It’s one of the busiest times of the year for the performing arts so don’t miss your chance to take in these great performances.
Tonight, the Performing Arts Centre will be hopping and jiving to the sounds of Kelowna’s Dreamland Band. This 17-piece group features five saxes, four trumpets, four trombones, a guitar, bass and drums and they’ll be joined on stage by vocalists Paul Moore and Alisa Parker. The concert starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are still available online at www.ticketseller.ca or at the door after 6 p.m.
Powerhouse Theatre’s spring show is set to begin Wednesday. Set in small southern Indiana town during the early days of the Depression, The Diviners recalls the tale of Buddy, a simple boy with an unusual gift for finding water. When C.C. Showers, a charismatic yet disillusioned preacher, drifts into town their fast friendship gives the townspeople hope for a renewed spiritual and economic life, but C.C.’s crisis of faith and purpose quickly changes everything.
Performances continue most evenings to May 9, with matinees on May 3 and 9. For a list of showtimes, visit the Ticket Seller website at www.ticketseller.ca or call 250-549-7469.
Thursday, the Louisiana Hayride returns to the Performing Arts Centre for a night of tributes in celebration of its fifth anniversary.
Since 2010, this Salmon Arm-based group has brought music from George Jones, Johnny Cash, Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison, Hank Williams and others. The set and script are inspired by the hit radio show from a bygone era. Tickets can be purchased at the Ticket Seller.
The Performing Arts Centre is host to an intimate concert featuring Patricia Cano Friday. Influenced by Afro-Peruvian rhythms and samba, Cano’s music is driven by the groove of jazz, and the soul of folk and blues.
As part of the on-stage concert series, the audience joins Cano on stage for a cabaret-style evening. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and included in the $25 ticket price is a signature beverage provided by Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery, so arrive a little early to enjoy the casual atmosphere. There are tickets still available (for adults only) at the Ticket Seller.
Saturday, Brigham Young University’s Living Legends is on stage at the Performing Arts Centre. Celebrating the native cultural heritage of North and South America and the South Pacific, Living Legends brings a vibrant spectacle of lavish costumes and intricate choreography to dazzle the senses. Call the Ticket Seller for your tickets.
Lights of Broadway is back at the centre from May 7 to 9 with Shrek the Musical. Based on the family-favourite animated film that shares its name, the musical expands on the movie’s original story. Spectacular sets, jaw-dropping costumes and catchy songs support a very large and energetic cast of familiar characters (including crowd favourite Dr. Steve Friesen as the vertically-challenged Farquaad). Pop-culture references galore and plenty of laughs make this an epic show for the whole family. There are four performances to choose from and tickets are on sale now through the Ticket Seller.
In Like a Lion is Caravan Farm Theatre’s first-ever spring production, celebrating both Mother’s Day and the return of spring in all its glory. Inspired by the classic mother-daughter tale of Persephone, the show features a four-horse chariot, live music with a children’s chorus and all the delightful twists and quirks we’ve come to expect from Caravan. Choose from 7:30 p.m. performances May 5 to 10, or attend one of two 2:30 p.m. matinees May 9 or 10. Tickets can be purchased now through the Ticket Seller, 549-7469, www.ticketseller.ca.
Enjoy the shows!
– Brian van Wensem is the audience development coordinator at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre.
