The Off the Page theatre series that presents dramatized readings by local (and almost local) playwrights has announced a new production team.
Longtime directors Wanda Nowicki and Janet Hodgkinson, who inherited the project from series founder David King, have turned over the reins to an experienced triumvirate.
Pamela Girone, Peter Hill and Anthony Paré have previously participated in Off the Page as readers and audience members. In fact Hill's original comedy Any Luck? was performed by a sizable cast in March.
"You can continue to expect high-quality plays and performances," observed Hodgkinson. "We're thrilled!"
Quilt show sows creativity
The Sunshine Coast Quilters' Guild is holding its semi-annual Quilt Show on Friday, May 26 (from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.) and Saturday, May 27 (from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre Arena.
The show's title is "Coast Inspired.” Besides a beautiful display of quilts of varying sizes, there will be a boutique selling handmade works of art by guild members.
The show's featured artist is Alexis Bach of FibreWorks Studio and Gallery. The Salt & Swine Food Truck will be onsite to supply savoury lunch items and the Sunshine Shack will be providing coffee/tea and sweets at the Show.
There are still raffle tickets available for the marquee quilt, titled "Mystical Journey." Ticket proceeds will go to support quilts for the community. Three tickets sell for $5.
Seven vendors will have wares arrayed in the merchants' mall and door prizes will be presented throughout the Show.
The cost of admission for this Sunshine Coast highlight is $7. Children 12 and under are free with an adult.
Duelling duos
How many musicians do you get when you combine two musical duos? Three, if you’re talking about Gemini and Karaval. The instrumental duos will be joining forces to present a unique musical experience on Saturday, June 3.
Karaval includes Karen Foster and Val Rutter. Gemini is composed of twin sisters Val and Julie Rutter. Each has blended their musical talents along with multiple instruments to present a lively and varied program of classical, celtic and folk favourites on violin, piano, flute, and recorders.
Karen Foster’s musical career has spanned 40 years as violinist with various orchestras and ensembles, both in the US and Canada. Val and Julie have enjoyed extensive performing careers in Europe and North America; their first CD (Dances for Duo) was nominated for Best Classical album in the West Coast Music Awards.
The concert takes place on June 3 at 2:30 p.m. at Living Faith Lutheran Church in Davis Bay.
Tickets are $30 (including refreshments) and available at Strait Music in Sechelt and One Flower, One Leaf in Gibsons.
An environment for growth
The Gibsons and District Public Library has cultivated a row of nature-related events that will blossom over the next week.
On Wednesday, May 31, the library presents a film screening. Uncharted Waters is a documentary about four young activists working to protect the Átl’ka7tsem/Howe Sound Biosphere. A question-and-answer period with local biosphere experts will follow.
That weekend, on Saturday, June 3, artist and botany professor Lyn Baldwin will present Finding Place: A Field Journaling Workshop. Baldwin offers instruction in watercolour nature journaling; no experience is required and art supply kits will be available for use during the workshop.
Also on Saturday June 3, author Lyn Baldwin (Drawing Botany Home: An Illustrated Life) will read from her artful natural history memoir about her life's path from hippie kid to professor in the B.C. Interior, and the settlers and Indigenous people who live there.
Detailed listings for all events and registration instructions can be found online at gibsons.bc.libraries.coop.
Recovering from a misstep
In last week's Coast Reporter, our account of dancers who will represent the Sunshine Coast at the upcoming B.C. Provincial Festival of the Performing Arts mistakenly attributed one of the dancers to the wrong studio. Our apologies.
To set the record straight, and to seize another opportunity to wish these nimble-footed artists success at the festival in Penticton, we present the full list of delegates.
From the Coast Academy of Dance: Andrea Villanueva, Makenzi Harris and Peyton Gray. From the Gibsons Dance Centre: Eibhlin Minatsis, Connor Dixon and Caia Minatsis. From Waldorf Ballet: Brooklyn Turner. Alternates from the Gibsons Dance Centre are Peter Reznick and Ella Hoath.
Likewise, our recent story about the colossal Uke for Hospice fundraiser concert wrongly identified impresario Nikki Webber as the ukulele instructor of educator and director Lynne Dickson. In fact, soloist Jill Shatford claimed Webber as her musical mentor; in matters of the ukulele, Dickson is self-taught.
