A New Westminster resident is officially one of Canada’s funniest people.
Gavin Matts just captured the crown at SiriusXM’s eighth annual Top Comic competition, live at the JFL 42 comedy festival on Thursday, Sept. 28.
With his Top Comic win, Gavin took home a grand prize of $25,000 and guaranteed spots at three of Canada’s biggest comedy festivals in 2018: JFL42 in Toronto, FJL NorthWest in Vancouver, and the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal, which includes a spot in a televised special that will air on the Comedy Network.
He triumphed over a field of eight finalists – all chosen after a four-month journey of auditions and judging sessions - who went mic-to-mic in front of a panel of industry judges and a Canada-wide text vote.
“To be selected by the judges as the last one standing in this competition has been incredibly surreal,” Gavin said in a press release. “I’m honoured to have had the chance to compete alongside my industry peers. It’s been an unforgettable experience.”
Gavin’s first comedy album, Premature, is also sitting in top spot on iTunes after its release by Chad Kroeger’s 604 Records, and the record label will be hosting Gavin at a live-stream event on Nov. 10, offering excerpts from the album and guest performances.
A BOOST FOR PERFORMERS
Here’s some grand news for musical theatre performers in the city.
Royal City Musical Theatre has just announced a new endeavour to help emerging musical theatre performers: the Actors’ Honorarium Fund. The program, which will start with the company’s production of Cabaret in 2018, is designed to provide a financial incentive up-and-coming cast members – to help them defray costs spent on transportation, meals and more.
Each year, RCMT fills leading roles with paid actors (up to five in any given show) and fills the rest of the roles with more than 25 unpaid performers – many of whom will later move on to their own paid, professional roles. This new money will help provide some funds for three to five emerging performers.
“RCMT wants these people to stay in the RCMT family and help bring our devoted audience the best talent possible,” explained local arts promoter Tony Antonias.
The company has set a goal of $5,000 and has already raised more than $4,000. All donors who contribute $25 or more to the fund will receive a tax receipt.
If you’re interested, check out www.royalcitymusicaltheatre.com under Latest News – you can find a link to donate online via Paypal.
THE RAT PACK
Sinatra fans, this one’s for you.
Massey Theatre is hosting An Evening with The Rat Pack on Friday, Oct. 6 – starring Andy Dimino as Dean Martin, Lambus Dean as Sammy Davis Jr. and Gary Anthony as Frank Sinatra, performing with the Sin City Orchestra.
Tickets are $48, plus service charges, available through www.ticketsnw.ca or 604-521-5050. Showtime is 7:30 p.m.
Massey Theatre is at 735 Eighth Ave.
ART AT PLASKETT
While we’re talking about Massey Theatre, be sure to stop in for the new show at the Plaskett Gallery.
Vancouver-based artist Jay Lyonns is presenting The Forgotten City, an exhibition “steeped in the colours, stories and history of the Lower Mainland,” running for the month of October.
Tonight (Thursday, Oct. 5), Lyonns will be on hand with the local band Rogue Crows for an evening of art and music at the opening reception.
“From woodcuts featuring boats and trains, to works that honour some of Vancouver’s sadly disappearing neon signs, to pieces that slyly bring our city’s forgotten corners and secrets to life, this is art with a strong sense of place,” a press release says.
The opening reception runs from 5 to 8 p.m. The show will be up at Plaskett Gallery until Oct. 31. It’s open Tuesday to Saturday, 1 to 5 p.m., and during performances at the theatre.
See www.masseytheatre.com for more details.
COME TO THE CABARET
An intergenerational group of artists are joining forces for an upcoming performance at the Anvil Centre Theatre.
Home Cabaret is onstage Friday, Oct. 13 at 7 p.m., with a pre-show chat at 6 p.m. It includes the talents of dancers, opera singers, circus performers and drag queens, all of whom are engaged in making art about home. The show features Mz. Adrien, the Drag Show Divas, CircusWest, poet laureate Alan Hill, dancers Sarah Gallos and Julianne Chapple, the Métis and contemporary dance company V’ni Dansi, soprano Dorothea Hayley with pianist Alejandro Ochoa, and the country-bluegrasss ensemble Murfitt and Main.
The event is part of the celebrations of Canada’s 150th anniversary year.
It’s free, and everyone will also be welcome to a post-show social.
See www.anvilcentre.com for details.
WRITER’S WORKSHOP
As a writer, how do you use your characters’ flaws to deepen your story?
That’s the question that will be explored in a workshop, Perfectly Imperfect, offered by the Royal City Literary Arts Society on Saturday, Oct. 14.
Valerie Adolph leads the workshop, which will explore how to understand the values and limitations of a character’s flaws and weaknesses in writing fiction, and how to understand what can be done with both weaknesses and strength in fiction. Participants will also share ideas for making character flaws drive and deepen their story.
The workshops costs $15 for members and $25 for non-members. It’s taking place on the fourth floor at Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia St. Register by emailing [email protected], and pay ahead by Paypal at www.rclas.com.
CHRISTMAS TALES
A New Westminster author’s work is included in a new book of Christmas stories.
Local author Margo Prentice has a piece included in Christmas With Hot Apple Cider: Stories From the Season of Giving and Receiving. Prentice was one of 55 writers from across the country to make the cut after a rigorous competition.
The anthology includes true stories, short fiction and poetry, all surrounding the season of Christmas.
Check out www.hotappleciderbooks.com for more details.
SING-ALONG GREASE
If you just can’t help yourself from belting along with Hopelessly Devoted or You’re the One That I Want, then this one’s for you.
Royal City Musical Theatre and the Arts Council of New Westminster are joining forces to present a Grease Sing-Along on Thursday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m. at Massey Theatre. It’s a fundraiser for both organizations – but, more importantly, it’s also a fun night for audiences, as costumes are encouraged, and on-screen subtitles will allow everyone to sing along.
Host Erin Jeffrey will be there to guide a vocal warm-up and help coach the audience with some suggested heckles and actions to accompany all the fun.
So get yourself and your crew all dressed up and turn out for the fun. The screening starts at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $21.50 regular, $18 for students/seniors and $12 for kids under 12, available through www.ticketsnw.ca or 604-521-5050.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, [email protected].
