The Trumpeter - Huntsville Festival of the Arts

Project aims to bolster Muskoka’s creative economy in collaboration with arts groups

2009-12-16T21:52:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Dec. 16, 2009.)

By Karen Longwell

Students searching for a creative path in Muskoka may have found it.

Creative Paths, a $40,000 provincially funded project, was launched on Nov. 30 at Rene M. Caisse Theatre in Bracebridge.

The event included improv, musical performances and a panel discussion on the arts. It was open to the public and about 40 to 50 people attended.

Creative Paths is collaborating with the Arts Council of Muskoka, Muskoka Lakes Music Festival and Huntsville Festival of the Arts. It aims to educate students from Grades 9 to 12 about the arts as an economic growth sector, said Carolyne Wagland, Creative Paths project co-ordinator. The purpose is to expose Muskoka secondary school students to creative career opportunities, she said.

The one-year pilot project is being developed by a grassroots collection of artists, educators and arts organizations, Wagland said, adding that the project is divided into three main parts: a mentoring program with high school students and artists; creativity workshops; and special programming. Artists of all types are involved, including those in media, visual arts, drama and music.

The creativity workshops at high schools would involve approximately five artists in different mediums talking about their career paths “...just to open their eyes up to the fact that these are viable careers in Muskoka,” said Wagland. “They don’t have to leave Muskoka to be a writer, to be an artist, to be a sculptor, to be a performing artist. There are opportunities here.”

The special programming would involve bringing a business woman into a classroom to talk about social media marketing. The hope is to collaborate with classes to do a special class project involving social media. A media, business or marketing class could be involved with this project, said Wagland.

The programs are scheduled to run from January to June in 2010.

Wagland said Creative Paths is looking to partner with more local businesses and artists to get involved with the project. The not-for-profit organization is also looking for corporate sponsors. Volunteer mentors are needed, including web designers, graphic designers, interior designers, architects or any occupation in the knowledge-based field, she said. TV Cogeco, for example, is offering flip cameras for students to take out to film local events or do artist interviews.

Creative Paths hopes to bring arts volunteer opportunities to local businesses or organizations which, for example, may need help with writing press releases or documenting an event with video. “Basically, we are trying to provide more interesting volunteer opportunities for kids as well, that are going to benefit them,” said Wagland. Anything students do with the Creative Paths project could be counted toward their required 40 volunteer hours.

The program is heavily reliant on partnerships with the arts, corporate and educational communities, including the school boards, businesses, professional artists and others in the burgeoning creative economy.

“Things are changing in Muskoka; it is not so much an industrial-based economy anymore. These kids need to learn new skills and we are trying to engage them in interesting processes with the arts,” said Wagland.

Creative Paths will culminate in symposium in the fall of 2010, called Creative Intelligence for the Creative Economy — Interactive Educational Symposium.

The grant for Creative Paths came from Ontario’s ministry of culture under its Cultural Strategic Investment Fund. Funding was announced in April.

Those interested in more information about Creative Paths should contact Carolyne Wagland at 705-788-7062.

Spring musical Peter Pan is no flight of fancy

2009-11-25T21:38:00.003-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 25, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

Famous U.S. company will train actors and bring in equipment to create illusion of stage flight

Jessie Bacon is flying high these days, having just landed the lead role in the spring musical Peter Pan.

As the protagonist, the HHS Grade 12 student will soon be aspiring to even greater heights — above the Algonquin Theatre stage.

“I’m really excited (about the prospect). This is the first time flying is coming to the Algonquin Theatre and, as I’ve never been scared of heights, I think it will be a lot of fun,” she said.

Bacon (17) is no newcomer to the stage. She played Shprintze in Fiddler on the Roof and Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. She is Wendy Jo in the upcoming HHS production of Footloose and has a part as one of the Silly Girls in next year’s Bracebridge Rotary production of Beauty and the Beast.

When first asked to audition for Peter Pan, Bacon had a hard decision to make. “I have to cut my hair for the part, and I will do so after the Bracebridge show,” she said.

Peter Pan is the much-loved tale of a young boy who wouldn’t grow up. A play, adapted from James M. Barrie’s book, debuted in 1904, but Peter Pan became a household name following the 1954 film starring Mary Martin as Peter.

“The role of Peter Pan has, in the last 100 years, almost always been played by a woman,” said the show’s director Gregg Evans. “It’s what the author wanted for the role, and the music was written for a female voice. Also, in the 1900s, you couldn’t use children in theatre, so they chose women to play young teenage boys.”

Peter Pan will be staged at the Algonquin between April 15 and 24. It will be the second musical production underwritten by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, in conjunction with the Huntsville Rotary Club and the North Muskoka Players. The first was the Wizard of Oz, which was presented last spring.

SPRIGHTLY, PETER AND SMEE: Ryan Burda, Jessie Bacon and Ryan Robinson-Hatton (from left), are getting ready for the upcoming production of Footloose. By January, they will be in rehearsal for Peter Pan, as Sprightly (right), Peter and Smee (left).

Recently, auditions were held at the theatre, where a cast of 54 players was chosen. “There is only one cast this time. We are not even having understudies at this point. I’m pretty confident with our leads,” noted Evans, adding he will be keeping his fingers crossed that no one gets sick.

The story of Peter Pan revolves around the Darling family. Seasoned actors Aussa Penniall from Bracebridge, and Huntsville’s Scott Roodvoets are Mr. and Mrs. Darling. Emma Gibbs of Bracebridge secured the role of Wendy Darling, and her brother Cole Gibbs plays Jonathon Darling.

The youngest Darling child is Michael, who, like Peter Pan, will be played by a female, said Evans. “Michael is the main character, usually played by a boy of seven or eight. We didn’t know if we could get someone of that age who could do justice to the part, so we went with 12-year-old Ally Renwick. Ally was in Annie and the Wizard of Oz and is a terrific actress and has a lovely singing voice.”

Added Evans: “This is Ally’s first main lead role and that’s what’s nice about this show: all the leads are teenagers, with the exception of Captain Hook.”

The part of Hook has gone to the inimitable Bob Stone, whom many will remember as one of the scarecrows in Oz. “Bob can sing, dance and act and he’s flamboyant and Captain Hook is a flamboyant character,” said Evans.

Hook’s sidekick, Smee, will be played by HHS student Ryan Burda, who was a Cowardly Lion in Oz. Burda has been in amateur theatre for 10 years and will soon be seen as Willard in Footloose. He has also been cast as the beast in Beauty and the Beast.

The show also features myriad actors playing lost children, Indians, pirates and the five animals, including Nana, the Darling family dog (Caroline Heyblom).

“Another teen lead is Tiger Lily, who is the daughter of the Indian chief in Neverland. That role requires a ballet dancer and we have Karena Leffler, who has had ballet training,” said Evans.

Five actors – Peter Pan, the three Darling children and the Darling family maid Liza, (Joann Bennett, who played one of the witches in Oz), have flying parts. To create the illusion of flight requires training of both actors and stage crew, said Evans.

“Rob Saunders (Huntsville Festival of the Arts general manager) has contracted the Foy family from New York. Their grandfather, Peter Foy, was responsible for the stage flight of Mary Martin in the 1954 movie. The family is still involved in specialized stage flight three generations later,” Evans noted. "Experts with the company, Flying by Foy, will come to Huntsville a week before the production opens to set up the rigging and harnesses and to teach the backstage crew how to operate them."

Oz costumier Nicole Pantaleo returns to spearhead the costume department for Peter Pan. Also returning are Sherisse Stevens (musical director), Neil Barlow (orchestra director), and Helena Renwick (set design). Rehearsals for Peter Pan will begin in early January.

Arts-in-education program Creative Paths kicks off Nov. 30 in Bracebridge

2009-11-18T21:29:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 18, 2009.)

Public forum to take place at Rene Caisse Theatre

The Arts Council of Muskoka, in partnership with the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, Muskoka Arts and Crafts, and Muskoka Lakes Music Festival, is kicking off a brand new regional creative arts education initiative and discussion about Muskoka’s burgeoning creative economy at the Rene Caisse Theatre on Monday, Nov. 30, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Students, educators, artists, creative professionals and the business and economic development community, as well as community organizations, are invited to attend this forum to learn about the program, how you can get involved and how it can help you.

The event will include a guest speaker, an interactive discussion with a panel of students, educators, creative professionals, business and tourism representatives, as well as performances by local talent.

“There has never been a more exciting time to be an artist in Muskoka,” said Creative Paths coordinator Carolyne Wagland. “The regional arts designation has created momentum for building Muskoka’s creative economy and for positioning Muskoka as an arts and cultural tourist destination.

“We have a new arts and culture website, the Arts Directory of Muskoka, which is a vibrant online vehicle to promote Muskoka’s creative community,” said Wagland, adding that Creative Paths, a program made possible through a grant from the province of Ontario’s Cultural Strategic Investment Fund, promises to benefit the creative community, its high school students, and its corporate partners.

Creative Paths links secondary school students to creative career opportunities in Muskoka through mentoring programs, creativity workshops and other special programs beginning this January. The program will enable students to fulfill their community volunteer hour requirements, while also honing their skills and building their portfolios for their future careers.

Students will also participate by creating an awareness campaign for the project, using exciting social media marketing techniques. The project will culminate in the fall of 2010 with an interactive educational symposium focusing on creativity and innovation, while featuring high profile keynote speakers, workshops and student presentations of exemplary projects.

“We encourage you to engage in Muskoka’s creative revolution,” Wagland added. “Learn from experienced creative professionals. Share your knowledge. Create Muskoka’s future. Connect with your community. Change your world.”

Creative Paths is a not-for-profit project, and relies heavily on volunteers for its successful operation of programs. To see how Creative Paths programming can benefit your organization and to learn more about corporate sponsorship opportunities, please contact Carolyne Wagland at 788-7062, at info@artscouncil.com or cwagland@cogeco.ca.

Arts Council of Muskoka is a non-profit organization whose vision is to enrich Muskoka through the arts, and whose mission is to identify, unite, support, promote and facilitate artists and artistic activity in Muskoka.

To learn more about the Creative Paths project and the project partners visit: www.artsdirectoryofmuskoka.com.

Those unable to attend the forum will be able to download video highlights of the event at www.artsdirectoryofmuskoka.com.

Group of Seven Nutcracker here Nov. 21-22

2009-11-18T21:23:00.003-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 18, 2009.)

Don’t miss The Group of Seven Nutcracker ballet at the Algonquin Theatre on Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Nov. 22 at 2 p.m.

Canada’s newest full-length ballet, created by acclaimed choreographer Bengt Jörgen to Tchaikovsky’s well-loved score, reworks this timeless classic and is destined to become a national treasure that will warm the hearts of young and old alike.

With over 100 costumes in rich fabrics, The Group of Seven Nutcracker features backdrops from Canada’s 20th Century landscape artists. The ballet’s second act is remembered for its celebration of dances and The Group of Seven Nutcracker follows this tradition with woodland creatures dancing in Ontario’s Algonquin Park.

The Group of Seven Nutcracker will have a cast of over 30, including Ballet Jörgen Canada members and two Mentorship Program dancers. For the past two months, members of the Huntsville School of Ballet, under the direction of owner Brenda Cunningham with guidance from Ballet Jörgen dance masters, have been rehearsing weekly and will join the professional dancers to help interpret the score. Funding for this outreach part of the program is provided by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, which is also presenting the concert.

Ballet Jörgen was last in Huntsville in 2006 and, while there has been another dance company presenting a Nutcracker ballet the past two years, they are excited about being able to return with their new work.

The performance is being jointly sponsored by Huntsville Hometown Drugs and Rexall Drugs. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth 18 and under. There is also a family pass available for $70.

Tickets are available at the Main Street box office by calling 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

To learn more about the Ballet Jörgen company, visit www.balletjorgen.ca.

Group of Seven Nutcracker ballet premieres in Huntsville for special Christmas show

2009-11-11T21:13:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 11, 2009.)

One of Canada’s finest classical dance companies is returning to Huntsville to present a traditional Christmas classic in a new setting.

BALLET AT ITS BEST: Don’t miss The Group of Seven Nutcracker coming to the Algonquin Theatre on Nov. 21 and 22.

Ballet Jörgen Canada premiered The Group of Seven Nutcracker last season to enthusiastic reviews. This delightful re-working of the timeless classic is born from collaboration with Kleinburg’s world-renowned McMichael Canadian Art Collection. Choreographed by Bengt Jörgen to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s well-loved score, The Group of Seven Nutcracker features as a backdrop Canada’s 20th century landscape artists Franklin Carmichael’s Church and Houses at Bisset (1931), Tom Thomson’s Snow in the Woods (1916) and L.L. FitzGerald’s Trees and Wildflowers (1922). These large interpretations on canvas will act as backdrops during the various scenes.

The ballet’s second act will be placed in a Canadian summer setting with trillium flowers, loons and other distinct representations replacing the traditional Nutcracker dances. The Group of Seven Nutcracker will be a quintessential northern Canadian work with an early 20th century rural Ontario setting. The award-winning set and costume designer Sue LePage will take audiences on a grand journey through northern landscapes filled with snowflakes, dragonflies, beavers, birches, squirrels and other creatures of the woods.

The Group of Seven Nutcracker will have a cast of over 30 including Ballet Jörgen Canada members and two Mentorship Program dancers. For the past two months members of the Huntsville School of Ballet, under the direction of owner Brenda Cunningham with guidance from Ballet Jörgen dance masters, have been rehearsing weekly and will join the professional dancers to help interpret the score.

Funding for this outreach part of the program is provided by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, which is also presenting the concert.

The Group of Seven Nutcracker will become a national treasure destined to warm the hearts of young and old alike. Ballet Jörgen was last in Huntsville in 2006, and while there has been another dance company presenting a Nutcracker ballet the past two years, they are excited about being able to return with their new work.

The concert is being jointly sponsored by Huntsville Hometown Drugs and Rexall Drugs. Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for youth 18 and under. There is also a family pass available for $70. Tickets are available at the Main Street box office by calling 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca. To learn more about the Ballet Jörgen company, visit www.balletjorgen.ca.

Empire Hotel benefit strikes a chord with community, raises $31,000 for fire victims

2009-11-11T20:56:00.004-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 11, 2009.)

By Brent Cooper

“Smoke at a fire benefit concert? Whose idea was that?”

This innocent remark by co-emcee Doug Banwell produced one of the many laughs from the audience during the The Empire Strikes A Chord benefit concert last Thursday evening. He shared the evening's emcee duties with Jenny Cressman.

The Algonquin Theatre was nearly packed with people who put their hearts on their sleeves and their hands in their pocketbooks to try to assist those who were made homeless when an Oct. 8 blaze damaged the venerable building.

However, few were giggling at the comment less than 30 minutes into the performance when the theatre’s fire alarm went off, sending the audience into the street while members of the Huntsville Fire Department arrived on scene to investigate. It is believed a sensor in the downstairs part of the theatre caused the alarm.

The situation was resolved about 20 minutes later and the audience returned to their seats to be entertained by local talent the rest of the evening, leading organizers to joke about the “unscheduled intermission.”

IN THIS TOGETHER: An appreciative crowd at the Algonquin Theatre gives a round of applause to the performers at last Thursday’s The Empire Strikes A Chord benefit concert. More than $31,000 was raised by the performance, radio-thon and silent auction to assist families without insurance who lost their belongings in the Oct. 8 blaze that damaged the Empire Hotel. [Photo by Brent Cooper]

The Empire Strikes a Chord was originated by Cressman, a member of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts board, and was organized by board members and other volunteers, such as Banwell, Linda McLean, Eric Johnson and Tina Turley.

While the concert was the centrepiece of the fundraiser, it was by no means the only part. A pledge-a-thon was hosted on Moose FM radio Thursday morning as musicians performing at the evening concert dropped in during the telecast, and Empire residents shared their stories as well.

A silent auction was held throughout the day on Wednesday and Thursday in Partners Hall with members of the Huntsville Art Society displaying dozens of donated works of art there. Also donated to the cause were pottery from Eric Lindgren, coffee from Seven Main, a gift bag from Survivorman Les Stroud and Ballet Jorgen Nutcracker tickets.

Festival general manager Rob Saunders said the event was an unparalleled success. “The radio show raised $13,000 and then there was about $4,100 that came in through other donations. We sold $8,300 in ticket sales for the concert and we had about $5,000 from the silent auction. We also had about $600 in coffee sales that Seven Main Café gave us for the night. So, it is a little over $31,000.”

Saunders said the cause was aided by the donations of all of the items, theatre rental and other services. The music at the evening show was representative of the many styles that were showcased in the Empire over the years, whether at the Hideaway Pub or going back a few years the former JT’s Tavern.

However, this fundraiser was indeed unique. There was an underlying feeling of camaraderie between audience and performers, as they had come together to help alleviate the problems of some unfortunate people.

Acts such as Cabin Fever, Tobin Spring and Friends, Turley and others provided a collection of songs ranging from light rock to jazz and folk that had people clapping along all evening long. When they weren’t clapping, they were doubling over in laughter at the antics of the The Woodshed Improv Collective, a team of area performers who wowed the audience in the first half by developing their act based on a word from the crowd while singing A Do Run Run Run.

“I thought it was a really great evening. The heading on the flyer stated The Community of Huntsville Presents The Empire Strikes a Chord. It wasn’t any one group that made this happen,” Saunders said. The money will be divided equally between about residents who did not have contents insurance and lost everything.

Empire Hotel fundraiser tomorrow, Nov. 5

2009-11-04T20:47:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 4, 2009.)

A fundraising concert to assist the displaced residents from the recent fire at the Empire Hotel will take place this Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Algonquin Theatre starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $20, tax included, and a large crowd is expected to show support for this worthy cause.

Besides the actual show, there will be a number of opportunities for the community to give, including a radio pledge-a-thon and silent auction. The pledge-a-thon will begin at 6 a.m. on Thursday morning and go until noon on 105.5 Moose FM. Musicians performing at the evening concert will be dropping in throughout the morning to share their music, and Empire residents will share some of their stories as well. Call 789-4461 and make a donation.

During the morning, two exciting donations will be raffled off. The first is a Muskoka Getaway Weekend at Delta Grandview Resort, valued at $600. The package includes two nights’ accommodation in a luxury one-bedroom suite and use of the pool, hot tub and recreation facilities as well as seasonal activities. The second donation is a gourmet dinner for four, cooked in your home and generously donated by Chef Mackenzie Taylor from My Chef In Muskoka. This private dining experience is valued at $400 and is sure to create a night to remember.

The silent auction portion of the event will take place in Partners Hall throughout the day Wednesday and Thursday. Members of the Huntsville Art Society will be displaying dozens of donated works of art there. From original paintings to cards and prints, there will be something for every taste, and it will all be offered in silent auction format. Even if you can’t attend the show, drop in and place a bid. Final bidding will be done at the intermission of the show, with winners announced shortly thereafter. What a great way to purchase a unique Christmas gift while supporting this worthy cause. The artists have donated their work, so it is up to you to turn it into cash for the Empire residents.

LET THE BIDS START: Seen above are samples of artwork supplied by members of the Huntsville Art Society and available for bidding by silent auction in the Partners Hall of the Algonquin Theatre today and tomorrow, Nov. 4 and 5.

Also donated has been pottery from Eric Lindgren, coffee from Seven Main, a gift bag from Survivorman Les Stroud and Ballet Jorgen Nutcracker tickets.

The music at the evening show will be representative of the many styles that were showcased in the Empire over the years, whether most recently at the Hideaway Pub or going back a few years at JT’s Tavern.

In recent years, singer/songwriter Linda McLean and her husband Andy had been developing a strong following with their Muskoka Song Night series, featuring talented local performers and seasoned stars from out of town. Likewise, Doug Banwell, who was also a resident of the Empire, led the Muskoka Jazz Guys in a jazz jam every Thursday night at the Hideaway.

Both these performers feature prominently in Thursday’s program and have helped plan the evening. Joining Linda and Andy for the songwriters’ set will be Jeff Nicholson and Wyatt Williamson, local muralist-come-crooner Gerry Lantaigne and Ruth Cassie. The Muskoka Jazz Guys, featuring Banwell on sax, Jamie Bestwick on bass, Tim Sullivan on piano and Richard Jackson on drums, will provide a four-song mini set. Opening both halves of the concert will be the Woodshed Improv Collective, who performed regularly at the Hideaway.

The second half of the show will feature some of the area’s finest musicians, Bill Stewart and Jo-Ann Robert, followed by local band Cabin Fever, which will perform some songs and then act as backup for Tina Turley and Tobin Spring. There will also be a grand finale number in which a number of the artists will join in on an audience favourite.

TV Cogeco will be broadcasting the concert live, but don’t let that stop you from dropping in and enjoying the concert in person.

While the day and evening promise to provide a lot of great moments, we should not forget the reason for the concert in the first place, and the ongoing need that has been created by this unfortunate disaster. Once again, the people of Huntsville have an opportunity to show what a caring group they are.

Empire Strikes a Chord benefit set for Nov. 5

2009-10-28T20:34:00.001-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Oct. 28, 2009.)

By Jenny Cressman

Eclectic roster of musicians have all played at Hideway or former Jay T’s

"He was sitting in the lounge of the Empire Hotel

He was drinking for diversion

He was thinking for himself

A little money riding on the Maple Leafs...."

When Joni Mitchell wrote the classic song Raised on Robbery, some say she was referring to Huntsville’s Empire Hotel, which was ravaged by fire on Oct. 8.

Lyrical links aside, the local building, built in 1947, is a classic. Owner Dave Keay’s patient and passionate work to restore the Empire block in recent years has been a wonderful inspiration to many in the community. At the time of the fire, the historic structure was home to about 75 people, over half a dozen businesses and a long-time entertainment venue that featured many diverse musicians and musical genres, as well as a variety of literary events and improv performances.

The plight of the Empire and its occupants has struck a chord in the hearts of Huntsville residents. The community has rallied in numerous ways, from donating clothing, food and funds to organizing a benefit concert at the Algonquin Theatre. Set for Thursday, Nov. 5, the event will feature performers who’ve played at the Hideaway, or Jay T’s, as the bar was known in a previous incarnation.

TRAGIC EVENT: The Empire Hotel fire on Oct. 8 left many of the building’s residents looking for a place to live with scarce, if any, personal belongings.

Entitled The Empire Strikes a Chord, the show will begin at 7:30 p.m. and tickets will be $20. Patrons will also be given the opportunity to purchase a ticket for an Empire resident, for which they will receive a tax receipt from the Huntsville Festival of the Arts. Tickets will be available through the Algonquin Theatre box office: 789-4975 or www.algonquintheatre.ca. Organizers of the event encourage those who can afford it to buy extra tickets to cover the cost of seats being set aside for the Empire residents, who will be guests for the evening.

Cash donations can also be made at the theatre on Nov. 5 and all proceeds will go into a trust fund that has been set up at the local CIBC branch; these will be disbursed among Empire residents who did not have fire insurance.

Those wishing to donate online can do so via PayPal by visiting www.empirefire.ca. Huntsville radio station Moose FM will also be running a Pledge-A-Thon on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 6 a.m. until noon. There will be comments from residents and artists participating in the evening concert, and an opportunity for people to phone in pledges.

Cogeco TV has offered to telecast the concert and there will also be opportunities to phone in pledges during the concert.

The Huntsville Art Society (HAS) will be hosting a silent art auction in Partners Hall, in conjunction with The Empire Strikes a Chord stage show. Proceeds from this event will go into the trust fund as well. HAS members will be generously donating their artwork for this purpose, just as the on-stage performers will be providing their time and talent free of charge and the Town of Huntsville is covering the theatre cost. Auction items will be on display Wednesday, and bidding will be possible on Wednesday and Thursday for those unable to attend the concert.

So far, the evening’s highly entertaining line-up includes (alphabetically): Doug Banwell and the Muskoka Jazz Guys, Cabin Fever, Ruth Cassie, Jamie Hassard, Linda and Andy McLean, Jeff Nicholson, Tobin Spring, Bill Stewart, Tina Turley, Wyatt Williamson, the Woodshed Improv Collective and, possibly, James Gordon, a folk musician who wrote a song about another historic Huntsville fire. He performed recently at the Hideaway during one of Linda McLean’s monthly Muskoka Song Nights.

The eclectic roster of musicians set to perform as part of The Empire Strikes a Chord is indicative of the Hideaway’s evolution over the past decade. In addition to the building’s rich heritage, the Empire was home to a third-generation barber named Wayne Baker, who amassed a phenomenal collection of historic photos. Some of these will be displayed during the upcoming Algonquin Theatre event.

Besides photography, art and music, there will be an opportunity to participate in a raffle during the Nov. 5 show. Following intermission, tickets will be drawn for prizes such as a Les Stroud (Survivorman) gift bag valued at $100 and a pair of tickets for any show in the upcoming season of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.

The Empire Strikes a Chord is being presented by the HFA, organized by board members and other volunteers – Doug Banwell, Linda McLean, Eric Johnson and Tina Turley. This is truly a community event, with costs being graciously donated from start to finish. For more information, please contact Rob Saunders, HFA general manager: 788-2787 or info@huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Even if Joni Mitchell isn’t truly part of local Empire Hotel legacy and has never graced the local stage, organizers say they will waive that self-imposed criteria, if she wishes to perform in Huntsville Nov. 5 on behalf of the fire victims.

Concert will help Empire Hotel fire victims

2009-10-21T20:28:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Oct. 21, 2009.)

A benefit concert is being planned to assist those impacted by the Thanksgiving fire at the Empire Hotel.

The Empire Strikes a Chord concert will be held on Nov. 5 or 6 (date to be confirmed) at the Algonquin Theatre at 7:30 p.m.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts has put together an organizing committee with members of the local musical community who have ties to the Empire building and its owner, Dave Keay.

In addition to a musical extravaganza, the day will feature a silent art auction in Partners Hall, hosted by the Huntsville Arts Society. Proceeds of both the auction and the concert will be directed to a trust fund that has been established for the fire victims.

Although the roster is still being finalized, the organizers plan to primarily feature performers who have played at the Hideaway, as the Empire’s music venue has been most recently known. So far, the lineup of confirmed guests includes, in alphabetical order: Doug Banwell, Cabin Fever (Eric Johnson, Doug Veitch and Dave Hilton), Ruth Cassie, James Gordon, Linda and Andy McLean, Bill Stewart, Tina Turley and the Woodshed Improv Collective. Other musicians who have appeared at the Hideaway are also being contacted.

Tickets for The Empire Strikes a Chord will be $20. They will be available later this week through the Algonquin Theatre box office: 789-4975 or www.algonquintheatre.ca.

For more information, please contact Rob Saunders, Huntsville Festival of the Arts general manager: 788-2787 or info@huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Calling on all area talent for Peter Pan

2009-10-14T20:14:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Oct. 14, 2009.)

On the weekend of Oct. 24 and 25 there will be a casting call for aspiring actors who would like to participate in an upcoming production of Peter Pan.

Following the success of The Wizard of Oz, the inaugural co-presentation between the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and The Rotary Club of Huntsville, the two groups have decided to undertake another major production in the spring of 2010.

The chosen play will be Peter Pan, which will appeal to everyone from ages 2 to 92, just as The Wizard of Oz did. Both are magical stories with terrific sound scores that are guaranteed to draw large audiences. Everyone knows the story and many of the songs, from the original 1951 film starring Mary Martin as Peter Pan.

The element of stage flight in Peter Pan will also be a first for the Algonquin Theatre. The play will run over eight performances between April 15 and April 25 next year.

Like The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan has a large ensemble cast of over 50 actors. This gives more local thespians an opportunity to land a lead role or be a member of the chorus.

The casting committee is looking for up to 10 teenagers from ages 12 to 18 to be cast as the Lost Children in Never, Never Land. The successful actors must have strong singing voices and will be expected to learn simple dance routines.

They are also looking for five very strong teenage actors with a lot of stage confidence, excellent singing voices and a desire to fly on the Algonquin stage to play the young leads: Peter Pan, Wendy, Jonathon and Michael Darling and Tiger Lily.

Unfortunately, auditions will not be available for actors under the age of 12 for this show.

Also required are several seasoned adult male and female actors with excellent singing skills to play the adult leads: Mr. and Mrs. Darling, the Darlings’ maid, Captain Hook, Smee and Tiger Lily’s parents. Additionally, there are two animal roles to cast: the crocodile and Nana the dog.

These great parts will require an exceptional athletic ability. Finally, there is a need for 20-plus adult male and female actors in the chorus. Many will have small speaking and solo parts as Pirates or Indians. There will be one cast for all the shows, although the five teenage leads will have understudies who will also be cast as Lost Children in Never, Never Land.

Signing up for auditions will take place between 1 and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, in Partners Hall of the Algonquin Theatre. Between 2 and 4 p.m. that afternoon, all prospective cast members will be introduced to the various roles and their requirements. At the end of that session, applicants will choose what roles they wish to audition for and will be advised of a time, between 1 and 5 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25, when they will be auditioning. It is likely that all candidates will be asked to sing a song as well as do readings from the script.

In the words of director Gregg Evans, “Most importantly, we are looking for 50 actors who want to have fun and share a great theatrical experience with their community!”

Seeking film funding for summit project

2009-10-07T20:08:00.001-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Oct. 7, 2009.)

By Carli Whitwell

There are 18,000 reasons for the filmmakers of Hello World, This Is Huntsville to produce their G8 documentary: one for each of the residents who will be affected by the international forum next summer.

