alex.browne@peacearchnews.com
Beach House Theatre Society
Summer theatre returns to Crescent Beach this week as Beach House Theatre Society opens another season at its state-of-the-art tent venue at Blackie Spit.
The community-based group’s fifth season features the contemporary comedy The Foreigner, by Larry Shue, directed by Candace Radcliffe and Rick Harmon, until Aug. 14 (8 p.m. performances).
The Foreigner stars Beach House regular James Walker, recently returned from studies at New York’s Circle in The Square Theatre, as Charlie Baker.
A shy British proofreader seeking respite from his troubles, Charlie comes to a fishing lodge resort in rural Georgia, adopting the persona of a ‘foreigner’ who doesn’t understand English.
Among familiar faces to local audiences will be Michelle Collier (Lady Bracknell in last year’s The Importance of Being Earnest) as Betty, Charlie’s friendly but naive landlady, Rebekah MacEwan as Catherine Simms, a young heiress, and Jacob Hildebrand as Ellard, Catherine’s inhibited and underestimated brother.
The Foreigner is presented with a warning of some coarse language and themes of intolerance.
Also offered by Beach House this year is a fun adaptation of Aesop’s Fables, directed by Courtney Shields geared to children and family audiences, starting today and running to Aug. 14 (11 a.m. performances) and starring Claire Pollock, Bethany Stanley, Matt Falleta and Steven Masson.
For tickets and information, visit www.beachhousetheatre.org
A Passion For Clay
A working ceramics studio and gallery exhibit, A Passion For Clay – bringing together some 40 potters from hosts the Semiahmoo Potters’ Club and the Fraser Valley Potters’ Guild – is the attraction for August in the City of White Rock’s Pop-Up Town space, 1459B Johnston Rd.
During the month-long collaboration, potters’ creations can be purchased, and on-duty members of the two groups will be happy to share information about future events, local class opportunities and studios.
The gallery is open Wednesdays, Saturday and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 8 p.m.
For more information visit A Passion For Clay’s Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/events/1634917653491265/)
Swing City
Peninsula-based band Swing City – in partnership with Legion 240 Crescent Branch – is presenting a series of summer dances for ballroom enthusiasts.
Upcoming dates are Friday (Aug. 12) and Aug. 26 from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m.
Formerly known as the Blue Echoes, Swing City boasts a wide repertoire of fox trots, waltzes and Latin numbers and has built up a following of ballroom-style dancers over the last 20 years.
Admission (at the door) is $15 per couple and $8 for single participants. The venue is located at 2643 128 St.
Concerts at the Pier
The successful TD Concerts at the Pier series continues for two more weeks as the city and the White Rock Business Improvement Association continue to build the city’s reputation as a destination for live music fans.
Thanks to sponsorship from the TD Bank Group, the series will offer a further two evenings with name headliners from the BC and national music scenes, plus rising local acts and a few international artists, in open air performances.
On Saturday (Aug. 13) opening acts Sean & The Strangers and Joshua Hyslop will lead into the headliner, slide guitar virtuoso, singer and storyteller David Jacobs-Strain, performing with East Coast harmonica-master Bob Bob Beach.
Noted as a “bridge between today’s indie folk troubadours and the Delta guitar slingers of the 1930s,” Jacobs-Strain has also been described as “one part Leo Kotke, one part Ken Kesey, and one part Robert Johnson.”
His passionate live shows are famed for being deeply lyrical – and humorous – but they also speak of years of dues-paying, playing on street corners, farmers markets, and in folk festivals, before hitting major stages such as the Montreal International Jazz Festival and touring with artists as diverse as Lucinda Williams, Etta James, Taj Mahal and Boz Skaggs.
For more information on Jacobs-Strain, visit his website at www.davidjacobs-strain.com.
The series wraps Aug. 20 with Richard Tichelman, JP Maurice and Harry Manx.
Red Beans & Rice
The White Rock Traditional Jazz Society house band Red Beans & Rice – led by Ocean Park-based cornetist/leader Rice Honeywell – is keeping Club 240 (the Royal Canadian Legion Crescent Branch) jumping with a summer series for listeners and dancers, 2 to 5 p.m. each Sunday during the society’s hiatus.
Next session is Sunday (Aug. 14).
Red Beans & Rice also includes regular sidemen Ray Batten (trombone and vocals), Gerry Green (reeds), Peg Thomson (piano), Don Ogilvie (guitar), Casey Tolhurst (bass) plus – for Sunday’s dance only – popular cross-border drummer Bob Aitken, sitting in for regular member Scott Robertson (drums).
The band can also be caught some Fridays at 6:30 p.m. at Porter’s Bistro, in Langley’s Murrayville district (for more information, call 604-530-5297).
