ON NOW
To Friday, Feb. 15
Shrek the Musical, presented by Align Entertainment at the Michael J. Fox Theatre, 7373 MacPherson Ave., Burnaby. Info and tickets: www.alignentertainment.com.
To Saturday, Feb. 29
Three Echoes: Hope and Transformation, a mixed-media exhibition by three immigrant artists: Sidi Schaffer, Sorour Abdollahi and Devora, at Amelia Douglas Gallery (fourth floor, Douglas College, 700 Royal Ave.). Info: www.douglascollege.ca/artsevents.
Golden Year, a 50th anniversary exhibition by the Burnaby Artists Guild, at Deer Lake Gallery, 6584 Deer Lake Ave. Admission by donation. Info: www.burnabyartscouncil.org.
To Saturday, April 4
Seriously Surreal, an art exhibition by Artists in the Boro at the Art in the Atrium gallery at Queensborough Community Centre, 920 Ewen Ave. Info: www.artistsintheboro.ca.
To July 2020
Nikkei, a year-long exhibition at the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre, explores the personal stories of individuals and families of Japanese descent: unique stories of arrival, heroism in the face of racism, the resilience of community and the experience of generations. The core exhibit will rotate through more than 30,000 photographs, 35 metres of textual records, 500 oral history recordings, 100 film reels and more than 2,500 artifacts and artworks. The Nikkei Centre is at 6688 Southoaks Cres. See www.nikkeiplace.org for details.
UPCOMING
Tuesday, Feb. 4
What You Won’t Do for Love, a PuSh Festival in-development workshop presentation of the casual, conversational piece of theatre by David Suzuki and his life partner, Tara Cullis, 8 p.m. at Anvil Centre. Available only to PuSh pass and package holders. See www.pushfestival.ca.
Wednesday, Feb. 5 to Saturday, Feb. 8
God’s Lake, a Castlereigh Theatre project, onstage at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts Studio Theatre, 6450 Deer Lake Ave. Tickets: 604-205-3000 or tickets.shadboltcentre.com.
Wednesday, Feb. 5 to Sunday, Feb. 23
Vulnerability, a new exhibition featuring the abstract realism drawing of Alisha Sian, at The Gallery at Queen’s Park in Centennial Lodge. Opening reception Feb. 5 from 6 to 8 p.m., artist talk Sunday, Feb. 16 from 3 to 4 p.m. Gallery open Wednesdays 1 to 8 p.m., and Thursdays through Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Info: www.acnw.ca.
Thursday, Feb. 6 to Sunday, Feb. 9
Monday Nights, presented by 6th Man Collective and the Theatre Centre (Canada) as part of the PuSh Festival at Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia St., with 8 p.m. shows Feb. 6 to 8, and 2 p.m. shows Feb. 8 and 9. Tickets $9, buy through www.pushfestival.ca or call 604-449-6000.
Thursday, Feb. 6 to Saturday, Feb. 29
Drinking Habits 2: Caught in the Act, presented by Vagabond Players at Bernie Legge Theatre, Queen’s Park, with shows Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Tickets $17, or $15 for seniors and youth, with $12 previews on Feb. 6 and 7. Tickets: www.vagabondplayers.ca/tickets, or call 604-521-0412.
Thursday, Feb. 6 to Sunday, March 22
Looking Through a Hole in the Earth, featuring the work of Genevieve Robertson, at Burnaby Art Gallery, 6344 Deer Lake Ave. Opening reception Feb. 6 from 7 to 9 p.m., artist talk at the gallery on Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. Two In the BAG Family Sundays are also running in connection with the exhibition, on Feb. 16 and March 8. For full details see www.burnabyartgallery.ca or call 604-297-4422.
Saturday, Feb. 8
Nikkei Mubi: Japanese Canadian Home Movies from the 1930s to 1970s, a screening at Nikkei National Museum, 6688 Southoaks Cres., 2 to 3:30 p.m. Tickets $5, includes museum admission, $4 for seniors, or free for members and students. Info: www.nikkeiplace.org.
Saturday, Feb. 8 and Sunday, Feb. 9
The Shoplifters, an Arts Club on Tour production at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave. Tickets at tickets.shadboltcentre.com or 604-205-3000. Info: www.artsclub.com.
Wednesday, Feb. 12
Jazz Evensong presents Maria Ho, with Bob York, piano; Marcos Flo, bass; Buff Allan, drums; 8 p.m. in the Sanctuary in Brentwood, 1600 Delta Ave. Refreshments and drinks will be served before and after the concert. By donation, with part proceeds to B.C. Cancer Foundation. See bccancerfoundation.com/events/jazz-evensong-presents-maria-ho-quartet for details.
Friday, Feb. 14
Emilie-Claire Barlow performs at the Studio Theatre at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave. Tickets at tickets.shadboltcentre.com or 604-205-3000.