“This film is important for the community to have,” said Huntsville mayor Claude Doughty at a Huntsville economic development committee meeting last week. “We’ll have this documentary in 20 and 30 years (to show what Huntsville experienced).”

The economic development committee has supported the project in principle, putting aside $8,000 in its 2010 draft budget for the film, a small portion of the shoestring budget film company VQ Productions is hoping to raise.

VQ Productions consists of University of Toronto graduate and Huntsville native Kate Heming; long-time area cottager and former manager of the Canadian Film Festival Brenda Darling; and screenwriter/producer Tanya Campolin. The three women are working in conjunction with the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and, along with the support from the town, are seeking government or private funding to make up the rest of an operating budget of $140,000.

The documentary, they believe, is important not only for Huntsville, but also for the world.

“It’s a snapshot of Huntsville in 2010,” said Rob Saunders, general manager of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, a not-for-profit arts festival. “With a documentary like this, people a world away can get a sense of what it’s like (to experience a G8).”

The filmmakers plan to shadow a handful of residents in the leadup to and aftermath of the consecutive G8 and G20 Summits in the area. These leads, who could be anyone from senior citizens to religious leaders, haven’t yet been picked and likely won’t be filmed until the new year, said Saunders. He was quick to caution that there won’t be open auditions or casting calls; rather, the real-life leads will eventually reveal themselves.

Success for the partners will be reflected in increased tourism and film production in the area and having their documentary aired in major film festivals and on television. But, they’ll also measure it by what they leave behind for Huntsville students.

Saunders said they plan to allow aspiring student filmmakers help film the documentary. Also, any equipment purchased for the documentary — such as cameras, processing equipment and more — may also be lent out to Huntsville High School students.

While VQ Productions has filmed a town hall meeting and interviewed the mayor, major filming can’t take place until funding is in place, said Saunders.

Freddy Vette is back by popular demand

2009-09-23T15:23:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Sept. 23, 2009.)

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA Productions) is bringing back the dynamic Freddy Vette and the Flames to the Algonquin Theatre on Friday, Oct. 2, beginning at 8 p.m.

So, how does a guy born in 1972 end up as the real-deal front man for a ‘50s rock ‘n roll show? That seems to be the most-asked question when it comes to Vette.

“Good music is good music, no matter what kind it is or when it was made. You don’t have to be from the 1700s to play Mozart, you don’t have to be from the ‘30s or ‘40s to play jazz, and you sure don’t have to be from the ‘50s to play rock ‘n roll,” Vette says in reply.

“There’s such a huge audience out there who are hungry for this music and aren’t able to see it performed live. We continue to discover them, and they continue to discover us. It’s a great relationship that keeps rock ‘n roll alive.”

It also doesn’t hurt that Vette came from a musical family. His mother and father had a country music band, so there were always instruments around the house. The first thing Vette tackled was the drums, then guitar, and piano along the way.

[Photo from HFA website.]

The three ladies who share the stage with Vette perform all the great ‘girl’ hits from the rock ‘n roll era including songs from Leslie Gore, the Shirelles, the Shangri-Las and Patsy Cline. Four outstanding musicians round out this high-energy, exciting eight-piece act.

Tickets for Freddy Vette and the Flames are $28 for adults and $15 for youth under 18, plus GST and are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street, by dialling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

The festival blog at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com also features past festival stories and photos.

Auditions for Nutcracker ballet on Sept. 26

2009-09-09T15:00:00.003-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Sept. 9, 2009.)

Young dancers will want to mark Sept. 26 on their calendars.

That’s when Ballet Jörgen Canada will be holding auditions for the 2009-2010 winter tour of the Group of Seven Nutcracker. Young dancers aged 8 to 18 are invited to open auditions to either earn a role in their local performances or to join the youth touring cast.

Continuing in the well-established tradition of education and outreach, Ballet Jörgen Canada’s Group of Seven Nutcracker Youth Outreach Program gives young aspiring dancers the opportunity to participate on stage with a professional dance company. The cast members interact with and learn from professional dance artists while gaining invaluable performance experience in the production. Last year, 142 youth participated in the program. Touring cast roles include Klara, the Nutcracker Prince and community children, while the local roles are for chipmunks, squirrels, dragonflies, beavers, white-tailed deer, frogs, a sock bunny and a bear cub.

[Photo from HFA website.]

Auditions for the Huntsville performances will be held Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Algonquin Theatre. The Huntsville Festival of the Arts will be bringing this special holiday ballet to the local stage on Nov. 21 and 22.

It is essential that interested participants register to audition. Applications are available online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca and should be forwarded to the festival office via e-mail. Applicants chosen to participate in the November production will be required to attend further rehearsals on the weekend of Sept. 26 and 27, and five subsequent rehearsals in October and November. Rehearsals will be held at the Huntsville School of Ballet on Centre Street in Huntsville.

Ballet Jörgen Canada premiered the Group of Seven Nutcracker, a new Canadian version of the holiday classic, in the 2008-2009 season to overwhelming public praise and critical acclaim. The Group of Seven Nutcracker is a quintessential Canadian work, a national treasure that will warm the hearts of young and old alike. Born from collaboration with Kleinburg’s world-renowned McMichael Canadian Art Collection, the production features backdrops from Canadian 20th Century landscape artists Franklin Carmichael, Tom Thomson and L.L. FitzGerald. From a wintery schoolhouse in Bisset, Ontario, in 1912 to the lush summer wetlands of Ontario’s Algonquin Park, audiences are taken on a grand journey with Klara as she experiences for the first time Canadian landscapes filled with snowflakes, Mounties, and charming woodland creatures.

[Additional information from the HFA website:]

Group of Seven Nutcracker

Canada's newest full-length ballet, created by acclaimed choreographer Bengt Jorgen to Tchaikovsky's well loved score, reworks this timeless classic and is destined to become a national treasure that will warm the hearts of young and old alike.

With over 100 costumes in richly covered fabrics, the Group of Seven Nutcracker features backdrops from Canada's 20th Century landscape artists. The ballet’s second act is remembered for its celebration of dances and the Group of Seven Nutcracker follows this tradition with woodland creatures dancing in their likeness in Ontario's Algonquin Park.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts will be presenting two performances:
Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m.
Nov. 22, 2 p.m.
The Algonquin Theatre
Tickets: Adults $25 - Youth (18 & under) $15 - Family $70 + GST

Karl Mohr and guests at Algonquin Aug. 21

2009-08-19T17:13:00.001-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 19, 2009.)

Three young, dynamic, local musicians will be onstage at the Algonquin Theatre on Friday, Aug. 21, for what will undoubtedly be an eclectic evening of music. Headlining the show will be Karl Mohr, who, along with Eric Reid, opened for Hawksley Workman during his 2008 summer show.

Mohr grew up in Chisholm, a small town located north of Huntsville, and attended Almaguin Highlands Secondary School before heading off to Queen’s University. He later worked as a sound editor in Vienna, lived in Huntsville from 2005 to 2008, and is now working as a film sound editor in Toronto. His love of music, both playing and creating, has resulted in the creation of his band The Fallen Angels.

“We are self-proclaimed dark wave or goth rock,” says Mohr, adding that the band’s music has evolved from industrial sounds to be more intelligent, searching and creative. “It’s heavy and moody and explores different areas. It wants to know and asks questions like, ‘Are you aware? Are you sexual? Are you happy with your life?’ It’s one hour of very intense music.” He says his music hopes to explore new territory and is not easily relegated into slots.

Joining Mohr and the Angels on drums for this show will be another well-known Huntsville artist, Jeremy Munce. Opening for The Fallen Angels will be Huntsville songstress Ruth Cassie and her band Ivan Blackbird.

Cassie has toured with Hawksley Workman and created a lot of buzz on her own with her powerhouse ethereal vocals, plunky percussive and delicate piano playing, as well as poetically crafted lyrics. In addition to performing at venues throughout the area and in Toronto, Cassie has been involved in a number of smaller, intimate house concerts at private residences throughout Huntsville. Although, at times, her music is at a polar opposite to Mohr’s darker techno beats, the two have collaborated on a number of CDs and recordings.

Kicking off the evening will be another local boy, Eric Reid, and his musical muse, Laugh Out Loud, which can include up to six musicians. The group’s music is indie pop, with catchy beats and both insightful and irreverent lyrics. His listing on MySpace suggests he writes songs about “goats and parchment and oil on ducks,” so it’s apparent that Reid does not take himself too seriously. His music, however, has a growing following and wide appeal.

A presentation of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, the evening may seem like quite a break from their more conventional offerings. General manager Rob Saunders acknowledges this but adds, “We often talk about encouraging young artists, to both give them a voice and to encourage new patrons for both the theatre and the festival. However, in practice our focus is normally on more conventional artistic streams, such as through the high school music department or the local music and dance organizations. These three artists all have local ties and deserve a chance to perform in their home theatre. I think it will be a unique evening of excellent music and I challenge the 18 to 35-year-olds who have never been in the theatre to come out to the show. We would love a full house.”

Tickets are available at the Main Street box office, by calling 789-4975 or online at www.algonquintheatre.ca.

Dylan Tree performance celebrates words and music of acclaimed songwriter Bob Dylan

2009-08-12T16:52:00.003-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 12, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

“Great show,” “Terrific band,” “Wonderful music,” and “You must bring them back.”

Those were just some of the words heard from departing patrons following the Dylan Tree concert at the Algonquin Theatre in January.

That was the first time the group had performed here and few people knew what to expect. By intermission, the audience not only knew, they were impressed. By concert’s end, they were standing up and shouting for more.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts has listened to the demand for more Dylan Tree and is bringing the band back this Friday, Aug. 14, as part of its summer lineup. Dylan Tree is a celebration of the words and music of one of the world’s greatest songwriters, Bob Dylan, said guitarist and band founder Richard Kahl. “We are not a tribute band. We prefer to call our show a celebration of the Bob Dylan songbook.”

ROOTS MUSIC: Drummer Doug Inglis, left, and Dylan Tree founder and guitarist Richard Kahl stop for a photo in the upstairs lobby of the Algonquin Theatre. The five-piece band takes to the stage Friday, Aug. 14, at 8 p.m.

The Dylan Tree, featuring five well-known Toronto musicians, has put together its own retrospective of the Bob Dylan catalogue. The show features material spanning Dylan’s career from the 1960s to the present. Some of the songs are presented in the style of the popular original recordings (Like a Rolling Stone, Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door), others in the style of well-known covers, such as Tambourine Man, All Along the Watch Tower, Blowin’ in the Wind, Simple Twist of Fate and The Mighty Quinn.

“Each of the players share lead and background vocals and the emphasis is always on letting the songs speak for themselves, not on a Bob Dylan impersonator,” said Kahl, whose idea it was to form the band. The Dylan Tree consists of Matt Greenwood, who has played with Murray McLaughlin and Shania Twain; Martin Aucoin, who has performed with Garth Brooks, Alan Jackson and George Straight; Doug Inglis, who plays with Classic Albums Live; and Paul Martin, who has toured with Bo Diddley, and Kahl, also a regular musician with Classic Albums Live.

With a large screen and video backdrop, creative lighting and risers, which form a second tier on the stage, the visuals are impressive and create a 3D effect. “The show within a show within a show was basically the effect we tried to achieve when we designed it,” said Kahl. “In a theatre setting (as opposed to a dance club or bar), you have to have the visuals, because five guys playing tunes after 20 minutes can get boring.”

While the show may look the same, some of the content has changed since the January performance. “It won’t be a carbon of that show,” Kahl said.

The Dylan Tree’s first official gig was in Toronto in 2006 on May 24, Dylan’s birthday. Since that time the band has played in and around the Toronto area and, since coming here, has performed in Markham, which was filmed as a one-hour special for the Sun TV network, and at a couple of blues festivals in southern Ontario.

“We have also produced a DVD/CD package of our full concert we did in Muskoka, which will be released in mid-September,” said Inglis. “The proceeds of that are going to the Wounded Warriors, a charity that takes care of the troops when they come home, whatever shape they are in.” Through the association with the charity and its founder Canadian Forces’ Capt. Wayne Johnston, the band is hoping to go to Afghanistan in the near future to entertain the troops.

It would seem the Dylan Tree is headed toward success. Even those who don’t particularly like Dylan as a singer love his songs, said Inglis, who has watched the beat poet perform at least a dozen times.

With some of the best songs of all time performed by a talented band, Dylan Tree provides a great evening of entertainment. Tickets for the show are $30 for adults and $20 for youth under 18, and are available at the theatre box office on Main Street, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Enjoy a memorable evening of classic music

2009-08-12T16:41:00.003-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 12, 2009.)

A very special tribute evening is planned for Thursday, Aug. 13, at the Algonquin Theatre in memory of one of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts co-founders.

The world-famous ensemble the Alcan String Quartet will be performing as part of the Huntsville festival’s 17th season. The quartet has developed a reputation for excellence throughout Canada and internationally since its formation over 16 years ago. The quartet’s originality, contagious enthusiasm, unique sonority and remarkable cohesion have all contributed to its long-term success. Critics agree that, both on stage and in the recording studio, the Alcan Quartet possesses the qualities that characterize the best ensembles of its kind: a recognizable personality, homogeneous sound and elegant style.

The evening is being dedicated to the memory of festival co-founder Susan Alberghini, who died earlier this year. Alberghini’s vision and dedication to the nurturing and development of the arts was instrumental in ensuring the success of the festival in its early years. With the addition of a general manager position in 1996, Alberghini continued to provide programming, media and sponsorship advice to the board and was a frequent visitor to the area to enjoy performances during the summer months.

In earlier years, Alberghini studied and worked at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, on a Fulbright Scholarship from Syracuse University. Alberghini’s uncommon appreciation of art and music led her to open a consulting practice in arts administration that she ran successfully for many years. For the last several years, Alberghini had been the executive director of the Guild of Canadian Film Composers. She was a long-time protégé of Dr. Kenneth G. Mills and, at the time of her death, was the president of the Kenneth G. Mills Foundation.

While in Italy, Alberghini met her husband Pier Paolo Alberghini, who survives her, and has joined with the Mills Foundation to co-sponsor the evening’s performance. As a special request, the Alcan Quartet will be performing Borodin’s String Quartet #2 in D major, a piece of music that was played at Alberghini’s wedding.

In addition to this piece, the quartet will perform works from Mozart, Evangelista and Annunziata in what promises to be a great evening of classical excellence. The ensemble’s list of accomplishments is impressive: close to 1,000 concerts; over 100 live radio broadcasts (Radio Canada, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, National Public Radio in the USA, and Radio France); numerous television appearances; tours throughout North America, Europe, Asia and a number of commissioned pieces and first performances.

In addition to its performing career, the quartet is regularly invited to give master classes at universities, conservatories and summer chamber music institutes. The Alcan Quartet is based in Chicoutimi, Québec, where it receives the unconditional support of the Orchestre Symphonique du Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean. The quartet takes its name from its principal patron, the multinational aluminum company Alcan. The quartet also receives support from the Conseil des Arts et des Lettres du Québec and the Canada Council for the Arts.

Tickets for the performance are available at the box office by calling 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Hearn pays tribute to town with new song

2009-08-05T16:28:00.001-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 5, 2009.)

By Laura MacLean

Kevin Hearn can’t wait to play in Huntsville.

The keyboardist for Canadian band Barenaked Ladies spent his childhood summers at the family cottage near Novar. He is teaming up with Huntsville’s own Hawksley Workman for a show at the Algonquin Theatre on Wednesday, Aug. 12.

Hearn, who has just released his fifth solo album, Havana Winter, has paid tribute to Huntsville with a new song titled Huntsville.ca. Hearn told the Forester he is looking forward to his upcoming show with Workman, as it is bringing the two talented musicians back to their roots. “Hawksley and I are old pals,” says Hearn. “We used to fight over the last cups of worms at the Novar store.”

While Hawksley will be showcasing tunes from his recent CD Between the Beautifuls, Hearn will be performing with his band Thinbuckle. Hearn says, when Hawksley offered him the chance to join forces and do a show together, he jumped at the opportunity. “About four years ago, I played at the Algonquin Theatre with the Rheo Statics,” he says. “I’ve been going (to Huntsville) so long I remember it before there was an Algonquin Theatre and Main Street was the main street and that was it. My family always had a cottage there so, as soon as I had money, I bought my own. I even spend some time up there in the winter.”

Hearn’s appreciation for peace and quiet, not to mention the beauty that surrounds his Muskoka cottage, was the inspiration behind him writing Huntsville.ca, a song featured on his new album. To pay homage to a town he loves, he will be performing the song at the theatre on Aug. 12.

“I wasn’t going to call it Huntsville.ca because I didn’t feel it needed to be a certain place, but then I thought why not,” explains Hearn. “Anyone who lives in Huntsville knows it’s a different place in the winter than it is in the summer. I started the song based on the perspective of someone who lives there and sees the town change drastically from season to season. The third verse is about fair-weather friends when the weather is sunny and bright.”

Hearn has been part of the Barenaked Ladies since they formed 14 years ago. Over the years, he has also played on albums by CanRock royalty such as The Tragically Hip, Broken Social Scene and Ron Sexsmith. His solo CD has been defined as having the innocence of '60s pop and the wry wit of Randy Newman.

“I’m thrilled and very excited,” Hearn says of his upcoming show. “I really enjoy working with Hawksley and I’m grateful to him for extending an invitation to share the stage with him. Maybe now I’ll get recognized in Huntsville at last.”

Folk duo Dala return to the Algonquin Theatre, followed by taiko drummers

2009-08-05T15:53:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 5, 2009.)

Japanese taiko drums, tenor John McDermott round out week of entertainment.

Having performed on Huntsville’s Algonquin Theatre stage with Jim Cuddy, Stuart McLean and as part of the Neil Young: Borrowed Tunes tribute concert, the rapidly rising acoustic pop duo Dala returns Thursday, Aug. 6, as part of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts’ August lineup.

Amanda Walther and Sheila Carabine of Dala (the name was formed by combining the two last letters of each artist’s name), have come a long way in a short time. The two best friends, who met in their high school music class and wrote their first song together in 2002, have since performed at Toronto’s legendary Massey Hall a total of six times. Darlings of the Canadian music scene, Dala are now poised to bring their fresh brand of acoustic pop music to the world.

Drawing upon influences such as the Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Bob Dylan, Dala write songs that are both catchy and insightful. Walther’s ethereal soprano voice blends seamlessly with Carabine’s velvety alto, creating the lush harmonies that have become their trademark. The sheer joy with which they perform is infectious, turning first-time listeners into instant fans.

Dala have toured across Canada six times, opening for artists such as Jann Arden, Tom Cochrane, and Matthew Good. No strangers to the festival scene, they have also performed at the Edmonton Folk Festival, Mariposa and the Ottawa Folk Festival, among others. Most recently, they performed at the Newport Folk Fest, the only Canadian group invited, sharing the bill with Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

Dala’s last two albums Angels and Thieves (2006) and Who Do You Think You Are (2007) earned them a total of four Canadian Folk Music Award nominations. Dala’s new album Everyone Is Someone is a wonderful journey for the listener, bringing together all the elements that set this talented duo apart.

On Friday night, the mesmerizing sound of Japanese drums will reverberate through the theatre as world-renowned percussionist Kiyoshi Nagata returns to Huntsville with his group Nagata Shachu. The group (formerly Kiyoshi Nagata Ensemble) has enthralled audiences with its captivating and heart-pounding performances of the Japanese drum (taiko) since its formation in 1998. The ensemble has toured widely throughout Canada, the U.S. and Italy performing in theatres, concert halls and at major music festivals.

While rooted in the folk drumming traditions of Japan, the group’s principal aim is to rejuvenate this ancient art form by producing innovative and exciting music that seeks to create a new voice for the taiko. Taking its name from founder Kiyoshi Nagata and shachu (an old term for a performing troupe), Nagata Shachu has become renowned for its exacting, straightforward yet physically demanding performances as well as for its diverse repertoire.

Combining thunderous, primal drumbeats with subtle, intricate rhythms, the ensemble is able to produce a wide spectrum of sound. Featuring a vast array of Japanese taiko (including the massive O-Daiko), gongs, bells, wooden clappers, shakers and bamboo flutes, Nagata Shachu will provide an unforgettable experience that is both powerful in expression and heartfelt in its sincerity.

Also this year, dancers from the Muskoka Dance Academy will dance to a couple of the group’s pieces. The concert is a fitting opening night to the annual Dragonboat races being held on Saturday, Aug. 8, at Avery Beach Park.

Closing out the weekend, on Aug. 8, is festival favourite John McDermott. McDermott has performed at the festival for the past five seasons and his concerts regularly sell out. Although tickets for this evening were still available at press time, concert-goers are encouraged to act fast so as not to be disappointed.

All the above shows are at the Algonquin Theatre commencing at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the Main Street box office, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Viewpoint: Jazz in the park was a real treat

2009-08-05T14:59:00.001-05:00

(The following letter originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 5, 2009.)

What a treat to sit on the grass at River Mill Park on Saturday afternoon and enjoy excellent jazz entertainment under the new bandshell.

Then there was the last-minute addition of bass player Jamie Bestwick to the Herbie Koffman group, and you can add delight and pride in our home-grown talent to the experience. We were only disappointed in not being able to take in the many other excellent groups, something we hope to rectify next year.

Many thanks to everyone involved in creating and maintaining our beautiful new park; a special note of gratitude to the tireless members of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and their sponsors, who continue to expand the venues of entertainment for the benefit of all.

George and Sheila Hoo
Huntsville

Jazz festival offers great lineup of talented musicians on Algonquin Theatre stage

2009-07-29T10:14:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 29, 2009.)

The third annual Huntsville Jazz Festival starts tomorrow, July 30, and runs until Saturday, Aug. 1.

This ‘festival within a festival’ focuses on the genre of jazz and, as in previous years, a great lineup of talented musicians has been confirmed.

On Thursday evening, the big sound of the Toronto All Star Big Band takes the Algonquin Theatre stage. Described by the National Post as “a great swing band,” this group of young, very accomplished musicians will energetically interpret the great music of the '30s and '40s, including the works of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey.

Armed with brilliant programming, slick choreography and witty cultural nostalgia, this vibrant cast of young talent has earned its position at the top of the list of presenters throughout Ontario and in the U.S.

At the heart of the musical matter, the Toronto All-Star Big Band provides one of the most intense and stimulating youth music programs in Canada. Behind their extraordinary entertainment, they engage cream-of-the-crop young musicians from across the GTA in a rigorous regime of rehearsals, workshops and rich skill-building performance experiences with international stars. They have also worked with talented Canadians such as Peter Appleyard, Tommy Ambrose, Phil Nimmons, Oliver Jones, Ranee Lee and the great Jackie Richardson.

On Friday night, crooner Michael Danso and the celebrated jazz trio Kollage will present an evening of great jazz music. Kollage is led by acclaimed drummer Archie Alleyne, who was nominated at the 2007 National Jazz Awards for Drummer of the Year, Musician of the Year, and Instrumentalist of the Year. Alleyne has accompanied a who’s who of great jazz performers from Billie Holliday to Oscar Peterson and Oliver Jones to Big Joe Turner, as well as producing a couple of CDs with Danso.

Singing with symphony orchestras and jazz groups, Danso has travelled from Toronto to China and back. He has toured extensively as a singer and dancer with Riverdance, has acted in dramatic roles on television and the stage, and has appeared in hit musicals across North America.

Originally from Scotland, Danso first appeared on stage at the age of five. Ella Fitzgerald spotted him at the age of 10 and wanted to take him to the U.S. but his grandmother vetoed the idea. Danso spent the next nine years continuing to hone his talents in Scotland. He finally came to North America at the age of 19, performing in the hit musical Hair.

Danso spent three years in Los Angeles, then three more touring Japan and the Far East. He finally settled in Canada, where he immediately became a favourite of audiences and media alike. He has performed in top jazz rooms, festivals and nightclubs all across Canada and the U.S.

Just added to the program is a guest vocalist, the aforementioned Jackie Richardson. Known as the queen of gospel and soul, she achieved theatrical acclaim for her award-winning work on Cookin’ at the Cookery and Raisin in the Sun.

On Saturday night, the jazz festival closes with the legendary Peter Appleyard. A versatile studio percussionist and nightclub/television personality in Toronto, he moved to Canada in 1951 as a drummer and soon turned to the vibraphone.

LEGENDARY VIBRAPHONIST: The jazz festival closes on Saturday with legendary percussionist Peter Appleyard, who will be joined on stage by jazz vocalist Carol McCartney.

Appleyard’s television shows include the CBC’s Mallets and Brass (1969), with flugelhornist Guido Basso, and the syndicated Peter Appleyard Presents (1977-80). Appleyard, who has conducted his Canadian career with a keen instinct for popular tastes, has recorded several light-instrumental albums, including Swing Fever (1982), as well as the jazz CDs Barbados Hot and Barbados Cool (1990). His version of the Lincolnshire Poacher was a pop hit in the early 1970s.

Appleyard has worked abroad with Benny Goodman, Dick Hyman, Mel Tormé, Bob Wilber and other noted U.S. jazz musicians.

He was made an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1992. Joining Appleyard on the evening’s program will be vocalist Carol McCartney, well known on the Toronto jazz scene.

Tickets for all shows are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

All-day jazz featured at River Mill Park

2009-07-29T09:47:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 29, 2009.)

Local groups and guest artists will delight audience for hours

This Saturday, Aug. 1, will be the first all-day jazz festival in River Mill Park, running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The afternoon of music, a new component of the Huntsville Jazz Festival, will feature a combination of local groups and guest artists.

The day will kick off at 11 a.m. with the music of the Muskoka Big Band, under the direction of Neil Barlow. This band of local musicians performs regularly throughout the community and always provides a rollicking good program. Vocalist Sherisse Stevens will accompany the band on a few numbers and the program will include a bevy of audience favourites.

Next up, at noon, the Muskoka Jazz Guys will perform. One of the busiest groups in the Muskoka area, saxophonist Doug Banwell, keyboard wiz Tim Sullivan and bass player Jamie Bestwick can play all types of jazz music and often look for requests from the audience to set their program. Known for their virtuosic solo work the group returns at 5 p.m. for a second set.

Marguerite and Bill Urban lead the Trillium Dixie Jazz Band onto the stage at 1:15 p.m. This six-piece ensemble is the perfect group for an outdoor concert, with lots of energy, toe tapping tunes and music we have all grown to love. Mixing Dixieland swing with well-known classics, the Trillium Dixie group has a large local following.

At 2:15 p.m. Laganza, better known for their pop/rock performances, take the stage. Led by the versatile Tobin Spring, the group will do a set of reggae and jazz-inspired tunes, showcasing Spring’s guitar wizardry and group vocals.

Special guest musicians, the Herbie Koffman Quintet, perform a set of jazz standards at 3:30 p.m. Koffman, a master on the trumpet, and his son are joined by a rhythm section and well-known jazz guitarist Rob Piltch.

Following the Koffman set, the Muskoka Jazz Guys and the Trillium Dixie band return for second sets at 5 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. respectively. In between artists, masters of ceremonies Doug Banwell and Ken Cole’s comedy troupe the Woodshed Collective will keep those in attendance occupied and entertained.

There is no charge for this event and the Huntsville Festival of the Arts invites you to bring your lawn chair, sit back and enjoy some great music. The performers will be set up on a professional stage and under a stage cover purchased by the festival through an Ontario government Celebrate Ontario grant. These facilities will be used in the future by various community organizations both in River Mill Park and at various outside venues.

A masterpiece in the making, in the open air

2009-07-22T16:44:00.001-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 22, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

Huntsville’s downtown will take on the air of Quebec City’s Old Quebec Lane, when 25 artists (plus some artists-in-training) set up their easels on July 30, to paint whatever tickles their fancy.

The finished masterpieces will then be auctioned off from the town hall steps at 3 p.m. that afternoon. Sponsored by Kelly Holinshead, the Shutterbug Gallery and the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, en Plein Air painting and auction is a new, totally unique idea to raise money for an art bursary(ies) for local students pursuing a fine arts post-secondary education.

GREAT PAINTS: Some of the artists participating in en Plein Air on July 30 gather on the steps of town hall. From left, front, Gerry Lantaigne, Sharon Stock Feren and Jennifer Pimentel. At back, from left, Kelly Holinshead, Johanne Stewart, Huntsville mayor Claude Doughty and Catherine O'Mara.

The participating artists will set up their easels at 10 a.m. on Main Street or in River Mill Park, having been supplied with a stretched 16 x 20-inch canvas and a box of acrylic paints in red, blue, yellow, black and white. They will then use their imagination and talent to produce a completed painting by 2 p.m.

“They can paint whatever they want, a self portrait, from a photograph, from memory or what they see around them,” Holinshead said.

Once finished, the paintings will be displayed on the town hall steps for the public to view prior to the auction. To entertain the prospective buyers, music will be provided by guitarists/vocalists David Crombie, Luc Pattison and Luke Pombiere.

Promptly at 3 p.m., arts patrons, the public at large and anyone looking for an original piece to hang on their walls, will have an opportunity to bid and possibly obtain the painting of their choice. With actor/comedian James Carroll conducting the proceedings, the auction promises to be a lively and entertaining affair.

