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As June looms, the arts and entertainment scene is heating up

If you're looking to go to the theatre, see a show, visit a gallery, hear some music ... our arts and entertainment columnist has your back!
My Favorite Headache Rush Tribute Band credit My Favorite Headache
My Favorite Headache, a Rush tribute band, comes to the Geneva Event Centre June 15. Contributed photo

This weekend heralds the month of June, the first month of summer already! It has been such a long, wet, cool spring (winter?) I am really hoping the summer brings us some decent weather.

I know summer will bring lots of wonderful arts and culture events in our region; my notes are overflowing already.

I enjoyed an amazing performance of Educating Rita at the Mariposa Arts Theatre warehouse last Sunday. Both the actors were superb, and it was a first-class show, bringing the audience to tears a couple of times. Do grab a ticket and catch it this weekend; it's your last opportunity! The tarts by Kathy’s Kakes were amazing as well.

If you can’t get tickets for Rita, The Cellar Singers choir is having its final concert of the season, Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at St. James’ Anglican Church, corner of Peter and Coldwater.

The concert is titled The Road Less Travelled and features more than a dozen pieces, many of which are choral arrangements of traditional Canadian folk songs. This is sure to be a fascinating night and of course, full of great talent. Tickets are $25 and $10 for the 30 and under crowd, and are available at the door.

In other classical music news, The Narrows Ensemble is back with a concert at the Martyr’s Shrine in Midland. The Narrows Ensemble is a classical music chamber group with excellent professional musicians in its membership, including Corey Gemmel, Peter Voisey, and Sharon Prater, among others.

The concert is titled Expressions of Divine Mystery and will feature works by Beethoven, Morricone, Crusell, Devienne, and Borodin. If you are a classical music fan, don’t miss this opportunity to hear this talented group. The show is Fri. June 7 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and $10 and can be purchased hereor at the door.

Another music note of a different sort, coming up at the Geneva Event Centre on June 15, My Favorite Headache, one of Canada’s top Rush tribute bands. If you are a Rush fan, you won’t want to miss this great night of music. Tickets are $20 and are available here. Show gets underway at 8 p.m.

Calling all creatives! Artrepreneur is coming to Orillia!

From the Artrepreneur website: “The Artrepreneur program provides the tools for creative entrepreneurs to grow themselves and their organizations through education, resources and networks.”

The County of Simcoe and City of Orillia Department of Parks Rec and Culture are sponsoring this initiative. For more information, come to the information night, June 18 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Tudhope Boardroom at Orillia City Centre.

This information session is free, but you must email [email protected] to register. This program has been offered in other places throughout Ontario, and I have only heard good things. Come, find out more!

Speaking of the arts, the Peter Street Arts District has a few events coming up in the next little while. Don’t forget to view and buy at the Postcard Project at Peter Street Fine Arts Gallery and Studio, May 31 and June 1, with a reception on June 1 from 1 to 3 p.m. This is a fundraiser for Hospice Orillia, a great way to decorate your space and support a great cause. Postcard-sized art will all be priced at only $15 each!

Also on June 1 from 1 to 3 p.m., Hibernation Arts has the opening of the show Dads and Grads, a themed show about…dads and grads…it being June and all. Molly Farquharson, the proud owner of Hibernation Arts, has a note that there are lots of great gift ideas for the dads and grads in your life, so don’t forget your wallet.

Of course and as always, do check out all the galleries along the Peter Street Arts strip to see more incredible art by talented local artists.

Hibernation Arts also has a show opening on June 8 from 1 to 3 p.m., for guest artist Raune Lea Marshall, if you can’t make it in this Saturday.

Mark your calendars for the June 21 Solstice Art Crawl in the arts district. All the galleries will be open that night from 6 to 9 p.m. to celebrate the solstice. There will be great art, yummy treats, and other activities for your pleasure, in all the galleries along Peter Street that night as well as some of the other galleries, located off Peter Street.

Are you looking for Elvis? Look no further. The Orillia Centre for Arts and Culture and Lakehead University will set your longings to rest with a lecture and singalongs all about the famed rock ‘n’ roller, on June 10 at 7 p.m., with refreshments. Tickets are $19 and available here.

But what about if you’re looking for Roy? Orbison, that is. Look no further, the Orillia Opera House has a Roy Orbison tribute that you will love, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are only $39 and can be bought here.

Lots of music in the bars this weekend! Brownstone café, May 31 The Hillbirds, June 1 Steve Stacey spring tour! Hog ‘n’ Penny, May 31 Craig Mainprize, June 1 Jamie Drake.

Coming soon? More arts openings, OMAH programming and summer camps, OCC Elvis and the Man in Black dance revue, Scott Woods Band at St. Paul’s Centre, OYC and Roots North Revisited…and lots more.

Email me your arts news at [email protected] by Tuesday at noon to get in this happening column!


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