ArtsScene

Special screening

A special film presentation of Maziar Bahari’s documentary, To Light a Candle, takes place Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville.

The screening is free and a discussion will follow the film with Nemat Sohbani, an Iranian Baha’i now living in Halifax. He will be on hand to answer questions about religious freedom.

This event is part of a global same day event of simultaneous screenings for the campaign, titled Education is Not a Crime. This campaign is organized by Maziar Bahari, whose imprisonment in Iran is featured in a major motion picture, Rosewater, produced by Jon Stewart.

Canning area resident Bev Bliss has organized the screening on behalf of the Spiritual Assembly of Baha’i in Kings County.

Iran’s government stops Baha’is from teaching or studying at public universities, she said, but they do teach and they do study.

The film uses personal stories and dramatic archival footage to explore the persecution of the Baha’is and the role of their peaceful resistance in Iran’s democratic movement.

Davison’s album coming

Singer/songwriter Kevin Davison brought some good luck to the Acadia Axemen hockey team on Feb. 19, after singing the national anthem prior to the game at the Acadia Arena.

The musician and first responder is eagerly looking forward to the release of his new album, featuring When Those Sirens Are Gone.

Davison is also keen to perform it live on Canada AM on Feb. 27. The much anticipated album is available on iTunes and has been sent to radio stations.

“It was pretty exciting being in those studios,” he said. “All the big names have recorded there.”

Davison has taken a month off from his paramedic job and made his second trip to Nashville. In an interview last week, he said, the weather was 20 C in Tennessee.

A Canaan resident, Davison has been a paramedic for 20 years and a volunteer firefighter for nearly as long. He first shared a rough version of When Those Sirens Are Gone online Nov. 21.

Jazz trio in Greenwich

A Celtic jazz trio will be performing at the Stems Cafe at Blomidon Nurseries, Greenwich on Sundays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

The performers will be Johanne McInnis on harp, Corey Bayer on bass and Alex Porter on percussion. A local teacher and professional musician, McInnis says, “what a joy it will be to make music with these fine musicians.”

Born in Charlesbourg, Québec, she discovered her passion for the harp while visiting the United States. After studying music in Québec, Ontario and France, McInnis took master piano classes with Oliver Jones, the great jazz pianist from Montréal.

Windsor concert rescheduled

Due to the weather forecast, MIPAC has rescheduled the upcoming Family Fare musical performance by Little Miss Moffat. Originally scheduled for this Feb. 15, the new date is April 19 at 2 p.m.

Events at Ross Creek Centre

Activities planned for Feb. 15 at the Ross Creek Centre for the Arts were postponed until March 1 due to the blizzard. Activities will include an all ages community art day, potluck supper and snow sculpture competition. Open studio time will run from 2-5 p.m., followed by supper at 5 p.m. Cost is a freewill offering for open studio, bring a dish for potluck supper, or chip in $10.

Come make art and meet the artists who have been our studios for the past few weeks. The Sobeys Foundation has allowed us to provide space for artists this winter at Ross Creek.

The centre has an extraordinary group of dancers led by Rebecca Lazier and Mocean Dance coming to create new work at Ross Creek in late February.

A Soprano in Hollywood

four Acadia School of Music presents A Soprano in Hollywood, featuring Rebecca Caine and Robert Kortgaard, on March 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Garden Room of the Irving Centre.

Caine is equally comfortable singing musical theatre, opera, oratorio and cabaret. Although born in Toronto, she has divided her musical career between the UK and Canada when she is not performing as an invited artist elsewhere. She created the role of Cosette in Les Miserables and was part of the original cast for Phantom of the Opera in both London and Toronto.

She recently performed in The Mikado (Katisha) at the Charing Cross Theatre to rave reviews. She and Kortgaard performed Leading Ladies in Wolfville a few years ago. In that show, they presented songs of leading ladies from the British Musical Theatre. Her new show, with Kortgaard, features music from the movies, made famous by glamorous Hollywood sopranos.

Caine was recently been chosen in the People’s Choice Award as the Best Cabaret Singer of the Year by BroadwayWorld in Toronto.

Kortgaard is a Prairie-born pianist who has studied at the Juilliard School (BA, MA) and post-graduate studies in Italy and England. He has performed as a soloist with orchestras and given numerous recitals. Further, he is a much sought after accompanist for vocalists and other instrumentalists

Admission is by freewill donation.