Some of the artists who are taking part are Wendy Moses, Catherine O’Mara, Sara Hall, Helena Renwick, Johanne Stewart, Sharon Stock Feren and muralist Gerry Lantaigne. Artists-in-training include mayor Claude Doughty and councillors Fran Coleman and Mary Jane Fletcher.

Doughty, a former dentist, is not much known for his artistic endeavours, although he does confess to having an architectural eye. “When I was eight, I was given a Jon Nagy learn-to-draw kit and I had it licked by noon. That was the last time I did anything that wasn’t a building,” he said. “Then, when I was 16, I didn’t know if I was going to be a dentist or an architect. The guy next door was a dentist and had a nice car and that cemented my decision.”

Lantaigne has been busy of late with Group of Seven mural renderings but said he will probably choose a building to paint, such as the Shutterbug Gallery, which is one of his favourite buildings in town. “When I paint, I’m usually done in two hours but, with four hours, I can really spend some time on it.”

With the other participants still mulling over their options, Doughty said he has to first get the hang of mixing paints. “Can we have a Coles' Notes colour chart?” he asked of Holinshead.

Patsy Cline comes to life on stage, July 25

2009-07-22T15:56:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 22, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

Leisa Way is returning to the town where, three years ago, she debuted her Patsy Cline tribute show.

Sweet Dreams – A Tribute to Patsy Cline takes the Algonquin Theatre stage this Saturday, July 25, at 8 p.m.

“Huntsville and the Algonquin Theatre were the start of what has become an amazing tour,” said Way, who also portrayed Cline in the stage musical A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline.

WAY TO GO: Leisa Way takes time out for a photo with Tom Thomson outside the Algonquin Theatre earlier this month. Way brings Sweet Dreams: A Tribute to Patsy Cline to Huntsville this Saturday, July 25.

The perky, petite blonde, becomes Patsy Cline in an instant when kitted out in black wigs, cowboy hat, boots and adopting the singer’s trademark deep voice. Quite the change for the soprano who once played Peter Pan and Anne in Anne of Green Gables for the Charlottetown Festival.

Way was born in Kitchener, raised in Sudbury and has deep northern Ontario roots. Her mother hailed from Callander and her father from Powassan. From a musical background with family gatherings full of music and laughter, she says of the three children in her family she was the lucky one who got all the musical talent.

Way loves the Huntsville area, and she and her husband, actor David Nairn, who is also the artistic director of Theatre Orangeville, often vacation at the Nor’Loch Lodge in Dwight. “We were just there a few weeks ago. Our tax guy is in Huntsville,” Way said, with a tinkly laugh.

It was at the Banff School of Fine Arts that Way developed a love of musical theatre, starring over the years in shows such as Crazy For You, Showboat, The Sound of Music and Grease. During that time, Way found her ‘musical belt,’ which allowed her to hit the back wall of a theatre when she sang in a lower vocal range. That opened up a whole new world for the soprano.

“A lot of people don’t have a great belt voice. Barbra Streisand is one and Patsy Cline another, ” she said.

The show Way is bringing to Huntsville differs from the last in that there are more songs and less dialogue, Way said. “I told so many stories about Patsy Cline last time; I could talk all day about her there are so many funny stories, but I’ve honed it, so there is more music - 29 songs in total.”

Included in that number are several songs that Cline only ever sang live and were never recorded. There are a couple of songs, which are lovely, that people will not know Patsy did unless they were at one of her shows, Way explained.

Way has just completed a 22-concert tour playing to sold-out audiences everywhere. “In one theatre in Morrisburg, we did several shows and close to 5,000 people came to see us,” she said.

After three years, Way still enjoys portraying her alter ego. “She was so loving, so giving, so full of life. It’s a joy to embody someone who was so well loved.” Patsy Cline was killed in an air crash at the age of 30, but lives on in the hearts of many of her fans. This is one show that is sure to sell out, organizers say.

Tickets are $35 and $20 for youth under 18 and available at the Algonquin Theatre box office, 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Multi-sensory show brings Paris life to Huntsville stage, thanks to HHS grads

2009-07-22T14:15:00.001-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 22, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

Busking with her violin on the streets of Paris was an exciting and rewarding experience for 28-year-old Nisha Coleman.

“I busked on the streets for three years and it worked well. I made more money busking in Paris than I would have in any other job anywhere,” she said.

While busking is officially illegal in Paris, so are many other things but that doesn’t stop the French, Coleman said. “The police don’t bother you unless they receive a complaint. I had a few encounters with the police, but nothing too serious. One time, a lady complained, saying she didn’t like the violin. The police came and questioned me, checked my passport, and that did make me feel a bit uncomfortable.”

There are some areas to be avoided, such as the Champs Elysees, where busking is strictly forbidden. Conversely, there is a designated area for artists and musicians, but it was too busy, Coleman said. “I went to non-designated places, under bridges and archways, where sound can resonate a bit more, which is better for the violin.”

While in Paris, Coleman re-connected with former fellow Huntsville High School student Brigitte Reid, who made a 17-minute documentary about her busking experiences. “That inspired both of us to complement the film with other multi-media to capture the essence of Paris,” said Coleman.

The result can be seen tomorrow night, July 23, at the Algonquin Theatre, when the Huntsville Festival of the Arts presents Une Soiree Parisienne. The show will begin with the documentary,
followed by a text, written and related by Coleman, that will take the audience through a day in Paris, as seen through the eyes of all who encompass the city: children, homeless people, Parisiennes on their way to work, even the pigeons, said Coleman.

“I begin with the day at 6 a.m. through to 10 a.m. Then the theatre will go dark and there will be a two-minute electro-acoustic recording of Paris sounds – the cacophony of traffic, the birds, the metro.” The evening will continue with more text, music and a couple of short films accompanied by Coleman and Reid on violin and piano.

“There will be lots of little surprises throughout the evening. We want to bring four of the five senses to the experience, and make it a holistic revisitation of the city,” Coleman said. One of those senses, taste, will be introduced to patrons during the intermission with offerings of French wine, cheese and baguette.

Recently returned from her sojourn in France, Coleman is settling down in Montreal with her boyfriend, whom she met in Paris. Reid is living in Mexico City with her husband, teaching English and French, filming and working on various other projects. The couple is expecting their first child soon.

Tickets for what promises to be a delightfully different evening are $15 and available at the Algonquin Theatre box office, 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

PLAYING IN PARIS: There is nothing like the sound of Bach to soothe the soul on a sunny afternoon in Paris. Passer-by Herve Blandin caught former Huntsville High School student Nisha Coleman busking not far from the Palais-Royal and posted it on the web. Coleman and fellow alumna Brigitte Reid bring Une Soiree Parisienne to the Algonquin on July 23.

Festival warms up with hot country trio Doc Walker, followed by tenor Mitch Seekins

2009-07-15T15:36:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 15, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

One of North America’s hottest country acts, Doc Walker, comes to the Algonquin Theatre tomorrow night at 8 p.m.

Combining the free-spirited country-rock style of the Eagles with the blended vocal bliss of bands such as Alabama and America, this trio, with its trademark country-rock sound and pitch-perfect, high-flying harmonies, is sure to fire up all country music fans. Doc Walker band members Chris Thorsteinson, Dave Wasyliw and Murray Pulver are three childhood friends from small-town Manitoba who managed to stick it out for the long haul – through school band practices, tour after tour, marriage, children and through the good and the bad,

Three albums into their career, Doc Walker released Beautiful Life, an album that won the band a 2009 Juno Award for Country Recording of the Year, six Canadian Country Music Awards in 2008 (including Album of the Year, Single of the Year and Fan’s Choice Award) and three top-10 country singles.

On Aug. 25, Doc Walker will release their fifth, hotly anticipated, full-length album, tentatively entitled Go. The album echoes the multi-award winning Beautiful Life in a number of ways. The three band members co-wrote the majority of the album and worked with acclaimed Nashville songwriters Bruce Wallace and fellow Canadian Victoria Banks.

With a busy set of summer festival dates, a major fall tour and a brand new album, Doc Walker will drive their dream further than they imagined when they were 14 years old and just fooling around with guitars in a tiny Manitoba town.

On Saturday, July 18, the celebrated tenor Mitch Seekins brings the popular music of Michael Bublé and Andrea Bocelli to the Algonquin stage. This show makes for a wonderful evening full of energy, humour and class all at the same time with songs such as Home, Fever, Time to Say Goodbye, The Prayer, as well as hits with Tony Bennett and Josh Groban.

Mitch Seekins has, for more than 20 years, been performing pop, rock and R&B in nightclubs from coast to coast in Canada. In 1996, he was encouraged to make a crossover into classical music and has since performed in operas by Puccini, Mozart and many others.

Performing the music of Andrea Bocelli was a perfect marriage of both the pop and opera genres, showcasing Seekins’ abilities. The idea of Bublé to Bocelli was really in response to the demands of audiences wanting to hear the old standards with Bublé’s new, lively arrangements, but also with the great renditions of Andrea Bocelli’s music.

One interesting piece of trivia: Seekins is also the founder of his own vocal school, where he has instructed internationally known artists, including Huntsville’s own two-time Juno award winner Hawksley Workman.

Tickets for all festival shows are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street, by dialing 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

TRAIL BLAZERS: One of the hottest country acts
in North America, Doc Walker takes the Algonquin
stage on Thursday, July 16, at 8 p.m.

Lake of Bays diva performs at Algonquin Theatre with top-notch string quartette

2009-07-15T15:08:00.003-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 15, 2009.)

Internationally renowned opera star Pamela Hoiles brings a variety of guests to her Huntsville concert

By Gillian Brunette

Internationally recognized soprano and Lake of Bays resident Pamela Hoiles appears in concert this Friday, July 17, and says she is thrilled to be performing in Huntsville.

“It is such a pleasure to be back here with such wonderful friends and supporters of the arts in beautiful Muskoka.”

The July 17 concert, titled Festival Friends, promises to offer a cross section of music to suit all tastes, said Hoiles. “It is a very interesting program and I think that everyone will enjoy it. Arkady (Yanivker, violinist) has played many times (at the theatre) and he will perform pop with me, as well as classical pieces.”

Hoiles has lived in Lake of Bays for about eight years. “One of the reasons I decided to get a cottage up here is because of the Festival of the Arts. I heard about it and have been impressed with all that they do. My friend Pamela Smyth really did a great job of getting it to the Algonquin Theatre,” she said.

“It is great to have that theatre in Huntsville because of the citizens of the area, who understood the need for such a facility. I admire them for that and so am thrilled to be singing for them.”

IN CONCERT: Lake of Bays resident and internationally acclaimed soprano Pamela Hoiles performs at the AlgonquinTheatre on Friday, July 17, at 8 p.m.

Hoiles, who has been a major benefactor of the Algonquin Theatre and the Huntsville Festival of the Arts over the years, spends much of her time in Muskoka when she is not on tour.

“I usually come up in the winter but, this year, I had to have a back operation and couldn’t come, so I am very happy to be back. I do have lots of friends up here and am really looking forward to seeing them on the 17th and over the rest of the summer.”

Friday’s concert will include a string quartet led by Yanivker, who is well known to long-term festival supporters as the concertmaster of the festival orchestra and first violin for the Toronto Symphony. They will be performing Mendelssohn’s String Quartet, first movement, opus 44, in D major. “It is a very energetic, very upbeat selection,” said Yanivker.

The second piece will be the melodious second movement from Borodin’s musical Kismet. Hoiles will then take the stage, performing some popular tunes arranged for her by composer Bob Goldstone. These will include a medley of Night and Day, The Continental, Embraceable You, Bewitched, Sooner or Later and, possibly, I Was Beautiful.

Hoiles will be backed by the string quartet, piano and a quartet of brass, woodwind and bass (all top professionals from across North America) to create a dynamic and unique sound. She will then be joined by New York City’s internationally renowned pianist and vocal coach Myron McPherson to perform the following pieces: Strauss’s Zueignung; Dos cantares populares; and Ravel’s Vocalise en forme de Habanera. Yanivker will return to open the second half in recital with a pianist and perform two pieces before being joined by the quartet to conclude the concert with an arrangement of Porgy and Bess.

Born in Lawton, Oklahoma, and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Hoiles attended Occidental College in Los Angeles and graduated as a drama major. She then went to Rome for one year and studied with the eminent vocal coach Maria Theresa Pediconi of the St. Cecilia Academy.

Before concentrating on her career as a soloist, Hoiles performed throughout the United States and Europe as a singing actress, recreating roles in plays such as the Mikado, Carousel and the Sound of Music.

Most recently, Hoiles has been performing in Europe. “After a wonderful success in Sofia and Italy, I am now looking forward to doing a more relaxed and fun program at the Algonquin Theatre,” she said.

Tickets for Festival Friends are $32 ($20 for youth under 18) and are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street, by dialling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Classics, comedy, blues and jazz are some of the treats in the upcoming festival line-up

2009-07-08T14:53:00.004-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 8, 2009.)

Bowser and Blue perform July 10, Downchild Blues Band returns July 15, with classical music in between

By Gillian Brunette

Some of the best-loved pieces of music have been borrowed from the great classical composers and turned into film scores.

Tunes such as Strauss’ Blue Danube (Austin Powers), Haydn’s Symphony 101, 2nd Movement (Prince of Tides), Mendelssohn’s Wedding March (Four Weddings and a Funeral) and Debussy’s Clair De Lune (Seven Years In Tibet), to name but a few, have introduced the classics to the masses.

An opportunity to hear these wonderful pieces of music, plus six other great scores, takes place on July 11 at the Algonquin Theatre, when the Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) presents Classics at the Movies with maestro Kerry Stratton and the 40-piece festival orchestra.

IN CONCERT: Maestro Kerry Stratton directs the festival orchestra at the Algonquin Theatre in 2008. The orchestra returns on Saturday, July 11, at 8 p.m. with Classics at the Movies. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

In the second half, Beethoven’s Emperor concerto will be performed by Belgrade-born American pianist Zora Mihailovich. Recognized internationally as a recitalist, orchestral soloist, recording artist and educator, she has performed in London’s Royal Hall, New York’s Carnegie Hall and Brussels’ Conservatoire Royal.

“The festival orchestra has been a cornerstone of the Huntsville festival since year one,” said HFA general manager Rob Saunders. “Under the baton of Kerry Stratton, an internationally recognized conductor, this group of professional musicians plays regularly with some of the finest symphonies in the province. This year’s program will combine some very recognizable repertoire with an exceptional display of virtuosity through the piano concerto.”

The previous evening, July 10, the music and comedy duo Bowser and Blue return to the Algonquin Theatre stage.

George Bowser and Rick Blue have been writing and performing music and comedy together since 1978. Colorectal surgeons around the world are familiar with them through the song Working Where the Sun Don’t Shine, which was first heard on Madly Off In All Directions in 1997.

The duo appeared at the 2008 edition of the Just For Laughs comedy festival with Joan Rivers and many other fine comedians. That performance was telecast in January of this year on CBC television. Bowser and Blue hail from Montreal where they have recorded 10 CDs on their own You Guys label, and four on Montreal’s Justin Time label.

On Sunday, July 12, the popular afternoon of Jazz in the Garden returns to Spencer’s Tall Trees Restaurant. From 2 to 4 p.m. enjoy the beautiful gardens of Tall Trees, while smooth jazz sounds fill the air. Tickets are $15 and include tempting desserts, snacks and refreshing drinks. Don’t forget to bring a lawn chair.

Back by popular demand, the six-piece Downchild Blues Band returns to the Huntsville stage after their ‘raise the roof’ performance in 2008.

It’s been nearly 40 years since Donnie (Mr. Downchild) Walsh and his now-deceased brother, Hock Walsh, formed the group that would be the inspiration behind the world famous Blues Brothers. Downchild was nominated for Blues Album of The Year at the 2005 Juno Awards, and lauded as Entertainers of the Year in 2007 at the Maple Blues Awards. Walsh has kept the music alive, and Downchild features some of the most well-respected musicians in the country, who have performed together for over 15 years.

This includes silky smooth singer and harmonica player Chuck Jackson, tenor sax player Pat Carey, beat man Mike Fitzpatrick on drums, rhythm captain Gary Kendall on bass, and former American supergroup rocker Michael Fonfara (of Rhinoceros fame) on keyboards.

Tickets for these and all other main stage performances are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street, by dialing 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Festival fringe events continue this week

2009-07-08T14:42:00.001-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 8, 2009.)

In addition to the many mainstage concerts taking place at the Algonquin Theatre as part of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) summer season, there are ongoing fringe events, which for the most part are free courtesy of the HFA.

Over the coming week, the Music at Noon series continues at Trinity United Church with the Olde Tyme Gospel Band (July 8), John Langille and Bob Attfield on organ and piano (July 9), Muskoka Community Band (July 10), Trillium Jazz Guys (July 13), soprano Bridget Mantha with Broadway show tunes (July 14), Marilyn de Lang and Brenda Smallwood on piano and flute (July 15), soprano Victoria Thompson and pianist John French (July 16), and Steven McKean on oboe and Marion Haggart on piano (July 17).

Don’t miss the outdoor theatre extravaganza for all ages, presented by Edge of the Woods Theatre Festival and taking place at the town dock and River Mill Park on July 10 and 11, beginning at 6 p.m.

For a fun and totally different night of entertainment, join celebrated composer Robert Bruce on July 13 at the Algonquin Theatre at 8 p.m. Bruce will recreate the golden days of silent film by performing live original scores to accompany classic 1920s films.

The focus that evening will be on Buster Keaton and include one of his funniest works, titled The Cameraman.

To learn more about Bruce visit http://www.robertbrucemusic.com/live_music_silent_film.php.

PLEASE NOTE: There is a correction to the information in the festival’s brochure with respect to the two dock concerts. The Muskoka Concert Band will play at the Port Sydney dock on July 14 (not July 16 as printed) and at the Dwight Beach dock on July 16 (not July 14).

Both concerts begin at 7 p.m. and admission is free.

Huntsville Festival of the Arts season opens Friday with high-energy Celtic theme

2009-07-01T15:50:00.005-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 1, 2009.)

Johannes Linstead performs Saturday, showcasing similar musical stylings to festival favorite, Jesse Cook

By Gillian Brunette

The fabulous Fitzgerald family, featuring four of Canada’s finest young champion fiddlers and stepdancers, accompanied by their parents on keyboard and bass guitar, is the opening concert for the 2009 Huntsville Festival of the Arts summer season.

Everything Fitz takes the Algonquin Theatre stage this Friday, July 3, at 8 p.m. Theatre-goers may remember the young fiddlers and dancers from their charity benefit concerts here in 2006. The shows were virtual sellouts, and the festival is confident the group’s appeal will bring many of the same people back.

Everything Fitz offers a high-energy stage show featuring Canadian fiddle music that incorporates the sounds of East Coast, French Canadian, Texas-style and old-time music, combined with Ottawa Valley-style stepdancing. The band members, considered to be the rising stars of the fiddle and stepdancing world, have been show openers for such international stars as Ashley MacIsaac and Natalie MacMaster, and now take their own action-packed show across Canada. Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for youth 18 and under.

Lovers of guitar and Latin rhythms will enjoy Johannes Linstead, who performs at the Algonquin Theatre this Saturday, July 4, beginning at 8 p.m. Fans of festival favourite Jesse Cook should take particular note, as Linstead’s sound and stylings are very similar.

A hugely talented multi-instrumentalist, Linstead plays guitar, piano, mandolin, bouzouki, bass, wood flute and various percussion styles. On his recordings, he is backed up by world-class musicians from countries as diverse as Cuba, Colombia, Syria, Greece, Mexico, Russia, India and the Ukraine.

Linstead’s live performances are nothing short of phenomenal, bursting with tropical sounds. Audiences are moved to dance and clap along to the music. In concert, as on his recordings, Linstead strives to create a festive mood, leaving plenty of room for lightning-fast guitar improvisations and spicy percussion solos on bongos, congas, timbale and doumbek.

Linstead is appearing with a solid six-piece band of exceptional musicians and will be joined on stage by a flamenco dancer, who will interpret Linstead’s music, adding both passion and flair to the performance. Tickets are $32 for adults and $20 for youth under 18.

The Metropolitan Silver Band, a brass band in the English tradition, appears at the Algonquin Theatre on Wednesday, July 8, at 8 p.m. Using only the instruments of the brass and percussion families, the band has been based at the Metropolitan United Church in downtown Toronto since 1934.

The group’s repertoire spans all genres written and transcribed for brass band. Classical, swing, pop, traditional and show tunes are among the selections for their fun-filled, 75th anniversary tour summer concerts. Along with the delightful Scottish flair of baritone Malcolm Sinclair, the band is sure to delight every audience. Tickets are $30 for adults and $20 for youth under 18.

For those looking for some comedic relief, the very funny duo Bowser and Blue return to Huntsville on July 10. Whether being politically correct (or as the case may be, incorrect), this satirical pair mix insightful observations and exceptional musicianship to bring laughter to all. Tickets are $32 for adults and $20 for youth under 18.

Another great evening of music is scheduled for Saturday, July 11, when the 40-piece professional festival orchestra, under the direction of Kerry Stratton, returns with Classics at the Movies. Stratton will present classical scores used in a number of well-known films, culminating with Beethoven’s Emperor piano concerto performed by pianist Zora Mihailovich.

More information and/or tickets are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street, by phoning 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Fringe events offer an eclectic mixture

2009-07-01T15:34:00.003-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 1, 2009.)

Popular Music at Noon series will last three weeks

During the month of July, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts presents events throughout the community geared to satisfy all tastes. For the most part, they are offered at no cost to the patron. Next week’s lineup is a great example of this fringe program.

Kicking off a great week of family entertainment, the annual Art Splash takes place on Sunday, July 5 at the Huntsville town dock. Running from noon to 3 p.m. and hosted by the staff of Camp Tawingo, Art Splash promises a fun-filled afternoon of interactive arts and crafts for kids of all ages.

On Monday, July 6, Music at Noon – a series of half-hour, mid-day free musical offerings at Trinity United Church – begins with The Larks, an a cappella female choir directed by Sherisse Stevens.

JUST GREIGHT: Members of the Just 8 jazz vocal group, with musical director George Kadwell at the organ, performed at Trinity United Church last summer during the popular Music at Noon series. The mid-day concerts begin again July 6. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

Also on July 6, the first of two movie offerings will be screened at the Capitol Theatre, beginning at 4 p.m. Titled Thirty Two Short Films About Glenn Gould, Francis Girard’s compelling film is a visual and aural feast. Colm Feore, in the lead role as the pianist, captures the theatricality, puckishness, loneliness and determination that defined Gould’s persona. Cost is $8.

The second movie presentation, Live Music/Classic Films, will be screened at the Algonquin Theatre on Monday, July 13, at 8 p.m. Celebrated composer Robert Bruce recreates the golden days of silent film by performing live original scores on the Algonquin Theatre’s grand piano to accompany classic 1920s films. The focus will be on Buster Keaton and include one of his funniest works, The Cameraman.

Music at Noon continues on Tuesday, July 7, with the handbell duo Lynne Godfrey and Verna Stephenson.

On Wednesday, July 8, the mid-day treat features gospel/bluegrass music from the Olde Tyme Gospel Band. Then, on Thursday, July 9, Trinity United Church’s musical director John Langille takes a seat at the organ, accompanied by Bob Atfield on piano. The week wraps up with the Muskoka Community Band, directed by Jordan Riley, on Friday, July 10.

Also on July 10 and 11, the second annual Edge of the Woods Theatre Festival arrives in town. This outdoor theatre extravaganza is a one-of-a kind event that will feature giant puppets, stilt walkers, acrobats, modern dancers and much more. The event begins at 6 p.m. with free arts activities for youth, followed by the feature performance at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair, sit back and be entertained in Huntsville’s beautiful waterfront park. Admission is by donation.

Continuing throughout the month are many other fringe events, such as two dock concerts with the Muskoka Concert Band, one in Dwight and one in Port Sydney, on July 14 and 16 respectively, the eighth annual Muskoka Novel Marathon, taking place at the Muskoka Literacy Council from July 17 to 20 and the Writers' Cafe at the Hideaway Pub, beginning at 7 p.m. on July 21. The popular Arts Walk returns on July 26 at the new River Mill Park, from noon to 3 p.m.

Two new endeavours will also take place this month. "Threshold" is a public art installation that will be found at three locations: the Trinity United Church grounds, the Hunters Bay Trail and Main Street. Art will be created live on Main Street on July 30, beginning at 11 a.m. This will be followed by a charity art auction at 3 p.m.

For more on this year’s festival lineup, pick up a brochure around town or visit www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Writers unite for annual novel marathon

2009-07-01T15:11:00.004-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 1, 2009.)

By Laura MacLean

It’s been described as similar to a retreat for writers, but it has a competitive edge. The Muskoka Literacy Council (MLC) is getting into novel marathon mode as the date for the annual Muskoka Novel Marathon rapidly approaches.

And, if there’s one thing MLC president Susan Lowe knows for sure about the event, which kicks off on Friday, July 17, at 8 p.m., and runs until Monday, July 20, at 8 p.m., at the MLC building, it’s that it won’t take long before newcomers start to feel right at home.

“I think what’s so neat about it is the comraderie of the writers,” said Lowe. “They’re there to win but also support one and other. Newcomers don’t feel like newcomers for long. The veterans are welcoming. The writers share ideas and support each other and, at the same time, the writers are supporting readers.”

Over the course of the three days, participating writers attempt to hammer out as much of a novel as they can. Some opt to bring material they’ve been working on, and others, who wish to enter the contest, take a stab at starting something fresh and new. Many of the writers will head home to catch a couple of winks after spending the entire day writing, but the novel marathon has also seen many diehards who barely sleep during the three days.

After all the submitted work has been judged, the MLC organizes a celebration in late September to reconvene and share the news of marathon winners. Usually a team of five judges read all of the manuscripts. Winners are sent to publishers for review.

“We have 25 people signed up to participate so far,” said Lowe, adding that the novel marathon can accommodate 35 writers. “Last year, we had 27, so it’s grown again this year. I think the highlight of this marathon will be the story relay.”

SITE COMMANDER: Steve Taunton uses his creative flare to design the story relay website that will tie into the Muskoka Literacy Council’s upcoming Muskoka Novel Marathon. The public will have the opportunity to contribute to the story relay by visiting two websites that will be up and running from July 5 to 20. [Photo by Laura MacLean.]

Last year was the first time the MLC introduced the story relay and three writers contributed beginnings and endings for stories on the Huntsville Forester’s website. Celebrity writers – local author Mel Malton, Huntsville native and award-winning journalist Roy MacGregor and children’s author Robert Munsch – wrote the beginnings to three different stories. The public was also invited to participate by simply adding a word or a phrase to the stories.

This year, explained Lowe, the public will have the opportunity to contribute to the story relay by visiting two websites that will be up and running from July 5 to 20. Last year, participation was by donation only and, this year, there is the option of participating without donating as well.

Linda McLean, a local singer/songwriter who has garnered international acclaim, will be providing the beginning and ending for the Huntsville Online version (www.huntsvilleonline.com) and MacGregor has been invited back to contribute the beginning and ending of the MLC’s website version (www.simcoemediagroup.com/relay/).

“It gives those people who want to write the opportunity to do so without having to spend time actually at the marathon,” said Lowe.

Since the marathon’s inception seven years ago, writers have helped raise more than $30,000 for MLC through pledges they collect from friends, family and co-workers. (EDITOR'S NOTE: The Muskoka Novel Marathon was begun by Martin Avery and Mel Malton, originally as part of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts; it gradually evolved into a key annual fundraising endeavor for the MLC.)

The $45 registration fee goes toward the cost of organizing the event – snacks, beverages, copying charges, welcome packages, paper, postage, envelopes for the registration packages etc. All of the pledges collected go directly towards student resources – print and technology.

For more information, contact Susan Lowe at the Muskoka Literacy Council at 705-789-1850 or e-mail her at lowes.atthefarm@sympatico.ca.

Festival of the Arts opens summer run July 3

2009-06-24T14:58:00.004-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on June 24, 2009.)

Some familiar names are returning to Huntsville this summer, showcasing talent that, for the most part, has been recognized at a national and international level.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) is a week away from its first concert of the 2009 summer season and another year of record-breaking performances is anticipated.

Festival favourite Jim Cuddy and his band of exceptional musicians will be closing out the festival on Aug. 25 and 26. Prior to those dates, theatre-goers will be tempted with
returning artists John McDermott (Aug. 8), Hawksley Workman (Aug. 12) and the Downchild Blues Band (July 15).

On Saturday, July 11, Maestro Kerry Stratton, a participant in all of the 16 previous festivals, will lead his 43-piece orchestra in paying tribute to classical music used as part of film scores for a wide variety of movies. Featured in this program will be a second half comprised solely of Beethoven’s Emperor piano concerto, performed by celebrated pianist Zora Mihailovich.

The HFA is a year-round celebration of the performing arts with an emphasis on the summer months of July and August. From its early beginnings, the festival has grown and diversified to present artistic offerings in the fields of jazz, pop, choral, Celtic, country, orchestral and classical
music, as well as theatre, written word, poetry and the visual arts.

This year will see a continuation of this successful schedule, with the presentation of the internationally recognized husband and wife team of fiddle and stepdance masters Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy (July 22), pop diva Serena Ryder (July 9), the 35-piece Metropolitan Silver Band (July 8), world-class classical favourites the Alcan
String Quartet (Aug. 13), Japanese drum masters Nagata Shachu (Aug. 7), world guitarist Johannes Linstead (July 4), and much more.

