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Entertainment Briefs

The world on the wall at Merlin’s Three local professional photographers will be showcasing their work at a special slideshow called Journeys from Around the World this Tuesday night, April 22, at Merlin’s.

The world on the wall at Merlin’s

Three local professional photographers will be showcasing their work at a special slideshow called Journeys from Around the World this Tuesday night, April 22, at Merlin’s.

With a mass exodus of seasonal workers due to start any day now, this just might be the prod some of them need to pack the backpacks again and go walkabout.

There will be haunting landscapes, cultural shots from exotic countries, stunning mountain scenery, climbing and action sports photography, all accompanied by specially selected music.

Alain Denis will show images from the past four years of travels around Asia, Mexico, America and Canada. Jim Martinello has been living in Whistler over 15 years and has travelled the world climbing and living his dream. He will show images from his travels including Pakistan and Alaska's Mount Denalli. Todd Lawson will show photos from his trips on dirt bikes in Africa and Cambodia with his brother Sean. Todd will also have a few words to share about his adventures.

The slideshow is at 8 p.m. There is a suggested donation of $5 at the door and all proceeds will go to local charity for at-risk youth, Zero Ceiling.

A fling for swing fans tonight

Who: Malvern Swing Band and Jazz Choir

What: Whistler Public Library Fundraiser

Where: Nicklaus North Golf Course

When: Friday, April 18

If jumpin’ and jivin’ is your bag, baby, then get on down to the Spring Swing Fling tonight at 8 p.m. It’ll be a jazz extravaganza performed by the touring Malvern Swing Band and Jazz Choir in an effort to raise much-needed funds for the Whistler Public Library.

The night will feature the 56-person band comprised of a 35-piece swing band and a 17-strong jazz and concert choir.

It’ll be up-tempo music for all ages with Latin tunes, great dance music and a mixture of traditional swing. The choir will sing on their own with a rhythm section.

Malvern Swing Band and Jazz Choir hail from Malvern High School in west Toronto. The school is renowned for its high academic standards and successful sports teams, but is also fortunate to have a long history of excellence in the arts. Former graduates include filmmaker Norman Jewison, opera star Teresa Stradas and the late, great Glen Gould. This year marks Malvern's 100th anniversary.

This large musical ensemble is led by Bill Mighton who teaches Music and French Immersion at the school and conducts at a variety of music camps and workshops, including the Canadian Brass Summer Institute held at the University of Toronto. Mighton is also director of music for the Band of The Royal Regiment of Canada, performing for the Queen, the Prince of Wales and numerous other dignitaries and Heads of State both in Canada and abroad.

The Spring Swing Fling will be held at The Den and Patio, Nicklaus North Clubhouse, from 8 p.m. to midnight. Only 300 tickets will be sold at $35 per person, including appetizers, prizes, dancing, and an Easter bonnet parade. Call the Whistler Public Library for more information on 604-932-5564.

Whistler family in Sound of Music

Image available "s of music" in production folder

The hills are still alive with the sound of music if unprecedented ticket sales for the Royal City Musical Theatre Company’s latest production of the famous musical are anything to go by. The 1,200-seat theatre just saw its first sold-out Sunday matinee in its 14-year history. Perhaps two Whistler stars in the show have something to do with it.

Six-year-old Alta Lake School girl, Abigail Winter-Culliford, is playing Gretl von Trapp and proud mom Sadie Culliford, a Myrtle Philip music teacher and director of the Moving Chords Youth Show Choir, is in the nun’s chorus.

The RCMTC is known for its excellence in theatre productions. This year’s performance holds a star-studded cast, including Equity actors Kim Steger as Maria, Steve Maddock as Captain Von Trapp and Maria West as the sophisticated Elsa Schraeder. They join ex-BCTV weatherman Norm Grohmann who plays the lovable Uncle Max.

Choreographed by Dolores Kirkwood, this much-loved family musical centres around the daydreaming Maria, sent from the abbey to act as governess to the von Trapp family. She brings music back to the commandeering captain’s home and ignites his heart with love. Tension unfolds as Austria is invaded by the Germans and the von Trapp family makes plans to escape the clutches of the Nazis.

Run dates for The Sound of Music are April 10 to 26 with an extra matinee date on April 27 just announced for the Massey Theatre season, and then May 9 to 11 the production moves to the Bell Centre in Surrey.

Evening performances are at 8 p.m. and matinees start at 2 p.m. Prices range from $24 to $35 with discounts for seniors and students. Tickets are available online at www.royalcitymusicaltheatre.com and through Ticketmaster at 604-280-4444.