We (as in the executive of the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts) can’t be more thrilled about the way the Motley Play reading has come together. It is always an anxious wait to know what play is going to be read, who will be doing the reading, will it be comedy or tragedy BUT this is so much better.
What is the constant with this event? The driving force and passion behind the event – Anna Mackay Smith. She loves this format of performance and the Uxbridge audiences have been blessed to have her reach into her network of talented performers and doubly blessed to have seen her a number of times on the stage as well. But we are even more thrilled for this year because – she has also written the play that will be read. YES this will be a world premier of a work written by Anna. “Corpus Callosum” is a story of twins separated at a young age, each having a personality that reflects the extreme of each hemisphere of the brain. What happens when they reconnect.
She has invited 2 well known and award winning actors to perform this “two hander” Rosemary Dunsmore and Janet-Laine Green, and word has it that they are thrilled to be honouring her with reading it for the first time. I have to say that there is no better experience than being embraced in the story when it is a small and intimate venue (Uxbridge legion stage), diminished furnishings and set AND two people commanding your every essence of attention. Trust me – come to witness this world premier and you will not be sorry.
Where – Royal Canadian Legion Uxbridge, 109 Franklin St., Uxbridge
When: Friday, September 16, 2011
Time – 8pm
Cost – $15.00. Available at the door AND online at http://www.celebrationofthearts.ca/buy-tickets/
It was the hottest night of 2011 in Uxbridge! The Music Hall was jam packed with people eager to see Juno winning band Le Vent du Nord. This marked the second visit for the very talented band to Uxbridge in the past five months.
On top of being an immensely talented bunch of musicians, they were all very humorous, inserting jokes in between songs. The fundraiser for the Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts was an amazing success.
Thanks to everyone for coming out and dancing the night away with Le Vent du Nord.
By Rita Jackson
What is a Diva? OH DEAR! as I am theater, boy can I tell you about some Diva’s that I have come across – both male and female (using the dictionary description below of a “haughty, spoiled”):
But also according to the online Oxford American Dictionary, Diva also means – diva noun
a famous female opera singer : your average opera isn’t over till the diva trills her high notes.
• a female singer who has enjoyed great popular success : a chance to create a full-blown pop diva.
• an admired, glamorous, or distinguished woman : the former director of the association is still a downtown diva.
AND that is what you will see on October 1st, 2011 during the last Lunch Time concert during Uxbridge Celebration of the Arts. We have invited two Diva’s to join us – and it is the “Battle of the Divas”.
Sasha Liebich-Tait and Jenniver Neveu-Cook will be performing together at St. Andrews Chalmers Presbyterian Church starting at 12:30, Free Will Offering. And with these two ladies, you will be entertained by wonderful soaring solos and beautifully sung duets.
BUT BEWARE – I would think that there may very well be some fun as well as there will be a strong Diva need for vocal competition, one-upmanship, out-doing, and each of them trying to be the most noticed. That will be the “Battle of the Divas”. That is the part that I am most looking forward to – being a bit of a Diva myself.
I first went to a “A Play Reading” in Uxbridge as a willing tag-along. A number of my friends were familiar with this kind of theatrical event and spoke of it in glowing terms. Since the event was also a fundraiser for a Musical Theatre Company in Cuba, I felt that my Sunday evening, not to mention a very small amount of cash, would in their words be “Time and Money” well spent.
Anna Mackay-Smith was the moderator that evening. I sat spellbound as she and the other actors read dialogue right from a written script. Portraying each character with such skill and grace as to evoke all variety of emotional responses among my fellow audience members. I laughed out loud then wept real tears, then did it all again. A truly memorable theatrical experience.
On reflection, I noticed that I did not miss the costumes, the sets, the “usual stuff” that we associate with more conventional forms of theatre. In fact I believe the absence of “the usual stuff” offered a freedom to explore my emotinal response to the actors and the work.
I have attended many play readings since that first Sunday night, I have been responsible for encouraging others to “tag-along” with me on my promise that they will be very surprised at how much there is to
“get” from this simpler form of theatre.
Le Vend Du Nord is coming back to Uxbridge on Thursday July 21, 2011 at the Uxbridge Music Hall.
ENTER TO WIN! Buy your tickets before July 17, 2011 and be entered to win a set of personally autographed CDs from the band. Tickets are only $30 and available online at http://www.celebrationofthearts.ca/buy-tickets/ , at Presents, Presents, Presents (60 Brock St. W.) and Select Art Galleries (13 Brock St. W.).
Le Vend Du Nord have received several prestigious awards, including a Juno. The band is now one of the most-loved Quebec folk outfits throughout the world. The group’s current line-up consists of singers / multi-instrumentalists Nicolas Boulerice, Simon Beaudry, Olivier Demers, and Réjean Brunet. Some of their songs come from traditional folk repertoire, while others are original compositions. On stage, these four friends achieve peaks of happiness they eagerly share with any and all audiences. Le Vend du Nord know how to deliver music that will move any crowd – to their feet and in their hearts! This is undoubtedly music of the here and now.
Come out and enjoy a great summer concert!
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The boys are back in town, boys are back in town!
Since its inception in August 2002, Le Vent du Nord have been enjoying rocketing success. They have received several prestigious awards, including a Juno. The band is now one of the most-loved Quebec folk outfits throughout the world. The group’s current line-up consists of singers / multi-instrumentalists Nicolas Boulerice, Simon Beaudry, Olivier Demers, and Réjean Brunet. Some of their songs come from traditional folk repertoire, while others are original compositions. On stage, these four friends achieve peaks of happiness they eagerly share with any and all audiences. Le Vend du Nord know how to deliver music that will move any crowd – to their feet and in their hearts! This is undoubtedly music of the here and now.
Thursday, July 21, 2011 at the Uxbridge Music Hall, 8 p.m.
Tickets $30. Cash Bar and Live Auction with Graham Wilson, including paintings by celebrated local artists.
Tickets available at: Select Art Galleries 905-852-5010 (13 Brock St. W. ) &
Presents, Presents, Presents 905-852-9544 (60 Brock St. W.)
ONE SHOW ONLY – DON’T MISS THIS ONE!