For country fans in the area, one of new country’s hottest artists, Doc Walker, will perform on July 16. The comedic duo of Bowser and Blue return on July 10, bringing with them their hilarious insights on the people and events around them.

In addition to original artists, there also will be concerts paying tribute to the music of legends such as Patsy Cline (July 25) and Andrea Bocelli and Michael Buble (July 18). Seasonal resident Pamela Hoiles, a respected soprano in her own right, will present a concert titled Festival Friends on July 17, showcasing her own vocal talents alongside the virtuoso violin skills of Arkady Yanivker, who will perform in recital and with his string quartet.

Dala (Aug. 6) has performed in Huntsville, opening for Jim Cuddy and Stuart MacLean, and now presents a headline show. The Dylan Tree, lauded for their performance in February 2009, returns by popular demand on Aug. 14. For the young at heart, local artists Karl Mohr, Eric Reid and Ruth Cassie present an evening of pop/folk and techno rock on Aug. 21.

In 2007, the HFA expanded and created the Huntsville Jazz Festival, running from July 30 to Aug. 1. This festival within a festival features vibraphone master Peter Appleyard and the big band sounds of the Toronto All-Star Big Band (Aug. 1). Also performing will be crooner Michael Danso, supported by a rhythm section led by acclaimed drummer Archie Alleyne (July 31). Added to the jazz festival this year is a day-long outdoor festival to be held Saturday, Aug. 1, in Huntsville’s downtown River Mill Park.

Interspersed among the numerous main-stage evenings, primarily presented in Huntsville’s 400-seat Algonquin Theatre, are numerous fringe performances, many presented for free, at various locales throughout the community. Among these events are the festival’s popular Music at Noon series, Arts Splash, Arts Walk and the Writers’ Café.

For information or to purchase tickets, contact the Algonquin Theatre box office on
Main Street 789-4975, e-mail info@huntsvillefestival.on.ca, or go to www.huntsville festival.on.ca.

More festival stories and photos can be found at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.
com.

Benefit concert offers unique setting in renovated barn, thanks to HFA supporters

2009-06-17T14:25:00.003-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on June 17, 2009.)

Long-time Huntsville Festival of the Arts supporters are opening up their barn for a unique classical concert that will benefit the Huntsville Suzuki School of Music.

The concert will be held Sunday, June 21, on Joan and John Jerrett’s Hwy. 60 property. The couple, who renovated the barn and use it for occasional public gatherings, have agreed to allow the building to be the venue for the presentation of a Nancy Telfer piece, since it was written to be played in a natural environment.

Telfer, a renowned Canadian composer, approached Linda Drennan, head of the Huntsville Suzuki School of Music, about producing a piece of work for the Suzuki Strings group. Telfer recently relocated to Bracebridge; she had heard the string group in recital and came up to a couple of rehearsals.

It was agreed that the school would commission a piece. Drennan then approached festival organizers about helping set up a significant event to launch the world premiere of her piece, titled Water, Rock, Trees.

Drennan has put together a program that includes offerings from Amanda Penner, a teacher at the Suzuki school, as well as students. Joining these musicians on the program are former Suzuki students Sarah Jane Johnson and Ashley Hill, who are both currently pursuing musical studies at post-secondary institutions. Both girls are also former scholarship winners with the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.

Drennan also touched base with Alija Bos, a talented young photographer from Bracebridge who agreed to work with Telfer to create a visual interpretation of her music through pictures that will be screened simultaneously with the playing of the piece. He will also have a display of some of his work for show and sale.

To round out the afternoon, local professional dancer Meredith Thompson will contribute a dance number and percussionist Glenn Kay will play a Liberian greeting song. The afternoon concert runs from 2 to 4 p.m. The recital will be followed by light refreshments supplied by the Butcher’s Daughters deli.

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by calling the Algonquin Theatre box office by calling 705-789-4975, online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca or at the barn, located at 2295 Hwy. 60. There will be a limit of 150 tickets sold.

The event is a fundraising effort and net proceeds from the afternoon will go towards the Huntsville Suzuki School of Music. For more information visit www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

SOUND-READY: The students of the Huntsville Suzuki School of Music practice hitting all the right notes during a Music at Noon performance held at Trinity United Church. A concert is being held this Sunday as a fundraiser for the school. Long-time Festival of the Arts supporters are opening up their barn for a unique classical concert that will benefit the Huntsville Suzuki School of Music.

Jazz festival gets approval for River Mill use

2009-06-03T14:17:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on June 3, 2009.)

By Brent Cooper

A decision by the town’s parks and recreation committee concerning the use of River Mill Park is music to Rob Saunders’ ears.

Jazz music, that is.

The committee told the general manager of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) last Wednesday that his group could use a portion of the new park to host two events this summer. Saunders was seeking permission to host an outdoor concert on Aug. 1 at the public park as part of the annual Huntsville Jazz Festival. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and feature a variety of local performers.

“We have had the jazz festival running for around three years now and we are now intent on adding a larger outdoor component to the festival,” he said.

The other event is the annual Arts Walk visual arts show, which had been held at Avery Beach for the past three years. The show is set for July 26 and would run from noon to 3 p.m. with a freewill offering from the public.

“Given the great appreciation for the arts in our area, the park would benefit from the ability to present the performing arts in a professional, orderly and patron-friendly manner,” Saunders stated in his presentation.

The local arts organization is the first to officially apply to the town to use River Mill Park for non-municipal reasons. The area has already been designated by the town as the site for the 2010 Olympic Torch Run ceremony, which is expected to pull into town in late December.

The parks committee decided at its May 6 meeting that the town staff will handle requests for use at the park as they happen and will bring large-scale requests back to committee for consideration.

Saunders said that the HFA is in the process of purchasing a portable stage, stage cover and sound equipment that will be used during the jazz concert. The funds to purchase the equipment come from a $40,000 grant from the Celebrate Ontario program.

This multimillion-dollar Ontario Ministry of Tourism program has a mandate to increase the economic potential of new and existing tourism festivals and events. The program is open to festivals and events taking place in Ontario from now until March 31, 2010. Saunders said the HFA is willing to lend the equipment to other groups for community events.

The entire stage and structure are moveable and can be used elsewhere in the community when needed, according to Saunders. Setup and takedown of both the cover and the stage can be accomplished in only a few hours.

The committee appeared to be in favour of the association’s request to use space at the park, but chair Mike Greaves told Saunders that he felt the matter should still go back to staff for further study.

“I am going to suggest, if the committee is agreeable, that you sit down with (community services director Brian Crozier) and give him a full understanding of where the bandshell will be and the impact on River Mill Park. There are things that concern me like the (effect on the) interlocking brick sidewalk. I am not so sure we put interlocking brick sidewalk in there for truck traffic. So we need to understand all the impact in the long run,” Greaves said. “If Brian is satisfied, then I don’t see any reason why we wouldn’t want to try it.”

Mayor Claude Doughty disagreed with the idea of sending the request back to staff. He pointed out that the brick sidewalk was designed to handle heavy truck traffic, since the District of Muskoka uses that route to get to the pump station in that area.

“I would like to move a motion that we approve in principle the schedule laid out with the Aug. 1 event and the Arts Walk. If we approve these in principle, you folks can work out the details over garbage pickup and the costs to the municipality. That would be then ratified at council,” he said. The committee unanimously approved the motion presented by Doughty.

Festival hits a high note with the May Marché

2009-05-27T13:10:00.014-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on May 27, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) May Marché, considered by many to be a major event in Huntsville’s social calendar, surpassed all expectations again this year.

Held last Friday at Deerhurst Resort, tickets had been in hot demand for the annual fundraiser, which was sold out many weeks beforehand. The marché brought more than 600 people to the Waterhouse Ballroom where, in a carnival-like atmosphere, they wined, dined and were entertained over a three-hour period.

Building on the success of the recent musical presentation of The Wizard of Oz (co-sponsored by the HFA), the marché had a decidedly Oz flavour. Dorothy’s house, magically transported from Kansas, had landed just inside the main entrance of the ballroom and beside it stood the iconic windmill.

Food and beverage kiosks were arranged around the perimeter of the room and, in the central section, gold-skirted tables displayed numerous silent auction donations. Vendors and displays also lined the adjoining hallway, where marché patrons could listen to live jazz music, watch a caricature artist sketch cartoon portraits or sample the vast array of desserts, including a chocolate fountain.

“The marché is the festival’s primary fundraiser of the year and has become a critical part of our overall program funding,” noted Rob Saunders, HFA general manager. “The ability to make a substantial amount of money, and have fun doing it, is only possible through the donations we receive from our restaurant and spirit vendors, our silent auction donors, the generosity of our host Deerhurst Resort and the support of our event sponsor Polar Bear Diamonds.”

This year’s silent auction raised more than $14,000, bringing the total amount raised to approximately $40,000. This includes money raised during the evening’s raffle for a $5,000 diamond necklace, which was won by Janine Scott of Dwight.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts is a not-for-profit organization that brings a year-round celebration of the arts to the Huntsville area. As well, it funds educational programs and scholarships for both elementary and secondary school arts students. Information about the HFA’s summer line-up of shows and other activities can be found on the website: www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

The HFA's 2009 May Marché!

READY TO SERVE: Soul Sistas owner Lorraine Morin (right), her husband Gerry and staff members are eager to serve up some tasty vegetarian treats.

PEACHY PALS: Robin Clipsham, in character as “Peaches,” shares a laugh with Sybille Pieper at Friday’s May Marché.

EAT, DRINK AND BID MERRILY: The annual May Marché is a great way to sample some delicious local cuisine, as well as raise money for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.

HEAR, HERE: Town Crier Bruce Kruger reminds the crowd at Deerhurst that one of the silent auction tables is about to close.

HOLD STILL: Marion and Bob Shaw pose for caricaturist Rob Westall, who sketched willing subjects throughout the evening.

SWEET DIP: Tom Pinckard dips a piece of fruit in the chocolate fountain, one of the popular dessert offerings at the HFA’s annual marché.

PICK YOUR OWN: There seemed to be acres of delectable desserts to select from at Deerhurst last Friday.

ENJOYABLE EVENING: Festival founder Jim Alexander, John Newel of BDO Dunwoody and Don Spring of Cavalcade Photo (left to right) enjoy participating in the HFA’s annual fundraising gala.

[The preceding photos were taken for the Forester by Bev McMullen, "Talk of the Town" columnist and photographer for Metroland North publications.]

Students benefit from alliance between Huntsville school and Festival of the Arts

2009-05-13T12:31:00.002-05:00

(The following Trumpeter column originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on May 13, 2009.)

By Greg Sutherland,
Huntsville High School teacher

Over the past five years, the staff and students of the Huntsville High School (HHS) music program have instituted a co-operative venture with their Family of Schools.

A team-teaching strategy at the high school has allowed small groups of four to six students, accompanied by one teacher, to visit the elementary classrooms from junior kindergarten to Grade 8 in their class period and provide valuable musical exposure for the younger students. During that time, the high school students’ presentations have included an introduction to various instruments exploring the sound and technical differences, a short performance and a chance for all elementary children to explore an instrument.

As luck would have it, three years ago, the music program was able to broaden its base even further when it partnered with the Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA). In a co-ordinated effort to expose young people to the Algonquin Theatre, the festival agreed to underwrite the costs of a number of performances and workshops for both elementary and secondary students.

Since then, the HHS music department has been able to use the theatre for a variety of events including two fundraising performance/workshops by the professional vocal touring group Cadence, six band concerts and two performances of the Song Project, for more than 800 elementary students, plus one sold-out evening performance for the public.

The partnership has been extremely beneficial to all parties. Funding by the festival has allowed the high school students an opportunity to perform in a professional forum, along with providing theatre exposure to the younger students. In addition, it has created enthusiasm and creative opportunities for staff and students alike.

The Song Project is a perfect example of what the partnership has produced. The collective features an ensemble of five amazing HHS vocalists, singing a variety of pop, rock and new country songs, backed by an all-star faculty/student seven-piece band.

Over the past three years, this ensemble has opened for performers such as Jully Black and the Canadian Tenors, along with headlining their own sold-out performances and playing for private functions. The group’s success is directly related to having had the opportunity to hone their skills in a professional forum like the Algonquin Theatre.

This year’s version features Rachael Wright, Jenny Smith, Kaitie Dafoe, Sarah McNeil and Taylor Petman on vocals, faculty members Jordan Riley on keyboards and Louis Tusz on percussion and trumpet, Kevin Bell, Tyler Ayles and Nick Harris on guitar, Blaine Mackie on bass and Shane Connon on drums.

For those interested in seeing and hearing the fruits of the collaborative efforts of the HFA and the HHS music program’s partnership, there are two upcoming opportunities at the Algonquin Theatre: Fanfare on May 28, featuring the HHS concert bands, stage bands and vocal ensemble; and the Song Project in a two-hour performance of rock, pop, rhythm and blues, and new country classics on June 4 and 5.

For more on the HFA and to check out the exciting 2009 summer lineup, go to www. huntsvillefestival.on.ca. Look for more stories and photos on the festival blog at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com.

Arts scholarship applications for HFA and choir are due at the end of the month

2009-05-06T12:20:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on May 6, 2009.)

Two leading community arts groups have once again combined their energies and financial clout to enhance the level of funding support available to promising performing arts students in the area.

This year, performing arts students, other than vocal applicants, are encouraged to apply for a Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) scholarship, while vocal students will be eligible to apply for a scholarship provided by the Huntsville Community Choir.

The HFA scholarship award was introduced in 1997 to foster the development of the performing arts talent in the community. For 2009, the festival has decided once again to offer junior, intermediate and senior scholarships.

The junior scholarship, of up to $500, is available to applicants 13 years of age and under as of Dec. 31, 2008. The intermediate scholarship, an award up to $1,000, is available to students 16 years of age and under as of Dec. 31, 2008. The senior scholarship is awarded to students 17 years of age or older as of Dec. 31, 2008. The senior awards, for the year, will total $1,500.

Students may only apply for one level of scholarship per year, and scholarship funds must be used toward the cost of tuition to a post-secondary institution, or applied toward lessons from a qualified instructor. The community choir will divide a total of $1,000 among winners in junior, intermediate and senior categories. Candidates must reside in the Huntsville/Lake of Bays area.

Applications for both scholarships may be picked up from the Huntsville High School guidance department, music department, or at the Huntsville Forester office at 11 Main St. West. Applications are to be completed and mailed back to the festival office by May 27.

In addition to the application, each candidate will be required to perform a live audition in front of an adjudication panel. Auditions for both scholarships will be held at Trinity United Church on Saturday, June 13. Award recipients will be notified during the week following the auditions.

Previous festival scholarships have been awarded to students pursuing studies in dance, theatre, and music. Scholarship recipients and applicants have participated in a number of performance opportunities over the years, both during main stage concerts at the festival and Music at Noon concerts.

Winners of either the festival or community choir junior or intermediate scholarships are eligible to re-apply for the senior scholarship but senior candidates can only win once. However, unsuccessful senior applicants are encouraged to audition in subsequent years.

For further information please contact Rob Saunders at 788-2787 or Gerri Mar at 789-3175.

Project brings students and seniors closer

2009-05-06T12:06:00.001-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on May 6, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

Decades may divide the community’s young people and its senior citizens but, thanks to a new arts education project, the gap has been somewhat narrowed.

An Edge of the Woods Theatre project titled Where I’m From is celebrating the lives of area seniors, whose stories are being immortalized through the arts.

The project is a collaborative effort between Edge of the Woods Theatre, Huntsville High School and Rogers Cove Retirement Residence, where HHS Grade 10 drama students recently presented a theatrical piece to media, invited guests, and the residents whose stories inspired their artistic work.

For two days in April, students interviewed residents of Rogers Cove, then over the span of two weeks worked with project leaders Dan Watson, his wife Christina Serra and other professionals to create poetry, theatre, photography and visual art based on the residents’ memories. The results of those interactions were a 15-minute theatre presentation, a video and drawings and poems created by Grade 10 visual arts students.

The event opened with a black and white video, taken by Lisa Riverin-Thomas, showing the students interviewing and working with the Rogers Cove residents. The drama students then followed with several clever skits and poem recitals, all of which related to the residents’ stories.

SCARY RIDE: Students in the Huntsville High School Grade 10 drama class perform a skit for residents and guests at Rogers Cove last week as part of the Edge of the Woods Where I Am From project. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

The students’ efforts were met by an appreciative audience members, many of whom had ‘dressed down’ in deference to their young visitors.

“The residents, of their own volition, decided to wear ball caps, hoodies and jeans,” explained Watson, who is Edge of the Woods co-artistic director and an HHS alumnus. He added: “Next time it won’t be just the students performing.”

A quilt, one of two created by textile artist Meredith Powell, HHS and Huntsville Public School students, was presented to Julie Martin, activities director at Rogers Cove.

“The Grade 3/4 class at HPS took some of the poems and painted on little pieces of cloth and the collage was made into two quilts,” Watson explained.

Among the invitees were MPP for Parry Sound/Muskoka Norm Miller and Ontario Trillium Foundation representative Lois Cookman, who is chair of the grant review team for the area.

Announcing a $44,600 grant to Edge of the Woods Theatre, Miller and Cookman presented Watson with an Ontario Trillium Foundation plaque stating: ‘This organization is proudly supported by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, which builds healthy and vibrant communities in this great province.’

“When the grant came in, I was thrilled,” said Cookman. “This is one of those ones that is special, one to cherish, because it partners the youth with seasoned citizens and records a history that we can all share. It’s a very good use of our funds.”

“This announcement is a huge step for our company,” said Watson. “It affords us an excellent opportunity to reach more audiences in more communities, and to take a greater role in developing and presenting the artistic talents of those living in the Muskoka and East Parry Sound region.”

The provincial grant will go toward three theatre projects this year. One is the Where I’m From Project, and another the Edge of the Woods Theatre Festival, which takes place this summer in Burk’s Falls (July 9), Huntsville (July 10 and 11), Port Sydney (July 12) and Bracebridge (July 13).

The third venture, taking place July 27 to Aug. 14, is titled the Downtown Project and will celebrate the 140th anniversary of Captain Hunt’s arrival to the area.

The Edge of the Woods Theatre company was created in November 2007 after the Huntsville Festival of the Arts approached Watson and Serra about bringing more alternative theatre to the area. Through this collaboration, the Edge of the Woods Theatre Festival was born and continues to grow.

Young artists return to the Algonquin

2009-04-29T11:38:00.003-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on April 29, 2009.)

A rare opportunity to hear some exceptional young classical artists in concert at the Algonquin Theatre presents itself this Sunday, May 3.

The Young Artists Performance Academy of The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto will present an afternoon of excellent music and feature a number of solo performances.

Twenty-four of the academy’s most gifted students will be returning to Huntsville after their very successful concert last May, when Huntsville’s Ashley Hill brought her fellow classmates to the Algonquin Theatre. The resulting performance was a very rewarding experience for the audience and participants alike.

“We plan on featuring a number of our recent competition winners in the program,” said Alicia White, academy manager. “The program will be very approachable with works including Handel’s Concerto Grosso (Alexander’s Feast), Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Winter, Beethoven’s Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58 and a newer work by Jeff Ryan titled Ecce Homo.”

Primarily because of the link with Hill, a Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) scholarship recipient at every age level, the festival sponsored the concert and is bringing back the artists for a second time.

“Initially, I was approached by Ashley about having the Royal Conservatory students play in Huntsville, and it just seemed so appropriate to provide an opportunity to have her come home and showcase both her skills and the skills of the talented students she is working with,” said HFA general manager Rob Saunders.

The Young Artists Performance Academy provides the ideal nurturing environment for committed, gifted young classical musicians to perfect their performance skill, musicality and artistic excellence. Working together with world-class faculty and acclaimed guest artists, academy students share high-calibre musical experiences and celebrate each other in achieving an outstanding level of musicianship.

The academy is designed for musicians looking to challenge and refine their unique talents. Faculty believe that young talent, expertly trained, can become great talent and that a nurturing, yet challenging, creative environment produces disciplined, well-rounded artists who will seek to communicate their unique voices through the lifelong celebration of performance.

“Surprisingly, they do not get many opportunities to perform outside the GTA, and both the school directors and the students are thrilled about Sunday’s concert in Huntsville,” said Saunders.

The concert begins at 2 p.m. and will run for approximately 90 minutes. Adult tickets are $15, with a special price of $5 for youth under 18 to encourage aspiring young artists to come and listen to these youthful prodigies.

Tickets are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office, by dialling 789-4975, or online through the festival website at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Letters to the editor: Oz was huge success!

2009-04-29T11:17:00.006-05:00

(The following letters originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on April 29, 2009.)

Community production of Oz was pure wizardry at work

A prominent Huntsville playwright was heard to remark last week that The Wizard of Oz was “one of the best productions ever to come out of Muskoka.” It was a sentiment echoed by many who saw the musical at the Algonquin Theatre, a lavish show that recently played to 3,600 people over the course of 10 shows.

Bringing a community musical back to Huntsville has been a longtime vision of Huntsville community theatre thespian and director Gregg Evans. It was not an easy feat, bearing in mind the financial cost and number of people required to make such an event successful.

Last year, Evans approached the Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) and the Huntsville Rotary Club for help in re-launching the annual spring musical tradition. With a leap of faith, they came on board and together, with some 200 volunteers clocking up more than 15,000 hours, Evans’ dream became reality. The resulting show was a visual and aural feast, from the wonderful sets, the great music emanating from the orchestra pit and the fabulous costumes and props to the incredibly talented cast.

The production was a success that surpassed all expectations. It was once said, “If you build it, they will come,” and the people of Muskoka came in droves. That support, through net proceeds, will benefit a number of worthwhile local projects supported by Rotary and the HFA.

If Oz is any indication of what the future holds for the annual community musical, we say, “Welcome back!”

Gillian Brunette
Huntsville Festival of the Arts
board member
Huntsville

--------------------------------------------

Musical was a huge success

Bravo to the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, the Rotary Club of Huntsville, Gregg Evans and the amazing actors and behind-the-scenes supporters of the recent totally delightful production of The Wizard of Oz.

This community never ceases to amaze me with its talent, energy and willingness to create opportunities for fun, excitement and learning for young and old alike. Add that to the commitment to use the proceeds of such efforts to support local projects and you have a truly winning combination for everyone.

With the availability of our beautiful Algonquin Theatre as the perfect venue, I certainly hope that this particular partnership, the festival, rotary and North Muskoka Players, will continue to thrive. I, for one, look forward to many future productions.

Thank you to everyone involved.

Lela Shepley-Gamble
Huntsville

Singing siblings’ theatre hope no phantom dream – watch for them this summer

2009-04-15T10:36:00.001-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on April 15, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

Amy and Chris Wallace of Utterson share a lot more than the blood in their veins. The siblings are blessed with amazing sets of vocal pipes.

Chris has been heard in several local theatrical performances, including Sound of Music, Jesus Christ Superstar, Aida and Annie, and is playing the part of the gatekeeper in the upcoming musical Wizard of Oz.

Amy’s assured operatic tones belie her youth (22) and lack of professional training. She too has received kudos for her performances in local concerts and theatre productions.

KINDRED SPIRITS: Chris and Amy Wallace, two extremely talented singers, are hoping to present a tribute to Broadway at the Algonquin Theatre in the not-too-distant future.

The Wallaces’ first love, however, is the music of Broadway, especially Phantom of the Opera. Chris, with some health challenges of his own, can relate to the Phantom, while Amy identifies with Christine.

“We’ve been interested in theatre since we were very small. We used to hang up a sheet at home for a curtain and then we would perform Phantom,” recalled Amy.

Chris has donned the Phantom mask and cape on more recent occasions. “Once at the Algonquin Theatre for a Broadway show, and twice in shows at Trinity United Church,” he said.

To date, the Wallaces have pursued their own creative paths, but would like to perform together in public. “That is our goal. We’ve done so much (singing) together behind closed doors, we now want to showcase to the public,” said 25-year-old Chris.

Recently, the siblings recorded a Phantom tribute CD. “We did it at home to give to our family and friends and to help get our voices out there,” said Chris.

Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) director and assistant artistic director for Oz, Suzanne Riverin received a copy of the CD. “Chris said he wanted me to hear it and I thought it would be cute, but I was blown away by the quality of their singing,” Riverin said.

Music is in the Wallace genes. “We were brought up with music. Our grandfather was a choirboy in England, then performed in shows such as Oklahoma and others in Bolton (Ont.), where we were born,” said Chris.

He continued: “Dad was in the school choir in Bolton, and our mother (Julie) has been in several of the shows here and in the community choir.” Julie Wallace is also in Oz, playing the part of Aunt Em.

Chris and Amy went to V.K. Greer Public School (Amy transferred to Huntsville Public with the boundary change) and then to St. Dominic Catholic Secondary School in Bracebridge. After graduating, Chris studied sociology for one year at the Nipissing University campus in Bracebridge, but his long-term goal is to be an airline pilot.

Meanwhile Amy, who has won several gold awards at singing festivals in Barrie and Orillia, plans to attend Canadore College in North Bay in the fall, where she will study office administration. With a voice that has been likened to that of Sarah Brightman, she spends much of her spare time practising alongside a karaoke machine, and in duets with her brother.

For now, Amy and Chris may be virtual unknowns in the arts world, but with the help of the HFA, they are hoping their fortunes will change. Their first opportunity to perform together will be this summer when they sing at Trinity United Church for one of the HFA’s Music at Noon concerts.

And, they will continue to pursue their shared dream of bringing the songs from some of Broadway’s hit shows, such as Evita, Cats and, of course, Phantom of the Opera, to the Algonquin Theatre in the not-too-distant future.

Marché 2008 photos - see anyone you know?

2009-04-13T17:01:00.009-05:00

It will soon be time for the 2009 May Marché, the primary fund-raising event for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA), and the season's best soireé! This is a night for sampling fine food and wine, sipping martinis and socializing, outbidding your buddies at the silent auction table and, perhaps, winning a diamond pendant valued at $5,000.

Circle May 22 on your calendar and get your tickets fast - they're $50/each until, April 24, when the price goes up to $60/each (if there are any left by then). Tickets are limited, and this event always sells out. Once again this year, the Marché will be hosted at Deerhurst Resort, 7-10 p.m.

Just to whet your appetite, or to remind you of all that went on last year, here are a few photos...

Welcome to the 2008 May Marché!
Help yourself to an icy martini and mingle....

...you never know who'll you'll be introduced to (or by)...

...or what glamorous celebrities you'll meet...

...or how they will behave (after a few martinis)...

...or which politicians will let their hair down...

...or how much fun you can have in the Deerhurst ballroom...

...before your head is finally ready to hit the pillow.

[The photos above were taken by Jon Snelson and Gillian Brunette.]

For the moment, Marché tickets are available at three locations in Huntsville: Robinson’s Independent Grocer (by the entrance), Treasures and Trophies on Main Street, the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce office.

You can also contact an HFA board member or visit our website www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca, where you will also find information about the entertainment line-up for the upcoming season.

Funds raised at this event will facilitate the HFA's many arts-related projects throughout the community, as well as making it possible to bring top-notch performers to town and to promote the arts through a variety of educational endeavors. See you there?

Lavish Wizard of Oz musical opens April 16

2009-04-08T13:40:00.007-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on April 8, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

Stunning costumes are the result of many nimble fingers and hours upon hours of hard work

After months of preparation and growing excitement, the fruits of a community’s labours finally hit the stage next week.

The Wizard of Oz opens at the Algonquin Theatre on Thursday, April 16, and runs for 10 performances, including three matinees, one of which is reserved for the schools.

Hundreds of hours of volunteer work have gone into the Oz production, from the creative crews who built and painted the sets to the folks in the orchestra meeting weekly for rehearsals and, of course, the cast, under the direction of Gregg Evans and choreographer Suzanne Baxter, who have been in rehearsal since the beginning of the year.

But, most likely for audiences, the biggest impact – the ‘wow’ factor for want of a better term – will be the stunning costumes, lovingly designed, cut and stitched by a talented team of artists led by Nicole Pantaleo.

WINDOW DRESSING: Nicole Pantaleo tweaks the costume of the Mayor of Munchkinland (Taylor Calleja) in the window of Christmas Tyme on Main Street on Saturday morning. The live window display will be repeated this Saturday, April 11 between 1 and 3 p.m.

She alone made in excess of 32 costumes, not to mention 40 Munchkin hats. “I had help with the hats though, thanks to Ashley West and Kim Gerhart,” said Pantaleo.

Pantaleo is a relative newcomer to the Huntsville area, having arrived here with husband John and two children, Connor, 15, and Ella, 11, from Toronto two years ago. They opened a business, Alberto Salon and Spa just off Brunel Road beside the high school, and almost immediately became involved in community theatre.

“I helped out with A Christmas Carol and met Gregg Evans,” she said. Pantaleo has worked extensively in theatre so, not surprisingly, Evans was quick to add her to his list of able volunteers.

“I went to George Brown for fashion, then worked in film in Toronto and theatre in Stratford and Lindsay, as well as for costume houses in Toronto,” said Pantaleo, adding that, after 10 years and with small children, she began working from home, making dance costumes.

Pantaleo has spent hundreds of hours on costumes for Oz. “It’s been a huge undertaking, but a lot of fun,” she said.

