Caitrìn Madden is a veteran of the Crystal Lounge stage, but she'd never quite experienced it like she did on Oct. 19.
The singer-songwriter, who performed alongside ubiquitous keyboard maestro Bradford Needham, advanced to the Whistler's New Music Search final this Thursday night, Oct. 26.
"I've played at the Crystal quite a lot, but that night was certainly different," she says. "All the acts were my friends and my music friends, so it was really nice to have an opportunity (to play) when all the music community was together. All the acts were in support of each other."
Performing her modern spin on jazz with some pop influences, the British songstress wowed the crowd to punch her ticket to the final. She says those who saw her last week won't be bored with her bid to capture the crown this week.
"I was freaking out because I didn't expect to win. I just decided to write new songs for it," she says with a laugh. "It'll be completely brand-new."
In addition to Madden, previous weekly winners Vendulka and Julian Price will perform, while Marcus Ramsey earned the wildcard spot. The show will kick off at 9 p.m. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early to secure a spot. Admission is $5.
LB Productions brings Kibo to Signal Hill
A tale from the Far East will make its way to the Signal Hill Elementary School stage this week.
Kibo: A Tale of Two Villages is set for this Friday night, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Pemberton school.
LB Productions is putting on the play with the Signal Hill PAC. LB Productions executive director Anita Burleson notes kibo is the Japanese word for "hope."
"It's a pretend place in the Far East and there are two villages that are continually at battle with each other," she says. "The only reasons they can't get along are silly things."
One main character is a fruit vendor whose views are dismissed by the older villagers but beloved by the younger ones who may be able to help solve the impasse.
Over 40 students are set to act in the play, which will come together in just one week. The children auditioned Monday and will rehearse through the week to make the production a success.
"There's a master plan. It's kind of like a puzzle and you teach this group this and this group that and then you put them together and magically, somehow, by Friday it all comes together," Burleson says.
Between Shifts needs storage space
Squamish's Between Shifts Theatre needs a hand.
The company must be out of its current storage space in a building at the West Coast Railway Heritage Park by Nov. 30 and is in search of a replacement. The current site does not have water service and told all its tenants they must leave because of liability issues, according to Between Shifts co-founder Kathy Daniels.
"We had a nice little section where we could put our stuff in there," Daniels says. "It was really cool because we could build our sets in there as well. We could back our truck up and load right in from the big bay doors. It was an absolutely perfect situation."
With the cost of rent in Squamish, she understands residents would be reluctant to allow a non-profit in for a small stipend. In a perfect world, Daniels says, the company could use 2,000 square feet but adds she realizes the magnitude of that ask. She adds the company would be happy to maintain and cover utilities for any space provided.
Between Shifts recently staged Pontypool and will hold auditions for its April show, The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble, on Nov. 28 and 29 at the Sea to Sky Hotel and Conference Centre. For more information, visit www.betweenshifts.com. Anyone with space to provide can contact Daniels at danielsk526@gmail.com.
