I’m an awful traveler. I’m one of those people who boards a plane and the moment I sit down is the exact same moment I absolutely need to be off the plane. I have very similar tolerance for long car trips, bus rides, you-name-it.
While many people have an inherent longing to see different continents and countries, I’m much happier to stay within a four-hour radius of home.
Luckily for non-globetrotters like me, the arts are always there to represent culture. Events happening in the valley in the coming weeks provide an abundance of culture and all can be enjoyed without the fuss of packing a suitcase.
Harkening to 1922, New York, Lights of Broadway’s Thoroughly Modern Millie is set to take the stage this coming weekend.
Last year this Vernon Community Music School group delighted the audience with their incredible production of The Sound of Music. This year’s production follows the story of small-town girl Millie Dillmount as she chases grandiose dreams of big money and big city living.
Choose from evening performances Friday, May 6 and Saturday, May 7 starting at 7 p.m. There is also a matinee on Saturday starting at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased from the Ticket Seller by calling 549-SHOW (7469).
On Sunday, May 8 the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra is joined on stage by pianist Kinza Tyrrell for their Masterworks concert, Spirit of the North.
They’ll be performing Grieg’s Piano Concerto and Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5 and I Send Only Angels by Canadian composer Marcus Goddard.
Tyrrell made her orchestral debut at age 12 and has since been known as a sensation with award winning talent.
This evening of music starts at 7 p.m. and tickets can be purchased through the Ticket Seller at 549-SHOW.
The Amnesty International Film Festival is back at the Performing Arts Centre on Monday, May 9.
This year’s feature film is a documentary called Afghan Star.
It follows the true story of Pop Idol contestants who are literally risking life and limb to perform on an American Idol-style television series in a country where voting is a relatively new concept and pop singing is actually against religious teachings.
Showtime is at 7 p.m. and admission is by donation.
Derek Edwards is a familiar face in Canadian comedy and has been so for more than 14 years with his quirky observations about life.
Winner of Best Stand-up Comic at the 2009 Canadian Comedy Awards, Edwards brings My Blunderful Life, his new one-man show, to the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Thursday, May 12 starting at 8 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased by calling the Ticket Seller at 549-SHOW (7469).
The Zirka Ukrainian Dancers are celebrating their 32nd year of dance and on Saturday, May 14 the troupe is presenting a unique evening of colours and sounds to represent Ukrainian culture.
The Tradition Continues also features the Kelowna’s Dolyna Ukrainian Dancers and a special performance by Zirka’s alumnae group. Tickets can be purchased through the Ticket Seller by calling 549-SHOW (7469) or online at www.ticketseller.ca.
And Aura Chamber Choir is celebrating Eastern European composers in their production of Under the Eastern Sun.
The program ranges from folk songs to cutting-edge contemporary compositions offering a wide sample of music from the region.
The evening of music starts at 7:30 p.m. at the All Saints Anglican Church and advance tickets can be purchased through the Ticket Seller box office by calling 250-549-7469.
Enjoy the shows!
–– Brian van Wensem is the audience development coordinator at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre. His column appears every second Sunday.