With the lead roles featuring two or three different actors, more than one costume for each character was required. Beverley Hawksley designed and made the two Cowardly Lion outfits, sculptor Brenda Wainman Goulet fashioned two costumes for the Tin Man, Jocelyne Lamoureux took care of the three Dorothys, Sherry Peddie, the two Scarecrows, Barb Hartwick, the two Wizards and three witches, Celia Finley, the three Totos, and Diane Bickley ensured the three Glindas will glitter in their gold and white finery.

When Oz hits the stage, even more volunteers will be working hard in the wings, with stage crew Jay Osborne, Zelda Dwyer, Suzanne Riverin, Don McCormick and Lisa Thomas (props), ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Down below in the dressing rooms, Carol Rhodes and Lynn Fletcher, along with more than a dozen helpers, will be applying makeup, and Carlyn Preston and Ashley White from Alberto Salon and Spa will see every hair is in place.

It’s a stage musical of mammoth proportions. An old adage states ‘build it and they will come’ and, if ticket sales are any indicator (more than 1,500 as of April 1), every seat will be filled at each performance.

That is the hope of Evans, the Rotary clubs of Huntsville, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and the North Muskoka Players, who have shouldered the production costs.

Presenting a show of this magnitude does not come cheap, said Evans. “It cost $42,000 to produce Jesus Christ Superstar, and royalties alone for Oz are in the region of $8,000.”

The Wizard of Oz is presented at 7:30 p.m. on April 16-18 and 22-25, and 2 p.m. on April 18 and 25. Tickets are $80 for a family of four, $25 for adults and $20 for youth under 18, and are on sale at the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street, by dialing 789-4975, or online at www.algonquintheatre.ca.

Huntsville festival is named among top 100

2009-04-08T13:36:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on April 8, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) has been recognized for its efforts by Festivals and Events Ontario.

Out of approximately 2,500 annual festivals and events staged each year in Ontario, the HFA has been named one of the top 100. The recognition is for the period April 2008 to March 2009, and the announcement was made at the Festival and Events Ontario 23rd annual conference held March 7 at the Holiday Inn Burlington Hotel and Conference Centre.

Kareen Burns, HFA president, said she was thrilled to hear about the recognition. “I have had a dream that is, quite miraculously, becoming a reality. Our dynamic and eclectic Huntsville Festival of the Arts has been delightfully acknowledged in the top 100 festivals in Ontario. I am so proud of our wonderful and creative team who made this happen. We all look forward to a wonderful and creative future.”

Solicitations for submissions from Festivals and Events Ontario were issued toward the end of the previous calendar year, and an independent jury of industry peers conducted the selection process just prior to the conference, said executive director Gary Masters. “Recognition is eagerly sought by (festival and event) organizers as evidence of their ability to stand out amongst the many deserving of the honour,” he said.

The festivals and events industry in Ontario encompasses many experiences, which include traditional festivals, agricultural fairs, exhibitions and shows, heritage, music, performing arts, sports, highland games, holiday celebrations, aboriginal events, culinary, outdoor activities and more.

To view the top 100 festivals and events winners go to www.festivalsandeventsontario.ca.

Introducing Susan Lowe

2009-04-08T13:24:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on April 8, 2009.)

By Paula Boon

Susan Lowe loves to help people succeed.

That’s why the president of the Muskoka Literacy Council (MLC) thrived in her career as a special education teacher and why she gravitated toward the literacy council when she and her husband Michael moved to Huntsville in 2002.

Lowe says the most wonderful part of both jobs is seeing people begin to feel good about themselves when they meet with success. “Relationship forming is most important,” she says. “If you have a trusting relationship, you can conquer mountains together.”

She gives the example of a favourite former Grade 6 student. “He was a nightmare on the schoolyard, a real hood. I loved him,” she says. “We had an amazing rapport. He was bright as a dollar, but it wasn’t coming out.”

Three years later, while waiting in line at a fast food restaurant, Lowe heard a booming voice calling her name, and there he was, thanking her for getting him the help he had needed. “I just about wept,” she says. “His goal was to be a truck driver. Every time I see a truck go by I think of him. I hope he made it.”

Lowe has formed those same strong relationships at the literacy council. “Each person comes in with an individual goal,” she says. “We’re not teaching a program, we’re teaching individuals.”

Born in England, just after the war, to a Canadian father and British mother, Lowe’s family moved to Huntsville in 1957, when she was 11. She met her husband Michael, whose family has a long history in Dwight, at Huntsville High School. However, the two didn’t begin dating until they reconnected in Toronto after she had attended Ottawa Teachers’ College.

The couple married in 1968 and had two children, Wendy and Jason. “Being their mom is the most important thing I have ever done,” Lowe says. She took 17 years away from teaching to be there for her family.

When Michael was ready to retire, the Huntsville area was a natural choice. Soon after arriving, Lowe responded to a newspaper advertisement for MLC volunteer tutors. Shortly thereafter, she was assigned the role of assessor because of her background. By 2003, she was on the board, and in 2005 she became president. That was a difficult time for the literacy council, which was in need of restructuring.

“The first huge change was to add computer classes,” she says. “That removed the stigma associated with coming to the literacy council.”

Now, courses are also being created that are specific to the education and skills required for jobs in different sectors. Last August, the MLC co-located with the Employment Resource Centre at 64 King William Street. “It’s seamless. It’s working beautifully,” she says. “More people are being served by both agencies as a result.”

Besides her day-to-day duties at the literacy council, Lowe’s biggest jobs as president have been running annual fundraisers the golf tournament and the Muskoka Novel Marathon, which takes place this year from July 17 to 20.

She has kept busy outside of work, too. For example, Lowe is an art aficionado and owned Gallery in the Woods in Dwight from 2002 to 2006. “I featured the works of 64 artists, 95 per cent of them local,” she says. “The whole premise was for people who travelled here to take back original local art to remind them of where they’d been.”

Lowe also organized Art Among the Pines, an annual event, in Dwight from 2003 to 2006, with help from her husband and children. She is also a member of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts board.

When asked about the future, Lowe says she plans to continue her volunteer work, but the recent death of her younger sister has reminded her of the importance of stopping to smell the roses and watch the birds. “Wendy was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in October and died Jan. 7,” she says. “My sister lived a very balanced life. I need to take lessons from her.”

Thanks to Doris Villemaire for suggesting that Susan be profiled.

May Marché 2009 will be better than ever

2009-04-01T12:46:00.003-05:00

(The following Trumpeter column originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on April 1, 2009.)

By Myke Malone,
Huntsville Festival of the Arts director

I can hardly believe we are in the process of planning our ninth annual May Marché.

How time has flown and how much the marché has grown since the first one, nine years ago, when we booked the members’ lounge at the Hidden Valley ski clubhouse. We had three wine companies, one brewery and eight local restaurants offering samplings of their products. We sold 200 tickets and it was a sell-out. Wow, we were pretty impressed!

The following year, we expanded into both rooms at the ski club and hosted a sold-out crowd of 300 people. By year four, due to the growth, we moved the marché to Deerhurst Resort, where we hosted three breweries, 10 vineyards and more than a dozen local restaurateurs. After two years in the Peninsula Ballroom at Deerhurst, we had outgrown the room’s capacity of 450 people. It was time to expand yet again, and we spilled out into the rotunda and grand hallway.

For the past three years, we have been hosting a crowd of 600 people, every ticket sold way before the night of the event. Last year, the marché featured four breweries, 17 vineyards, and 15 local restaurateurs.

While we can no longer grow bigger, we continually strive to add more features to the marché. My co-chair, Ross Kirwin, and I are always looking for something new to spice up the event. We’ve even had cars, jet skis and ATVs on the auction table. We have pulled a few new ideas out of the marché hat for this year as well.

MAN WITH A PLAN: Myke Malone is one of the key organizers of the May 22 fund-raising event, hosted annually to benefit the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and its many endeavors.

Once again, we are fortunate to have Polar Bear Diamonds returning as our event sponsor, and they have generously donated a diamond pendant valued at $5,000 that will be raffled off. Deerhurst executive chef, Rory Golden, will again create a spectacular ice carving at the martini bar and supply a cornucopia of incredible desserts. Golden will be joined by other area chefs, all of whom are donating their time and great products for a good cause.

The evening will again be hosted by Deerhurst Resort, and it takes place on Friday, May 22, from 7 to 10 p.m. Our ticket price will remain the same, at $50, if purchased before April 24. After April 24, tickets will be $60 (if there are any left by that time).

Buy early or you may have to resort to placing an advertisement in the Forester, as one individual did last year. He offered to pay a premium price for anyone willing to part with two tickets.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) is a registered charity and your support, over the years, has enabled the festival to not only underwrite some incredible performances by some of Canada’s rising artists, but also to support many local arts initiatives such as a scholarship program, theatre funding for Huntsville High School, public school projects and artists’ workshops.

Last year, the HFA was the proud recipient of the Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence award for Best Community Organization. The festival is proud of its work in our community and I am proud to not only co-chair the May Marché for the ninth year, but also to be a director of the festival board for my 10th season.

Thank you for your continued support of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and I look forward to seeing you at the marché.

Marché tickets are available at Robinson’s Independent Grocer, Treasures and Trophies on Main Street, at the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce office, or through our website www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca. Check out our exciting 2009 summer lineup or look for more stories on our blog at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com.

Ruth Cassie, Carlos del Junco to play at next Muskoka Song Night at the Hideaway Pub

2009-04-01T12:08:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on April 1, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

Award-winning harmonica player Carlos del Junco and singer/pianist Ruth Cassie are the featured performers at the Hideaway Pub on April 7 beginning at 8 p.m.

The two will join Muskoka singer/songwriter Linda McLean, host of Muskoka Song Night, an eclectic music showcase held on the first Tuesday of every month. The 18-month series of song nights and music clinics is being sponsored, in part, by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.

Named harmonica player of the year seven times out of the Canadian Maple Blues Award’s 11-year history, del Junco plays the harmonica like nobody else in the world. Born in Havana, Cuba, del Junco is a pioneer of the 10-hole diatonic harmonica. The music played by this harmonica maestro transcends all categorization, fusing his respect for tradition with a fresh, innovative and truly modern approach. Get ready to forget all you thought you knew about the harmonica. Del Junco presents a no-holds-barred display of fun and melodic virtuosity.

Huntsville native Ruth Cassie now divides her time between country and city. With her ethereal voice and piano-plunking hands, she has just returned home from Canadian and European tours with Hawksley Workman. Cassie’s songs and live performances garner comparisons to musicians such as CocoRosie, Regina Spektor, Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos and Serena Ryder.

The evening will also include good eats from Lorraine Morin of Soul Sista’s and fair trade organic coffee courtesy of Muskoka Roastery.

Tickets for Muskoka Song Night are $10 (or $100 for the series of 12 concerts) and available at the door, which opens at 7 p.m. Seating is limited.

For more information, contact Linda McLean via e-mail (info@lindamclean.com) or visit her website: www.lindamclean.com.

Light, sound and action behind scenes of Oz

2009-03-11T18:40:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on March 11, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

As the large community production of The Wizard of Oz enters into its final weeks of rehearsals, much depends upon the talents of the backstage crew.

Just as the actors have to learn their parts, so too do those who work behind the scenes. The costumiers, light and sound technicians, set design, construction and props people play vital roles in ensuring that everything comes together as it should when the curtain opens.

At the production’s outset one of the most important group of people are those who design and build the stage sets. For Wizard, the role of set designer belongs to Helena Renwick. Renwick spent many years as front of house manager, both in Toronto and at the Algonquin Theatre, but wanted to express her creative side through the making and designing of sets.

SCENING IS BELIEVING: Helena Renwick, set designer for The Wizard of Oz, shows one of her many sketches for a scene in the show. Thanks to a whole host of volunteers, the designs will be transformed into built structures and convincing images on stage.

“I spent three years at Ryerson University studying theatre production and learned much from that program, not just house management, but all aspects of lighting, sound and costuming that have been most useful in many areas of my life,” said Renwick, who also has a degree in visual arts from the University of Toronto.

Renwick created the sets for the Christmas production of A Gift to Last, directed by Derek Shelly, and prior to that designed and painted the underwater world of Atlantis for the Muskoka Dance Academy’s production of The Little Mermaid.

Last year, her involvement in the musical Annie allowed her to soar to new heights in the scale of the sets. “The skyline of New York City, some 18 feet high, was the most fun I have had with paint and a step ladder in a long time,” she laughed.

The designs for the Oz set have had Renwick thinking outside the box.

“She was the person I wanted to create the look of Oz and the Emerald City. We had similar ideas about keeping the set minimal and using the effect of lighting as sets,” said director Gregg Evans.

So, rather than using large, cumbersome sets, Renwick designed the sets with the use of lights and projections onto the syc, which is a large cloth the width and height of the stage (upstage) upon which lights can be projected to create an illusion of space.

“I always felt the syc has never been used to its full potential,” said Renwick. “By utilizing a variety of lights and capturing the different effects each light can produce, the resulting images will be very special indeed.”

Renwick will be working closely with lighting director James Solecki to obtain the desired illusions. Taking the designs from the page and turning them into physical shapes fell to the construction crew working under the watchful eye of Ross Kirwin. A Rotarian, Kirwin brought a number of fellow members onside, just one of several areas where the Rotary Clubs of Huntsville has combined its talents with the North Muskoka Players and the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, who are producing the show.

When the curtain finally opens on April 16, prepare to be amazed by the talented cast on stage and the players in the orchestra pit — of which Neil Barlow is the director and Jillian McDougall the music director — but also spare a thought for the people behind the scenes. Just a few of them include Suzanne Riverin, assistant artistic director, Jay Osborne, stage manager, Don McCormick, sound cues, Chris Boon, sound, Zelda Dwyer assistant stage manager, Lisa Thomas, props, Nicole Pantaleo, costumes, and Carol Rhodes, make-up, all ably assisted by a whole host of volunteers.

The Wizard of Oz plays for nine performances. Tickets are $80 for a family of four, $25 for adults and $20 for youth under 18, and are on sale now at the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street, by dialling 789-4975, or online at www.algonquintheatre.ca

Sponsorship vital to success of the festival

2009-03-04T17:26:00.002-05:00

(The following Trumpeter column originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on March 4, 2009.)

By Bruce Gowan,
Huntsville Festival of the Arts director

The quality and quantity of the events presented by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) is dependant upon the generous support of many organizations and individuals. With the festival’s 17th season approaching, we would like to express our gratitude to current and past sponsors and patrons for its success to date.

The gate receipts for performances do not always cover the costs. Thus, the sponsors’ contributions often allow us to bring special talents to Huntsville for the enjoyment of all.

Another unique attribute of the festival is that all net proceeds are reinvested into the community. Ongoing projects include scholarships for area youth, artistic support for area schools and organizations, and subsidized performances and cultural events throughout the vicinity.

The support of sponsors is vital to the number of educational and cultural events that can be presented, as well as the number of scholarships the festival can provide.

We encourage all members of the community to help the festival by supporting our sponsors. Sponsors are acknowledged in our brochures and at festival shows, and we ask area residents to reward this contribution by patronizing the businesses that help bring excitement and education to our community.

Bruce Gowan, HFA director [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

Sponsorship can be given/recognized in several forms, including direct main-stage performance of a specific artist or group; these sponsors are acknowledged specifically at the related performance(s) as well as in our published literature. The Patrons Program is a general support mechanism for our summer program and participants are acknowledged in published brochures and programs. Individual donors are acknowledged in performance programs.

The HFA recognizes its sponsors with passes to performances, as well as the well-deserved public acknowledgements. The festival is always looking for new sponsors to help maintain and expand our programs. Potential new sponsors should contact HFA general manager Rob Saunders at 788-2787, or by e-mail to info@huntsvillefestival.on.ca, for details on how you can assist our community.

Last summer, the festival’s board of directors had the opportunity to acknowledge the exceptional contribution of several individuals for their hard work, encouragement and support of the festival of the arts since its inception. Recently, one of these individuals, Susan Alberghini, passed away in Toronto. Susan was one of the HFA’s co-founders and an ardent supporter. We will dearly miss her, but her legacy to our community has been clearly established and will carry on through our future successes.

Tripping the light fantastic with a pro's help

2009-03-04T17:01:00.001-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on March 4, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

One of the many highlights of the much-anticipated show the Wizard of Oz will be the cast who, in addition to singing, will be dancing their way around the Algonquin Theatre stage in April.

For many, dancing will be a whole new experience but, thanks to the show’s choreographer Suzanne Baxter, they should be just about foot-perfect by opening night.

In addition to the main actors, the cast of Oz includes a number of talented youngsters. However, working with a large group of mostly inexperienced children does have its challenges, Baxter said.

“That’s because (the routines) have to be simple enough for them to learn, yet interesting enough to be effective. That’s the challenge. If it’s too difficult they’ll never get it, and I want this to look as professional as possible, not like a bunch of little kids at a dance recital.”

Baxter understands young children well. She and husband Don have two: four and half-year-old Miltie and Grace, three. As well, she began her own dancing career at the tender age of five, in Hamilton. “I learned to dance first with ballet, then got into jazz, and a bit of tap,” she recalled. “Later, I joined a dance troupe doing small shows for functions and special events.”

COME DANCING: Choreographer Suzanne Baxter is surrounded by some of the young dancers who will appear in the Wizard of Oz, which opens at the Algonquin Theatre on April 16.

She was 19 when she was hired for the Las Vegas-style show at Deerhurst Resort. It was 1982. “I saw an ad in the Hamilton Spectator, auditioned and got the job.”

Baxter remained at Deerhurst for six years, and then moved on to various other gigs before returning to the Deerhurst show in 1993 for a further six years.

“Then I left and established my esthetics business and, soon after that, I got involved with local productions,” she said, adding that her first acting part was in a Bracebridge play titled The Amorous Ambassador.

As a former professional dancer, Baxter segued into choreography with little difficulty. Her first show was Michele and Jim Collins’ production The Sound of Music at All Saints’ Sutherland Hall about seven years ago. “That was the best experience,” said Baxter.

Next, Baxter co-choreographed the North Muskoka Players’ production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Algonquin Theatre with Annette Casullo, also a former Deerhurst show performer. Then came Aida, which she co-choreographed with yet another Deerhurst show alumna Camille Dziewurski.

Baxter was sole choreographer for Fiddler on the Roof and Annie, the latter being her favourite to this point. “Working with all those little girls was wonderful,” she said.

Asked to explain the process of choreographing a show, Baxter replied: “After listening to a song a million times, I put it into sections and, in each section, there might be a different formation. I let the lyrics guide me as to what (the dancers) will be doing when choreographing individuals,” she explained.

“In a situation like Scarecrow or the Tinman numbers, you can sometimes brainstorm with the actor. For instance, Scarecrow is going to be doing a lot of falling and I’ve not done falling choreography before, so we will have to work on that.”

Baxter also watched the movie version of Oz. “I have taken some ideas from that. The audience expects certain dance steps they have seen for years, such as the jog along the Yellow Brick Road. That’s so much part of what Oz is. Furthermore, a classic like the Wizard of Oz shouldn’t be re-invented. You have to stick with the original ideas,” she said.

The Wizard of Oz is presented by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, the North Muskoka Players and the Huntsville Rotary clubs, and opens at the Algonquin Theatre on April 16 for nine performances. Tickets are $80 for a family of four, $25 for adults and $20 for youth under 18, and are on sale now at the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street, by dialling 789-4975, or online at www.algonquintheatre.ca.

Huntsville Festival of the Arts unveils 2009 image, pottery created by Eric Lindgren

2009-02-25T12:11:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Feb. 25, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

The signature artwork for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts 17th season has been created by Huntsville potter Eric Lindgren.

Lindgren joins the ranks of other Huntsville artists who, for the past 16 seasons, have crafted a piece of artwork in a variety of mediums for the festival’s annual graphic.

Lindgren fashioned two pottery pieces for the festival, a vase and a shallow bowl. “The two pieces are shaped differently from each other, they have a similar glaze surface, they both refer to musical performance and could both refer to stringed instruments such as guitars,” he explained.

SOUND OF MUSIC: Huntsville artisan Eric Lindgren stands with two art pieces he designed and produced for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts. The vase and bowl comprise the festival's 2009 image, which will appear on the summer brochure cover. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

"I shy away from being clearly representational. I have taken some elements of guitars, music making and sound and played with them. One piece is made on the wheel and is a symmetrical man-made object, as are musical instruments. The other piece is free form, open and textured. The enclosed piece represents an instrument, and the open piece relates to sound and the notation of music. You can see sound holes, sound waves, the frets of a guitar, strings, a musical staff and other details in these pieces.”

Lindgren has been involved with clay for over 30 years and has developed an exciting range of forms, glazes and surface techniques that express his relationship with earth, water and fire. He first made stoneware pots in the old family homestead on Lindgren Road in 1975. In 1981, he and his wife Cathy established Lindgren Pottery in a studio and showroom next to the farmhouse. A new studio was built two years ago and the showroom was then moved downstairs to the ground floor.

Most of Lindgren’s work is high-fired stoneware, known for its durability and character of glaze, with occasional works in raku and porcelain. Sculptural vases and bowls, framed and free-form wall pieces, and functional ware, including dinnerware, are wheel-thrown, slab-built or constructed using a combination of techniques.

Festival president Kareen Burns expressed her delight with this year’s art choice. “Eric Lindgren, pour moi, symbolizes Muskoka’s finest pottery. It is a coup to have Eric as our dynamic, 17th festival season image maker. As our inaugural two-piece image, it’s symbiotic, creative, beautiful, magically musical and visually Huntsville. I am extremely proud the Huntsville festival passionately continues to garner the immense artistic talents of Huntsville. Merci Mr. Lindgren."

The image of Lindgren’s vase and bowl will be placed on the cover of the festival’s 2009 brochure and theatre program, and utilized in several advertising and marketing initiatives.

Celtic Blaze’s star, Stephanie Cadman, has surprising Huntsville connection

2009-02-18T11:49:00.001-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Feb. 18, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

When Sandra Cox isn’t behind the counter at Pharmasave, or working out at the gym, she is doing what she loves best: step-dancing. It is an art form in which she excels.

Little wonder, therefore, that Cox is excited about a show coming to the Algonquin Theatre on Feb. 27. Celtic Blaze stars the incomparable Stephanie Cadman, a top-notch fiddler and step-dancer who has three Canadian titles to her credit.

Cox is immensely proud of Cadman, who is not only her second cousin, but also one of her early step-dancing protégées. “Her mother and my father are cousins and that side of my family has always been into fiddling, step-dancing and singing in a big way. We were always together for reunions,” she said.

Cox grew up in Deep River, and then moved to Manotick at the age of 16. “By that time, I’d been dancing all over the province in competitions. There are step-dancing competitions all over Ontario, but mainly in the Ottawa Valley, so Dad and I did that every weekend,” she said.

At the age of 10, Cox was dancing with the Leahy sisters and their brother Donnell. “The older Leahy was a fiddler in one of my dancing contests. It was a very small world in those days. Nobody was famous yet,” she said.

When Cadman started her dancing lessons, she was three and Cox was 16. Along with several other students, Cox conducted the lessons from the basement of her home. “When Stephanie came to me, she was very impressive, the most talented three-year-old I’d ever seen. I knew at that point that one day she’d be something.”

Cox instructed Cadman for three years before leaving to study pharmacology. Cadman continued dancing and winning every competition she entered. “Now, she travels all over the States and Canada with Bowfire. She’s incredible.”

Cadman and her accompanists are Celtic Blaze, a fast-paced show featuring a contemporary take on Canada’s music and dance heritage. Told through music, dance, song and storytelling, the show features Ottawa Valley step-dancing, classical and Celtic fiddling, tap, jazz, and musical theatre.

Cadman has been performing since the age of four, delighting audiences with her Celtic fiddling and dazzling footwork. At the age of 17, she won the top female tap-dancing award at the World Tap Dance Championships in Germany. She has also won three Canadian step-dancing titles.

Cadman has appeared as a dance soloist and Celtic fiddler with the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Edmonton, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Seattle and Portland symphony orchestras, as well as the Kennedy Centre’s National Symphony Orchestra. She has also participated in a Canadian Forces tour, where she performed for the troops at several bases in the Middle East.

As well, Cadman appeared as a lead in Swing-step, combining her considerable talents as an actor, dancer, singer and fiddler, and then went on to perform in the Celtic review Needfire with the Broadway National Tour of 42nd Street. She also appeared in Anne of Green Gables and Canada Rocks at the Charlottetown Festival.

When not performing with Celtic Blaze, Cadman is a principal violinist and dancer with the internationally acclaimed Bowfire show, which features 10 of the top violinists in the country and tours the U.S. most of the year. She also tours with the Celtic dance show The Step-Crew throughout Canada and the U.S.

“While I can’t take credit for what Stephanie has achieved, I feel proud I had the opportunity to start her on the path to success,” said Cox. Meanwhile, Cox continues to dance and teach privately. “I still dance with Chuck Joyce, who is one of the best fiddlers in Canada and a Canadian champion. I step-dance and play piano for him. We do a show in London, Ontario, each year. I’m also practicing with (Canadian performer) Marion Linton and we are hoping to put a show together.”

Tickets for Celtic Blaze are $28 for adults and $15 for youth under 18 and are available at the box office on Main Street, by dialing 789-4975, or online through the Huntsville Festival of the Arts website at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca. To get a taste of Cadman’s talents visit her website at www.stephaniecadman.com.

Town’s youth to benefit from Wizard of Oz

2009-02-11T10:34:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Feb. 11, 2009.)

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts and the Rotary Club of Huntsville are delighted and excited to be partnering to co-produce the upcoming theatrical presentation The Wizard of Oz during the last two weeks in April.

Community-wide auditions were held in November and rehearsals have been underway since early January. In addition to involving over 100 talented cast members, the musical requires myriad individuals to design and create costumes, build sets, work backstage and assist in numerous ways to deliver an incredible production.

“The partners in this production are passionate community-minded organizations, with a focus on giving back,” said festival general manager and Rotarian Rob Saunders. “I understand funds generated by the musical, in excess of expenses, will be reinvested for the greater benefit of the Huntsville area.”

Barb White, president of the Rotary Club of Huntsville, confirmed that the Rotarians’ anticipated share of the play’s proceeds will be directed to improvements to the Huntsville Public Library.

“Our club has committed funds to assist the library in two important projects,” said White. “The first phase involves improvements to the children’s section, including purchase of new and updated reading material, the addition of an electronic reference collection and a child-sized computer with desk and chairs.”

White added that the second phase will see the construction of a youth section in the library, where teens and young adults can interact and feel welcomed. In addition, there will be some minor renovations and additional shelving and furniture, along with an increase in teen-relevant books, magazines and journals, as well as in electronic format materials.

Kareen Burns, Huntsville Festival of the Arts president, said funds resulting from the musical will be directed to enhance projects related to the festival’s youth education committee. The festival board recently revised its educational mandate to focus on “mentoring today’s youth for tomorrow’s artistic excellence." Over the past few years, a number of exciting initiatives have been undertaken by the festival, partnering with local high school and public schools, including the Kaleidoscope projects, numerous musical collaborations, the HHS Film Festival, the Group of Seven mural project and a series of workshops covering topics from ‘careers in music’ to ‘creating performance poetry.’

“Opportunities to work with talented, young and aspiring artists are only limited by our imagination, and by available funding,” said Burns. “It seems so relevant that presenting a classic musical aimed at children and families, involving many young actors, will allow us to fund and create many new related programs. This is a win-win partnership.”

Saunders summarizes the situation this way: “We have a few hundred community-minded residents, young and old, giving many, many hours of their time and talent, all in support of creating the best production possible. The rest is up to the community. At this point, we have nine shows planned, and will likely add an additional one for a school audience. There is nothing I would like more than to address the actors, just prior to opening night, and tell them that the entire run is sold out. If that happens, I am confident that both the Rotary club and the festival will meet the challenge of ensuring that any net funds raised will be used to create the positive impacts they have outlined.”

Chamber and Festival of the Arts propose installation of new Main Street info booth

2009-02-04T15:51:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Feb. 4, 2009.)

By Carlye Malchuk Dash

The Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce and the Huntsville Festival of the Arts are proposing a joint venture to run an information booth along Main Street during the summer and early fall. All they need is for the Town of Huntsville to build it.

“There is a void of information access on Main Street,” chamber general manager Kelly Haywood told the town’s finance administration committee on Jan. 22. “We would like to combine our efforts to operate and administrate, in every capacity, an information booth. We’re here today to ask the Town of Huntsville to consider constructing one.”

Under the proposal, the town would be responsible for construction, insurance and maintenance. The booth would be open on weekends only, from mid-May to the end of June and from early September to early October. During the summer months (July and August), the booth would be open seven days a week, nine hours a day every day except Sundays.

The proposal submitted to the committee included a number of suggested locations, such as in the old Huntsville Festival of the Arts booth location adjacent to the Royal Bank building, opposite the Pharmasave store, at the corner of Main and West streets, between the town hall and Trinity United Church, or somewhere on the Kent Park footprint.

Festival of the Arts general manager Rob Saunders told the committee that, from 1997 to 2004, when the festival ran a booth on Main Street, employees and volunteers were constantly inundated with questions about where to stay, where to eat and what’s happening around town. “When we moved to the theatre as kind of our main presentation point, we lost a lot of contact, we feel, and a lot of ability to get our message out,” said Saunders, adding that having Internet access at the new information booth could mean increased public access to festival ticket sales.