Weblink

http://www.rebeccacaine.com/index.htm

Into the Woods!

The West King’s District High School drama program, under the direction of Hal Jessome and David O’Leary, presents Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods in early March.

Opening night is March 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the West King’s AV room. The show will run until March 7, with a matinee at 2 p.m. on March 8.

The cast is comprised entirely of West King’s students who have been working hard since September to produce an entertaining show. The show revolves around a baker and his wife who learn they have been cursed with childlessness by an evil witch.

The story begins as a lively fairy tale mash up and becomes a lesson about choices, responsibility and the consequences of our actions.

The main cast includes Jeffery Bickle as the baker, Emilee Wood as the baker’s wife, Hannah MacMillan as the witch, Hannah Dempsey as Cinderella, Carson Rafuse as Jack and Julie Rowe as Little Red Riding Hood.

Admission is $13 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets may be purchased at the West King’s office or by calling 902-8474440.

March Break drama camp

CentreStage Theatre is conducting a Youth Drama Camp during March Break, March 16-20. The show is The Taming of the Shrew, a non-musical, for ages nine to 16. Participants will learn stage skills such as voice, movement, character development and technical aspects. The artistic director is Colleen Hagen.

For more information, visit the website www.centrestagetheatre.ca or email Lana Churchill, jchurchill@ns.sympatico.ca.

At Fundy Film

Fundy Film screens Mommy on Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.

With two Cannes awards and a Palme d’Or nomination, Xavier Dolan’s latest feature is about a feisty, widowed, single mom burdened with the full-time custody of her unpredictable, 15-year-old, ADHD son. As they struggle to make ends meet, the peculiar new neighbour across the street, Kyla, offers help. Together, the three find a balance.

Then, the society will screen Big Eyes on March 1 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Amy Adams recently won the Best Actress Golden Globes for her performance as artist Margaret Keane in Tim Burton’s bio pic. It centres on Keane’s artistic awakening and her tumultuous relationship with her husband, who took credit for her work and catapulted himself to international fame when her enigmatic paintings of waifs with big eyes became a phenomenal success.

The film society will screen The Secret Trial 5 on March 4 at 7 p.m. Five men spend nearly 30 years combined in Canadian prisons with no charges or evidence against them in this film.

Filmed in the era of “the War on Terror” it is a sobering examination of the Canadian government’s use of the “security certificate,” a Kafkaesque tool that allows indefinite detention without charges, based on evidence not revealed to the accused or their lawyers. Through the experiences of the detainees and their families, this timely film raises poignant questions about the balance between security and liberty.

A Murder is Announced

Looking for an evening of murder, mayhem and fun at CentreStage Theatre?

An announcement in the village paper states the time and place where a murder will occur. Miss Marple is at her best as she quietly gathers the clues in the case. Can you solve it before she does?

Agatha Christie’s mystery novel, A Murder is Announced, has been adapted for the stage by Leslie Darbon and is directed by Paul Abela. Assistant director is Susan Monro.

Cast members are Linda Levy-Fisk, Danielle Lutz, Chérie Zinck, Marc Hetu, Thea Burton, Diana Bishop, Chantal Murphy, Liz Stern, Tomas Hiseler, Ryan Trimper and Mike Butler.

A Murder is Announced plays on Feb. 27, 28, March 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 8 p.m. Matinees are at 2 p.m. on March 8 and 22. The show is suitable for all ages. Tickets $15/$12 (Call 678-8040 reservations).

www.centrestagetheatre.ca

Symphony Nova Scotia on Feb. 28

for The Acadia Performing Arts Series presents Symphony Nova Scotia on Feb. 28 at 7:30 p.m. at Convocation Hall, in the main administration building at Acadia University in Wolfville.

Under the baton of music director Bernhard Gueller, the orchestra’s feature piece is a Mendelssohn concerto for violin and piano with Terence Tam on violin and Lorraine Min on piano.

Tickets for this concert are $34 for adults, $22 for students. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the Acadia University Box Office in person, by phone at 902-542-5500 or online at http://boxoffice.acadiau.ca .

Unique evening at the Whittle A night of 50s rock-n-roll and burlesque is set for the Al Whittle Theatre in Wolfville on Feb. 28.

Music will provided by the Chris Martin Trio, The Green Reflectors, Aurora Wilde and Miss Magenta.

Host will be Buster Price. The music gets underway at 8 p.m. The evening is presented by East Coast Rockabilly Riot.