Hankering for some good nights out to brighten up the dark winter nights? You don't have to go far to find an eclectic lineup of high-calibre live performance.
The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts has announced its winter lineup, and the offerings are diverse — from jazz and blues to storytelling and live theatre.
Here's a sneak peek at some of the highlights in January and February:
Goldings, Bernstein and Stewart
Saturday, Jan. 21, 8 p.m., James Cowan Theatre
In the mid-1990s, The New York Times described Larry Goldings, Peter Bernstein and Bill Stewart as "the best organ trio of the last decade.” The trio, which has now been together for more than 30 years, has been recognized for charting new ground — whether exploring the depths of jazz standards or playing their own, original compositions.
Presented with Cellar Jazz. Tickets $30/$35; buy online.
An Evening of Performances by Tanika Charles and Storry
Thursday, Jan. 26, 8 p.m., Studio Theatre
Tanika Charles is a two-time Juno Award nominee and soul music powerhouse whose music revels in honesty and attitude. Her high-energy live shows are known for being utterly engaging, revealing influences of rock, gospel and country.
STORRY is rooted in R&B and soul but is at home in many genres, from opera to reggae. Her debut single and album were both nominated for 2020 and 2021 Junos. With music that’s raw and honest, STORRY describes herself as a sex-positive, queer, feminist, left-brained artist who is pushing culture forward.
Tickets $30/$35; buy online.
Harry Manx
Saturday, Jan. 28, 8 p.m., Studio Theatre
“Mysticssippi” blues man Harry Manx has been called an “essential link” between the music of East and West, creating musical short stories that wed the tradition of the blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas.
Tickets $30/$35; buy online.
Advance Theatre Festival
Ruby Slippers Theatre’s Advance Theatre Festival, running in January and February, showcases six new plays written and directed by female-identifying and gender-non-conforming artists who also identify as BIPOC (Indigenous, Black or Person of Colour). This year, in addition to five staged readings, the festival has expanded to include a workshop presentation.
All readings are at 8 p.m. in the Studio Theatre.
- Sandra — Monday, Jan. 20, 8 p.m.: Playwright Laura Di Cicco's contemporary fantasy drama, inspired by a true story, tells the story of a woman who seeks closure to the violence in her life and to her relationship with her mother. Buy tickets online.
- Sitting on the Edge 1 — Tuesday, Jan. 31, 8 p.m.: Playwright Celeste Insell's offering tells the story of Clarisse, who's writing again after a long bout of writer's block. She finds herself writing a play that is semi-autobiographical — but, as she deals with painful memories, her train of thought is constantly being interrupted by her alter-ego, Mavis, who prefers she write a comedy. Buy tickets online.
- Parifam — Wednesday, Feb. 1, 8 p.m." Playwright Aki Yaghoubi and director Panthea Vatandoost tell the story of Parifam Mana, who draws and paints in her private studio, detached from family and friends. Parifam’s world is turned upside down when her childhood friend Ramak re-enters her life. Buy tickets online.
- ReZonance — Thursday, Feb. 2, 8 p.m.: Playwright Yvonne Wallace and director Renae Morriseau offer up a mixed-race tragicomedy that follows the story of Mixy, who is invited to a meeting to plan an Indigenous retreat based on land pedagogy. The only problem is her unwillingness to be treated anything less than equal. Buy tickets online.
- Surrender — Friday, Feb. 3, 8 p.m.: Playwright Jessie Liang takes audiences into a group of twenty-somethings who navigate life, transitions and friendship in the face of unimaginable loss. This witty and acerbic coming-of-age tale is an exploration of the different ways we deal with grief — together and apart. Buy tickets online.
- Dil Ka — Thursday, Feb. 16 and Friday, Feb. 17, 8 p.m.: This is a workshop production of an Advance Theatre offering from last season by Lee Nisar, directed by Patricia Trinh. Buy tickets online.
Follow Julie MacLellan on Twitter @juliemaclellan.
Email Julie, [email protected]