Burnaby Family Life fundraising dinner and dance, featuring Nearly Neil, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Burnaby Firefighters’ Club, 6515 Bonsor Ave. Tickets $50 for dinner and entertainment. See www.bflgrowscommunity.org/nearlyneil.
What-a-Theatre presents Now or Never, in the Maple Room at Cameron Recreation Centre, 9523 Cameron St., free. Info: 604-297-4453 or [email protected].
Friday, Feb. 14 and Saturday, Feb. 15
Under the Rainbow Family Weekend at Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave., celebrating diverse families. Screening of The Wizard of Oz (costumes encouraged) on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m.; Vancouver Opera/Pacific Opera Victoria production of The Flight of the Hummingbird on Feb. 15 at 11 a.m.; and Parents are a Drag show on Feb. 15 at 4 p.m. All welcome. The Wizard of Oz tickets are $5 for all seats; the other two performances coast $12 for adults and $7 for students. Buy at www.ticketsnw.ca.
Saturday, Feb. 15 and Sunday, Feb. 16
Family Festival and Japanese book sale at Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre, 6688 Southoaks Cres., with sand art making, Japanese storytelling, a cultural corner featuring classic Japanese games and toys, a screening of Japanese anime, plus food and more. Info and workshop registration details: www.centre.nikkeiplace.org.
Tuesday, Feb. 18
Sound Bites, with concert plus refreshments in the Studio Theatre at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave., featuring rockabilly guitarist Paul Pigat, with performances at noon and 2 p.m. Tickets $5 in advance, $10 at the door, tickets.shadboltcentre.com.
Kim’s Convenience, an Arts Club on Tour production at Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia St., 7:30 p.m., www.ticketsnw.ca.
Spoken Ink, a reading night offered by Burnaby Writers Society at Deer Lake Gallery, 6584 Deer Lake Ave. Info: www.burnabywritersnews.blogspot.com.
Burnaby school district jazz night, 7 p.m. at Michael J. Fox Theatre, 7373 MacPherson Ave., www.michaeljfoxtheatre.ca.
Wednesday, Feb. 19
PechaKucha Burnaby Vol. 5, in the Studio Theatre at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave. Doors opn at 7 p.m., show at 7:30 p.m. Cash bar available. Admission free, but book seats through tickets.shadboltcentre.com.
Thursday, Feb. 20
Tellers of Short Tales, with featured author Trevor Carolan, 6 to 8 p.m. in Room 417 at the Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia St., free. Open mic available; bring work to share or just stay to listen. Info: www.rclas.com.
Samantha Martin and Delta Sugar perform at the Studio Theatre at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave., tickets.shadboltcentre.com or 604-205-3000.
Friday, Feb. 21
Sobremesa Saxophone Quartet performs at Holy Trinity Cathedral, 514 Carnarvon St., 7 p.m., with reception to follow. Tickets $20, available through www.eventbrite.ca, through the parish office and at the door. Student tickets, at the door only, are $10. Info: www.tinyurl.com/SobremesaNW.
Saturday, Feb. 22
Let’s Have a Playdate, a VSO Tiny Tots concert with Let Your Music Shine! With Lisa and Linda, featuring the music of Johannes Brahms, 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. at the Anvil Centre Theatre, 777 Columbia St. Tickets: www.ticketsnw.ca.
Farofa and Cara Pierotto perform at the Studio Theatre at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave., bringing their Brazilian music to the Burnaby stage. Tickets: 604-205-3000 or tickets.shadboltcentre.com.
Saturday, Feb. 22 to Saturday, Feb. 29
Madama Butterfly, presented by Burnaby Lyric Opera in the James Cowan Theatre at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave. Tickets: tickets.shadboltcentre.com or 604-205-3000. Info: www.burnabylyricopera.com.
Sunday, Feb. 23
Global Tea Room, part of the Massey Theatre’s international music and tea series, hosted by Cassius Khan and featuring Bosnian violinist Zelko Krakan, 3 to 5 p.m., free. Theatre is at 735 Eighth Ave. Info: www.tinyurl.com/GlobalTeaRoomFeb.
Vancouver Youth Symphony Orchestra performs at 2:30 p.m. at Michael J. Fox Theatre, 7373 MacPherson Ave. It’s the Senior Orchestra concerto winners’ concert, and admission is by donation. Info: www.vyso.com.
Wednesday, Feb. 26 to Saturday, Feb. 29
Beauty and the Beast, presented by New Westminster Secondary School’s musical theatre program, onstage at Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave., www.ticketsnw.ca.
Saturday, Feb. 29
Viano String Quartet performs at 7:30 p.m. at Anvil Centre Theatre, 777 Columbia St., part of the Vancouver Chamber Music Series. Info: www.anvilcentre.com.
