Raffle offers chance to win bronze Tom Thomson statue

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 22, 2007.)

Huntsville Festival of the Arts and the Algonquin Theatre team up to support the theatre and arts initiatives in local schools

By Gillian Brunette

Schools in the area and the Algonquin Theatre will both benefit from a raffle to be drawn on Oct. 5.

Tickets are currently on sale at the theatre at all shows and at the box office for $2 each or three tickets for $5.

The first-prize winner will receive a bronze replica of the Tom Thomson statue that sits outside the theatre in the civic centre square. Created by famed Huntsville sculptor Brenda Wainman-Goulet, the prize is valued at $4,500.

The second-place winner will receive two tickets to the entire Huntsville Festival of the Arts lineup in July 2008, a value of about $1,000 . The third prize is four tickets to Lorne Elliott’s show on Nov. 17.

WINNING COMBINATION: Huntsville Festival of the Arts general manager Rob Saunders and Algonquin Theatre manager Karin Terziano have combined forces to raise money for two very important causes; furthering arts education in the schools and purchasing much-needed equipment for the theatre. The draw takes place in October. Tickets are on sale now.

“Tickets have been on sale a little over a month and sales are good,” said theatre manager Karin Terziano.

“We may have future raffles but not with another chance to win a bronze statue of Tom Thomson. It’s a great way to support the theatre and school programs.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts has had ongoing involvement with the local public and high school music and arts programs over the years, said festival general manager Rob Saunders.

“Since the opening of the theatre the opportunities for working together have been multiplying. Last year alone we invested more than $12,000 in outreach arts-related programming and we know there were other requests we could not accommodate.”

The festival’s share of the proceeds from the raffle will ensure the viability of the school programs, Saunders continued.

“In the early fall we plan to sit down with representatives from the various schools and develop a wish list of arts-related opportunities that would both help them meet their curriculum needs and be of interest to their students.”

The educational arts initiative also provides a link between elementary and high school students, said Saunders.

“One of the most rewarding presentations we had was an afternoon of music performed by very talented young artists from the high school to an audience of senior public school students. As well as being an afternoon of great entertainment it provided a link for those Grade 8 students who had been considering taking music in Grade 9. Greg Sutherland from Huntsville High has been instrumental in co-ordinating a number of these recent collaborations.”

Tickets will be available for purchase until Oct. 5. The draw will take place during six-time Juno award winner Colin James’ concert, which begins at 8 p.m. at the Algonquin Theatre.

Defending the Caveman is theatre even men will like, Aug. 15-17 in Huntsville

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 8, 2007.)

This one-man show can be compared to Women Fully Clothed with testosterone

Defending the Caveman is the longest-running solo show in Broadway history and it’s coming to Huntsville.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts is bringing this one-man phenomenon, seen by more than seven million people in more than 40 countries, to the Algonquin Theatre for three performances Aug. 15 to 17.

The one-man show was written by California comic Rob Becker in 1991 and has been literally touring the world ever since.

Defending the Caveman explains the male mystique and contemporary feminism with great humour. Fresh off the road from packed houses at the Just for Laughs festival in Montreal, Defending the Caveman is stopping in Huntsville as the show embarks on a cross-country tour.

The play’s premise is that the caveman and cavewoman understood their roles in society and lived in harmony, but that modern man and woman have evolved in totally different ways, yet carry their basic instincts with them.

The show is a hilarious, clever and poignant dissection of human personality, and is not to be missed, no matter what your gender.

Starring in Defending the Caveman is Canada’s own Michael Van Osch. Originally hailing from Waterloo, Ontario, Van Osch graduated from the University of Waterloo in recreation and leisure studies and then did his MBA at Wilfrid Laurier.

STONE-AGE FUN: Michael Van Osch is the Caveman in the hilarious show Defending the Caveman, coming to the Algonquin Theatre Aug. 15 to 17. Defending the Caveman explains the male mystique and contemporary feminism with lots of laughs.

He then went on to pursue a career in the United States and currently lives in New York City when not on the road performing.

Van Osch has studied at the New Actor’s Workshop and HB Studios in New York City. He began his acting career on the stage in Atlanta in productions of Our Town, A Few Good Men, Lost in Yonkers, and A Midsummer’s Night Dream. More recently, Van Osch has appeared in many independent films and commercials as well as the critically acclaimed music video American Dream by Casting Crowns.

