alex.browne@peacearchnews.com
Youth talent search
Starting this Wednesday (April 6) the Roadhouse Live Youth Talent Search returns to the eclectically-decorated Roadhouse Grille restaurant on King George Boulevard – not only as recognition of the impressive talents of young Semiahmoo Peninsula musicians, but also as a tribute to one of its most enthusiastic champions, late Roadhouse co-owner Dwayne Jacobson, who succumbed to cancer in February.
The contest semifinals will take place at the restaurant every Wednesday night at 7 p.m. until May 25, according to Jacobson’s daughter, Roadhouse manager Lise Houweling, who has taken up the challenge of restaging the contest for 2016 – with the help of long-time organizer, Dennis Peterson, also known as the Peninsula’s ‘King of the Open Mic’.
Semifinalists selected at each Wednesday session will compete for top and runner-up positions at the final concert, June 12 at Blue Frog Studios.
Prizes will include gift certificates for musical equipment from Tapestry Music, studio time, career development sessions, and a chance to appear at both White Rock’s Canada Day and Sea Festival events.
There’s no bottom age for contestants, and, aside from the age limit of 19, the only other requirement is that they live south of 40 Avenue and west of the Surrey-Langley border (at 196 Street).
For more information on the contest and how to book performances, email Peterson at edpeterson@shaw.ca, call 604-728-9334 or visit the Roadhouse Live Facebook page.
Fiddler on the Roof
Well-known South Surrey performers Kerry O’Donovan (Little Shop of Horrors) and Jonathan Bruce are featured in Royal City Musical Theatre’s production of the classic Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof which runs April 7-23 at New Westminster’s Massey Theatre.
O’Donovan plays Motel (timid tailor suitor for Tevye and Golde’s daughter Tzeitel) while Bruce plays Lazar Wolf (Tzeitel’s other suitor, a wealthy butcher) in the production of the Jerry Bock-Sheldon Harnick-Joseph Stein classic, based on tales by Sholem Aleichem of the persecution and resilience of Jewish villagers in pre-revolutionary Russia.
The show is directed by Valerie Easton, with James Bryson as musical director, and stars Warren Kimmel as Tevye and Jennifer Poole as Golde.
For tickets and information visit ticketsnw.ca
Morrison Music Nights
Morrison Cafe in Ocean Park will host a regular monthly dinner/concert series, starting in April.
Billed as Morrison Music Nights, the series will begin Saturday, April 9 with music by well-known singer-songwriter Jason Mitchell – who has a long history on the Semiahmoo Peninsula – and series coordinator Randy Schultz, coupled with a three-course fine dining experience in the licensed venue.
Dinner is served from 5 p.m., followed by the concert, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Tickets ($35) are available at the cafe, at 12855-16th Ave.
For more information, call 604-531-3636 or 604-721-0872.
White Rock Trad Jazz
The Royal Canadian Legion Crescent Branch 240 will be jumping to the sound of jazz this Sunday (April 10) as White Rock Traditional Jazz Society‘s regular 2 to 5 p.m. session of live Dixieland/Swing returns to the hall (2643 128 St.).
Featured this week are WRTJS house band Red Beans and Rice.
Coming up on the schedule are the exciting King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton and Bix Beiderbecke-inspired sounds of cornetist/pianist/arranger Alan Matheson‘s Jambalaya Jazz Band (April 17).
Admission (19 and up) is $10 for WRTJS and Legion members, $12 for everybody else).
The venue is located at 2643 128 St.
For more information on upcoming bands visit www.whiterocktradjazz.com or call 604-560-9215.
Addams Family
The Addams Family as a musical? What might have seemed unlikely for fans of Charles Addams’ original New Yorker cartoons of the 1930s and 40s, the long-running ’60s series, the hit movies of the early 1990s and successful series reboot in the late `90s, was vindicated by a triumphant 2009 stage version, which began its Broadway run in 2010.
The Addams Family comes to the stage of Earl Marriott Secondary’s Wheelhouse Theatre as the school’s 40th anniversary production April 13-16 and 20-23, directed by drama department head Candice Radcliffe, with full orchestra directed by Rodger Owens, vocal direction by Bev and Emma Schellenberg, choregraphy by Carol Seitz and costumes capturing the iconic Addams look by Linda Weston and Gale Smith.
A solid book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and witty, tuneful score by Andrew Lippa provides gift roles (and numbers) for the inhabitants of the ghoulish Addams mansion – including Morticia and Gomez, Uncle Fester and even Lurch the butler, as well as providing opportunities to shine for some new characters and a whole graveyard’s worth of undead ancestors.
Little wonder that, in spite of a few ‘mature’ references, the show is proving a favourite for high school producers weary of long-in-the-tooth traditional musicals.
Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. and tickets ($17, $15 seniors and students) can be reserved by emailing emstheatreco@gmail or calling 604-542-2181.
Encore concerts
Polish/Belgian pianist Joanna Trzeciak will perform music by Beethoven and Chopin, 3 p.m., April 17, at White Rock’s First United Church, 15385 Semiahmoo Ave.
