May 10 - July 27, 2008
The Kelowna Art Gallery is excited and pleased to be the first touring venue for the Pop Prints exhibition organized by the Vancouver Art Gallery. The Pop Art movement began in both Britain and the USA in the early 1960s and introduced the notion of objects or themes from popular or "low" culture as subjects for art.
Pop Prints is organized and circulated by the Vancouver Art Gallery with the generous support of Spectra Energy, and sponsored by Meiklejohn Architects and Outback Ridge Homes.

Our Campbell's Soup can work of art:
Visitors to the Pop Prints show are invited to bring along a can or two of Campbell's soup with the distinctive red-and-white label. All flavours/types are welcome. In homage to Andy Warhol, who used the image of the canís label to make silkscreens and paintings, every soup can will be incorporated into a structure in the gallery. At the close of the exhibition, all cans will be donated to the Kelowna Community Food Bank.

Kelowna Art Gallery
1315 Water Street
Kelowna BC
250-762-2226
www.kelwonaartgallery.com

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24 May 2008

Company Becomes the First Dinner Theatre in Canada to Secure the Rights to Perform Broadway’s Smash Hit

Bialystock and Bloom, these names strike terror and hysteria in anyone familiar with Mel Brooks’ classic cult comedy film. As a big Broadway musical, The Producers again set the standard for modern and outrageous humor. It was truly a hit, winning a record twelve Tony® Awards and wowing capacity crowds night after night. Kelowna Actors Studio is pleased to announce that it has secured the rights to this highly acclaimed musical and The Producers will be making its Kelowna premiere on July 9, 2009, with a four week run extending to August 2, 2009.

“We had already selected and announced our 2008-2009 Season and had Sweet Charity earmarked for the final show,” says Randy Leslie, artistic director and producer for Kelowna Actors Studio. “As soon as we heard the rights were available in the summer for The Producers, we seized the opportunity. Since this show has won more Tonys than any other, we are certainly maintaining our ‘Discover the Broadway in You’ theme!”

The Producers is adapted by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan from Brooks' 1968 film of the same name, with lyrics by Brooks and music by Brooks and Glen Kelly. The plot is simple: a down-on-his-luck Broadway producer and his mild-mannered accountant come up with a scheme to produce the most notorious flop in history thereby milking their backers, all “little old ladies” out of millions of dollars. One thing they could not imagine happens: the show is a smash hit. The Producers skewers Broadway traditions and takes no prisoners as it proudly proclaims itself an “equal opportunity offender!” At the core of the insanely funny adventure is a poignant emotional journey of two very different men who become friends.

“The musical antics of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom as they feebly maneuver their way through finding the worst play ever written, hiring a director, securing the finances and finally going to prison for their transgressions is a true lesson in comic construction,” concludes Leslie. “We are excited about being one of the first theatre companies, and the first dinner theatre, to secure the rights and present this smash comedic hit. We will keep Sweet Charity on the roster for the future, as it is a terrific show as well.”

The Producers will replace the final show of the 2008-2009 Season, Sweet Charity, and will run for four weeks from July 9 to August 2, 2009, Thursday to Sunday evenings with a Saturday matinee.               

Sweet Charity tickets will automatically be honoured for The Producers. The Producers is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). Auditions for The Producers and the entire season will take place in June, audition information available at KelownaActorsStudio.com.                                                                   
Dinner and dessert options are available and tickets are available in person at the on-site box office at 1379 Ellis Street, by phone at 250 862 2867, or online at www.KelownaActorsStudio.com.

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24 May 2008

The Minstrel Cafe & Bar
4638 Lakeshore Road
June 10, 2008 at 8pm
Admission: $5.00

On June 10th, The Minstrel Cafe in Kelowna will be hosting an incredibly diverse array of talent ranging from folk & blues to funk-rock with a little country, when Winnipeg based, Lindsey White takes the stage with fellow Winnipegger Jamie Rumley.

Lindsey White

Since the release of her debut full-length album "This is Now." in 2007, Lindsey White & her four piece band continue writing, arranging, and developing a sound described as: "An eclectic mix of blues and funk immersed in a solid folk-rock foundation." Armed with an arsenal of new funky tunes scheduled for release on a brand new album later this year, Lindsey is hitting the road solo this spring to verify to western Canada that "This is Now!"

"The maturity and confidence she displays in her songwriting, vocals, and musicianship is stellar. If convention showed up at Lindsey's door, she'd probably rock it to death just so it wouldn't bother her again." (Thundervoice News)

"Honest and soulful music." Holger Petersen (Stony Plain Records)

Jamie Rumley

Fans of Jamie Rumley's bittersweet lyrics and eclectic melodies have patiently waited for a follow up to her 2002 self-penned, recorded and produced CD "Out of the Ordinary". After a long hiatus, Jamie has found her way back and joins the Compilation Tour in support of her new EP "Renovations". Featuring 6 original songs, "Renovations" promises to please fans with its‚ creative production and features Rumley on guitar, bass, keys and vocals.