Defending the Caveman is co-produced in Canada by Jeffrey Latimer Entertainment and Theater Mogul Productions.

Latimer has created, produced and presented live theatre and events in Canada for the past 15 years including Forever Plaid, STOMP, Forever Tango, Cookin’ At The Cookery and Jacque Brel. Latimer ran the New Yorker Theatre for 11 years and is now operating Toronto’s only commercial cabaret theatre – the 400-seat and 118-seat Diesel Playhouse.

Latimer’s hit show Evil Dead: The Musical is currently playing to sellout crowds in Toronto after a successful off-broadway run last fall.

Defending the Caveman is for everyone who recognizes that there are inherent differences between men and women.

You’ll laugh a lot, but you’ll also see home truths.

All shows for Defending the Caveman begin at 8 p.m. For tickets visit the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street, call 789-4975, or buy them online at www.huntsvillefestival.ca.

Popular demand brings three shows back to the Algonquin Theatre stage

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 8, 2007.)

The Celtic Tenors, Lunch at Allen’s and The Arrogant Worms wrap up August for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts

By Gillian Brunette

While celebrating their most successful summer season to date, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts concludes August with the return of three popular groups.

A few tickets are still available for the Celtic Tenors tomorrow night, Aug. 9 at 8 p.m. The Tenors played to a sold-out crowd in the fall of 2005 and are considered to be the most successful classical cross-over group to have ever come out of Ireland.

On Friday Aug. 10 some of Canada’s finest individual performers, Marc Jordan, Murray McLaughlin, Ian Thomas and Cindy Church, come together to present the extraordinary musical revue Lunch at Allen’s.

The show is an intimate and humorous performance that all began as a regular get-together at Allen’s in Toronto, with Canadian music icon McLaughlin, and old friends Thomas and Jordan. After adding the voice of Church, “lunch at Allen’s” turned into an outstanding band who performs some of Canada’s (and the world’s) most enjoyed songs from each of these songwriters’ impressive catalogues.

Jordan and Thomas’ songs have been recorded by everyone from Rod Stewart to Bette Midler, and Diana Ross to Santana. McLauchlan’s hits have covered Canadian airwaves from coast to coast. Church’s voice and songs are well known on the folk festival circuit through her solo work and as a member of Quartette with Sylvia Tyson.

Each singer is accompanied by the others on a variety of instruments and vocal harmonies, with laughs and a few tall tales in between.

Enjoy the irreverence of friends who make exceptional music together during a magical Lunch At Allen’s. This is a truly wonderful show that leaves audiences feeling as if they’ve experienced something very special.

Next Tuesday, Aug, 14 the “Clown Princes of Musical Comedy” bring their razor-sharp wit and marvellous musicianship to the Algonquin Theatre stage.

The Worms have performed on three previous occasions at the festival, all resulting in capacity audiences and a great evening’s entertainment.

The Arrogant Worms – Mike McCormick, Chris Patterson and Trevor Strong – began their journey to musical comedy success on campus radio in 1991 in Kingston, Ontario. Those nine listeners were very impressed and the Worms could have retired at the top of their game. However, they kept going, jumping into the frightening world of live shows.

They were quickly abandoned by the nine radio listeners, who preferred not to leave their homes. A new audience was cultivated and the meagre income from those early shows was enough to record their self- titled debut album in 1992. The Arrogant Worms received airplay on national radio in Canada and were soon touring across their vast homeland.

McCormick sings and plays the guitar. He has two degrees but he can’t find them anywhere. Chris Patterson sings and plays the bass. Oh, and he dances. He was turned down for Dancing With The Stars because he was in that grey area between dancer and star.

Trevor Strong sings and plays instruments when he remembers to bring them.

Since their first CD was released the Worms have released nine more independent albums and have consistently topped the sales charts for their distributors. They have sold more than 150,000 albums to date.

However, it is their show that keeps the people coming back for more. The Arrogant Worms have provided tuneful and silly escapism all over North America and Australia in venues of all shapes and sizes, from small clubs to theatres to arenas to Disney to Central Park to the Grand Canyon. All shows begin at 8 p.m. and tickets are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca. Tickets will be sold at the door on the night of the show, if available.

Local talent joins jazz superstar Oliver Jones Aug. 5 on the Algonquin Theatre stage

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 1, 2007.)

