BY WENDY ELLIOTT
Kings County Advertiser/Register
Solid season
Valley Summer Theatre (VST) ended its second season in Wolfville positively. Producer Bruce Klinger said, last week, more tickets were sold than any other week in VST's short history.
“This summer certainly went well enough to justify another,” he said August 23. “I already have plans pretty much in place, and hope to announce the season before Christmas this year.”
Check it out
The newly designed Acadia Cinema Cooperative website is ready at www.acadiacinema.coop
Designed by Heidi Kalyani in 2003, the site was maintained over the years by volunteers Heidi and Ken Shorley. Their job of keeping all news current will be much easier now, thanks to the new content management system recently installed by Ned Zimmerman.
The website is packed with information, including current happenings and past history. There are links to the Al Whittle Theatre, the Fundy Film Society, Studio-Z, Jack's Gallery, Just Us! Coffeehouse, volunteer activities, board members, shareholder information and lots more about this major cultural centre serving the entire Annapolis Valley.
Two concerts coming
Deep Roots Music Cooperative has Ian Sherwood headlining one of two Emerging Artists shows at the Al Whittle Theatre Sept. 10.
Following a showcase of young talent at Festival Theatre in Wolfville July 31, judges selected four emerging artists from the Unearthed program to perform in advance of and during this year’s Deep Roots Music Festival Sept. 24 to 26. They talented four are Julie Aube from Dieppe, NB; Jesse Potter from Canning, The Trips from Mahone Bay and Elizabeth Furniss from Berwick.
September 10, award-winning songwriter Ian Sherwood will take the stage; opening for him will be The Trips and Aube.
The concert will start at 7:30 p.m. Admission is freewill, in support of future Emerging Artists programming.
The Canadian Deep Roots Music Festival in Wolfville is set for Sept. 24 to 26, with world-class musicians happy to interact with music lovers in workshops, concerts and sing-alongs. The roster of varied talent includes Alice Stops Time, Connie Kaldor, Fred Eaglesmith, Ian James, Michael Pickett, Catherine MacLellan, Mathew Barber, Meaghan Smith, Daniel Heikalo and the Acadia Gamelon Ensemble.
At CentreStage
CentreStage Theatre and Glooscap Curling Club are organizing a dinner theatre Sept. 10 and Sept. 11 at the Glooscap Curling Club.
A PEI Temperance hall is the location for the musical comedy Temperance in a Teacup. Unbeknownst to those poor, sincere temperance workers, their hall is being used as a rum smuggling waypoint - and some of the rum makes it into the teapot for their weekly meeting. Dress code for the evening allows for the audience to dress up in 1920s-1930s garb.
Tickets are available at $50 from CentreStage board members, or by calling the CentreStage reservation line at 678-8040. Visit www.centrestagetheatre.ca.
Temperance in a Teacup will also play Sept. 18 and Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. at CentreStage Theatre. All seats are $10.
For information, phone 678-3502 or email centrestage@centrestagetheatre.ca
Calling all actors
The Greenwood Players still need actors for their upcoming production of Robinson Crusoe.
Actors from 16 to 70 are required for pirates/ spear wielding natives/ sailors (you would be all of these in specific parts of the play). Also, two main parts still need to be cast.
Come Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. to the AVM Morfee Centre, School Rd., Greenwood; or contact Jeff Pocock, jeeveseyjeff@gmail.com or 840-3853.
Author in town
Jenny Nelson is a former web editor and producer. She lives with her husband, twin daughters and dog in Millbrook, NY and Manhattan. Georgia’s Kitchen is her first novel.
Nelson will be at the Box of Delights in Wolfville Sept. 2 at 7 p.m.
At 33, the heroine of Nelson’s first novel has everything a woman could want: the top job at one of Manhattan's best restaurants, a posse of savvy gal pals and a cushion-cut diamond engagement ring courtesy of Glenn, the handsome entertainment lawyer.