Councillor Mike Greaves told the committee that, while he agreed with the benefits of having such an information booth on the Main Street, he felt it would be a redundancy to put it “within eyeball distance of both the chamber of commerce and the theatre ticket sales office.”

He added, “I have some concern with the centrist attitude that the downtown is downtown Main Street . . . . There are other parts to this community and,if an information booth is to be provided by the town, then maybe (areas like King William Street or Commerce Park) should be offered an opportunity to discuss it.”

But, Huntsville mayor Claude Doughty suggested that, for an information booth to work, it should be where the greatest amount of pedestrian traffic can access it.

Haywood added that having a booth downtown would benefit all other areas of the community, since booth staff could direct tourists to other locations, like King William or Commerce Park, as well as Algonquin Park and Lake of Bays.

Doughty said he was excited about the opportunity, adding that he has been in discussions with a local contractor who is willing to construct the booth for free for the town. He said, with the donation, the total cost to the town would be around $5,000, and that the booth would be portable so that it could be moved if the location chosen was deemed unsuitable down the road.

“I think it would be a great initiative and it would really put a contact on the street that would continue to strengthen our downtown,” he said. “(Plus) if it were to increase our theatre occupancy by two or three per cent, which is more than reasonable, a lot of those dollars flow to us as well.”

Finance committee chair councillor Chris Zanetti suggested that the issue go to the next meeting of the town’s economic development committee, and that they bring a final cost and proposal to the next finance meeting in February.

Performers are eager as pups to play Toto

2009-01-28T16:13:00.001-05:00

(The following photo originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Jan. 28, 2009.)

WOOF WOOF: It's not every child who gets the opportunity to emulate a dog on stage, let alone a very famous one. Rebekah Bennet, Harper Smith and Lacey King-Day (left to right) will be taking turns in the role of Dorothy's little dog Toto in the April production of the Wizard of Oz at the Algonquin Theatre, presented by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and the Rotary Club. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

Fringe showcases creative endeavours

2009-01-28T15:24:00.001-05:00

(The following Trumpeter column originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Jan. 28, 2009.)

By Sharon Stock Feren,
Huntsville Festival of the Arts director

Artists encouraged to ‘leap out of the box
into infinite imaginative opportunities’

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts is proud of its tradition of excellent main-stage performances. How lucky we are to enjoy this high calibre of entertainment within our own community.

As a member of festival’s Fringe Committee, I am motivated by our president Kareen Burns and her effervescent manner of encouragement to “think outside the box” in our creative endeavours to showcase the talent of local artists. We often leap beyond the containment of four walls and a stage into the act of installing, or performing, a show in amongst the people rather than waiting for a formal audience to assemble.

Artist Sharon Stock Feren is very active on the HFA Fringe Committee and board of directors. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

Take, for example, the interactive, two-day extravaganza put on by the Edge of the Woods Theatre Festival on the downtown riverfront. There were clowns, music, dancing and the opportunity to experience stilt walking or puppet making. All ages were delighted with the spectacle as it unfolded into the crowd.

Beverley Hawksley’s Subplot mesmerized meandering onlookers, who witnessed fantastic costumes and thought-provoking vignettes enacted at every turn of the path through the woods.

Visual art is highlighted in many aspects of the festival. Our annual image artist creates a piece of work to grace the cover of the summer brochure of events. This work will catch the eye of thousands of people, whom we hope will be curious to see what the Huntsville Festival of the Arts is offering its public this year.

We endeavour to feature art from a broad range of mediums, created by artists who enrich our community with their craft and commitment to high standards. It is exciting to have such a rich pool of talent in our midst.

Art and education crossed paths with the successful Kaleidoscope program at Spruce Glen Public School, where local visual and performing artists and school kids collaborated to create and showcase their production. The Group of Seven mural project involved 40 students, who worked with muralist Gerry Lantaigne to paint 20 murals, which were added to the town’s outdoor mural gallery.

Art Splash invites everyone, young and old, to try their hands at various arts and crafts, while Arts Walk is a gathering of craftspeople eager to demonstrate the intricacies of their trade. Add to this, the festival supports Music at Noon at Trinity United Church, Jazz in the Garden at Tall Trees, dock concerts, a Poetry Cafe and the Muskoka Novel Marathon.

With thanks to our volunteers, sponsors, patrons, the Arts Council of Muskoka and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, we are able to leap out of the box into infinite imaginative opportunities. I like to think of ‘fringe’ as a wonderful embellishment to an already magnificent creation.

This year will bring more surprises outside the main stage, as the creative juices flow through the ever-increasing numbers in our talent pool. More information about the Huntsville Festival of the Arts can be found at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com, or www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Mentalist will dazzle with uncanny abilities

2009-01-28T14:51:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Jan. 28, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

World-renowned mentalist the Amazing Kreskin will be stopping in Huntsville for one performance during his whirlwind Ontario tour, courtesy of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.

George Joseph Kresge Jr., better known as the Amazing Kreskin, takes the Algonquin Theatre stage on Feb. 6 at 8 p.m. Considered the Nostradamus of the 20th century, with a showman’s flair, a comedian’s wit and capacities of a bonafide mentalist, Kreskin is sure to dazzle his audience.

Kreskin was born in Montclair, New Jersey, in 1935 and became popular on North American television in the 1970s. He was inspired to become a mentalist by Lee Falk’s famous comic strip Mandrake the Magician, which features a crime-fighting stage magician.

From 1971 to 1975, his television series, The Amazing World of Kreskin, was broadcast throughout Canada on CTV and distributed in syndication in the United States. The series was produced in Ottawa, at the CJOH-TV studios. An additional set of episodes was produced in 1975, billed as The New Kreskin Show.

In the 1980s and 1990s, Kreskin came to prominence again through several appearances on Late Night with David Letterman, Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Last Call with Carson Daly, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Larry King Live and CBS and NBC news. He continues to appear annually on CNN to give his New Year’s Day predictions for the coming year.

Kreskin teaches classes for law enforcement groups which focus on psychological methods such as jogging lost memories through relaxation techniques, or detecting lies through body language and voice inflections.

The roots of Kreskin’s abilities can be traced to a simple childhood game. While trying to find a hidden object on the verbal hints of “hot” and “cold,” he discovered he could locate the object without the verbal communication if the person who hid it concentrated on its location. From this and other exercises, Kreskin gradually developed a telepathic-like sensitivity.

“I do not call myself a mind reader, because that implies I can totally penetrate the process of the human brain. I prefer to describe myself as a thought reader,” Kreskin said. For over four decades, the Amazing Kreskin has dramatized the unusual power of the human mind.

AMAZING: Kreskin delighted Huntsville fans at his Feb. 6 performance in the Alqonquin Theatre. Here, he is being assisted on stage by Huntsville Festival of the Arts board members Jenny Cressman and Bruce Gowan (on right), along with two volunteers from the audience. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

On stage and television, he seeks to reveal the thoughts of audience members, plant suggestions in fully aware subjects and perform feats of extraordinary mental projections. As one of the highlights of his stage show, he regularly asks to have his paycheque hidden anywhere in the premises. If he fails to find it, he will forfeit his fee.

Kreskin, who has performed for royalty and presidential families, has made well over 500 television appearances, most recently during the 2009 Gemini Awards alongside Jason Priestley.

Tickets for the Amazing Kreskin are $28 for adults and $15 for youth under 18, plus GST, and are available by visiting the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

For more information on Kreskin, visit his website at www.amazingkreskin.com.

Local talents to share demanding role of Dorothy in production of Wizard of Oz

2009-01-14T18:58:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Jan. 14, 2009.)

By Gillian Brunette

Three exceptionally talented young ladies are sharing the role of Dorothy in the April production of The Wizard of Oz, presented by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts the local Rotary club.

Kristin Dalziel (pronounced Dee-elle), Holly Maurer and Jessie Bacon beat out dozens of other hopefuls in their bid to play the coveted role.

Each one will bring her own special interpretation to the part but all three agree that Dorothy is a young girl to whom they can relate.

OZ BOUND: Jessie Bacon, Holly Maurer and Kristin Dalziel, from left, take time out from Wizard of Oz rehearsals at Trinity United Church on Sunday. The three are sharing the part of Dorothy in the musical, which hits the Algonquin Theatre stage in April. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

“Dorothy portrays what every girl dreams about, a place beyond the rainbow they call home, and happiness,” said Maurer.

All three saw the movie when they were very young. Maurer and Bacon admit certain characters, such as the Wicked Witch of the West, scared them.

The first thing Dalziel did when she was picked for the role was to watch the movie again. “The story is heartfelt and beautifully written. It made me cry when I was a little girl and it made me cry again. It also made me laugh. When I read the script, I laughed. (The play is) actually a lot funnier than the movie,” she said.

Dalziel, at 19, is the most experienced of the three performers. In addition to singing, she plays violin, piano and trumpet. The first time she performed on stage was at the age of 11.

“I did an Avon Christmas special in Toronto. It was a mini-stage play and I was the daughter of a pessimistic man who didn’t like Christmas. It was fun,” she said.

Hoping to hit the big time, Dalziel went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, in February of last year, where she auditioned for the part of Maria in the Toronto stage production of The Sound of Music.

“I was one of just three out of 327 girls who made it to the next level. That was pretty cool,” she said, adding that she also auditioned for CBC’s Triple Sensation.

Dalziel’s first foray into community theatre in Huntsville was the musical Aida. She also performed in Fiddler on the Roof, portraying the third daughter, Chava. Other credits include A Gift to Last and A Christmas Carol, as well as a major role in Stina Nyquist’s The Lost Chord. As well, Dalziel performs in the Northern Blues Review series and is a member of the Larks choral group.

Another 19-year-old, Maurer is an accomplished pianist who is working toward a teaching degree through the Royal Conservatory of Music. She currently has eight students, “all beginners.”

Her mother, Christine, is a vocalist, so Maurer has been singing from a very young age. “I did plays with my mother through the Rotary,” she said, adding one – Nuncrackers – was at the age of about 9.

She added: “I used to be on a travelling church ministry team, singing in churches.”

More recently, Maurer was on stage in the Huntsville High School production of Grease. “That was my first real main theatre role. I played Marty and I loved it so, when I heard about Wizard, I thought I would try out.”

Bacon, at 16, is the youngest of the three Dorothys. Getting the role came as quite a surprise, as she didn’t originally seek the part.

“I auditioned for the chorus, and then I was called back for Dorothy and got it,” she said.

Bacon comes from a very musical family. Her mother, Sharon, is a well-known harpist and all five of the Bacon offspring play musical instruments.

Her first theatre role was in the chorus of Oliver, a Bracebridge Rotary production at the Gravenhurst Opera House two years ago. “I was also in Fiddler on the Roof. I played the fourth daughter, Shprinze. It was a lot of fun,” she said.

Other credits include a part in the recent dinner theatre production in Bracebridge titled Christmas at Bracebridge Hall. “I was one of the daughters of Lord and Lady Bracebridge.”

It also turned out to be a demanding portrayal. “We had a power cut and had to act through candlelight. That was a first,” she laughed.

Having seen the Wizard of Oz movie only once as a small child, Bacon watched it again before auditioning. “I wanted to be sure about it,” she said. “Seeing it again, I realized Dorothy is so like me. When she was in Kansas, she had outbursts when her dog was taken away. At that point, her world came crashing down, and I can relate to that.”

Summing up, Dalziel said: “There’s a complete, total innocence that Judy Garland brought to the role of Dorothy. She was in her mid-20s playing a 15-year-old, yet she managed to convey that, while Dorothy was infantile and naïve, she was also strong and intelligent.”

Concluded Maurer: “When I played Marty in Grease, she was a tease, which isn’t my personality at all. It’ll be good to do Dorothy. She is more like me. It’ll be easier to play.”

Festival supports youth and the arts

2009-01-07T16:39:00.001-05:00

(The following Trumpeter column originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Jan. 7, 2009.)

By Suzanne Riverin,
Huntsville Festival of the Arts director

Happy New Year from the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.

During this time of year, when the frenetic Christmas rush dies down and resolutions for the new year dominate the landscape, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) is once again resolved to continue to support young people in the belief that mentoring today’s youth is an important step in ensuring future artistic excellence.

The HFA knows that providing mentorship opportunities through a variety of artists, venues and applications allows local students to embrace art and creativity, which in turn enriches their lives. In this regard, our educational outreach committee has been involved in programs at both the elementary and secondary level, which encompass all of the art forms.

Since September, students have been immersed in wonderful projects involving music, storytelling, drama, dance and an assortment of multimedia events focused on creativity and skill development. These kinds of projects will continue to be developed and enhanced into the new year.

In collaboration with local schools and the Trillium Lakelands District School Board, the HFA endeavours to ensure that students are exposed to the work of a variety of artists, have the opportunity to use the theatre for a multitude of events and presentations, are able to share their creativity with the general public, and are presented with scholarship opportunities for future educational pursuits.

In the new year, the HFA will provide its patrons with a chance to witness young people displaying their talent at the Algonquin Theatre through drama, film, song, music and displays of mural painting.

In order to hone their skills, students will also be involved in school workshops focused on poetry and the spoken word, music, art and film. Stay tuned for dates for upcoming events at the Algonquin Theatre, where you can support our local talent.

HFA director Suzanne Riverin chairs the festival's Education Outreach committee.

As part of our outreach program, we also encourage young people to work behind the scenes to realize the important role volunteers serve in the ability of the Algonquin Theatre to bring art to this community. The multiple responsibilities involved in live theatre (stage managers, lighting/sound technicians, house managers) can be experienced and understood through this kind of volunteer engagement. In this regard, the HFA is delighted to be involved in supporting a production of The Wizard of Oz, where multiple opportunities for volunteering are available.

We invite all and any suggestions involving youth and educational outreach to help develop and mentor young talent.

As Pablo Picasso once said: “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”
The Trumpeter column is intended as an informational forum for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts. Please visit www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca, or the HFA blog at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com for more information.

Festival not planning to make program cuts for 2009 season because of gloomy economy

2009-01-07T16:21:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Jan. 7, 2009.)

By Laura MacLean

Despite the constant chatter about economic hardships continuing through 2009, programming for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts promises to remain exciting for the upcoming season.

“We’re moving ahead with the awareness that there will be economic challenges and the festival wants to program with that in mind,” said festival general manager Rob Saunders. “But we will not give up our goal to bring in top-notch, challenging and rewarding entertainment.”

Saunders stated that last year’s festival programming was “aggressive” with a total of 30 shows offered in July and August. He said that, over the years, the festival has had seasons with more programming than others but, so far, planning remains solid for 2009.

“We will redo the annual Jazz Festival on the long weekend in August,” said Saunders. “In the end, we’re not going to not do programming we think makes sense to do. We’re just saying, ‘Let’s be sensible.’ If we’ve got a good act, and it makes sense to produce the artist, we’ll book that artist. We’re underwriting the Wizard of Oz in the spring, and we’ll be doing nine shows of that, which is a fairly aggressive call on our part. We debated doing six but we stuck with nine to make sure it’s out there and available.”

Saunders went on to say that while everyone is feeling the hit of a poor economy the festival is not above the realities of the market. There won’t be any cutbacks in programming, but the committee is not ignorant of the fact that there are economic issues out there.

“If we don’t sell tickets, we feel the pain,” he said. “We know consumers only have so much money. We had our most sellouts last year and the largest ticket sales ever. There were some shows with a smaller audience but 14 sellouts is still pretty good. Compared to other theatres in our area, our programming is the most broad-based and aggressive. The theatre has given us lots of opportunity for a variety of entertainment, so it’s important we don’t take it for granted.”

Karin Terziano, general manager of the Algonquin Theatre, indicated that, because the theatre primarily rents to users as opposed to doing its own programming, her concern is that all renters will be cutting back.

“The poor economy is affecting what people have to spend on tickets,” she said, adding that there are fewer shows scheduled than last year but nothing that could significantly affect theatre profits. “Our programming is done from January to June and we’re not far off from last year at that period. One of the big differences this year is that, last year, we had four plays in that period. This year, only one play has been scheduled for that period, but we will be open for business, and it won’t seem any different to the public.”

To view upcoming programming visit www.algonquintheatre.ca.

Arts scene was full of diversity during 2008

2008-12-31T16:08:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Dec. 31, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

A wide range of music and drama was presented to the Huntsville community in 2008 by a number of community theatre/concert groups and organizations.

The Huntsville Association for the Performing Arts (HAPA) entered its 28th year with four chamber concerts in its 2008/9 series.

HAPA had a memorable past year, with new portable stages and a new website (www.hapachambermusic.ca). The group also had their fine Steinway grand piano refurbished and provided a number of complimentary concert tickets to students throughout Huntsville.

“Every concert was well received and it was gratifying for the HAPA board of directors that all performers, all Canadians, turned out to be of the highest level of excellence,” said HAPA president Martina Schroer.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts also enjoyed a good year, despite posting a small deficit for 2008. Following one of the best years in its 16-year history in 2007, which resulted in a healthy $20,000 surplus, this past season offered more in the way of entertainment but netted less in terms of dollars.

However, the festival remains in a solid financial position, and continues with its commitment to providing arts education initiatives for Huntsville youth, supporting local community theatre groups, and providing arts scholarships.

The HFA not only presented numerous mainstage shows this past year, but also offered fringe events throughout its summer festival. These included outdoor concerts with the Muskoka Concert Band, the Poetry Cafe and workshop, Tunes/Jazz at Tall Trees, the Poetry Slam, Arts Walk, Arts Splash and an extended Jazz Festival.

The non-profit organization held its annual major fundraiser at Deerhurst Resort in May. The 2008 May Marche, after expenses, netted about $39,000.

Grease was the word reverberating around Huntsville High School (HHS) in early February, with students and staff getting pumped and ready for their musical production. The show, presented at the Algonquin Theatre from Feb. 13 to 16, was an ambitious project for HHS. With a cast of some 40 students and an eight-piece band, it was the first musical undertaken by the school.

Of Mice and Men opened on Feb. 21 for four performances and was received with much acclaim. Presented by the North Muskoka Players and directed by Gregg Evans, the story, based on John Steinbeck’s novel, told of California drifters George and Lennie and their dream of a place to call their own.

April saw another big local production taking place at the Algonquin Theatre. Annie, the musical based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, featured a cast of more than 30, including 14 children aged six to 14. It was produced and directed by Jim and Michele Collins and sold out performances netted $24,000 for the St. Johns Anglican Church in Ravenscliffe.

Also in April the stars of Northern Blues Review were back with an all-new show. Northern Blues Review 5 performed at the Algonquin Theatre on April 25, once again filling the house with appreciative fans.

In May, an original musical theatre work titled Knights ran for three performances at the Algonquin Theatre. Knights was written and directed by composer, writer, and performer John Oliver Peel, co-founder of the National Martial Arts Theatre Company, and provided a thrilling and engaging experience for the whole family.

The summer of 2008 offered a cornucopia of concerts, plays and art and artisan shows, which kept the community buzzing through to the fall and serving as a reminder that the arts scene in Huntsville is alive and well.

The year drew to a close with a heartwarming Christmas play that touched all hearts young and old. Produced by Gregg Evans and the North Muskoka Players and directed by Derek Shelly, A Gift to Last told the story of a “real” Christmas in Canada during the early 1900s.

A rousing and uplifting concert from the Soweto Gospel Choir brought the Algonquin Theatre year to a close. Presented by the HFA, the choir played to a sold-out crowd.

It was events such as these that allowed the Algonquin Theatre to shine. For the third straight full year of operations the theatre met the revenue expectations as budgeted. The number of actual shows in 2008 was down slightly from 2007 but overall ticket sales were up by more than $50,000. Gross sales in 2008 were over $800,000.

The Algonquin Theatre has over 15,000 patrons registered and more than 200 volunteers. Patrons purchasing tickets to the theatre this past year came from as far away as New Zealand and Bangkok, and from the United States and all parts of Canada.

Powerful Soweto Gospel Choir performs in Huntsville, following Massey Hall show

2008-12-10T14:04:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Dec. 10, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

Stirring gospel music, energetic dancing and vibrant costumes are a feast for your eyes and ears.

The Algonquin Theatre will resound with the emotional sounds of pure African gospel music when the Soweto Gospel Choir performs there on Dec. 20.

Thanks to good fortune and timing, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts has managed to secure the booking of this amazing 26-strong choir.

The choir comes to Huntsville direct from the 3,000-seat Massey Hall, said festival general manager Rob Saunders. “Compared to the $84 ticket price being charged to patrons at Massey Hall, the adult ticket price of $40 is a great deal and would make a perfect early Christmas gift.”

The Soweto Gospel Choir, whose patron is Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, was formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African gospel music and is dedicated to sharing the joy of faith through music with audiences around the world.

OUT OF AFRICA: The world-famous 26-voice Soweto Gospel Choir performs at the Algonquin Theatre on Dec. 20 at 8 p.m.

The choir, under the direction of David Mulovhedzi and Beverly Bryer, draws on the best talent from the many churches in and around Soweto. It performs in six of South Africa’s 11 official languages.

When it comes to vocal talent, Africa, and more particularly South Africa, has spawned the most evocative sounds on earth and still produces the very best that the world has to offer in this art form. The Soweto Gospel Choir is that very best.

This young, dynamic choir performs both traditional and contemporary music, adding its own unique feel and interpretation to both. Concert patrons can expect earthy rhythms, rich harmonies, a capella numbers, as well as accompaniment by an exciting four-piece band and percussion section. Add to this, energetic dancing and vibrant, colourful costumes, and the mix is awesome.

This magnificent choir, styled with a contemporary feel, leaves all who hear it stunned with emotion. It is no wonder that they are charting a meteoric rise to international fame.

Those who saw the 46664 Concert in Cape Town in 2003, under the auspices of former president Nelson Mandela, will have witnessed the Soweto Gospel Choir in action alongside other musical greats, such as Bono, Queen, Anastacia, Peter Gabriel, Jimmy Cliff, and the Eurythmics.

However, no amount of glittering international recognition and praise has diverted the Soweto Gospel Choir from the mission it holds close at heart, its own AIDS orphans foundation, Nkosi’s Haven Vukani, which the choir founded in 2003. Mindful of the plight of South Africa’s sick and impoverished, the foundation supports families and organizations that receive little or no government support. These destitute families and children rely on the Soweto Gospel Choir to sing all over the world for very much more than their supper. To date, the choir has collected over three million rand ($370,000 Canadian) for Nkosi’s Haven Vukani.

Over the years, the choir has accumulated many awards, including Australia’s Performing Arts Award for Best Contemporary Music Concert in 2003, the 2003 American Gospel Music Award for Best Choir, following it up with another gospel music award for Best International Choir in October 2004. Also in 2004, the choir’s debut CD Voices from Heaven was nominated for a South African Music Award, and on Feb. 11, 2007 received a Grammy award for the CD Blessed. This year, the choir received a second Grammy for its new CD African Spirit.

Tickets for the Soweto Gospel Choir are $40 for adults and $20 for youth under 18, plus GST, and are available by visiting the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975 or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

The concert, which begins at 8 p.m. on Dec. 20, is expected to sell out, so don’t wait to purchase tickets and be disappointed.

More information about the Huntsville Festival of the Arts can be found at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com.

Dozens audition for Wizard of Oz musical

2008-12-03T17:38:00.001-05:00

(The following column originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Dec. 3, 2008.)

By Rob Saunders, HFA General Manager

Have you ever asked yourself, “What happens if I throw a party and no one comes?”

Well, that was the mild concern of some Huntsville Festival of the Arts board members, prior to the casting call for their 2009 spring presentation of the Wizard of Oz.

Director Gregg Evans had no such concerns and he was proven right, with over 140 members of the community coming out last week and sharing their talents with the judges. They were big and small, young and old (ranging in age from three to 75), but all had to face their fears, stand on the Algonquin Theatre stage and present a song.

Some chose Somewhere Over the Rainbow, while others chose to Ha-Ha-Ha! Ho-Ho-Ho! their way through the merry old Land of Oz. The littlest ones sang We’re Off To See The Wizard, while those with grander aspirations put themselves in the role of the Tin Man, Scarecrow or the Cowardly Lion, and sang those characters’ reprises.

Evans quickly concluded that, based on the talent pool, he would create two full casts. It was, of course, the role of Dorothy that drew the largest interest. Thirty young ladies put their names in the hat as potential Dorothys and, once again, the talent pool in our community ensured that choosing the play’s star would be a difficult task indeed. Six young stars were identified as deserving of a second look and callbacks followed, where both the applicant’s voice and theatrical skills were reviewed.

Final cast decisions will be made by early December and then the real work begins. For those who have leading roles, scripts will have to be reviewed. Costumes will be a major challenge, not just for their complexity, but also for the sheer volume of costumes required.

Staging will also present a major test, such as recreating a Kansas tornado on a 40-foot-by -40-foot stage and, once the director has the scenes blocked out, set designers must figure out how to best create the magic of Oz given the tools at their disposal.

During the auditions and the discussion that followed, festival members involved in guiding this process reminded themselves that this is not just any play. The Wizard of Oz is one of the all-time children’s classics.

That brings many challenges. For instance, how do you change the status quo? Everyone knows Dorothy for her frail but firm personality and her overall sense of wonder. Bert Lahr was the perfect Cowardly Lion and Ray Bolger, the wise Scarecrow. The characters they developed, how they talked and acted, seem to be the only way those characters could be.

Evans will have to guide the evolution of his young cast over the next few months so they will be ready for opening night. The final product will run from Apr. 16 to 18 and also from Apr. 23 to 25, for a total of eight performances.

As an added bonus, the festival has asked the Rotary Club of Huntsville to assist in delivering the production. The Rotary Club has a long and esteemed history in Huntsville of being associated with some of the grandest theatrical productions ever mounted here. It is hoped that this inaugural collaboration between the two groups will rekindle that artistic flame.

Over the next months, further needs will be identified and, possibly, there will be further opportunities to get involved. If you think you have a skill or talent that might help, jump right in. This promises to be a great community collaboration and often those involved take away as much, or more, than they give.

For more information about the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, go to www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca, or visit our blog at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com.

Festival presents popular Celtic tenors

2008-11-19T14:47:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 19, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

The Celtic Tenors, Daryl Simpson, James Nelson and Matthew Gilsenen, are three of Ireland’s most prized possessions.

These young men, superstars in their homeland, have established themselves as the most successful classical crossover artists ever to emerge from that country.

The Tenors are returning to Huntsville for the third time, performing in concert at the Algonquin Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 27. Showtime is 8 p.m.

UPLIFTING: The unique voices, charm and wit of the three Celtic Tenors (from left), Daryl Simpson, James Nelson and Matthew Gilsenen, are sure to thrill when the three men take the Algonquin Theatre stage on Nov. 27. (Photo by Jon Snelson, HFA photographer.)

Presented as part of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts’ fall season, the Celtic Tenors, with their eclectic mix of classical, folk, Irish and pop, have proven to be a festival favourite, selling out their two previous Huntsville appearances in 2005 and 2007.

With total album sales worldwide, including compilations, of over one million, and a full international touring schedule, the Celtic Tenors have topped the charts in the USA, Canada, Germany, the UK and Ireland.

The Celtic Tenors are blessed with beautiful voices, many influential fans and friends and more than their share of Irish charisma and good looks. During former U.S. president Bill Clinton’s visit to Dublin Castle, the lads performed and their version of Danny Boy is now Clinton’s favourite.

They also gave a private performance for then-secretary general of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. This was a gift from U2 frontman Bono.

According to Phil Coulter – the composer of the Tenors’ hit Remember Me – the Celtic Tenors continue to re-invent the whole tenor idiom by pioneering a new style of ‘cool,’ never before seen on the classical stage, and by breaking the traditional stuffy tenor mould.

While each of the Celtic Tenors has been influenced by the musical traditions from their own individual parts of Ireland, Simpson (from Omagh in Northern Ireland), Nelson (from Sligo in the heart of Yeats country) and Gilsenen (born into a hard-working farming family in North Meath) show great flexibility in melding their voices to suit the appropriate classical, folk, Irish and pop genres.

The Tenors’ live show is an experience overflowing with vitality and variety from start to finish. The unique voices, charm and wit of the three men, combined with talented young musical director Colm Henry, combine an emotive journey with a thoroughly uplifting experience, as anyone who has heard them sing You Raise Me Up can attest.

Equally at home performing to large festival crowds or intimate concert halls and theatres, and whether backed by a live band, symphony orchestra, solo piano or even a capella, their voices and personalities always shine through alongside their undeniable Celtic charm.

The group’s fifth album is due for release just before Christmas. Recorded in the Hollywood Hills, this new album is a collection of songs from North America by various songwriters, including Stephen Foster and Bob Dylan.

Tickets for the Celtic Tenors are $35 for adults and $15 for youth 18 and under, and are available at the theatre box office, by calling 789-4975 or online at the festival website www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca or the Algonquin Theatre site www.algonquintheatre.ca.

And don’t forget to check out the festival’s blog at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com

Wizard of Oz show in April will mark return of the big community musical productions

2008-11-12T12:51:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 12, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

There can’t be too many people who have never heard of the wonderful Wizard of Oz.

The story of little Dorothy Gale of Kansas and her friends Scarecrow, Tinman and the Cowardly Lion in the Land of Oz has been a firm favourite with children and parents since the book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum was first published in 1900.

