Arts News 20111215

Upcoming Events

1.  Cedar Tree Café Thursday Night Jazz Performances Dec 15 & 22

The Cedar Tree Café, 418 Queen Street, presents a series of special jazz performances with Mark Lulham (saxophone), Don Gorman (double-bass) and Chris Mercer (guitar).  Thursdays, December 15 and 22, 7-9pm.

2.  Make the holidays PERFECT with Christmas @theplayhouse Dec 15O18

Christmas @theplayhouse is proud to present Picture Perfect Christmas, the latest edition of Fredericton's favourite holiday show.  With a host of colourful characters, vibrant musical numbers, and a talented ensemble of Fredericton-based performers and musicians, audiences will be taken on a journey of discovery where the true meaning of Christmas is found and celebrated.  Running December 15-18 at The Fredericton Playhouse, Picture Perfect Christmas follows two people who strive for perfection, each in their own way. Filled with joy, laughter, redemption, and lots of music, it’s the perfect way to get your family into the Christmas spirit.

Directed by Tania Breen, and featuring original musical arrangements by award-winning composer/musician Michael Doherty, this production has something for everyone.  “We’re so thrilled to be working with another incredibly talented group of performers this year, new and old,” says Breen, “Their commitment and talent has definitely fuelled our creative energy in writing this show, and Michael Doherty’s new musical pieces support the story beautifully.”
 
Cast members have been hard at work in preparation for what has become a holiday tradition among local audiences.
Christmas @theplayhouse has enjoyed a long tenure in the capital city as one of Fredericton’s favourite Christmas shows.  This year marks the 10th edition of this holiday staple, and the creative team behind the production have been hard at work.

Christmas @theplayhouse: Picture Perfect Christmas runs December 15-17 at 7:30pm, and December 17 and 18 at 2pm.  Tickets are on sale now at the Fredericton Playhouse box office 1-866-884-5800, or online at www.theplayhouse.ca.

3.  Meet the Artists event at Canex Mall Dec 16

Come “Meet the Artists” Jeanne Cowan and Helen Mórag McKinnon on Friday, December 16 at the Canex Mall, CFB Gagetown, Oromocto from 9am-4pm.  Each will have their work (paintings, photography, cards, paper crafts) on display as well as for sale.  Need some unique gifts for Christmas - this is a great opportunity.

For more information, please call 357-3838 or e-mail eilidhmorag@rogers.com.

Canex Mall is on the Broad Road in Oromocto.  All are welcome – you don't have to be military to come to this mall – it is on the outskirts of the base with easy access.

4.  Christ Church Cathedral NoonOhour Advent Organ Recital Dec 16

Christ Church Cathedral will be offering its last Advent Organ Recital on Friday, December 16 from 12:10-12:50pm, featuring the Fredericton Organists' Association Christmas Special.

All are welcome.  Freewill offering.

For further information, please contact the Cathedral Office at 450-8500.

5.  Local SelfOTaught Artists Make Global Statements through exhibition, opening Dec 16

Self-expression and understanding the power of art is not for formally trained artists alone.  Local self-taught artists, Derek Davidson and Reilly, are paired together in an exhibition at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre that creatively addresses global crises.

Art asks something participatory of the viewer.  An active painter in the local arts scene, Davidson explains, “each stage involves an interpretation… the viewer interprets the released image.”  With regards to his work, Davidson says, “this show casts allegories on some problems that have scaled between local and global.”

Davidson has created acrylic and oil paintings for a body of work entitled …and Protect that illustrates his understanding of events such as the G8 summits and the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. He asks us to consider, “Who protects what?”

Reilly describes her creative process as one of “creating environmentally sustainable art that conveys a sense of usefulness, evoking thought. Part of the journey is seeking out trash that is polluting our environment and remaking it into something that can be valued. Each piece is unique and has its own story to tell.”
 
The exhibition opens in the Charlotte Glencross Gallery, at the Charlotte Street Arts Centre, on Friday, December 16 at 5pm.
All are welcome to attend and to enjoy beer tastings by our gracious sponsor, Picaroons.

The exhibition runs until January 31, 2012.

6.  Early Christmas O A Meditation in Music & Readings Dec 17

A short meditative celebration of the Christmas season through readings and carols from the early French, Elizabethan, German and Czech hymnals dating from the 7th-17th Centuries, and Canada’s beloved Huron Carol.

Featuring singers from the Women’s Voice Workshop, Angela Birdsell, Director, and guests: Nadia Francavilla, violin, Steven Peacock, classical guitar.

The session will be approximately 45 minutes in length.  Goodwill offering with proceeds to the Fredericton Food Bank.
Saturday, December 17, 2011, 6-6:45pm.

Odell Lodge, Odell Park, Fredericton.  Park entrance at the bottom of the hill, just past Superstore.

7.  Bolshoi Ballet’s The Nutcracker Live at Empire Theatres Dec 18

The fantastic, seasonal ballet The Nutcracker live in performance by the Russian Bolshoi Ballet can be seen at Empire Theatres, Regent Street Mall, on Sunday December 18 at 2pm. Tickets may be purchased in advance, at the door or online.  Running time is 2 hours 15 minutes.

For information:  http://www.empiretheatres.com/movie/bolshoi-ballet-nutcracker-live-0

8.  Fondation L'Envol musical Inc./Foundation Music Beneath my Wings Inc. Christmas Show Dec 18

"Fondation L'Envol musical Inc./Foundation Music Beneath my Wings Inc." and MIMI MUSIQUE music school under the creative artistic direction of Myriam Poitras are producing their 4th Annual Christmas Show entitled Les 12 voeux de papa Noël / Santa's 12 Wishes.  The show highlights the talent of many young students of the music school as well as those who are young at heart, from 5 to 75 years, and includes performers from both the Fredericton and Grand Falls regions.