Magnificat, a concert by Amabilis Singers, featuring soprano Erin Sutton, organist Lin Kim, violinist Andrea Siradze and string ensemble, directed by Ramona Luengen with pianist Ingrid Verseveldt, 8 p.m. at New Westminster Christian Reformed Church, 8255 13th Ave., Burnaby. Tickets $25 regular, $15 for secondary school students, free for children under 12, available online at www.eventbrite.ca or by calling 604-897-7258. Info: www.amabilissingers.org.
Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15
Kim’s Convenience, an Arts Club on Tour production at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave. Tickets at 604-205-3000 or tickets.shadboltcentre.com.
Sunday, March 15
Walking With My Ancestors, a series of workshops led by explorative designer Nicole Preissl, features Memories of the Land, a talk with internationally renowned artist Xwalacktun (Rick Harry) and other special guests, 1 to 3 p.m. at Burnaby Art Gallery, 6344 Deer Lake Ave. Space limited, sign up at 604-297-4422.
Saturday, March 28
Walking With My Ancestors, a series of workshops led by explorative designer Nicole Preissl, continues with an Indigenous Plant Walk through Deer Lake Park, 1 to 3 p.m. Space limited, sign up at Burnaby Art Gallery, 604-297-4422.
Wednesday, April 8
Lilies, by Michel Marc Bouchard, a staged reading of the play at 7:30 p.m. at Plaskett Gallery, Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave., part of the theatre’s Queerly Canadian play reading series. Free, open to all. Info: www.masseytheatre.com/queerly-canadian-a-play-reading-series-2/
Monday, June 8
Swollen Tongues, by Kathleen Oliver, a staged reading of the play at 7:30 p.m. at Plaskett Gallery, Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave., part of the theatre’s Queerly Canadian play reading series. Free, open to all. Info: www.masseytheatre.com/queerly-canadian-a-play-reading-series-2/
ONGOING
Begbie’s Comedy Night, Thursdays at 8 p.m. at Judge Begbie’s Tavern, 609 Columbia St. Comedy nights will feature all kinds of comedy: stand-up, musical acts, improv. Tickets $10 regular, $5 for students, available through www.eventbrite.ca or at the door. For information and full lineup, search for Begbie’s Comedy Night on Facebook.
SFU Writer’s Studio offers writing consultations on the first Tuesday of each month at New Westminster Public Library main branch (716 Sixth Ave.), with sessions at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. available for booking (45 minutes each). Writers can have up to seven pages of creative writing or poetry workshopped with a tutor. Free. To book an appointment, email full name and phone number to [email protected] and the SFU Writer’s Studio will then contact you to review available dates and times.
Royal City Literary Arts Society’s Write On! Contest for 2020 is open for submissions. Deadline April 1. Work is accepted in three categories: fiction (max. 1,500 words), non-fiction (max. 1,500 words) and poetry (max. one page single spaced). Cash prizes of $150, $100 and $75, plus three honourable mentions, are awarded in each category. For full submission details, see www.rclas.com or email [email protected].
Musical open mic nights, first Monday of the month at 100 Braid Street Studios, 7 to 10 p.m. Sign-up list starts at 7 p.m.; 10 spots available for eight minutes apiece. All ages welcome, solos and groups. Concession available, pay what you can (suggested donation $10). Info: www.100braidststudios.com.
Serenade your sweetheart with a Valentine’s Day quartet from the Gentlemen of Fortune Chorus. They’ll travel anywhere in the Lower Mainland to sing two love songs and give your chosen loved one a red rose. Cost: $50, with part proceeds to charity. Info: www.gof.bc.ca/valentines or 604-526-2212.
Spoken word open mics, third Monday of the month at 100 Braid Street Studios, 7 to 10 p.m. Sign-up list starts at 7 p.m.; 10 eight-minute slots are available. All genres welcome. Concession available, pay what you can (suggested donation $5). Info: www.100braidststudios.com.
Call for proposals for artists in residence at The Gallery at Queen’s Park in 2020. Both established and emerging artists, living and/or working in New Westminster, are invited to apply. This is an artist development program, and no experience is needed. The arts council will offer the chance to use the Lower Studio space for free, in exchange for a weekly public programming event to engage the community. The opportunity is open to both individual artists and arts organizations. Deadline for submission is 4 p.m. on Jan. 31. For full details, see www.acnw.ca (under News).
Meditation at the Gallery, sessions every Sunday from 8 to 9 a.m. at The Gallery at Queen’s Park, led by Lyn Sakari. By donation, with suggested donation of $10, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Info and registration through www.tinyurl.com/MeditationQP2019 or www.sitwithsakari.com.
