everyone to a late-night event on Thursday, Dec. 10, 5 to 10 p.m. You’ll be able to shop for handmade artisan jewelry from 10 jewelry artisans, and, as an added bonus, Steel & Oak will be on hand to serve up three of their craft beers – with partial proceeds to the Arts Council of New Westminster.
Workingsilver is at 131 East Columbia St. Check out workingsilver.com for all the details.
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If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for a music lover, why not some concert tickets for Massey Theatre?
Families might want to save Sunday, Feb. 7 for Charlotte Diamond’s Diamonds by the Sea performance at 2 p.m.
Or what about Jann Arden? The Canadian chanteuse is coming to the Massey, too, for a March 12 performance.
And, as always, the theatre offers a host of other events – check out www.masseytheatre.com for all the upcoming details.
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What better way to usher in the holiday season than with Ol’ Blue Eyes himself?
Rick Valiant is bringing his Songs of Sinatra tribute to the Columbia Theatre on Dec. 12, in recognition of what would have been Frank Sinatra’s 100th birthday.
He’ll be joined by the Blue Morris Swing Band, conducted by Johnny Spiby.
The opening act is ABBA Time.
Doors open at 7 p.m., with the show at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $25 for show only ($27 at the door), or $40 for dinner and show. There are reduced rates for buying full tables.
For tickets and information, see www.thecolumbia.ca or call 604-522-4500.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
