Fall in O-Town is the gift that keeps on giving as we see lots of great cultural events in this upcoming first weekend of November.
Frist off, do you have your tickets for Jane Bunnett and Maqueque yet? How about for Kune? How about for the International Dinner? All three of these stellar events are at St. Paul’s Centre, this Friday and Saturday. You can get tickets for both shows for $50, dinner and show tickets Saturday for Kune for $50, or show only either night for $30. Lots of options, so just pick one. Show only tickets, for either or both shows, are available here.
For dinner and show tickets, email [email protected] and reserve today.
This weekend is a busy one for our venerable Orillia Museum of Art and History (OMAH). If you are talking about lots of programming and lots of opportunities, you are talking about the OMAH. In the next week alone, there are nine events and workshops, so let’s get to it.
Fri. Nov. 1 at 1:30 p.m. you can take advantage of a guided art tour which will be of either the building or an exhibit, you need to email [email protected] to find out which. Admission is free with an OMAH membership or $5. And while we are at it, just buy a membership. Here are the rates: 25 & Under: FREE; Senior: $20; Individual: $35; Couple: $50; and Family: $55 (2 adults and 2 children under 13). So worth it. Or you can join Sir Sam’s Society for only $365…more below.
Back to this weekend at OMAH, and speaking of Sir Sam’s Society, Friday is the Sir Sam’s Society Art Exchange Event. Forty artists have donated pieces for lucky Sir Sam Society members to peruse, and take home one of, for the year. And that’s just one of the perks of belonging. Others include a tax receipt, exclusive events, and more. The art exchange event runs from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Nov. 1 in the Lounge Gallery at OMAH.
Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. OMAH, along with Storytelling Orillia, hosts Canadian Storytelling Night. This is a special night of both music and storytelling, with the theme of fresh air.
Take in a Breath of Fresh Air with storyteller Mark Douglas from Rama, and musicians Michael Jones, piano, and Marta Solek, cello. Other featured guests are Raven Noganosh, jingle dancer, Rebecca Bolden, yoga instructor, and Tim Greenwood, storyteller. Master storyteller Bob Graham will be MCing the night. Doors are at 6:30 p.m. for a 7 p.m. start, and tickets are $15 at the door or through OMAH.
Other great OMAH programming in the next week includes Family Fun drop in with your kids and do some art Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m., free to members, $5 per family otherwise. Also Steelies Art Club for youth aged 7-12, Tuesdays 5:30-7 p.m. And Wednesday, Lunch ‘n’ Learn featuring Elizabeth Wyn Wood-inspired relief carving. Stop into OMAH to register, $20 for members $25 for non-members, includes lunch.
November is Sustainable Orillia month…hang on, let me explain. Sustainable Orillia was born out of lots of folks coming to Mayor Steve Clarke and asking what Orillia could do to help the planet in our current climate crisis. A committee was formed, a forum on sustainability was held last May, and now there are committees in nine different sectors, with chairs and various projects they are tasked with developing.
One of the sectors is…wait for it!...arts and culture, and yes, I am a member. So, as part of our arts and culture sector’s offerings in Sustainable Orillia month, Hibernation Arts is having an Art for Earth show, an art show about sustainability. The show opening is Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. Do come by and see all the participants’ work. Hibernation Arts is at 7 Peter St. S. in the heart of the arts district. More about Sustainable Orillia month, next week!
Orillia Performing Arts Forum member, Mariposa Arts Theatre, is hard at work on the first offering this season, Urinetown-The Musical! I must admit, this show wasn’t on my radar at all, until a friend told me it is a) hilarious b) has an amazing set and c) stars Josh Halbot. Then I was in! Urinetown is a satirical musical comedy which pokes fun at capitalism, bureaucracy, politics…all the things we love to hate.
Urinetown is definitely a don’t miss, and plays Thursday to Sunday, Nov. 7 to 10 and Nov. 14 to 17, with matinees on Sundays. Tickets are $25 and available through the Orillia Opera House box office here.
A couple of highlights coming soon in November.
A combined choir of great singers from our area, led by the inimitable Blair Bailey, music director at St. Paul’s Orillia, is putting on a fabulous show of John Rutter’s Requiem, Sunday, Nov. 10 at 3 p.m., at St. Paul’s, 62 Peter St. N. Admission is by freewill donation to Hospice Orillia and everyone should be there. It’s going to be a great show.
Also at St. Paul’s Centre, Nov. 8, is the incredible Irish Mythen in concert. We know there are lots of huge Irish fans in Orillia, thanks to her appearances at Mariposa and Roots North. Grab your $35 tickets here so you don’t miss out.
One more St. Paul’s Centre November highlight, the Singing Soldiers are doing a benefit concert for the hospital foundation and their own foundation, Nov. 16. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
The Singing Soldiers are two multi-talented musicians who bring their talent as award-winning musicians and their first-hand knowledge of combat and trauma to the stage in an incredible evening of powerful music-making. You really don’t want to miss this show. Tickets are only $25 and are available here. Really, don’t miss it.
Lots of music in the bars this weekend! At the Brownstone café, Nov. 1 Sunshine Express and Sixteen. At Kensingtons’s Oct. 31 Jakob Pearce. At the Hog ‘n’ Penny, Nov. 1 Jazz at the Hog, Nov. 2 Lance Isaac. At Fionn MacCool’s, Nov. 1 Joe Garrisi, Nov. 2 Paul Morgan. At the casino, Nov. 1 The 80’s Club.
Send me your arts news, by Tuesday at noon, to [email protected]. Have an awesome Halloween!
