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Arts briefs

Sopranos, altos audition call Soprano and alto female singers are invited to audition for one of the solo arias in Vivaldi’s Gloria, which will be presented as part of the Whistler Singers’ annual Christmas concerts Dec. 10 at St.

Sopranos, altos audition call

Soprano and alto female singers are invited to audition for one of the solo arias in Vivaldi’s Gloria, which will be presented as part of the Whistler Singers’ annual Christmas concerts Dec. 10 at St. David’s United Church in Pemberton and Dec. 18 at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church in Whistler.

Auditions for the arias will be held Wednesday, Nov. 16. String players are also needed for the performance.

To audition, call Helen Pearson, co-director of the Whistler Singers, at 604-894-1520, for details.

Many-musician lineup

The show is simply entitled Doin’ it for a Song. However, continuing on with the famous phrase Doin’ it for a Song and Dance might be more appropriate with the juggling of so many wide-reaching musicians under one playbill.

Along with children-entertainer Norman Foote and Linda Kidder’s album release of Close to Bliss, the duo will be joined by fellow musicians Black Swade, Emily, Richard Trann, Cam Salay, Lesley Alexander and John Ellis Sunday, Nov. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the Brackendale Art Gallery (BAG).

Kidder, a Juno nominee, premieres her album, a combination of jazz, blues and roots, at the multi-musician show. Singing alongside greats is nothing new for the angel-voice singer/songwriter. Her recording credits include Rita MacNeil, Gary Fjellgaard, Bon Jovi and Susan Crowe, to name a few.

While Foote is most famous for his kiddie-oriented shows: One Thousand Pennies won the 2002 West Coast Music Award, 2002 Parents’ Choice Silver Award and a Children’s Music Web Award. He has also recorded songs for Disney Records, Shari Lewis and CBC’s syndicated TV show, Scoop and Doozie. However, after 20 years of his laugh-out-loud shows, his music has matured to an eclectic mix of country, reggae and blues.

Tickets for the talent-packed show are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors and students. Advanced tickets can be purchased at BAG or Mostly Books in Squamish.

Banff Film Fest winner

Freeride Entertainment’s New World Disorder V: Disorderly Conduct was awarded a special mention at the 2005 Banff Mountain Film Festival last month for their mountain-bike epic featuring Whistler rider Richie Schley.

The Nelson-based production team is no stranger to the Whistler Mountain Bike Park scene, covering the yearly Crankworx freeride mountain bike competition and using the Whistler/Pemberton mountain biking scene for film footage.

This year, Disorderly Conduct dramatically opened with riders escaping across open fields in Pemberton.

"It was very Hollywood style," said Jonnie Broi, director of business development for Freeride Entertainment. "Riders were being chased through a big field like fugitives. It is defiantly one of our best."

Jury member Keith Patridge commented: "Innovative camera work, creative use of characters, and irreverent humour set New World Disorder apart."

Disorderly Conduct was one of 56 finalist films screened at the festival, chosen from 319 film entries from 39 countries.

What makes a Whistler local?

Whistler young adults ages 17 to 27 are invited to share their stories as part of the history making, Whistler Museum film project, Community Now.

"Everyone has their own ideas of what it means to be a Whistler local," said Kerry Clark, museum curator. "We want to break boundaries and shatter the commonly held perception of Whistler as only a holiday destination. There is a community here with a diverse and interesting history that we want to share with the rest of Canada and the world."

This year’s film is the second in a four-part series that explores what it means to be Whistler local. Last year’s film focused on stories from Whistler seniors.

Each year leading up to the 2010 Games, the featurette film focuses on a different age demographic. In 2010 all short films will be amalgamated into a full-length feature and screened at a gala reception.

The short film is presented as part of the Celebration 2010: Whistler Arts Festival staged in Whistler every February. More than 17 events and 150 artists and performers come together to showcase Sea to Sky talent with art exhibitions, film screenings, street performances, literary events and performing arts.

Young adults interested in taking part will need to volunteer 10 minutes of their time and stories for the film interview. Participants must contact the museum stating interest by Nov. 17. To get involved, call 604-932-2019.

