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Arts Briefs

Fantastick summer theatre playbill

By Nicole Fitzgerald

The Whistler Theatre Project has announced this year’s summer stock production of theatre in the park. And instead of last year’s ode to Shakespeare with A Midsummer Night’s Dream , organizers wanted to leave theatregoers on a more contemporary musical note.

“We’ve made a natural choice,” said WTP co-artistic director Zaib Shaikh. “ The Fantasticks , like Dream last season, allows us to celebrate our unique site by theatrically incorporating the forest behind the stage, allowing for the seamless transition from exterior to interior locales and ruminations.”

WTP mounts the modern musical classic The Fantasticks July 17 to Sept. 2 under the stars in the great outdoors of Ross Rebagliati Park in Whistler.

WTP launched Whistler’s first professional summer stock theatre production last year to rave reviews. And thanks to last season’s sell-out run, organizers extended this year’s 2007 season, kicking off in mid-July. Organizers have high hopes for the hilarious and heart warming charm of The Fantasticks .

The longest-running Off-Broadway musical, penned by lyricist Tom Jones and composer Harvey Schmidt, brings to life the story of two fathers who attempt to spark a romance between their children by pretending to feud. Hilarity, romance and a coming of age tale follows with stand out songs such as Much More, Try to Remember, Soon It’s Gonna Rain and They Were You.

For more information, visit www.whistlertheatreproject.com.

 

Leaping step forward for ballet in Whistler

Soul Funktion Dance Studio continues to raise the bar on dance in Whistler with 29 studio students scoring a 100 per cent pass rate at the Royal Academy of Dance examinations held in North Vancouver this winter.

“All students worked hard to memorize their technical elements, exercises and dances. Our examiner was from the National Ballet School of Canada and it was so inspirational for the young students of Soul Funktion to work with such an important role model in the ballet world,” said Codi Dalen, studio owner. “Exams also help students and families gage how ballet in our small community can be related to ballet at the National Ballet or many other prominent schools around the world.”

This was the first time Soul Funktion has enlisted their dancers in the prestigious exam. The United-Kingdom-based Royal Academy of Dance is one of the most respected and recognized dance groups in the international world of ballet, and its exams the most stringent.

Local dancers’ dedication, as well as the support and hard work of instructors, shone brilliantly on the examination floor.

Sophia Seidler, Mackenzie Wilson, Daria Rivera, Kara Mackenzie, Sarah Ford and Mackenzie Martin graduated in the primary level. Erin Bonin, Melissa Roy and Berit Beattie in the Grade 2 ballet level. Sydney Aspden, Shay Saver, Megan Moody, Morgan McGaw, Alicia Longstaff, Ramona Seidler, Jamie Roote and Chelsea McCurdy completed Grade 3. Theresa Oswald, Jocelyn Kay, Jessica Craig, Alexandra Arcalean, Shannon MacDonald, Lucy Brown, Kristi Poole-Adler and Tabitha Akama completed Grade 5. Ali Wake, Nicole Sadler, Stephanie Moody and Emma Baker completed Grade 6.

Sophia Seidler, who danced at the primary level, was also awarded the highest marks with a distinction honour.

In addition to formal studies, Soul Funktion also offers drop in ballet classes as well as adult ballet.

 

Last call for sexcapade scribbles

Writers are invited to pen a mini story, love letter, rant, apology, promise or sexcapade to enter The Postcard Jam that takes place Monday, Feb. 19 at Three Below as part of the Whistler Writers’ Group’s Literary Leanings three-day event.

The writers’ group, a.k.a. The Vicious Circle, is hosting a number of readings and guest speakers over the three days as part of Celebration 2010 with The Postcard Jam sweetening the literary deal with $250 cash prizes to the winners of the Critics’ Choice Award and the Audience Choice Award.

A postcard story must be an original, unpublished work of 300 words or less. Multiple entries are permitted. Send story, a short bio, phone number and e-mail address to postcard@viciouscircle.ca to enter. There is no entry fee.

The contest application process closes midnight Wednesday, Feb. 7. Approximately 15 to 20 finalists will be chosen and notified by Monday, Feb. 12.

For more information, visit viciouscircle.ca.

 

Floyd Somewhere Over the Rainbow

The Wizard of Oz and Pink Floyd may at first glance appear to have nothing in common. However, simultaneously hit play on both the ’70s classic Darkside of the Moon album and the MGM hit and more than 145 synchronicities come to light at the Dark Side of Oz Thursday, Feb. 8 at MY Millennium Place.

“The combination of seeing this classic film and listening to the album (at the same time) blows you away every time you hear it and seeing these (two) amazing things (connect), it’s hard to believe,” said organizer Christian Kessner of Higher Ground Entertainment.

The similarities between the two are uncanny: when the Scarecrow sings If I Only Had a Brain to Dorothy, at the same time, Brain Damage on Floyd’s album also plays. Other coincidences occur such as the The Oz’s rainbow illustrated on the rainbow-prism album cover and the “tired of lying in the sunshine” lyrics timing perfectly with a visual of Toto lying on a sun-lit bed.

Roger Waters’s lips are sealed on whether the idiosyncrasies are mere coincidence or planned, leaving audiences to follow the yellow brick road to find their own answers.

Past showings of the Dark Side of Oz sold out to an audience of munchkins, good witches and monkeys getting into the Oz spirit. Floyd and Dorothy fans are invited to once again join in the fun. Prizes for best costumes.

There are two showings: 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Call 604-935-8410 for tickets.

 

Smoochin’ for education

The Pink Martini Smooch party heats up winter with the ultimate sizzling Valentine’s Day celebration Friday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Wildwood Pacific Bistro.

The evening of arts, music, romance, community spirit and of course the Smooch’s infamous pink martini will toast the Tuition Assistance Program at Alta Lake School, Whistler’s only Waldorf school. The program was created to ensure all local families could enroll their children in the independent school, which operates on student fees, regardless of financial circumstances.

Singles and sweethearts alike will meringue to the nouveau Flamenco-Jazz inspired beats of Kadabra led by Dave Mortone, who studied at the Berklee College of Music and performed with guitar luminaries such as Yngwie Malmsteen and Paul Gilbert.

The Latin beat carries onto the dining buffet with a spiced up offering of coconut crusted tilapia, guava barbecue glazed pork loin and fricassee de pollo, just to name a few. And what would any Valentine’s bash be without a few sweets for the sweethearts, including key lime pie, caramel flan and coconut fried bananas.

The party keeps hopping all night with an outdoor fire-throwing show and silent and live auction tables. Silent auction highlights include hotel nights and restaurant certificates in Vancouver and Whistler, a two-night package at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Vancouver Canucks tickets and river rafting trips. Live auction highlights include a 2007-08 Whistler-Blackcomb season pass, a painting donated by the Adele Campbell Fine Art Gallery and a heli-ski trip with Whistler Heli-Skiing.

Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at Alta Lake School in Spruce Grove, the Adele Campbell Art Gallery and Mountain Cellular. Tickets can also be purchased on line at whistlerwaldorf.com.

 

Volunteers needed for Sea to Sky cause

Volunteers are needed for Personalized Production’s upcoming fundraising event called Women of Sea to Sky, in May at the Eagle Eye Theatre.

The evening of fashion, silent auction and entertainment will raise funds for local non-profit organizations within the Lillooet-to-Horseshoe Bay corridor.

Seven individuals are needed for various committees, including food and beverage, fashion show, dinner, entertainment, silent auction, security/hosts and production.

Contact Michael Enders at 604-815-3858 or mr_enders@hotmail.com to get involved.