The Nutcracker, a full production ballet with local and guest professional dancers, opens this weekend at the Raven’s Cry Theatre in Sechelt. There are six performances, although Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. is sold out. Opening night is Saturday, Dec. 16 at 8 p.m., then Sunday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m., and Monday, Dec. 18 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19 is the final show at 2 p.m. Starting Saturday, Dec. 16, the box office will be moved from Gourmet Girl in Davis Bay to the Raven’s Cry Theatre. Call 604-989-6050 for tickets: $29 for adults, $19 for children 10 and under. This year Coasting Along Theatre Society is also offering a senior matinée special at $25 for the Monday and Tuesday 2 p.m. performances.
Banners and Art
• Sechelt Mayor Bruce Milne and banner sponsor Claytons Heritage Market will be at the Banner Award Ceremony on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 12:30 p.m. in the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre. Ten elementary schools are participating in this year’s Banner Project: Cedar Grove, Davis Bay/The Nest, The Spider Program, Gibsons, Kinnikinnick, Langdale, L’Ecole du Pacifique, Madeira Park, Roberts Creek, and West Sechelt. Almost 400 entries were received by the Sunshine Coast Arts Council and of these 20 have been selected. They will be painted by some of the banner participants, their parents and local volunteer artists under the watchful eyes of painting coordinators Devon Blean and Christel Evers. Expect to see the final banners decorating Sechelt’s Civic Square in 2018. The SC Arts Council wants to thank the District of Sechelt for the continued support and care in the hanging of the banners each year.
• This year’s Young Artist Awards reception will also be held on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2:30 p.m. at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre. This year 40 young artists, aged five to 18 years, submitted a total of 94 works of art. All submissions are juried by professional artists. The Judge’s Choice Award this year goes to Bela Ord for his work Fungus, while Isabel Diebel received Honourable Mention for her three portraits. Long-time organizer Sheila Page has passed the mantle to Julie Astalnok. The awards are made possible with the generous contributions of Sechelt Rotary, Gibsons School of the Arts and Opus Framing and Art Supplies for the Young Artist Awards. See www.sunshinecoastartscouncil.com.
Casting the Angel
On Saturday, Dec. 16 at 1 p.m. at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons, the Coast Actors group will stage a dramatic reading of local author Mary Burns’ play, Casting the Angel. Five old friends from Vancouver’s early theatre days reunite when one returns to audition for the role of Hagar Shipley in a film version of The Stone Angel. This event is part of a series that playwright David King has organized, with new plays every month. It’s a pay-what-you-can with all proceeds to the dedicated group of actors. It runs about two hours, and stay for the talk-back afterwards. Enjoy a talented group of five Coast actors, including Louise Phillips, Boyd Norman, Annie Frazier Henry, Karen Webb and Varya Rubin, with Jeanne Sommerfield, who will read stage directions.
Arbutus Sounds
Arbutus Sounds Chorus presents A Winter Walk this weekend. They perform on Saturday, Dec. 16 at 2 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, 711 Park Road in Gibsons and on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. at Sunshine Coast Botanical Garden, 5941 Mason Road in West Sechelt. Admission is by donation. See www.arbutussounds.org.
Festive Sale
The Arts Building Festive Sale is back this year on Dec. 16 and 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. This beloved event features an eclectic mix of local artists, makers, treasures and treats. The pop-up shop attracts over 600 people over two days and folks rave about the lovely, no-pressure feeling of the seasonal event. This not-for-profit event is put on by the Arts Building Society board (see artsbuilding.org). The sale can be found at 464 South Fletcher Road in Gibsons.
Mad Park Music
From Vancouver BC’s indie punk outfit Devil in the Wood Shack, Joshua Wood sings songs of reconciliation and dark truths to upbeat triumphant ballads all buried deep in acoustic rhythm, poetry and mystery. He’s at the Mad Park Bistro in Madeira Park, on Saturday, Dec. 16 starting at 6:30 p.m. Join them Saturday night for dinner and enjoy Joshua Wood live. Reservations are encouraged by phoning 604-883-2223.
Market Faire
The Gibsons Public Market hosts many seasonal events during its Holiday Market Faire, continuing this weekend Dec. 15 through 17. You can join in a family dance on Friday evening, sing along with the Beachcombers Ukulele group or enjoy a tree and wreath auction on Saturday, learn to make a solstice lantern and watch a parade of lanterns on Sunday. See gibsonspublicmarket.com/happenings for more, or phone 604-886-8814.
Song Butchers
What songs do you want for Christmas? Just ask the Butcher’s Jukebox – they have over 100 songs and always growing. Sing along to rocking Christmas songs you didn’t even know you knew as the Song Butchers butcher Christmas at the Gibsons Legion on Dec. 16 at 8 p.m. At the door it’s $5 members, $10 guests.
Suncoast Phoenix
On Saturday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m., hear What Sweeter Music. The Suncoast Phoenix Community Choir presents selections of sacred and Christmas music. Come prepared to listen and to sing along to some holiday favourites, by donation, at the Sechelt Band Hall on Saturday and at Calvary Baptist Church, 711 Park Rd., Gibsons on Sunday. Phone 604-885-0574.
Winter Songs
Sweet Scarlet performs Winter Songs on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Pender Harbour School of Music in Madeira Park. Those in the know about choral music have been raving about Sweet Scarlet since their award-winning appearance at Kathaumixw Choral Festival in 2016. This Vancouver-based, self-directed, a cappella vocal ensemble is comprised of six talented women who sing a wide range of music in a style they call choral fusion. For more information and to purchase tickets, see penderharbourmusic.ca.
Ideas Guy
Tickets are now on sale for a TEDx-style presentation on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at the Roberts Creek Hall, covering 75 interesting (possibly outrageous) ideas for a vibrant, sustainable, prosperous, and inspiring region within the next decade. The presentation is by Sunshine Coast author, researcher, thinker and resident, Dr. Chris Hergesheimer. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with a presentation from 7 to 8:30 p.m. See share-there.com for tickets.
Keep me Posted
Please send me your arts announcements, but note they will run in the newspaper one day to one week ahead, depending on space. Deadline is Tuesday at noon for next Friday’s paper. Email [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692.