The book was soon followed by a 1902 musical play extravaganza, titled The Wizard of Oz, and in 1939 was made into an American musical-fantasy film of the same name. The film is still screened on television today, notably at Thanksgiving on several American channels.

Now, thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, the North Muskoka Players and the Huntsville Rotary Club, the Wizard of Oz will once again take the stage, this time at the Algonquin Theatre.

“I really miss the old Huntsville Rotary musicals. They were great community productions. The last one was in 1995 and that was directed by (the late) Jane Hutcheson and music was by Lynn Sargeant,” said North Muskoka Players producer Gregg Evans.

With an idea forming in his mind, Evans approached festival of the arts general manager Rob Saunders this past spring.

“I said I’d like to resurrect the big community musicals, marry the North Muskoka Players with the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and bring Rotary back in,” said Evans. “Both organizations liked the idea.”

The proposal went to the festival board at its last meeting and it was agreed by the members that the festival should underwrite the cost of the production. Rotary will provide technical and backstage support.

“Wizard is tricky and I need the festival and Rotary to make it work. I would never have attempted it on my own,” Evans said.

The one stipulation put forward by the festival board was for an open casting call to involve as many members of the community as possible.

Evans also agreed to direct the first show. “I chose Wizard of Oz because the show transcends generations. Whether you are five or 85, everyone loves the Wizard of Oz.”

The show will require a cast of at least 50, plus 15 musicians, and that number again to help with make-up, set design and construction, props, and costumes, said Evans.

“There will be a total of 100 to 120 people involved. There are lots of talented people in town, and we will need people of all ages.”

The staging is very ornate, very technical, Evans continued. “There are flying monkeys and flying witches. Even Toto, Dorothy’s little dog, will be a child in a dog’s costume.”

The casting call, for anyone in whatever capacity, who is interested in becoming a part of the lavish production, is asked to be at the Algonquin Theatre on Nov. 22 from 2 to 5 p.m.

Evans is also hoping to draw the interest from the town’s youth. “We will need lots of kids to play parts in Munchkinland. Munchkins, trees, poppies, flying monkeys and Winkies, the Wicked Witch of the West’s soldiers.”

Auditions will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 23, with eight shows scheduled over the last two weeks of April 2009.

Presenting a production of this magnitude does not come cheap. Royalties alone are in the region of $8,000, said Evans.

“It cost $42,000 to produce Jesus Christ Superstar. Big productions are expensive, but will always fill seats.”

Evans is hoping this musical will be the first of what will become an annual event. He already has other shows in mind, including the King and I and Music Man.

“It will be great to resurrect what was once a wonderful Huntsville tradition and bring back the big community musical.”

2008 a challenging year for Festival of the Arts

2008-11-05T16:31:00.000-05:00

(The following column originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Nov. 5, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette,
HFA director

This past year, 2008, was one of ups and a few downs for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA).

Following one of the best years in its 16-year history in 2007, which resulted in a healthy $20,000 surplus, this past season offered more in the way of entertainment but netted less in terms of dollars.

“Ticket sales, on paper, were up $11,000, our highest sales ever, but the artists’ fees were also higher,” HFA general manager Rob Saunders told those gathered for the festival’s annual general meeting, held Oct. 18 in the Algonquin Theatre Partners Hall.

“We also had the most sold-out shows, 14 in total. It seemed that we either sold out the 400 seats or we had audiences in the 200 range. The shows we paid high dollars for all sold out. It was the medium-priced acts we lost money on.

“However, we are still in a good financial position. On the year, we lost $13,296 and our challenge is to understand why it happened and to plan to ensure it doesn’t happen again.”

The HFA is a non-profit organization which relies heavily on corporate sponsorships and donations as well as ticket sales. Monies raised go toward operational expenses, but a good part of revenues go back into the community by way of arts education initiatives for Huntsville youth, supporting local community theatre groups, and providing arts scholarships.

“Our fundraising efforts were up a bit but corporate sponsorships were down slightly, as were personal donations,” noted Saunders, adding that a new initiative in 2008, the Partners’ Program, attracted 10 new sponsors, which helped boost coffers.

“The Partners’ Program allows existing supporters and potential sponsors to receive various benefits and recognitions by supporting the festival with an investment of $750, which is less than a full sponsorship,” said Saunders. “Our challenge is to continue to develop our sponsorship base and this program has proven to be a creative way to do that.”

The major fundraiser for the HFA is the annual May Marché held at Deerhurst Resort. The 2008 event was the best ever, said HFA president Kareen Burns.

“It was wildly successful, with a bidding war for tickets and great, great food.”

After expenses, the May Marche netted about $39,000.

While artists’ fees were up, so too were production costs. Eight thousand dollars was spent on additional lighting at the theatre and HFA hosted an art show at the Trinity United Church hall for a week at a cost of $2,000. The festival also commissioned local artist Brenda Wainman Goulet to create the Festival Builders Excellence Awards (FBEA) presented to 10 individuals who have made a significant contribution to the growth and success of the HFA.

“This will not be a yearly event. Awards will only be given out when warranted,” said Burns.

In light of the previous year’s success, more money was spent on educational programs in 2008, one example being the 20 murals painted by Huntsville High School (HHS) students, which now adorn the exterior walls of the high school and at Muskoka Heritage Place. Overall, the festival invested over $15,000 in community youth programs. Moreover, arts scholarships were increased by $2,000 to a total of $4,500.

The HFA not only presented mainstage shows at the theatre, but also offered fringe events throughout its summer festival. These included outdoor concerts at Dwight beach and Port Sydney beach with the Muskoka Concert Band, the Poetry Cafe and workshop, Tunes at Tall Trees and Jazz at Tall Trees, Arts Walk, Arts Splash and an extended Jazz Festival.

“Due, in part, to last-minute changes in programming, the Jazz Festival didn’t fare as well as hoped. We will look at that for 2009 and perhaps have a shorter more condensed (event) and make use of the new outdoor park,” said Saunders.

ON BOARD: The 2008/9 Huntsville Festival of the Arts board of directors stand outside the Algonquin Theatre following their Oct. 18 annual general meeting. From left at back are Jon Snelson, Ron Baker, Helena Renwick, Ross Kirwin, Suzanne Riverin, general manager Rob Saunders, Peter Wood, Jenny Cressman and Bruce Gowan. Front, from left, Tia Pearse, June Salmon, Gillian Brunette and president Kareen Burns. Missing are Carol Gibson, Mike Malone and Sharon Stock-Feren.

In her report, Burns addressed the many education outreach programs that were supported by the festival in the past year: Kaleidoscope at Spruce Glen, the inaugural HHS film festival, which was open to secondary students across Muskoka, the HHS mural project and Song Project, and spoken-word poetry workshops, which were expanded into Bracebridge and Gravenhurst this year.

“The Children’s Canadian Dance Theatre put on four shows for us and filled the theatre each time. They were absolutely fantastic and will be coming back,” Burns said.

One new initiative this year was a marketing questionnaire handed out to patrons and also posted online. The results are currently being tabulated and, it is hoped, will offer the festival board some idea of what patrons would like to see in terms of future programming.

All artists who are booked by the HFA to perform at the Algonquin Theatre are well taken care of backstage. “Their dinners were provided by Three Guys and a Stove and were much appreciated,” said Burns.

A farewell and thanks were extended to Marion Haggart, who for years has organized the Music at Noon series at Trinity United Church. Board member Carol Gibson has offered to take on the responsibility.

Burns also extended thanks to the “dynamic” members of the board, all of whom are returning for the HFA’s 17th season. “I would like us to be the foremost eclectic festival in Canada,” she said.

Bringing the meeting to a close, Saunders thanked the Algonquin Theatre staff for all their hard work throughout the festival season.

For more information about the Huntsville Festival of the Arts and to review upcoming programming, go to www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca, or visit our blog at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com.

HFA supports HHS’s Got Talent show

2008-10-22T15:04:00.002-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Oct. 22, 2008.)

Tomorrow, Thursday, Oct. 23, Huntsville High School will prove it’s not only America and Canada that have got talent, when they present their very own Huntsville High’s Got Talent show at 7 p.m.

The evening will showcase a variety of talents from singing to dancing and even a little magic. There will be cash prizes in four categories as determined by a panel of judges.

The top prize of $300 and sponsored by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts will go to the star performer. The other prizes worth $100 each will go to the performer who is Most Entertaining (sponsored by Rockscape Designs), Most Creative (MBRP), and Most Likely to Make it Big (The Finds).

The variety show will be held at the school and is open to the general public. Everyone is invited to attend what promises to be a very entertaining evening.

Tickets are $5 at the door.

Spirit of the West concert won’t disappoint

2008-10-22T14:27:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Oct. 22, 2008.)

Celebrating 25 years as one of Canada’s perennial favourites, Spirit of the West is coming to the Algonquin Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 29, for what promises to be a great evening of music.

Popular on the Canadian folk music scene in the 1980s, before evolving into a blend of hard rock, Britpop, and Celtic folk influences, the group became one of Canada’s most successful alternative rock acts in the 1990s.

The band started in 1983 as a Vancouver-based folk trio called Evesdropper, consisting of John Mann, Geoffrey Kelly and J. Knutson, playing neighbourhood pubs for very small amounts of money. Armed only with a love of music, the three recorded their first album the next year. They soon changed their name to Spirit of the West and independently released a self-titled album in 1984 before signing to Stony Plain Records, an Edmonton, Alberta, roots music label.

PARTY TIME: Spirit of the West, the ultimate feel-good party band, and alternative rock group, with hits such as Home for a Rest, stops in Huntsville for one concert on Oct. 29.

Stony Plain released Tripping Up the Stairs in 1986. Following that album, Knutson left the band and was replaced by Hugh McMillan.

Twenty-five years later the group continues to make records and has developed a following across the country.

There have been some personnel changes through the years, but Mann and Kelly have been there from the start. Over the years McMillan, Vince Ditrich and Tobin Frank joined on to form the band as it appears today.

Along the way, the group has recorded 12 CDs and has toured throughout Canada, the U.S., U.K. and Europe. They have four gold and two platinum albums to their credit, and are responsible for such songs as Home For a Rest, And if Venice is Sinking, Five Free Minutes, Save This House, and The Crawl. The band’s newest album Star Trails is the first studio recording in several years.

This month, Spirit of the West will be inducted into the West Coast Music Awards Hall of Fame, and drummer Ditrich, who produces House of Doc and Quinzy, has been nominated for Producer of the Year.

In addition to the release of the 25th anniversary anthology, Spirit also taped a live show on St. Patrick’s Day weekend in March this year at one of their favourite venues, the Commodore ballroom in Vancouver. The taping is meant for a Bravo! Network television special to be broadcast in 2009. As well, the band is planning to remount its live symphonic show Open Heart Symphony, recording sessions toward an album of brand new songs and a live, in-concert DVD.

At the very least, Spirit of the West has earned a reputation as Canada’s favourite party band. Their unique blend of pop, rock and Celtic music has been imitated, but rarely equaled.

Concert tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for youth under 18 and can be obtained from the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Festival presents fiddling supergroup Leahy

2008-10-08T14:17:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Oct. 8, 2008.)

The siblings have been playing together their whole lives and remain one of Canada's top musical groups

On Friday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m., the Algonquin Theatre stage will resound with the toe-tapping, Celtic sounds of fiddling supergroup Leahy, as part of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts' fall line-up.

Leahy’s eight musical brothers and sisters bring their whole being to each and every performance. When they opened for Shania Twain on her inaugural world tour, Leahy brought 175 audiences to their feet.

GREAT EIGHT: The Canadian powerhouse Leahy, comprised of eight musical brothers and sisters, takes the stage Oct. 10 at the Algonquin Theatre, thanks to the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.

Their life story reads like a Hollywood movie: a large family raised without a television on a farm in the small town of Lakefield, Ontario. In fact, their story was so compelling that it became the subject of an Oscar- winning documentary titled The Leahys: Music Most of All.

When Irishman Michael Leahy came to Canada in 1825, he brought his fiddle with him. Five generations later, Leahy has become an eight-piece whirlwind of Celtic music, dance, and song.

The 11 children of Frank and Julie Leahy were raised just a few miles from the farm that Michael established near Lakefield. Each of them learned fiddle music from their father and received classical violin and piano lessons as well.

Their mother, a champion dancer from Cape Breton, taught them their first routines, and in the evenings the old farmhouse shook with music and dancing. Soon the Leahy family was performing throughout rural Ontario, and the house filled with ribbons and trophies won at festivals and competitions.

Leahy’s eight musical brothers and sisters have been playing together their entire lives. The band’s three acclaimed CDs – Leahy, Lakefield, and In All Things – have world-wide sales of over half a million copies.

Onstage leader Donnell Leahy turned out to be the musical prodigy. By 16, he was an oft-decorated veteran of the fiddle-contest circuit, with a firm command of Celtic as well as jazz, bluegrass and classical styles. In 2005, he married Nova Scotia fiddle favourite Natalie MacMaster.

The family continues to move forward as musicians and performers. The winter of 2007 saw them release their first live DVD and CD. They are also in the midst of working on their second DVD and live CD, which are to be released this year.

On their recent American tour, new audiences learned that the family of instrumentalists, singers and dancers brings a rare level of originality and musicianship to the stage. This originality includes music that Leahy writes, arranges and produces. Known for their unique blend of musical styles and genres, their repertoire is more distinct than ever.

Leahy is the recipient of many awards, including Junos for Best New Group, Best Country Group, and Best Instrumental Album. Their self-titled album rose to number four on the Billboard world music charts and found its way onto the soundtrack of the award-winning movie The Hanging Garden.

Pure and authentic, the band continues to be one of Canada’s most sought after exports.

Tickets for Leahy are $40 for adults and $20 for youth under 18 and are available through the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Volunteers, patrons, sponsors, all add to the success of Huntsville's arts festival

2008-10-01T13:22:00.000-05:00

(An abridged version of the following column originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Oct. 1, 2008.)

By Kareen Burns,
HFA president

Comme le temps passe vite! My second season as president is winding down. My passion for the arts and our eclectic festival exceeds my expectations. Roll on, year three!

Our dynamic festival board, the Algonquin Theatre personnel, volunteers, sponsors and our wonderful audiences have made our 16th season challenging and incredibly exciting.

I have a dream that the Huntsville Festival of the Arts will evolve into Canada’s foremost eclectic arts festival. Imagine the 2009 season. We will continue to expand our vision, raise the bar in excellence, diversity, education, avant garde fringe projects, and foster community partnerships. I am immensely proud!

Allow me to count the global ways to say thank you. Merci, takk, arigato, spasibo, toa chie, danke, gracias, obrigado! There are never enough ways to say thanks, thank you, and many thanks. Thanks to the very special recipients of our newly minted FBEA award (Festival Builders Excellence Award), who have made a profound contribution to our success and growth over the past 16 years. Thanks to our creative team who developed our new Edge of the Woods Theatre Festival, the Festival Image Makers Art Show, and our beautiful festival brochure image.

Thanks to the front-of-house Algonquin Theatre team, wearing the friendly smiles and funky festival ties while directing you to your seat with a little flashlight when running late, and the efficiency of intermission cocktails or selling performers' CDs. They are a positive and knowledgeable band of Huntsville hospitality promoters. Thanks to the back-of-house Algonquin Theatre volunteers. Led by the stage manager and dressed in black, they are a highly energetic and strong team. They welcome star performers at the theatre's back door, assist with their equipment set up and rehearsal in readiness for an 8 p.m. show. New volunteers, full of curiosity and excitement, are mentored and trained by the team.

Huge attention is paid to detail – electrical cables are taped down, there must be no fingerprints on the beautiful piano, the lighting and sets are arranged to complement the mood. Even the microphone on stage is set at the right height for my introduction. When the word comes from the front-of-house manager, “The house is yours,” the pre-show screen goes up, the lights go down, the audience hushes with anticipation and the magic begins.

Thanks to our hospitality team, who set up snacks and dinner for our performers in the green room, with tablecloths, candles, china, fresh flowers and a delicious meal. Huntsville TLC at its best!

Thanks to the performers’ magical moments: John McDermott’s Danny Boy, Les Stroud’s multi-media show, premiered in his home town, Stephen Lewis’s overwhelming passion, Jesse Cook’s unplugged song at the end of his show and many, many more memories. Thanks to our dear and loyal sponsors, patrons and supporters. You make it possible to be incredibly creative, bold and unafraid to showcase new performers and events.

Thanks to a dynamic festival board of directors. You create our festival season, meeting in October to plan the main stage shows and exciting fringe events for the following year. The board is a hands-on team, who put up tents and banners, took tickets, put on kids’ tattoos, introduced shows, built a beautiful art gallery in a church hall, created our marvellous Marche excitement and so much more.

Our amazing education outreach committee continues to deliver new ideas and directions with public and high school students. These include a spoken-word poetry workshop, painting 20 Group of Seven murals, which are now proudly displayed on the exterior of Huntsville High School. The students are our future audiences and we strongly believe in giving back to our community. Merci mes amis.

Finally, without an audience we would not exist. Thank you with all my heart. A full Algonquin Theatre festival audience is a joy indeed.

In Scottish, thenk ye.

Rock to great ’50s and ’60s sounds at the Algonquin Theatre this weekend

2008-09-24T10:57:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Sept. 24, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

Join Freddy Vette and the Flames for a rock 'n' roll revival in Huntsville on Friday night, Oct. 3

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) is bringing back the dynamic Freddy Vette and the Flames to the Algonquin Theatre on Friday, Oct. 3, beginning at 8 p.m.

Last here on Aug. 22, 2007, Vette will again be resurrecting the ghosts of Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Carl Perkins, Bill Haley and others when he and his musical entourage kick back to the 1950s and ’60s. The dynamic costumes and creative choreography allow audiences to relive this classic era with their favourite jukebox hits.

Following last year’s show, HFA general manager Rob Saunders noted: “After the show, our audience members left still singing and asking us to bring them back. Freddy is wonderful with the audience. Everyone loved the performance. It was a really great night.”

GREAT BALLS OF FIRE! Freddy Vette, in this photo taken at last year's show, brings his band the Flames, plus three backup singers, to the Algonquin Theatre Oct. 3. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

So, how does a guy born in 1972 end up as the real-deal front man for a ’50s rock 'n' roll show? That seems to be the most-asked question when it comes to Vette.

“Good music is good music, no matter what kind it is or when it was made. You don’t have to be from the 1700s to play Mozart, you don’t have to be from the ’30s or ’40s to play jazz, and you sure don’t have to be from the ’50s to play rock 'n' roll,” Vette says in reply.

At 14, Vette played with his parents on the road and that was the beginning of his performing career. He appeared in various bands playing various kinds of music, until the music of his childhood – rock and roll – came back to him.

Over the next few years, Vette joined several rock and roll bands, and during that time he re-acquainted himself with the piano, an instrument he had played as a child but gave up for guitar.

“Piano rock 'n' roll is such a big part of this music and I knew I had to learn that style of playing. As I started learning from those old recordings, it gave me a new love for the piano. Now, it’s my favourite instrument to play.”

In 2002, Vette formed his own band featuring drums, upright bass, sax, guitar, three female singers and himself on guitar and piano.

The show is a musical journey through the beginnings of rock and roll, not only featuring the biggest hits from the biggest artists, but telling the story of the music along the way.

The three women who share the stage with Vette perform all the great ‘girl’ hits from the rock 'n' roll era including songs from Leslie Gore, the Shirelles, the Shangri-Las and Patsy Cline. Four outstanding musicians round out this high-energy, exciting eight-piece act.

Tickets for Freddy Vette and the Flames are $25 for adults and $15 for youth under 18, plus GST, and are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street, by dialing 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca. The festival blog at www.trumpeterhfa.blogspot.com also features past festival stories and photos.

Popular musical Anne and Gilbert stops at the Algonquin Theatre Sept. 23 and 24 only

2008-09-17T15:33:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Sept. 17, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

Ontario tour is part of the celebrations taking place for the 100th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables

For the past 100 years, young girls have fallen in love with the adventures of Anne Shirley, the heroine of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables series, and her home on Prince Edward Island (PEI).

Known for her braids of fiery red hair, unending chatter, limitless imagination and unshakable optimism, Anne has been a beloved friend for readers of all ages since Montgomery published the first edition in June 1908. The novel has since been published in 33 languages and become an industry that made PEI famous around the world.

SHOW STOPPER: Anne and Gilbert, a musical about Anne of Green Gables growing up, is touring through Ontario this fall, making its only Muskoka stop in Huntsville on Sept. 23 -24.

Anne and Gilbert, co-written by Nancy White (of CBC fame), Jeff Hochhauser and Bob Johnston, is a lively and engaging musical sequel based on the second and third books in the series Anne of Avonlea and Anne of the Island.

The musical picks up where the original novel left off and tells the story of Anne Shirley’s journey into young adulthood and her romance with Gilbert Blythe.

Blythe is the young man who is destined to be the love of her life – a prickly relationship that has been brewing ever since an 11-year-old Anne broke her slate over Gilbert’s head when he called her Carrots.

The precocious redhead is now a young woman wanting to go to university. However, she first takes a position as a schoolteacher in Avonlea in hopes of saving enough money. Everyone assumes that she and Gilbert will get married but, ever the contrarian, Anne resists.

Reaching Redmond University, Anne makes new friends, including a wealthy suitor named Roy. Gilbert also turns up at Redmond, waiting patiently for Anne to see the light.

This musical sequel to Anne of Green Gables (itself a perennial fixture in Charlottetown theatre), has been playing in Summerside, PEI, for the last three summers to sold-out houses and rave reviews. The first off-island production of Anne and Gilbert at the 1000 Islands Playhouse in Gananoque last summer also played to sold-out audiences.

Now, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables and courtesy of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, the 1000 Islands Playhouse is taking Anne and Gilbert on an Ontario-wide tour, making its only Muskoka stop for three performances at the Algonquin Theatre on Sept. 23 and 24.

Some of the very popular cast members of the original production will appear on the tour. Ashleigh Ireland and Adrian Marchuk take up the roles at the heart of the story, as the feisty Anne Shirley and dashing Gilbert Blythe.

“We always call the show a family show, but it does have a lot of edge,” said White. “It’s not a kids’ show, but kids do love it.”

“We are very pleased with the enthusiasm of theatres across Ontario for Anne and Gilbert,” said senior producer David Malahoff. “What began as a modest production at the Victoria Playhouse (in PEI) in 2005 is quickly becoming a national phenomena.”

PEI entrepreneur Campbell Webster, who mounted the sequel, recently announced that Anne and Gilbert is being translated into Japanese for a production in Japan. He also has plans to tour the show in Western Canada, possibly in 2009.

Toronto Star critic Richard Ouzounian said Anne and Gilbert “keeps the essential tone of L.M. Montgomery’s work without seeming like a fusty museum piece. The music has real melodic grace and invention, often veering off into unexpected harmonies and rhythms that lift it above traditional musical theatre fare. The lyrics are well crafted, serious when called for, but often wryly amusing.”

The result is a lively and authentic island-style musical, full of laughter and romance and a brand new take on a heroine Canadians have loved for years.

Anne and Gilbert takes the Algonquin Theatre stage for three performances on Tuesday, Sept. 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Sept. 24 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for youth 18 and under and area available at the theatre box office on Main Street, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Huntsville Festival of the Arts supporting literacy project in elementary schools

2008-09-10T15:30:00.000-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Sept. 10, 2008.)

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HFA) is supporting a literacy project next week involving elementary students in three local schools: Spruce Glen, Pine Glen and VK Greer.

Students at all grade levels in the schools will be encouraged to expand their literacy skills by exploring their own stories and writing about them. This exercise will culminate in an exciting activity where a compilation of stories will be bound into a book form for all to read.

In order to kick-start this initiative, two gurus of the storytelling genre will be on hand to work with the schools on Sept. 18 and 19. Bob Barton of the Storytellers’ School of Toronto and Larry Swartz, a teacher and consultant with the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education University of Toronto, will be travelling to Muskoka to spend time with students and their teachers in order to work through the nitty gritty of the storytelling genre.

The two champions of literacy will be hosting a workshop at Pine Glen on Thursday, Sept. 18, between 4 and 5 p.m. which is open to all teachers. Those who plan to attend should contact organizers Mary Spring or Terri Howell.

This initiative is a pilot project which will no doubt open up similar opportunities in the future for other elementary schools in the area.

Huntsville Festival of the Arts announces fall lineup of shows, beginning Sept. 23

2008-09-01T08:28:00.010-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 27, 2008.)

Variety of world-class artists to perform at the Algonquin Theatre, September through December

Summer coming to a close does not mean the end to entertainment opportunities.

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts has an aggressive fall program that offers a variety of world-class artists, all coming to perform in Huntsville’s lovely Algonquin Theatre.

Responding to many requests from theatre patrons, the festival is bringing in a professional theatrical production in late September. The iconic Canadian story of Anne of Green Gables is presented in three performances of Anne and Gilbert.

ANNE AND GILBERT: The cast of Anne and Gilbert, a musical about Anne of Green Gabes growing up, is seen here during the show's lengthy run on Prince Edward Island. The show is touring through Ontario this fall and making its only Muskoka stop at the Algonquin Theatre, Sept. 23-24.

This new Canadian musical tells the story of Anne Shirley’s journey into young adulthood and her romance with Gilbert Blythe. After its inaugural presentation in the fall of 2005 at the Victoria Playhouse in Prince Edward Island, the play continued for 48 consecutive sold-out performances.

The Gananoque Theatre Festival acquired the rights to the play last season and decided to tour it throughout Ontario this fall, with Huntsville being the only Muskoka stop. There are evening performances on Sept. 23 and 24 and a matinee on the Wednesday afternoon (Sept. 24).

Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of the writing of the original Anne of Green Gables books, this timely play is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Mark Friday, Oct. 3, on your calendar for the return of festival favourite Freddy Vette and the Flames. A great hit the last couple of years, Vette is returning by popular demand and will once again recreate all those rock and roll favourites by Buddy Holly, Elvis, Chuck Berry and Bill Haley, among others.

Vette’s rollicking piano playing, while sitting atop the piano, is worth the price of admission alone.

The next Friday, Oct. 10, Canadian fiddle supergroup Leahy will return to the festival after an eight-year absence. The festival first presented Leahy just as the group was gaining popularity. Since then, they have toured the world and played with a host of international stars, including a tour with Shania Twain.

All brothers and sisters, Leahy’s music features great fiddling and step dancing and their stage energy is unparalleled.

Closing the busy month of October is Spirit of the West, performing on Wednesday, Oct. 29. The ultimate feel-good party band, Spirit of the West became one of Canada’s most successful alternative rock groups, successfully blending hard rock, Brit-pop and Celtic folk influences.

Known for songs such as Home For a Rest, If Venice is Sinking, Five Free Minutes, Save This House, and The Crawl, their concert will be a must-see event.

On Thursday, Nov. 27, the Celtic Tenors return to the Algonquin stage. Following two previous sold-out shows, the Tenors provide a mix of amazing voices and a wide-ranging repertoire that goes from classical to pop. Originating in Ireland, this trio has performed internationally and establishing themselves as masters of their art.

Closing out the festival fall season is a very special presentation of the Soweto Gospel Choir on Saturday, Dec. 20. This 26-member ensemble is dedicated to sharing the joy of faith through music with audiences around the world.

With Archbishop Desmond Tutu as their patron, the choir performs in English as well as six of South Africa’s 11 official languages. The evening is sure to leave those in attendance stunned with emotion.

Tickets for all festival shows are available through the theatre box office on Main Street, by calling 789-4975 or online: www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

For more information on any of the shows visit the festival website.

Popular Jesse Cook returns to Algonquin

2008-08-22T18:29:00.005-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 20, 2008.)

Tickets are limited for this Latin/flamenco sensation

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts is closing out its successful summer season with master acoustic guitarist Jesse Cook.

The Latin/flamenco guitarist has been wowing Huntsville audiences since his first visit in 2001 at the Delta Grandview Inn. There he had the crowd roaring for more, so the festival brought him back for two more performances in 2002 and 2003.

In 2006, in answer to public demand, Cook performed for two nights at the Algonquin Theatre to sold-out crowds. The same is expected when he makes a two-night return visit on Aug. 27 and 28 at 8 p.m.

LATIN SPICE: Festival favourite Jesse Cook ignites the stage with his infectious Latin/flamenco/world rhythms and, backed by a group of stellar musicians, is sure to deliver memorable performances on Aug. 27 and 28. [Photo by Jon Snelson, taken at a previous HFA show.]

Cook is a Toronto-based Nuevo Flamenco guitarist, born in 1964 in Paris to Canadian parents. He was raised in the region in southern France known as the Camargue, where he grew up with the sounds and influences of Gypsy music.

Guitarist Manitas de Plata, who lived in the Camargue, and Nicolas Reyes, lead singer of the flamenco group Gypsy Kings, who just happened to live next door, heavily inspired him.

After his parents separated, Cook and his sister accompanied his mother to her birth country, Canada. Recognizing the musical aptitudes of her son, lessons followed at Toronto’s Eli Kassner Guitar Academy (Kassner’s other famous pupil was classical guitarist Liona Boyd). There he continued his studies in classical and jazz guitar in North America’s music schools, then attempted to unlearn it all while immersing himself in the oral traditions of Gypsy music. This helped him widen his range of musical tastes.

Like other guitarists of his style of music, Cook incorporates jazz, Latin and world music into his playing. He is also well known for the energy of his live shows.

