The arts scene is about as busy as it gets in the weeks to come. Comedy, music, glowing puppets, outdoor adventure films and more, there’s something for everyone coming to a stage near you:
Comedian and host of CBC’s The Debaters, Steve Patterson is on stage at the Performing Arts Centre tonight. Patterson is most familiar to the 750,000 Canadians who listen to his CBC Radio gig, and spends his off-air time winning awards for his hilarious stand-up comedy routines including stand-up comedian of the year. He comes to the Vernon stage as part of his This is Not Debatable tour with tonight’s show starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at www.ticketseller.ca or at the door within one hour of showtime.
This Tuesday, the second installment of the Performing Arts Centre Society’s Morning Melodies series welcomes tenor Benjamin Butterfield for an intimate morning of classical music. He’s toured across the globe including performances at the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall, and on Tuesday he’ll be accompanied by Vancouver pianist Sarah Hagen starting at 10:30 a.m. The doors open at 9:30 a.m. for coffee, refreshments and a chance to chat with the musicians. Tickets are limited and can still be purchased online at www.ticketseller.ca or in person on Tuesday morning.
Coming up on Thursday is a musical tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons: Oh What A Night! Featuring four talented performers, this Vegas-based tribute act brings back the songs of a bygone era including Big Girls Don’t Cry, Sherry Baby, and Walk Like A Man. Showtime is at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre, and tickets can be purchased through the Ticket Seller at 549-SHOW (7469).
Next Sunday, Nov. 17, The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is throwing a 25th Birthday Bash for the Okanagan Symphony Youth Orchestra The party features guest violinist Colleen Venables and culminates in the triumphant 1812 Overture.
The concert starts at 7 p.m. in the main auditorium of the Performing Arts Centre with a pre-show talk in the centre’s Marie Fleming Hall one hour before the performance. Call the Ticket Seller at 549-SHOW (7469) for your tickets.
The Best of Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is back at the Performing Arts Centre Monday, Nov. 18. Harmoniously scheduled when Vernonites are dusting off their winter toys, the outdoor adventure films featured in this event will have you clamouring for snow and Silver Star Mountain’s imminent season opening date.
Tickets for this Search and Rescue fundraiser are on sale now through the Ticket Seller by calling 549-SHOW (7469).
Coming up on Thursday, Nov. 21 is a special concert by the Fountainview Academy Orchestra and Singers. These celebrated young musicians from Lillooet bring a special family Christmas experience filled with inspirational music.
The group has toured extensively throughout North America, Central America and Europe and bring a program of seasonal favourites including Joy to the World and the Hallelujah chorus to stage in this free concert. Visit the Ticket Seller website at www.ticketseller.ca for more information.
The North Okanagan Community Concert Association’s 60th anniversary season continues on Friday, Nov. 22 when the Reside Dawson Duo takes the Performing Arts Centre’s stage for an evening of chamber music. Featuring Christie Reside on flute and Terry Dawson on piano, both artists are well known for their musical talents and remarkable on-stage rapport. The music starts at 7:30 p.m. and you can call the Ticket Seller at 549-SHOW (7469) for tickets.
And the very exciting Lightwire Theatre performance of The Ugly Duckling and The Tortoise and The Hare is coming up on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Performing Arts Centre.
This unique performance features larger- than-life illuminated characters controlled by four dancers carefully choreographed to a soundtrack of familiar classical music.
Lightwire Theatre won the prestigious Jim Henson Foundation grant and reached the semi-finals of the hit TV show America’s Got Talent in 2012. Showtime is 11 a.m. and you can call the Ticket Seller at 549-SHOW (7469) for your tickets.
And don’t miss your chance to step into Powerhouse Theatre’s hilarious Deathtrap. It’s a performance packed with sinister twists and turns throughout and runs most nights now through Nov. 16 starting at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee this afternoon and Saturday, Nov. 16 at 2 p.m. Visit www.ticketseller.ca for show times and tickets.
Enjoy the shows!
— Brian van Wensem is the audience development coordinator at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.