Nelson has the table set for an ambitious bride-to-be - until a scathing restaurant review destroys her reputation and Glenn suddenly calls off the wedding.
Georgia escapes to the Italian countryside, where she sharpens her skills at a trattoria run by a world-class chef. Her desire to run her own restaurant in the city she loves makes for compelling reading.
Events at Prescott House
Quilt show - Sept. 4 to Oct. 15. People have always enjoyed the warmth and beauty of quilts, but these works of art also provide clues about the past and family heritage. Come and view locally made quilts displayed throughout the museum.
Apple exhibit – Sept. 18 to Oct. 15. Charles Prescott was known for his contribution to the apple industry of Nova Scotia. Did you know he introduced over 100 apple varieties?
Introduction to rug hooking with Margaret Forsey – Sept. 19, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. In this beginners’ workshop, you will learn the folk art tradition of rug hooking re-using old clothing and coffee bags. Create an eco-friendly work of art. Materials provided. Fee $45. Space is limited.
Prescott House Museum, 1633 Starrs Point Rd, Port Williams, 542-3984. Open Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Submit to the classics
A Call for Submission brings its hard and classic rock covers to West Side Charlie’s in New Minas Sept. 4. Playing hits by Ozzy, AC/DC, Metallica and many more; these guys are ready to rock the West Side again. It's been awhile and they’re back: 10 p.m., no cover.
Learn belly dancing
Oriana will be teaching belly dance groove for teens Sept. 8 to Oct. 13 Wednesdays from 4 to 5 p.m. at Ocean Spirit Studio, Canning.
In Berwick
September 11, the Union St. Café has a special appearance by the wonderful, two-time Juno Award winner Jenny Whiteley, along with her brother, Dan Whiteley.
Jenny has been a big hit in past performances at the cafe. Tickets are $15; call for reservations.
September Serenade
Wolfville audiences can look forward to “September Serenade," with renowned soprano Wendy Nielsen from New Brunswick and pianist Robert Kortgaard.
September 17, they will present some of their favourite autumnal works, from Mozart to Puccini, Strauss to Sondheim, with some Spanish sizzle in between.
They will appear Sept.17 at 8 p.m. in Denton Hall. Tickets at the door, $20 and $15.
PAS starts soon
The opening concert of the 2010/11 Acadia Performing Arts Series is Sept. 18, 7:30 p.m.
The opening concert will feature 15-year-old piano virtuoso, Jan Lisiecki, who will play works by J.S. Bach, Mozetich and lots of Chopin, in recognition of the 200th anniversary of his birth. The concert is a Debut Atlantic production, sponsored by Michelin.
Call the box office at 542-5500
Winning writers
The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia announced two local winners in its 33rd Atlantic Writing Competition.
First prize in the H.R. (Bill) Percy Novel Prize went to Wanda Campbell of Wolfville for Hat Girl.
“It takes a village to raise a character,” says Campbell. Her winning work was a blend of her love of literature and art, faith and food, the Maritimes and the creative people who live there; as well as her then-young daughters’ love of an old ballad, “Where Did You Get That Hat?,” the story of a man who wills his property to his grandson - so long as the grandson remember to wear his hat.
Wolfville native Jeremy Lutes, who lives in Halifax now, picked up an honorable mention for his poetry manuscript Notes From the Black Book.
The winners in each category will receive their prizes at the Jane Buss Gala Celebration of Writers and Writing Sept. 25 at the Alderney Landing Theatre in Dartmouth.
Coming up
Until Sept. 1
Francis DaSilva, Acadia Art Gallery, Wolfville
Sept. 14
Jake’s Gift, Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville, 8 p.m.
Sept. 4 – Oct. 15
Quilt show, Prescott House, Port Williams
Sept. 19
Rug hooking intro with Margaret Forsey, Prescott House, 1 – 4 p.m.
Until Sept. 15
Grand Pre Art Gallery, located at the national historic site, Evangeline Artists' Cooperative
Send arts news to welliott@kentvilleadvertiser.ca