Admission to the Sunday shows is $10 for WRTJS and Legion members, $12 for everybody else.
The venue is located at 2643 128 St.
NextGen Cabaret
Peninsula Productions presents NextGen Cabaret, Aug. 19, 8 p.m., at Coast Capital Playhouse.
Peninsula’s NextGen troupe of young performers – aged 15-25 – will be highlighted in this night of musical theatre, improvisation and original dance numbers, along with well-known youth guest artists including singer-songwriter Ava Carich and Mireille Perez.
Supported by the City of White Rock, the City of Surrey and the Canada Summer Jobs Program, the trainee troupe has been busy working throughout this summer, and gaining valuable experience, in a variety of situations, including historical character reenactments at White Rock Beach.
Among members are South Surrey resident Mackenzie Claus (who has played leads in such White Rock Players Club pantomimes as Rumpelstiltskin and Babes In The Woods) as well as performers from around the Lower Mainland.
Coast Capital Playhouse is located at 1532 Johnston Rd. For ticket information, call 604-536-7535.
Blue Frog
If you’re one of those who can’t believe it’s been more than 35 years since The Band’s legendary Last Waltz concert – it’s more than likely you’re primed for the return of Up On Cripple Creek’s tribute to White Rock’s Blue Frog Studios, Aug. 27 at 7 p.m.
Performing classics from Levon Helm, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, and Robbie Robertson’s timeless songbook – including such tunes as The Weight, Stage Fright, The Shape I’m In, Ophelia, and The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – Up On Cripple Creek boasts some of the top musicians in Western Canada.
Four strong singers – Calgary’s JR Shore, Doug Andrew (Vancouver’s Circus In Flames), ‘Crawdad’ Cantera and bassist Ron Rault – take care of the vocal end of the project, while the troupe is rounded out by long-time Ian Tyson drummer Thom Moon and Gord Matthews (k.d. lang and The Reclines, Ian Tyson) on guitar.
The venue is located at 1328 Johnston Rd.; tickets are available at 604-542-3055 or to book seats online – or find information on other Blue Frog concerts – visit www.bluefrogstudios.ca
George Omorean
Peninsula photographer George Omorean likes to explore the many facets and forms of art photography, finding new ways to blend conventional film, alternative process and digital imagery in everything from abstracts to portraits and landscapes.
He’s also a camera collector, and his show at White Rock Community Centre – Half Camera Will Travel: Shooting From The Hip – explores the use of one of his finds, the diminuitive, little-known “half frame” camera, which allowed photographers to experience the scenes they were photographing by being much closer to the subjects.
In a series of darkroom-printed, archival quality silver gelatin photographs including both single frames and multiple sequences, Omorean uses the half-frame camera to create unique – and intimate – travel narratives.
For more information, call 604-541-2199.
Mind and Matter
Work by more than 30 artists in media such as acrylics, oils, watercolours,soapstone and wood carving, glass-blowing and glass-fusing, plus ceramics, pottery and Raku, can be seen currently at the Arnold Mikelson Mind and Matter Gallery, 13743 16 Ave.
The gallery is open daily from noon to 6 p.m.
For more information, call 604-536-6460 or visit mindandmatterart.com
Volunteers needed
There’s an immediate opportunity for those seeking volunteer work – and valuable experience – in the arts throughout the summer, as Outside the Box, ‘A Celebration of Fibre – Plus’ gears up for its 2016 city-wide festival, opening Sept. 1 at 1:30 p.m. at White Rock Library.
Artistic director Alicia Ballard says OTB is looking forward to expanding the festival this year to include all forms of artistic expression – including mixed-media and third dimensional art.
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, she said.
Organizers are also extending an invitation to all local eateries, cafes, and other businesses in the city to get involved, and encouraging new participants.
Those with enthusiasm and appropriate qualifications are asked to contact Ballard at studiogaleria@gmail.com
Artists interested in being involved should visit http://outsidetheboxwhiterock.blogspot.ca
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.
Morrison Music Nights
Morrison Cafe’s Morrison Music Nights, is a regular monthly dinner/concert series in Ocean Park, offering a three-course fine-dining-with-music experience in the licensed venue.
On music nights, dinner is served from 5 p.m., followed by the concert, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Tickets for the monthly presentations ($40) are available at the cafe, at 12855-16th Ave.
The series is being coordinated by well-known musician Randy Schultz (Swamp City), who said it fits in with his long-standing objective of developing local venues capable of providing viable showcases for chronically under-valued professional musicians, rather than simply offering the more usual ‘open mic’ opportunities.
For more information, call 604-531-3636 or 604-721-0872.
Young actors auditioned
There’s still a chance for young actors to audition for a highly-regarded theatre company.
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
Call for symphonists
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.