Arts all-candidates meeting

Come hear what candidates for public office in the 2005 municipal elections have to say about future opportunities for the arts, culture and heritage at an all candidates meeting focusing on that very issue Monday, Nov. 14 at 5:30 p.m. at MY Millennium Place.

The arts are playing an increasingly important role in discussions on sustainability, economic diversification and the 2010 Olympics as one of the Games’ three pillars.

Come early to meet candidates and visit displays on various Whistler arts/culture organizations.

Artists needed

Get into the rush with Swift Rock Productions’ ARTdrenaline, a newly-created, all-art-encompassing massive performance Dec. 15 and 16 at MY Millennium Place.

Actors, filmmakers, photographers and visual artists are still needed for the multi-medium performance of music, dance, film, photography, acting and writing.

All contributions must explore this year’s theme of fearless in life, sport, art and/or love.

Actors are asked to prepare a one-to-two-minute long monologue for the Saturday, Nov. 12 audition, which takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. at MY Millennium Place. Actors should also be prepared for a cold read as well.

Visual artists are asked to submit two works by Nov. 21.

The deadline for filmmakers to produce a three- to 10-minute film is Nov. 30.

To schedule an audition time and to sign up a film or visual art entry, call organizer Angie Nolan at 604-902-2643. For more information, visit www.swiftrockproductions.com.

Photography Night

It’s your last week to get shooting for the Whistler Photographic Society’s third Open Projector Night Thursday, Nov. 17 at the Hub Internet Café.

Amateur and professional photographers alike are welcome to dig out those never-seen images and have them screened at the social and informative event.

Photographers are asked to bring in their jpeg images on CD and some of their favourite music before the event, which will then be transformed into a digital, slide presentation.

The evening begins with the society’s AGM at 7:30 p.m. with the show following at 8:30 p.m. Non-society members who are presenting are asked to pay a $5 fee. Admission is free.

To sign up, contact Leanna Rathkelly at 604-938-9809 or whistlerphotosociety@telus.net .

Dark Side of Oz at 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 ’80s classic Darkside of the Moon album and the MGM hit and more than 145 synchronicities come to light at the Dark Side of Oz Saturday, Nov. 19 at the Rainbow Theatre.

"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 itself perfectly with a visual of Toto lying on a sun-lit bed.

Roger Waters refuses to answer the question whether the idiosyncrasies are mere coincidence or planned, leaving audiences to follow the yellow brick road to find their own answers.

Whistler’s spring presentation 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: 8 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Brush up on Bard

"The course of true love never did run smooth" — The sentiments of a 16th-century playwright still ring true today, especially in his comedic production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, coming to Whistler Mountain next summer.

While the Bard’s vision of dueling fairies, rude mechanicals and possessed lovers are still seasons away, for actors wanting to unlock the word craft of the world’s most famous playwright the opportunity is right around the corner with auditions for the Whistler Theatre Project’s production Wednesday, Dec. 7.

Auditioning actors must prepare two contrasting monologues: one classical, one contemporary. A headshot, resume and brief cover letter must be sent beforehand to Whistler Theatre Project, Auditions, 1668 Frances Street, Vancouver B.C., V5L 1Z4. The deadline for submissions is Nov. 30.

The auditions are open to members of the Actors’ Equity Association. Non-union actors are invited to audition for the Emerging Artist Development Program on the same day.

The nine-week program starts July 4. Four actors will be selected for the program. A stage manager and arts administrator position are also available.

The Emerging Artist Development program is modeled after other apprentice programs in elite theatre festivals such as the Stratford, Shaw and Charlottetown festivals. The programs aim to build resume, experience and skills for youth pursuing a professional career in theatre.

Although auditions for the inaugural Whistler Theatre Project production will be held in both Whistler and Vancouver, actors from across Canada will be auditioning for the company.

Local acting coaching is available at Soul Funktion Dance Studios at 604-966-0644.

For more audition information, visit www.whistlertheatreproject.com >.