In the musical Brigadoon—which premiered to Broadway audiences 75 years ago—highland ramblers happen by chance on a tiny Scottish village that materializes for a single day each century.
The Musical Theatre Ensemble of School District 46 experienced similar serendipity last week when it obtained permission to perform its version of the Lerner and Loewe show in front of half-capacity audiences.
Brigadoon plays at Chatelech Secondary School over eight performances: evening shows on Feb. 25, 26, March 3, 4 and 5; and matinees on February 26, 27 and March 5 at 2 p.m.
Tickets ($10) are available from Strait Music at 5647 Cowrie Street in Sechelt.
Lift your words off the page
The Gibsons Public Library has limited space remaining for a workshop on Saturday, Feb. 26 with Dr. Bonnie Nish, executive director of the Word Vancouver literary arts festival.
Nish will guide participants through exercises to transform their written work into material ready for dynamic spoken word performances.
“We’re hoping to get a variety of ages and interests,” said library outreach coordinator Lise Kreps. “It’s a really interesting experiment seeing how the written word can play out so differently in the spoken context.”
Nish is currently pursuing a PhD in Language and Literacy Education at the University of British Columbia. She is the author of three books, including Cantata in Two Voices, a poetic dialogue that was published in 2018.
Details and registration instructions are online: gibsons.bc.libraries.coop.
Bounce House poet shares literary elasticity
Poet Jennica Harper is the next author featured in a regular series of online interactive talks hosted by the Sunshine Coast Arts Council under the guidance of its Literary Reading Committee.
The Vancouver-based TV writer and poet will be reading from her 2019 book Bounce House on Feb. 26 at 7 p.m.
Harper is an alumnus of the UBC’s Creative Writing Program. In a 2021 interview with her alma mater, she observed, “Poetry is what I write purely because I want to. I take my time with it. If a poem or series of poems isn’t working, I try not to stress about it. Poetry is a haven, where I can experiment.”
Harper is also an executive producer of the CTV series Jann, which depicts a fictionalized version of the life of singer Jann Arden.
Registration for Harper’s reading is required at www.eventbrite.ca/e/246608882807.
Creativity can be a beautiful stage
The District of Sechelt has announced two opportunities for talented leaders in the culture sector.
A budget of $14,000 has been allocated to fund artists who will create community-engaged public art for the seating area at the new Hackett Park outdoor stage.
Meanwhile, the District is also seeking a producer for its Sechelt Summer Music Series. The project comes with a budget of $16,500, and will involve the inaugural use of the new Hacket Park stage, which is currently under construction.
More information about both opportunities is available online: sechelt.ca/artistopportunities.
The Biggest Little Farm
Just in time to inspire spring gardening, the Sunshine Coast Film Society has announced the screening of The Biggest Little Farm on Saturday, March 5 at 2 p.m. at the Raven’s Cry Theatre in Sechelt and Monday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gibsons Heritage Playhouse.
The 90-minute documentary, released in 2018, follows a California couple as they pursue their dream of returning to the land. At Apricot Lane Farm, they cultivate crops and raise livestock—including Emma the pig, whose openness to interspecies cohabitation has charmed the film’s reviewers.
Public health restrictions have been lifted on indoor gatherings and movie theatres can now operate at full capacity. Proof of vaccination and masks will be required for all screenings.
