Question: What do famous comedians, sinister storylines, happy-go-lucky show tunes, poetry, photography and reggae all have in common? Really nothing, except they’re just a few of the many things to see on a stage near you in the next couple weeks.
It’s one of the busiest times of the year at the Performing Arts Centre, so don’t miss your chance to take in these great performances.
It’s a fun evening of Broadway Showstoppers at the Performing Arts Centre tonight. Students from Vernon Community Music School’s Lights of Broadway will be performing selections ranging from My Fair Lady to Chicago, Footloose and more. The show starts at 6 p.m. and you can still buy your tickets online at www.ticketseller.ca or at the door after 5 p.m.
On Monday, drop by the centre between 4:30 and 6 p.m. for the Vernon Camera Club’s opening reception in the Coatcheck Gallery.
Visions of the World is the latest exhibit and sale by the club and Monday is your free-admission opportunity to see the artwork and meet some of the photographers.
Edmonton’s Catalyst Theatre returns to Vernon for the first time in six years with Nevermore, Friday. It’s an unforgettable exploration of the life and mysterious death of Edgar Allan Poe.
Incredibly stylized, this production is a treat for your senses with its sinister storyline, haunting music and extravagantly noir costumes. The show starts at 8 p.m. and you can get your tickets at the Ticket Seller at 549-7469.
Canadian comedy icon Mary Walsh is on stage at the centre Saturday for I Am Woman Hear Me Laff.
Walsh is about as accomplished as it gets in the comedy scene, including a membership in the Order of Canada and the Governor General’s Lifetime Artistic Achievement award and has come a long way since CODCO and This Hour Has 22 Minutes.
Walsh will be joined on stage by comediennes Larke Miller, Jane Stanton and Katie-Ellen Humphries for this 10th celebration of International Women’s Day. The show starts at 8 p.m. and you can still get tickets through the Ticket Seller.
Coming up March 9 at 7 p.m., slam poet Shane Koyczan returns to the centre with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra for Symphony & Syllables.
Koyczan’s iconic poem We Are More was featured on the world stage at the 2010 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies, and he continues to find new ways to perform his inspirational spoken word repertoire. In this concert with the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra, words and music combine for a world of possibility. Call the Ticket Seller for tickets.
On March 10, the British invasion is relived on stage as the Fab Fourever performs the music that sparked legions of screaming teenage girls some 50 years ago. It’s a tribute act that makes use of vintage and period-specific instruments, full costume changes and zero pre-recorded music to cover every detail of the Beatles experience.
The music starts at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are on sale through the Ticket Seller.
Thirty years ago, Bob Marley and The Wailers released their greatest hits album Legend, featuring all 10 of Marley’s top hits including Stir It Up, I Shot the Sheriff, Get Up, Stand Up, and Buffalo Soldier. The album went on to be the best-selling reggae album of all-time and The Wailers have been touring ever since.
This 30th anniversary concert, coming to the centre March 15, also features Shane Philip for a spirted night of music.
Dreadlocks are encouraged but not required. Call the Ticket Seller at 549-SHOW (7469) for tickets.
– Brian van Wensem is the audience development coordinator at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre.