Huntsville Festival of the Arts’ jazz festival kicks off Aug. 2 with Rick Traplin and Giants of Jazz – and continues through weekend

By Gillian Brunette

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts inaugural jazz festival begins its four-day run tomorrow, Aug. 2, with four evening concerts and several complimentary performances in informal settings around town.

GIANT: Master flugelhorn/trumpet player Guido Basso joins the Giants of Jazz at the Algonquin Theatre tomorrow. Aug. 2 at 8 p.m.

One of the weekend’s highlights will see three former Huntsville Festival of the Arts senior scholarship winners, Ashley Hill, Jamie Bestwick and Dan Neill, along with Huntsville jazz pianist Tim Sullivan, performing on the Algonquin stage on Sunday evening.

“Ashley will be performing three songs at the start of the Oliver Jones performance. After intermission Ashley will sing a solo song to start and then will be joined by the trio for two numbers,” said festival general manager Rob Saunders.

Piano wizard Oliver Jones played to a sold-out crowd at last year’s festival, delivering a memorable evening of unmistakable finesse, lightning-fast technique, and rollicking rhythms.

Jones is one of Canada’s finest musicians and is making another of his rare concert appearances in Huntsville. His career intertwines with the proud history of jazz in his native Montreal, the thriving city that in its heyday also produced Oscar Peterson, Jones’ lifelong friend and continuing inspiration.

Jones was born and raised in Saint Henri, a predominantly working class area of Montreal, several blocks from Peterson. As a young boy he would sit on the Peterson porch listening to the older boy practise. Peterson’s sister Daisy Peterson Sweeney became Jones’ first piano teacher, with lessons continuing for the next 12 years.

Jones was performing publicly at age five, and by the time he was nine he had already made his first nightclub appearance.

Jones’ six-decade musical career has been rich and varied. His classical music education was followed by stints at Montreal’s Café St-Michel, enthralling patrons with his acrobatic piano stunts. From his teens to his early twenties, Jones could play anything from swing to rock-n-roll and this diverse training proved invaluable when, in 1964, the opportunity to become musical director and pianist for Jamaican singer Kenny Hamilton presented itself. Jones, with his wife and young son in tow, moved to Puerto Rico and continued with the Hamilton band for the next 16 years.

In 1980 Jones returned to Montreal, determined to pursue jazz professionally. He started by working regularly at Biddle’s, the now-closed downtown jazz club run by bassist Charlie Biddle. Three years later, after a fortuitous meeting with Justin Time Records founder Jim West, Jones’ dream came true.

Oliver Jones is the proud recipient of the Martin Luther King Jr. award, celebrating his contributions to the black community in Canada and in Montreal. In 1993 he received the Order of Québec, the province’s highest honour, and the next year he was awarded the Order of Canada. In November 2005, Jones was honoured in Ottawa by Canada’s Governor General Michaëlle Jean, as a recipient of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards for lifetime artistic achievement.

Cuban/Canadian piano wizard Hilario Duran brings his eight-piece salsa band to the Algonquin Theatreon Friday, Aug. 3. Durán is one of the greatest virtuoso jazz pianists to emerge from Havana, and played for nine years with Arturo Sandoval. He has shared the stage with legendary musicians such as the late Dizzy Gillespie and composer/arranger Michael Legrand.

Since his move to Canada, Durán has become an integral and important part of the Canadian music scene. He is an invaluable member of the jazz faculty at Humber College, acting as both and adjunct piano professor and ensemble director.

Huntsville’s Tobin Spring and Jamie Bestwick have both studied under Durán at Humber.

Durán is currently working as a composer with the classical ensembles of Gryphon Trio, and Quartetto Gelato.

Tickets for all evening shows are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca. Tickets will be sold at the door on the night of the show, if available.

July 29 Arts Walk was a fun, sunny success!

(The following photos originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 1, 2007.)

AFTERNOON ENTERTAINMENT: At Sunday's Arts Walk, the rhythmic sounds of Adam and Andrew Fisher could be heard throughout Hunters Bay Trail as event-goers enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and the variety of artisans participating in the event, put on by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.

JUNIOR DANCERS: The belly dancing workshop put on by instructor Emilie Mimra (back) attracted dancers of all ages, including Rachel Wilding (left) and Keira Brizebois (right). The workshop took place at Avery Beach Park Sunday as part of the Arts Walk put on by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.