ArtsScene
MiniFest coming
The Acadia Theatre Company will hold its 22nd annual MiniFest in Wolfville during the last week of January.
Once a year, hundreds of the best plays from around the world are submitted for a juried evaluation. The best make it to the short list. In addition, awards, chosen by the audience, will be presented for best play, best director, best male/female character and best ensemble.
General seating tickets are only available at the door. Show dates are Jan. 21– 24. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in Lower Denton Hall, Acadia University.
Exercise in portrait drawing
A six-week drawing course at the Acadia University Art Gallery on the theme of the portrait is starting up Jan. 27.
The class will use the students themselves as models and takes a variety of approaches to the study of the human face. The materials, a pencil and paper, are provided, just bring your smile.
Beginners and confirmed amateurs are both equally welcome.
The class, taught by Elizabeth Sircom, runs Tuesday evenings starting at 7 p.m. Sircom received her art training in Paris. She returned to live in Nova Scotia in 2013 after living for 20 years in Normandy, France, where she worked as an artist and gave weekly art classes to adults and workshops to children. In her own work, she has explored a wide variety of media and presently focuses on clay sculpture. The portrait has always been one of her main centres of interest.
Cost is $135 or $125 for gallery members. To register, download the form on gallery website and mail or deliver in person at the gallery. For information, call 902-585-1373 or email artgallery@acadiau.ca Weblink: http://gallery.acadiau.ca
Enjoy Cinderella
A number of Kings County residents are taking part in the upcoming Cinderella production by Quick As A Wink Theatre Society in Windsor.
It runs Jan. 23 and 24 at 7 p.m. at the Fountain Performing Arts Centre, King’sEdgehill School, Windsor. There will be a matinee on Jan. 24 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $17.50 for adults, $15 for seniors and students and $12 for kids 12 and under. Tickets are available at Moe’s Music 902-798-5565
See Treasure Island
Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of murder, money and mutiny, Treasure Island, has been brought to life in a new stage adaptation by Bryony Lavery and broadcast live from the National Theatre.
It will be screened Jan. 23 Whittle Theatre.
It’s a dark, stormy night. The stars are out. Jim, the innkeeper’s granddaughter, opens the door to a terrifying stranger. At the old sailor’s feet sits a huge sea chest, full of secrets. Jim invites him in and her dangerous voyage begins. Tickets are $20.
Tom Regan Concert
at the Al
The Acadia Performing Arts Series pres- ents the Tom Regan Memorial Concert on Jan. 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Festival Theatre in Wolfville. The concert honours the memory of a former Dean of Arts who was a great supporter of performing arts at Acadia.
The concert will display some of the amazing array of talent at the School of Music. The feature ensemble is the Acadia University Orchestra with a concerto for two pianos by J.S. Bach. Christoph Both is conducting and John Hansen and Ron Tomarelli will be at the keyboards.
Heather Price will provide piano accompaniment for Naoko Tsujita, who is playing a marimba concerto by Emmanuel Séjourné.
The Acadia Saxophone Quartet will contribute a piece by 20th century French composer Jean Françaix. Vocals from operatic arias to Broadway show tunes will be sung by Christianne Rushton, Katie Cochrane and Jason Davis.
How about the music of South America? Astor Piazzolla’s Histoire Du Tango will be performed by Derek Charke and Eugene Cormier.
Pianist Jennifer King will accompany vocal and instrumental solos, including Rebekah Hutten’s performance of Henri Dutilleux’s Sonatine for Flute and Piano.
Tickets are $26 for adults, $20 for students. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the Acadia University box office in person, by phone at 542-5500 or online at http://boxoffice.acadiau.ca
AGM for Deep Roots
The Deep Roots Music Co- operative annual general meeting (AGM) will take place at the Wolfville Farmers’ Market on Jan. 25 starting at 1:30 p.m. The meeting will be followed by a meal. Potluck desserts would be appreciated. Bring an instrument to jam after the meeting.
All friends of Deep Roots are invited to attend.
At Fundy Film
Fundy Film in Wolfville is presenting the film
Rosewater, the directorial debut for The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart, on Jan. 25.
Based on a New York Times best-selling memoir, this docudrama follows Tehran- born Canadian journalist, Maziar Bahari, who covered Iran’s 2009 presidential election. After sending Tehran street- riot footage to the BBC, Bahari was arrested, interrogated and tortured by a man called “Rosewater” for 118 days. Screenings will be held at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Fundy Film will also screen The Girls in the Band on Jan. 28 at 7 p.m. Informative, thorough, engaging and full of delightful characters, the film focuses a long-overdue lens on the women who flourished as musicians when males ruled the jazz scene. Judy Chaikin’s documentary gives voice to these performers who remain unknown to most, even today.
On Feb. 1, Fundy Film screens Dear White People at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. This Sundance winner and provocative satire offers a fresh perspective on race relations as it follows a group of African American students navigating life and racial politics at a predominantly white college in the age of Obama.
Screenings are held at the Al Whittle Theatre, Wolfville. Tickets are $9. Weblink fundyfilm.ca