The concert is the latest in a series of well-received Sunday afternoon classical performances featuring a stellar group of world-class classical touring musicians lined up by artistic director Eugene Skovorodnikov, presented by Encore Peninsula Concerts and co-sponsored by the City of White Rock.
Rounding out the current season, on May 15, will be an orchestral performance featuring the strings of the West Coast Symphony Orchestra (conducted by Albanian maestro Bujar Llapaj) with Canadian-American trumpeter Dan Kocurek and Skovorodnikov – himself an internationally-recognized concert pianist – at the piano.
The program for that concert will include Eine Kleine Nachtmusik by Mozart, surely one of the best-known of all classical compositions, and Shostakovich’s Concerto No. 1 for Piano, Trumpet and Strings.
Tickets can be purchased online at tickets.surrey.ca or at White Rock Community Centre, 15154 Russell Ave.
Double exposure
Semiahmoo Arts is inviting the public to get involved in the dialogue between two artistic disciplines: photography and poetry.
The exhibit/arts event Double Exposure, at the Turnbull Gallery at South Surrey Recreation and Arts Centre, honours two annual events, the Capture Photography Festival and Canada’s National Poetry Month.
As part of the event, the Double Exposure: Ekphrastic Poetry Project is issuing a challenge for writers and poets to come to the gallery between April 1 and 14 to create poetry inspired by the photo exhibit.
‘Ekphrastic,’ derived from the Greek, refers to poetry that interprets a visual stimulus, and participants are invited to submit their poems online by 5 p.m. April 14 (submissions to info@semiahmooarts.com).
Winners will share their work at the Double Exposure closing ceremony, April 20, where poems will be read by Surrey poet laureate Renee Saklikar.
The South Surrey Recreation and Arts Centre is located at 14601 20 Ave.
Blue Frog
Coming up this month at White Rock’s busy performance venue Blue Frog Studios are Andrea Superstein (quirky, arty pop jazz, April 9) and Byrd Dawg (Everly Brothers, Simon and Garfunkel tribute, April 15-16)
Check www.bluefrogstudios.ca for full details of the concert line-up.
The venue is located at 1328 Johnston Rd.; tickets are available at 604-542-3055 or through the website.
Volunteers needed
Outside the Box – A Celebration of Fibre – Plus is commencing preparations for its 2016 city-wide festival. Artistic director Alicia Ballard says OTB is looking forward to expanding the experience this year to all forms of artistic expression – including mixed-media, 3D and food.
To accomplish this organizers are extending an invitation to all local eateries, cafes, and other businesses in the city to get involved, and encouraging new participants, as well as offering a number of volunteer opportunities.
New volunteers are needed for positions in public relations and marketing, acquisitions and sponsorships, media and information technology and videography, as well as volunteers at large.
Those with enthusiasm and appropriate qualifications are asked to contact Ballard at studiogaleria@gmail.com
Sunshine at night
There’s something special about open mic evenings – not only are you likely to hear a variety of music that most venue programmers can’t present, but you might just catch an early performance by a rising star, or a surprise appearance by an established performer trying some new material.
Semiahmoo Peninsula open mic king Dennis Peterson – a man with a good eye for White Rock and South Surrey’s growing pool of experienced and developing talents – is offering a regular show, 6-9 p.m. most Saturdays at The Good Day Sunshine Cafe, #100-2950 King George Hwy.
With dinner, drinks and dessert also on the menu, it’s a good venue to settle in for an evening of unexpected musical treats.
Young actors sought
There’s still a chance for young actors to audition for a highly-regarded theatre company’s 18th season.
Susan Pendleton‘s Young People’s Theatre Company of Surrey (SYTCO) has opened up a few spots for boys and girls in grades 7-10.
Contact sytco@shaw.ca for audition information.
Orchestral recruits
The White Rock Community Orchestra has openings for double bass players and string players – especially violinists and violists. New woodwind and brass players are also welcome. For details, call Don Miller at 604-807-0560 or email papadon1812@hotmail.com, or visit http://whiterockcommunityorchestra.org
Symphonists sought
Now celebrating its 30th concert season, the Fraser Valley Symphony is seeking new members in the violin, viola and percussion sections, but also welcomes inquiries from other interested professional-calibre musicians.
Performing alongside world class instrumental and vocal soloists, the orchestra provides an opportunity for auditioned musicians to present a variety of music to audiences throughout the region.
Rehearsals are held on Monday evenings, in Abbotsford.
Contact info@fraservalleysymphony.org or call 604-859-3877.
Singers wanted
Pacific Showtime Men’s Chorus, based in Ocean Park, rehearses Monday nights at 7:30 p.m. at St. Mark’s Church, 12953 20 Ave.
The small community chorus of experienced singers is currently seeking new members for all vocal ranges: lead, tenor, baritone and bass.
Offering a big sound in a variety of musical styles, Pacific Showtime has been featured at a many different Lower Mainland events, including show productions, concerts and private functions.
The repertoire is designed to include songs and a singing style that appeal to a wide variety of music preferences, with emphasis on entertainment value, and chance to develop singing skills while having fun and enjoying camaraderie.
Male singers are invited to attend rehearsals to check out the group and, hopefully, join in.
For more information, call 604-536-5292 or email leighand@shaw.ca