"Though reminiscent of her favourite artists (Sheryl Crow, Janis Joplin, the Cranberries) Jamie Rumley's uniqueness makes her a genre all her own."

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20 May 2008

Saturday, June 21st, 2008, 8:00pm
Mary Irwin Theatre, RCA
Price: $30 per Adult / $10 per Student

John Arcand is an extraordinary musician, accomplished composer and music historian who has dedicated his whole life to the preservation of Métis music, dance and culture. Originally from Debden, Saskatchewan, John was born into a large musical family and learned to play the fiddle at an early age. Taught in the Red River style by his father and grandfather, at age twelve John was already an exceptional musician.

John's impeccable sense of timing and flowing rhythm comes from learning to watch dancer's feet as a young boy. From these early observations John developed and refined a style of playing that has helped him become a legend in the fiddle world, garnering him the title "dancer's choice". John has made fourteen recordings to date, and still plays and records the traditional Métis tunes of his father and grandfather as well as those he continues to research, learn and pass on. In addition to being a fantastic performer, John is also a prolific writer, having composed over 300 original tunes.

His passion for the preservation of Métis traditions was embodied in 1998 by the first annual John Arcand Fiddle Fest. Held each year on the second weekend of August on his acreage, the festival has become one of the major fiddle events in Western Canada. Celebrating its 11th anniversary this summer, the festival has established itself as a wonderful event where audiences of all ages gather each summer to share their love and appreciation of old-time fiddle music.

In recognition of his efforts to revitalize, preserve and promote Métis fiddle music, John has been honoured with several esteemed awards including: the National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Arts & Culture, the Lifetime Achievement Award for an "Outstanding Contribution to Old Time Fiddling" from the Canadian Masters, and the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Inaugural Lieutenant Governor's Saskatchewan Arts Awards. In 2005 the Province of Saskatchewan honoured John with the Saskatchewan Centennial Medal and in the spring of 2006 he received the Cultural Diversity & Race Relations "Living in Harmony" Award presented by the city of Saskatoon.

This year, the Rotary Centre for the Arts is pleased to be partnering with the Okanagan Métis Children & Family Services for National Aboriginal Day and the highly anticipated John Arcand concert. A series of workshops featuring various Métis Facilitators including John Arcand will be held through June 20th- 21st for both school-age children and the public. Details on the upcoming workshops and Aboriginal Day celebrations will be coming soon. We look forward to this exciting weekend of festivities and are delighted to welcome John Arcand to the Rotary Centre for the Arts on Saturday, June 21st.

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16 May 2008

Company Hopes To Discover The Broadway Talent in Kelowna

Kelowna Actors Studio is pleased to announce auditions for lead, supporting and ensemble roles for their upcoming 2008/2009 Season. Several singing and non-singing roles are available for adults and children of all ages and experience levels.

“Next season’s theme is ‘Discover the Broadway in You’ and requires some very accomplished actors, but there are some tremendous opportunities for smaller ensemble roles as well,” says Randy Leslie, the company’s artistic director. “We are hoping to cast individuals from diverse backgrounds and a wide range of ages, too. Singing and non-singers are welcome!”

Auditions are every five minutes from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm, Tuesday, June 17, Friday, January 20, and Tuesday June 24, with a Saturday afternoon audition from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm on June 21. Auditions are at Kelowna Actors Studio, 1379 Ellis Street (across from the Kelowna Public Library).

All actors are required to prepare a short [one-minute] contemporary monologue.

All those actors auditioning for musicals are required to prepare 16 bars from the traditional Broadway repertoire, not from the show and sheet music in the correct key for piano accompaniment. Facilities for pre-recorded accompaniments are not available and singing without piano is not permitted. All singers may also be asked to do some basic range and/or musicianship tests. All people auditioning for musicals must also participate in a group movement audition, so comfortable clothing and appropriate footwear are required.

“We are not holding a group children’s audition, because we don’t have any shows that require a lot of kids,” says Leslie. “Having said that, one of the plays, Lost In Yonkers, has two boys, 13 and 15, as the lead roles.” In addition to Lost In Yonkers, auditions are being held for Cinderella, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Lend Me a Tenor and Sweet Charity. “We are casting the entire season now so that individuals who are cast have a chance to review their material and clear their agendas,” says Leslie.

For more information, including a breakdown of the shows and roles, please visit the Audition Notice page on the Kelowna Actors Studio website at www.KelownaActorsStudio.com.                                                   To book an audition, please call Cheryl Berg at the theatre box office at 250 862 2867.

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15 May 2008