Cook has recorded six studio albums and traveled the world exploring musical traditions that he has blended into his style of rumba flamenco. In addition to headlining concerts and festivals, he has opened for such legends as B.B. King, Ray Charles and Diana Krall. He has performed with British soprano Charlotte Church on the Tonight Show and toured with legendary Irish band The Chieftains.

In 2001, Cook won a Juno Award in the Best Instrumental Album category for Free Fall. Most recently, he has been nominated for two 2008 Juno awards, for his 2007 release Frontiers (World Music Album of the Year) and for the One Night at the Metropolis DVD (Music DVD of the Year) which captures his performance during the 2006 Montreal Jazz Festival.

Tickets for Jesse Cook are $40 and $20 for youth under 18 and are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office on Main Street 789-4975 or through the festival website at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Led Zeppelin fans will be wowed by re-creation of their classic album

2008-08-15T18:20:00.005-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 13, 2008.)

Festival also presents Compadres and their exciting fusion of sound.

One of history’s all-time favourite groups will be captured in music tonight, Aug. 13, at the Algonquin Theatre.

More precisely, one of Led Zeppelin’s monster albums will be on show, as Led Zeppelin II is recreated sound for sound and note for note.

The folks at Classic Albums Live, most recently at the Algonquin Theatre with their Dark Side of the Moon Pink Floyd evening in February, have made an excellent name for themselves with these re-creations. Not a tribute band per se, Classic Albums focuses more on the music. Every sound is critical, and is often enhanced in the studio as the music is being mixed.

CLASSIC CUT: Members of the Classic Albums Led Zeppelin II band got the audience stirred up during their concert at the Alqonquin Theatre Aug. 13. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

In matching the studio sound, that may mean adding players past the original four. The first half of the evening is dedicated to the Led Zeppelin II album, with songs such as Whole Lotta Love, Heartbreaker, The Lemon Song, Ramble On and Moby Dick.

Released on the heels of their first album, which was an international success, the second album was even more widely acclaimed and arguably more influential.

The second half of the evening will be an all-out Zeppelin jam, with favourites from a wide range of their amazing discography. Needless to say the Algonquin Theatre will be a rocking place to be.

On Thursday, Aug. 14, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts welcomes two of Canada’s finest artists. Singer/songwriter James Keelaghan joins good friend Oscar Lopez in an evening of diverse styles that combine to create a fusion of sound that will be sure to entertain.

FAB FUSION: Singer/songwriter James Keelaghan (right) joins fellow musician Oscar Lopez, combining diverse musical styles to form a creative and entertaining evening of sound fusion.

Keelaghan is a Juno winner, a three-time Juno nominee and a two-time winner of the USA Songwriting Competition’s folk category. He has played with the Calgary Philharmonic, Edmonton Symphony and has established himself as an avid tourer, playing to critical acclaim across the country

Lopez is a two-time Juno winner and the recipient of the Haygood Hardy Jazz/
Instrumental Music Award. Originally from Chile, Lopez moved to Canada in 1979, where he established a solid career that includes three CDs released under the Narada label.

Together, the two are Compadres, an example of the world-music fusion that has taken off in recent years. Keelaghan and Lopez jokingly refer to their sound as Celtino, fusing the rollicking, sometimes melancholy influences behind Keelaghan’s folk material with the fiery guitar vibe of Lopez’s work.

In Lopez’s two previous appearances as part of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts line-up, he left no doubt that his talents with the Latin/flamenco guitar are exceptional and can raise the temperature of any room in which he plays. Lopez’s playing injects energy and edginess into Keelaghan’s smooth baritone, while Keelaghan’s skillful song-craft creates a superb structure for Lopez’s amazing guitar work.

On Friday night, enjoy a stunning spectacle of traditional Irish dance music and song with the Magic of Ireland.

A consistent sell-out on a recent tour through England and Europe, the show features 10 champion Irish dancers and five multi-instrumentalists, featured on the accordion, fiddle, guitar, Bahrain, pipes, whistles and flutes. At press time, tickets were selling fast but some should still be available.

Tickets for all shows can be purchased at the theatre box office on Main Street, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

High-energy fiddler Anne Lindsay returns to the Algonquin Theatre on Thursday, Aug. 7

2008-08-07T13:43:00.009-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 6, 2008.)

Triumph’s guitarist Rik Emmett pays tribute to the music of Eric Clapton the next night.

If you attended the Jim Cuddy or the John McDermott concerts this summer and were impressed by the quality and sound of the fiddle/violin artist in both bands, then take advantage of the opportunity to see Anne Lindsay once again, on Thursday, Aug. 7.

Lindsay has established herself as one of the most engaging and versatile instrumentalists in Canada, adapting her unique violin/fiddle style to the eclectic sounds and musical languages of this country’s rich cultural texture.

Currently composing, performing and recording with her own band, Lindsay has acted as side person, composer, arranger and background vocalist, for not just Cuddy and McDermott, but she has also played and recorded with Blue Rodeo, the Chieftains, Led Zeppelin, Roger Daltry, Dionne Warwick and Natalie McMaster, and she played a key role as folk fiddler in The Lord of the Rings stage show.

SOLO SCORCHER: Anne Lindsay has established herself as one of the most engaging and versatile instrumentalists in Canada. She brings her band to the Algonquin Theatre stage on Aug. 7.

Lindsay’s innovative music is drawn from a palette of heartfelt ballads, hot club jazz, South Indian karnatak, various root and folk styles and rocking fiddle-driven grooves. Her fluency is evident in her wide-ranging repertoire, encompassing jazz, rock, classical, country, old-time fiddle, Celtic, Cajun and Klezmer styles.

Master of a wealth of diverse styles and blessed with a rare talent for improvisation, Lindsay brings all of her skill into fine focus on the 14 powerful tracks of her new CD News from up the Street. Co-produced by the late Oliver Schroer, it features her wonderful band: Colleen Allen, saxophones, Al Cross, drums, Jason Fowler, guitar and David Woodhead, bass.

JUST FIDDLING AROUND: Anne Lindsay performed in the Algonquin Theatre on Aug. 7 to a very enthusiastic crowd. This photo was taken during that show by Jon Snelson, the HFA's official photographer.

What really sets it apart from the first CD is the addition of Lindsay’s heart-catching vocals, and her debut as a songwriter.

Lindsay’s playing is incomparably expressive, capturing the violin’s unique ability to sing like the human voice. With her innovative, yet down-to-earth compositions, and exquisite lyrics, Lindsay and her violin sing together in a universal language.

On Friday, Aug. 8, Rik Emmett, lead guitarist for Canadian super group Triumph, comes to the Algonquin Theatre with his tribute to the music of Eric Clapton.

Who better than this guitar master to interpret the music of Clapton, whose virtuosity on the guitar sets him in the upper echelon of all time great artists.

From classic rock to smooth jazz, Emmett has shown he can handle all musical styles. Named to the Canadian Rock Hall of Fame in 1993, receiving a Juno as best guitarist at the 1981 ceremonies and being recognized as Best Smooth Jazz Guitarist at the 2005 Smooth Jazz Awards, are just three examples of his talent.

However, this concert will be focused on the music and sound of Eric Clapton. From his days with the legendary rock groups Cream, Derek and the Dominoes and Blind Faith through to the present, Clapton has created monster hits such as Layla, Tears in Heaven, Crossroads, Cocaine, Lay Down Sally and After Midnight.

“For me, doing the Clapton repertoire is like digging right down to the roots of why any person picks up the guitar to play,” Emmett said. “It’s a show about heart and soul, and about how the blues informs one great song after another.”

Both shows start at 8 p.m., tickets for which are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

MLC's marathon story relay is continueing

2008-08-07T13:29:00.004-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on Aug. 6, 2008.)

By Tracy Nita Pender

The 2008 edition of the Muskoka Novel Marathon, a yearly event hosted by the Muskoka Literacy Council, was a rousing success — both in the number of pages written and the amount of money donated.

“For the writers to have gathered close to $5,000 in pledges is amazing,” said Susan Lowe, president of the Muskoka Literacy Council (MLC). “It is one of the highest amounts ever raised since the inception of the Muskoka Novel Marathon seven years ago.”

The fundraising dollars are greatly appreciated at the MLC.

“Our present government funding allows us to support only 40 students at any one time; however, our current student base has risen to over 65 per month as a result of the diverse programs we now offer,” explains Lowe. “Fundraising allows us to support and welcome those adults into our programs as they come in, rather than having to ask them to wait for an opening at some unknown date in the future. Fundraising goes directly toward student programs in the form of print and tech resources as well as improved technology for our ever-expanding computer programs and workshops.”

Held from Friday, July 11 to Monday, July 14, the event saw 26 writers immerse themselves in their craft, with 18 of them submitting a final product for judging.

“We’re shooting right now for a wrap-up party for the novel marathon near the end of September, and that’s when the winners will be notified,” said Lowe.

The Muskoka Novel Marathon also took to the Internet, offering a way for the public at large to get in on the writing action with an online Story Relay. And there’s still a chance to donate to this great element and help push the dollar figure over the $5,000 mark.

Thought up by Paula Boon, a member of the MLC’s Muskoka Novel Marathon committee, the relay let people log in and add a line, a sentence or more to three separate stories during the same time that the authors were writing away on site. The online stories, started by Mel Malton, Roy MacGregor and Robert Munsch, saw about a dozen people log in and participate.

“This is the maiden run of the Muskoka Literacy Council Story Relay and we hope to make it an annual event. For seven years, only a limited number of writers have had the opportunity to support adult literacy initiatives at the Muskoka Literacy Council through their participation in the Muskoka Novel Marathon and through the pledges they have raised. This initiative allows the larger community to contribute in a fun, creative, and literary way through their writing and through their pledges, and, better still, you don’t need to be an accomplished writer to participate,” says Lowe.

Unfortunately, the site experienced a minor glitch on the Sunday.

“We experienced technical difficulties which rendered the Muskoka Literacy Council Story Relay inaccessible from Sunday on,” said Lowe. “To make up for the lost hours, and to enable sponsors to include their contributions to the stories, the Story Relay site will be re-opened from 8 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8.”

After that time, the writers who started the stories will read over the entire work and will close the relay with a line.

To take part in the Muskoka Novel Marathon Story Relay, log onto www.huntsvilleforester.com and click on Story Relay under the "Features" list on the left side of the screen. Follow the prompts thereafter to add your contribution.

Lowe is looking forward to seeing what people add to the stories this week and encourages the entire community to check out the site.

“A successful first go will ensure that the event will continue to grow in the future,” she explained. “Mel Malton, Roy MacGregor and Robert Munsch are all looking forward to where the community will take their original ideas.”

[NOTE: The Muskoka Novel Marathon began as an event under the Huntsville Festival of the Arts banner, and it is still held during the July festival season. Susan Lowe is also currently a member of the festival's board.]

Jazz on the fringe presents outdoor events around town throughout the weekend

2008-07-31T15:44:00.004-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 30, 2008.)

In addition to the jazz concerts taking place at the Algonquin Theatre this week, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts presents outdoor events at several venues around town.

The popular Jazz in the Garden series returns to Spencer’s Tall Trees Restaurant on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 3, from 2 to 4 p.m. Nestled in the gardens of the restaurant grounds, live music will be provided by local musicians Doug Banwell and Tim Sullivan, among others. Jazz purists will enjoy their journey through some of the great jazz classics. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy light refreshments and pastries provided from the Tall Trees kitchen.

On Friday, Aug. 1, and Sat., Aug. 2, from 4 to 6 p.m., the popular Trillium Dixie Jazz Band will entertain at the town dock. Featuring John Minnis (trombone), Rick Faye (drums), Ted Richardson (trumpet), Marguerite Urban (banjo), Louis Tusz (bass) and Bill Urban (clarinet), this seven-piece ensemble has been a good-time summer tradition in Muskoka for over 25 years.

Also on Saturday afternoon, the Muskoka Concert Band, with a membership of musicians from around Muskoka, plays jazz to classical music in a delightful summer blend from the town hall steps from 1 to 3 p.m.

Apart from Jazz in the Garden, tickets for which are $15, the outdoor concerts are free. Jazz in the Garden tickets are available at the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975, or online at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca. Tickets will also be sold at the gate.

Hilario Duran Trio open jazz festival

2008-07-31T15:33:00.006-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 30, 2008.)

Second annual event runs until Aug. 3 and features highly acclaimed, world-class acts

The Huntsville Jazz Festival is returning for its second year and promises something for all jazz lovers.

Sponsored by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, the ‘festival within the festival’ runs from July 30 to Aug. 3.

Leading off tonight, Wednesday, is Cuban/Canadian piano wizard Hilario Duran and his three-piece trio. This ensemble produced the CD New Danzon in 2005 and received a Juno nomination for their efforts.

Duran is one of the greatest virtuoso jazz pianists to emerge from Havana. He played for nine years with Arturo Sandova and has shared the stage with legendary musicians such as the late Dizzy Gillespie and composer/arranger Michael Legrand.

Duran and his band will make this evening a musical celebration.

Tomorrow evening, July 31, audiences will be treated to the sounds of Marcus Belgrave. Backed by six fabulous musicians Belgrave, one of North America’s premier trumpet players and an original Ray Charles band member, will honour the music of Louis Armstrong and team up with his wife Joan Bow-Belgrave to pay tribute to the great ladies of song.

The music of Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, and Sarah Vaughn will come alive, as will Satchmo’s trademark gravelly voice. Marcus has been a major hit at festivals and venues across the country and promises to deliver an ace performance in Huntsville.

On Friday night, festival favourite Michael Kaeshammer returns for his first performance at the Algonquin Theatre. A brilliant piano player, Kaeshammer has added vocals to his music, and his performances have been critically acclaimed by audiences across the country.

Anyone who has seen Kaeshammer at work comes away amazed by his piano mastery and his lightning-fast finger work.

Acclaimed vocalist Dione Taylor brings her soulful style to the Algonquin stage on Saturday, Aug. 2. Citing Aretha Franklin, jazz chanteuse Sarah Vaughn and opera diva Leontyne Price as influences, Taylor has established herself as a rising star on the Canadian jazz scene.

SOUL QUEEN: Jazz vocalist Dione Taylor appears at the Algonquin Theatre on Aug. 2.

Closing the jazz festival will be jazz-fusion masters Manteca. A staple of the Canadian jazz scene in the '80s and '90s, the group re-formed in 2006 and re-established themselves as masters of their craft. Tight as always, this nine-piece group promises not to disappoint their old fans as well as new converts to their music.

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

Arts Walk returns this weekend

2008-07-28T07:45:00.007-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 23, 2008.)

Annual event features a variety of artists and artisans demonstrating their craft, beginning at Avery Beach.

The third annual Arts Walk, an outdoor demonstration event on the Hunters Bay Trail, takes place this Sunday, July 27, from noon until 3 p.m.

Presented by the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, the walk begins at Avery Beach and meanders west along the trail.

Arts and crafts people will be demonstrating a large range of creative techniques, including painting, printmaking, stonecarving, fibre arts, photography, jewellery-making, woodcarving, and more. They will eagerly share their skills and tricks of their trade.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER: Bird carver Jack Slade works on a small wood sculpture during last year's Arts Walk. Slade returns to the Huntsville Festival of the Arts event on Hunter's Bay Trail July 27.

Greenbean Studio is a new addition this year. This is an eco-friendly business that is reducing the amount of plastic that enters our landfills. After collecting clean flexible plastics, they then turn them into one-of-a-kind pillows. A portion of their sales is donated to Canadian conservation programs specific to forestry and freshwater.

GREEN COMFORT: The eco-friendly Greenbean Studio showed off their pillows at the 2008 Arts Walk. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

Habitat for Humanity held a contest this year for an artist to create an image depicting its mission. Dale Durnan submitted the winning painting from which posters have been created. The sales from the posters will raise funds for Habitat projects, the next being a home that will be built in Huntsville. Durnan will be at Arts Walk to talk about her painting.

A big attraction for all ages will be bird carver Jack Slade. He is often surrounded by fascinated children as he carves numerous bird likenesses.

An Arts Walk favourite since its inception three years ago is Emilie Mimra, who will once again present the art of belly dancing.

Admission to Arts Walk is free, although artists may have items for sale.

What better way is there to spend a beautiful Huntsville summer afternoon than by taking a pleasant stroll along the Hunters Bay Trail? Your walk will be enhanced with creative activity and an opportunity to learn something more about the arts.

Festival heats up with four great shows in four days – July 23 through July 26

2008-07-28T07:20:00.009-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 23, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

Award-winning country music star Michelle Wright will perform for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.

A keynote speaker, a country music star, the toe-tapping sounds from the east coast and tenor John McDermott are the offerings from the Huntsville Festival of the Arts this week.

While tickets for Stephen Lewis, the former UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, are sold out for tonight, seats are still available for Michelle Wright tomorrow (Thursday), the Barra MacNeils on Friday and McDermott on Saturday.

SPEAKING OUT: Stephen Lewis, former UN special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa, greets a fan following his keynote address to a sold-out crowd at the Algonquin Theatre July 23. [This photo was taken by Jon Snelson in Partners Hall after the on-stage presentation.]

Michelle Wright is a Canadian country music singer and one of the country’s most widely recognized and awarded female country singers of the 1990s, winning the Canadian Country

Music Awards Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year award twice in 1993 and 1995.

As of 2007, Wright has sold nearly two million albums and received over 30 major awards in both the United States and Canada.

Wright was born in Chatham, Ontario, and has lived in Nashville for 17 years, although she spends a lot of time travelling back and forth between the U.S. and Canada.

QUEEN OF COUNTRY: Michelle Wright, Canada's first lady of country music, appears at the Algonquin Theatre July 24.

Married late in life, Wright and her husband Marco celebrated their sixth wedding anniversary in April. “I waited a long time for the right person for me and I’m glad I waited for Marco. He’s a fine Italian man, wonderful, funny and a great friend,” said Wright in her trademark husky voice.

Her mother also now lives in Nashville, but the rest of her family remains in southern Ontario, as well as one sister who lives in Barrie.

“She’ll be hanging out with me for the three shows I’ll be doing in Palmer Rapids, Mattawa and Huntsville,” Wright said from her Tennessee home.

ROAD TRIP: Michelle Wright, who now lives in Nashville, had some of her Ontario-based family with her for shows in Huntsville and nearby locations. [This photo was taken by Jon Snelson during the July 24 performance.]

Unlike her previous tour, that had Wright performing 20 concerts in 25 days, this is a mini summer tour. Her next will be her annual I’m Dreaming of A Wright Christmas tour.

It was in 2005 that Wright released her first-ever holiday album titled A Wright Christmas. Since then, she has released two singles off the album, I Know Santa’s Been Here and Joy to the World. She tours annually to support the album.

In 2006, Wright returned to the country scene with her current album, Everything and More. Six singles have been released from the album, Everything and More, Love Me Anyway, I've Forgotten You, Dance In The Boat, Riding Around The Sun and her current Canadian single, I Don’t Wanna Be That Strong.

In 2009 she will be touring her CD throughout Europe.

“Everything and More was released in Europe six weeks ago,” she said, adding that thanks to the Internet, Europeans are now more exposed to country music and it’s becoming more popular than it once was.

“(Country music is) not a lifestyle or a format they are familiar with. There is a small traditional country fan base, but the more contemporary music has not caught on there,” said Wright.

Wright has been travelling the globe for 27 years — “I’ve been on every continent except Antarctica,” she says — and has had numerous hits including 25 top 10 hits and seven that reached the number one spot.

“With all that material, I can put together a wonderful show, and the people in Huntsville can expect to hear lots of familiar hits. That’s the funnest part of my concerts, when people sing along,” she said.

Wright is a high-energy performer whose sense of fun is contagious. Backed by her five-piece band, this promises to be, as Wright said, “a rocking country show.”

The Barra MacNeils take the Algonquin Theatre stage on Friday, July 25.

A RIOT OF RHYTHM: The Cape Breton siblings, the Barra MacNeils, ripped it up in Huntsville on July 25, during a return visit to the HFA stage. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

This is the third time the Barra MacNeils have performed for the Huntsville Festival of the Arts; the last time, in 2001, at the Delta Grandview Inn was to a sold-out crowd.

From the heart of the Celtic tradition in Cape Breton, the four MacNeil siblings, Sheumus, Lucy, Kyle and Stewart, showcase their musical prowess with rhythmic fiddling and step-dancing.

John McDermott appears on Saturday, July 26. This super tenor needs no introduction. A perennial Huntsville Festival of the Arts favourite, McDermott plays to a full house each time he appears in Huntsville, which is a testament to his incredible popularity with audiences.

FAN FAVOURITE: Popular tenor John McDermott never fails to pack the house when he performs in Huntsville. He was on stage July 26, backed by fiddler Anne Lindsay, also a featured HFA guest on Aug. 7 at the Algonquin Theatre. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

Tickets for all performances are available through the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975, or by visiting the festival website at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Survivorman Les Stroud premieres new show at the Algonquin Theatre July 19

2008-07-18T18:55:00.010-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 16, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

There are many people in the area who will remember Les Stroud the musician, but many more know him as Survivorman, whose exploits in obscure places and hostile situations have made him a household name.

Now Stroud is trying something new, a multi-media show filled with his film work and music, as well as highlights from his highly acclaimed documentary series. The show is to be premiered at the Algonquin Theatre this Saturday, July 19, at 8 p.m.

“I did something similar with film work and music a few years ago, so this has been many years in the making,” said Stroud. “I wanted to compose music and set it to the imagery of my adventures. The music will be a real blending of dynamics, highs to bring us up – for instance, when the eagle soars on film, so too will the music soar – and beautiful lows.”

MANY SIDES: Survivorman Les Stroud, a Huntsville resident, presents the musician, singer and storyteller sides of his persona in a multi-media show premiering at the Alqonguin Theatre on July 19. [Photo by Laura Bombier.]

Those attending Saturday’s show are in for a treat. There will be a six-piece back-up group featuring Peter Cliche (primary composer for the Survivorman series), Don Kerr and Jason Mercer (members of Ron Sexmith’s band), Jamie Golledge and Parres Allen (former performer with the Deerhurst Sing Show). There will also be two screens on stage featuring Stroud’s Survivorman adventure footage, plus the star’s compelling storytelling. The show promises to be a one-of-a-kind evening.

“There will be footage from Africa, South, Central and North America and Australia – just about all over. There will also be underwater work with sharks and dolphins,” said Stroud.

In addition to Stroud’s film footage there will be the work of others, including scenes from Rob Stewart’s Sharkwater and photography by Laura Bombier.

Joining Stroud and the top-notch musicians on stage will be special guest rock singer/songwriter Peirson Ross. They will be performing material from Stroud’s self-titled debut CD Les Stroud, his recent release, Les Stroud and the Pikes, plus original soundtrack material.

It was filmmaking that put Stroud, an accomplished musician, singer and songwriter, on the map. In 2000, he took a few small cameras out into the wilderness of Northern Ontario and spent a week surviving alone without food, water, equipment or camera crew. He single-handedly created, produced, wrote, filmed, hosted, edited and composed the theme music for these first two original, one-hour pilots for what would eventually become the Survivorman series.

Stroud, who is currently in production for his third Survivorman season, remains the only producer in the history of television to produce an internationally broadcast series entirely written, videotaped and hosted alone. Survivorman has gone on to become the highest rated show in the history of both the Outdoor Living Network and the Science Channel, and is quickly becoming one of the most popular shows on the Discovery Channel.

This latest endeavour of Stroud’s, titled Voices in the Wildernesss: An Evening Of Film And Music with Les Stroud, is a work in progress.

“The show will evolve and every year it will be different,” he said, adding that a world tour is in the works beginning next spring.

As for what people might expect from this Saturday evening’s performance? “I want people to leave this show with their jaws dropped,” said Stroud.

Adding to Stroud’s list of accomplishments is a 90,000-word manual titled Survive with Les Stroud, which provides essential skills and tactics to get a person out of anywhere alive. The book, to be published this fall by Harper Collins, also features photography by Laura Bombier.

Festival continues with third great week

2008-07-18T18:46:00.004-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 16, 2008.)

Classical piano leads off this week at the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, with renowned pianist Peter Longworth performing tonight, Wednesday, at 8 p.m.

Longworth will present Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition and will be joined by soprano Melanie Conly for the first half of the recital.

On Thursday, comedy is the name of the game as the comedy troupe The Gents comes to the Algonquin Theatre. The Gents are an uber-funny new sketch ensemble featuring Patrick McKenna, Matt Baram [replaced by Paul Bates for the July 17 show], Bruce Pirrie, Bob Bainborough and Doug Morency. Each one of these fine fellows is a Second City veteran who’s jumped at the chance to return to live comedy after years on television and in film.

FUNNY FELLOWS: The Huntsville Festival of the Arts brought The Gents to the Algonquin Theatre stage on July 17. This photo was taken by HFA photographer Jon Snelson during that show. From the left are: Bruce Pirrie, Doug Morency, Patrick McKenna, Paul Bates and Bob Bainborough.

McKenna may be best known for his ongoing role as Harold on the hugely successful Canadian comedy The Red Green Show, being recognized with a Gemini award for his efforts. During that 12-year run he simultaneously enjoyed five years and two more Gemini awards for his dramatic role on Traders.

Also on The Red Green Show were Bainborough, presenting the character of Dalton Humphrey. Pirrie was the senior writer and talent director for the show.

Each of The Gents have numerous other credits to their name, but it was the linkage through the Second City comedy network that was the common thread to them forming the comedy team.

On Friday, July 18, brass returns to the theatre with the presentation of the Hannaford Street Silver Band. Canada’s leading brass band returns to the festival and promises a program that will be enjoyed by all brass enthusiasts.

Formed in 1983, the Hannaford ensemble has played around the world and received two lieutenant governor’s awards for the arts. The last time the band played at the festival, it paid tribute to the Anglo Canadian Leather Band, a fixture on the Huntsville and Canadian musical scene in the early 1900s, and it is expected that there will be a similar tribute this time around. Other numbers include music from Morley Calvert, Bach’s beautiful Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring, Alford, Gershwin, Louis Prima and Chuck Mangione.

Closing out the week will be Survivorman. Les Stroud will be bringing the world premiere of his audio and visual review to the Algonquin Theatre stage. Further information is available in an accompanying article.

Tickets for all performances are available through the Algonquin Theatre box office, by calling 789-4975, or by visiting the festival website at www.huntsvillefestival.on.ca.

Festival pays tribute to arts contributors

2008-07-18T18:38:00.004-05:00

(The following article originally appeared in The Huntsville Forester on July 16, 2008.)

By Gillian Brunette

Ten honourees receive a Brenda Wainman Goulet bronze sculpture

Following 16 successful years that have made it a firm fixture on Huntsville’s summer cultural scene, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts recently recognized 10 members of the arts community who helped make it all possible.

In Partners Hall, current festival board members paid tribute to those who had made a significant contribution to the festival. Each honouree was presented with a Brenda Wainman Goulet bronze sculpture as a token of appreciation.

DEDICATION: Huntsville Festival of the Arts honourees stand in Partners Hall with their bronze FBEA awards. From left are: Susan Alberghini, Gerri Mar, Attila Glatz, Jim Alexander, Stina Nyquist, Jane Alexander, Kerrry Stratton, Pam Smyth, Gregg Evans (accepting for his father, Bruce Evans) and Pamela Hoiles; missing from the photo is Hugh Mackenzie. [Photo by Jon Snelson.]

The honourees included the festival’s co-founders, Attila Glatz, who had the original vision and initiated artistic contacts with the Huntsville community, Susan Alberghini, who provided artistic guidance and assisted with financial matters through the festival’s first 12 years, and Jim and Jane Alexander, who provided the local link and, through Algonquin Automotive, provided administrative support and financial support to the festival and the theatre.

Other honourees included Bruce Evans, a strong financial supporter and provider of the Grandview Inn property for nine years, including the venue, staff and rooms for the artists, Pamela Hoiles, a seasonal resident who has embraced the local arts scene, become a major benefactor and has also performed in the festival on a number of occasions, Hugh Mackenzie, past festival president, who provided leadership at a difficult time and was also instrumental in initiating the successful theatre campaign, and Kerry Stratton, leader and music director of the Huntsville Festival Orchestra and an ambassador for the festival throughout the province.

Three former festival board members were also honoured. Gerri Mar, who each season tirelessly arranged and co-ordinated hundreds of volunteers, Stina Nyquist, writer, producer and director of a number of plays presented through the festival that told people about Huntsville’s history, and Pam Smyth, who was a leader in co-ordination and developing the guidelines for backstage volunteers. She wrote a production manual, which formed the basis for the theatre’s operating procedures and spent thousands of hours over the years delivering programming of the highest quality.

Presenting the awards, festival director Bruce Gowan and president Kareen Burns recalled their own memories. Gowan remembered how his grandchild, who normally has a short attention span, was mesmerized by Nyquist’s play Dinosaurs and Dreams, and Burns noting that the distinctive tie Mar created for the festival is still used by the theatre today.

Concluding, festival general manager Rob Saunders said: “While Attila may not have met his goal of developing an artistic event with international impact, he should be very proud of the legacy he has created, that of an arts organization that has integrated fully into the community and whose principle goal is to enhance the development and enjoyment of the arts, specifically in our youth at the grass roots level.”

The Huntsville Festival of the Arts plans to continue to award significant contributors in the coming years. However, it will not become an annual event, Burns said.