Spoken Ink reading series, hosted by the Burnaby Writers’ Society, is at the Deer Lake Gallery on the third Tuesday of the month (except July and August). For info and writers’ news, see www.burnabywritersnews.blogspot.com.
Children’s handbell choir invites new ringers in grades 3 to 7 to take part. Group meets Mondays from 3:45 to 5 p.m. at Queens Avenue United Church, 529 Queens Ave., New Westminster. Children from New West and surrounding areas are welcome; no charge. Info: [email protected].
The Flame New West seeks storytellers for a new season of storytelling evenings at the Plaskett Gallery – new storytellers, veteran performers and all in between are welcome to apply. Two more sessions are coming up on Sunday evenings: an “adult” edition on March 1 and a regular evening on June 14. Email [email protected] with questions, pitches and more.
Love to sing? The Maple Leaf Singers are inviting people to audition for the dynamic show chorus. All voices welcome. Call 778-245-4445 or email [email protected]. For more on the choir, see www.mapleleafsingers.com.
Spoken Ink reading series, the third Tuesday of each month (except July and August) at Deer Lake Gallery, 6584 Deer Lake Ave., presented by the Burnaby Writers’ Society, with featured readers plus open mic. Info: burnabywritersnews.blogspot.com.
Writers meet-up, hosted by the local writing organization The Other Eleven Months, which has been hosting write-ins around the Lower Mainland for 12 years. Sessions run Wednesdays from 5 to 8:50 p.m. at the Tommy Douglas library branch (7311 Kingsway) for writers of all kinds. Drop in, no registration required. Info: www.bpl.bc.ca/events.
Drop in and do art, at the New West Artists Gallery, 712 C 12th St., Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. Bring your own art supplies and paint, draw, sketch, doodle, colour or whatever you like, $2 or by donation. Info: www.newwestartists.com.
New Westminster Photography Club meets on the first and fourth Tuesdays of the month, 7 p.m. at Centennial Lodge, Queen’s Park. Info: www.nwphoto.org.
Gentlemen of Fortune Chorus is looking for new men to join the a cappella group, focused on singing in barbershop harmony style. The chorus has moved to Burnaby and now meets Tuesday evenings at 7:25 p.m. at Cliff Avenue United Church, 1600 Cliff Ave. Interested potential singers and guests are always welcome at rehearsals (enter rehearsal hall from rear parking lot). See www.gof.bc.ca for details.
Life drawing sessions, Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. at the New West Artists/Royal City Arts Alliance gallery at 712C 12th St. Bring your own drawing tools and paper; cost $2. Hosted by Lavana La Brey. RSVP at 604-525-4566 or email [email protected].
Artists in the Boro is seeking applications for six-week exhibitions in the Art in the Atrium gallery space at Queensborough Community Centre. For submission information and to apply, see www.tinyurl.com/ArtInTheAtrium2019.
Queens Avenue United Church Bell Ringers welcomes new adult members who can read music. The group meets Thursdays from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. Call Virginia at 604-597-3894 or email [email protected].
Circuit Fridays, featuring underground house music with DJ’s Darius Kramer, Dezyman and Hixz, with special guests, the second and last Friday of the month at Magnetiq Nightclub, 27 Church St., $10 at the door, doors 9:30 p.m.
Burnaby International Folk Dancers, meets Tuesdays at Charles Rummel Centre, 3630 Lozells Ave. Info: 604-522-7468 or burnabyfolkdance.org.
Queen’s Academy offers a non-profit musical theatre program in Burnaby for children aged two to 12. Registration now open at queensacademy.weebly.com.
Volunteers required to help the Burnaby Arts Council in a variety of capacities, including gallery attendants for Deer Lake Gallery, 6584 Deer Lake Ave. Info and application: www.tinyurl.com/BACGalleryVolunteers.
Dance and laugh the night away with round dance and/or square dance lessons. Round dancing is choreographed ballroom dancing done in a circle; lessons Sunday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Charles Rummel Hall, 3630 Lozells Ave. Modern square dancing is done to modern music with groups of eight people in a square; lessons Tuesdays from 7 to 8:20 p.m. at the Burnaby Lake Rowing Pavilion, 6871 Roberts St. Couples and singles welcome, no special clothes required. For info, contact Pat at 604-521-7497.
Poetry New Westminster, presented by Royal City Literary Arts Society on Sundays, 2 to 4 p.m. (except holiday weekends) at the Heritage Grill back room, 447 Columbia St. Each Sunday features two poets and an open mic. Search for Poetry New Westminster on Facebook for the latest schedule.
Paint and Sip Nights at 100 Braid Street Studios, offering a night of beverages, refreshments and a chance to receive step-by-step instruction from a professional artist to create your own painting. Each night costs $35, or $60 for two adults registering together, and runs from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Various themes and levels are offered. See www.100braidststudios.com.
Email entertainment listings to [email protected].