The show will take place Sunday, December 18, 2pm (doors open at 1pm) at the Centre communautaire Sainte-Anne, 715 Priestman Street.  Tickets, available at the door, are  15 adults |  10 children under 11.

This event is the foundation's sole fundraising event.  Proceeds go towards helping students of MIMI MUSIQUE shoulder the cost of attending the Fredericton Music Festival.

For information on Fondation L'Envol musical Inc./Foundation Music Beneath my Wings Inc.:
fondationenvolmusical@gmail.com

9.  odd sundays at molly’s features The River Girls Dec 18

odd sundays at molly’s, Fredericton’s  longest-running, semi-monthly, poetry-reading series presents local writers group, The
River Girls December 18.

Featured readers, The River Girls: Andrea Kikuchi, Heather O'Connell, Jeannie Chiasson, Anne Leslie, Charlotte Valliere, and Michelle Monette
Open Set, & Book Draw
Sunday, December 18, at 2pm
Come to Molly’s Coffee House, 554 Queen Street  – buy a drink and/or lunch, and listen.

Andrea Kikuchi lives in Saint John with her husband and two children.  Japan and the Police was published in The Tokyo Notice Board (2006); Lisa and The Time of the Greatest Quiet was published by Broken Jaw Press (2010).  Her novel-in-progress, Gaijin, is based on her experiences teaching in Japan.

Heather O'Connell has been published in Everyday Fiction and 365 Tomorrows, and is currently working on a couple of novels.  She teaches her students to wake up the stories in their minds and write them down.

Jeannie Chiasson is an elementary school teacher who hopes to publish her first children’s novel, And the Tower Came Tumbling Down in the near future.

Anne Leslie’s freelance articles have been published in Atlantic Progress, Dimensions Magazine, the Brunswick Business Journal and read on CBC Radio.  Flash fiction and postcard stories are her favourite forms of writing.

Charlotte Valliere lives with her companion cat in Saint John, where she is worksing on her first novel, Searching for Shunata, while making her way back to the things closest to her heart.

Michelle Monette, mother of three caring and creative young adults, teaches ESL at UNBSJ.  She writes stories about the Maritime places and people she has come to know best.

The River Girls writing group meet bi-monthly and often enjoy full-day writing retreats.  Besides the five featured readers, other members include: Andrea Quigley, Kim Bent, and Yolande House, who is currently in Korea teaching ESL.

For more info: acalvern@gmail.com.

10.  Live at the Met Don)Giovanni encore performance at Empire Theatres Dec 19

A series of live operas is broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera in New York City to movie theatres around the world and is carried by Empire Theatres. Next up is the encore presentation of Don Giovanni on Monday, December 19 beginning at 6:30pm, originally broadcast live on October 29.

Note that the encore performances are now being offered in the evening at Empire Theatres. Visit the box office to pick up a listing of the winter season of Live at the Met.  Catch a backstage glimpse during intermission interviews with solo performers, set and costume designers and more.  For information:  http://www.empiretheatres.com/met

11.  Meghan Smith Holiday Concert at Charlotte Street Arts Centre Dec 19

After a year that’s seen ECMA honours and a Juno award for Best New Artist, Meghan Smith will close 2011 with a December 19 show at The Charlotte Street Arts Center. Her remarkably fast moving career has seen the Halifax-via-London songstress play with some of Canada’s finest, including Chantal Kreviazuk and Sarah McLachlan. Smith also appeared on the soundtrack for instant cult classic film (500) Days Of Summer.  With a brand new holiday album now on sale, the singer is poised for a very festive return to the city.

Doors 7pm. Show 8pm.  20 advance tickets on sale at Read's Newsstand, Backstreet Records, and online at http://etixnow.com/.  |  25 door.   http://www.meaghansmith.com/

For more information, please contact: Zach Atkinson | atkinson.zach@gmail.com or Brendan MaGee |
theferociouscoast@gmail.com

12.  Symphony New Brunswick Annual Holiday Concert at the Fredericton Playhouse Dec 20

On Tuesday, December 20 at 7:30pm, Symphony New Brunswick's annual Christmas concert will be held at the Fredericton Playhouse.  Featuring a strong New Brunswick theme, the orchestra will be joined by both the Choeur Louisbourg and the Choeur Beausejour, under the direction of Monique Richard.  This promises to be a truly memorable evening with works by Handel, Faure, Berlioz and Anderson.

Please join conductor Michael Newnham in the side gallery at 6:30 where he will give an informal pre-concert talk.

Tickets are Adults  40 | Seniors  35 | Students  10.  Phone the Fredericton Playhouse box office at 458-8344 or go online at www.theplayhouse.ca to purchase tickets.

13.  Winging It: A Workshop on Improv Comedy Jan 3

Taught by Maddox Campbell, alumnus of Theatre UNB and NotaBle Acts Theatre company productions, and a graduate of The Second City conservatory program, this workshop will cover the basics of improv comedy and will be open to both newcomers and those with experience in improv and theatre. The workshop will be four hours long and allow all participants some performance time.

Registration cost is  10.
Time and location: 6-10pm, Tuesday, January 3, Room 308, Marshall D'Avray Hall, UNB.

To register or for information, contact cm.campbell@unb.ca.