If you missed Tom Wilson, Tomson Highway and friends, and the Gathering: Festival of First Nation Stories last weekend, I am going to say, I told you so. It was phenomenal. Read all about it here. Then make sure to mark your calendars and get your tickets next year.
Number one fun thing to do this weekend?
Mariposa Arts Theatre’s Queer Cabaret, to celebrate Pride Month. However, if you haven't got your tickets; it's too late. It sold out earlier today.
This is going to be a great show, with a mix of local and not-so-local drag artists, poets, singers, and more. Billed as an evening of art and celebration, this show promises to delight, entertain, and enlighten.
The show was conceptualized by Director Stevie Baker, and she has a top-notch cast to work with, including drag artist Champagne Top’Her, nonbinary drag performer Themme, and two-spirit drag artist Rodayasha Red Ashes.
Champagne Top'Her has a decade of experience in Halifax and is now a member of Muskoka Drag royalty. Champagne Top’Her brings all facets of drag into her showstopping performances, says Baker.
Themme is a nonbinary drag performer twirling through Ontario. They are the No. 1 Taylor Swift fan, and you can often find Themme shaking it off to a hit by the pop star at one of many drag stages in that signature blonde wig. Themme strives to not only be nonbinary representation, but neurodivergent as well, as they are autistic.
Rodayasha Red Ashes is another top-notch drag performer from Muskoka Drag. These three performers will bring art and celebration to the stage in every conceivable way.
Local theatre stars Josh Halbot and Richard Birch will delight the audience with their gorgeous singing, and poet Amy Miller will grace the stage with thoughtful and powerful spoken word.
This will definitely be a great evening’s entertainment for those 19 and over.
Mariposa Arts Theatre’s Queer Cabaret is on Saturday, June 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mariposa Arts Theatre Centre on Brammer Drive in Orillia.
Downtown Orillia is celebrating you, in its Celebrate You Festival on June 17. Here is the scoop: “This is a fully inclusive event that welcomes all members of our community to celebrate diversity. Celebrate You! will include a market, musical performances, art, family activities and crafts. June is a month of celebration with the launch of Pride Sseason, National Indigenous History Month, Canadian Multiculturalism Day, and much more.” More on this next week.
Also this Saturday, don’t forget the staged reading of Get What You Need, a fundraiser for the breakfast program at St. James’ Anglican Church, which is also where the reading is. Should be a lot of fun. There are shows at 2 and 7 p.m. and admission is by donation to the program.
In other big news, Mariposa Folk Festival 2023 is officially sold out. You snooze, you lose. Get your tickets early next year!
And, in other big news, Cloud Art Gallery has opened a second location in Bracebridge. Cloud has really made a name for itself as the place to purchase fantastic art, so they are stretching into the Muskoka area. Congratulations to Mark and Blake.
OMAH History Speakers June speaker is former artistic director of Mariposa Folk Festival, Mike Hill, speaking on 60 years of Mariposa. The talk is via Zoom on June 21 at 7 p.m. Click here to get the link.
Picnic Tapas has some great live music this weekend. Saturday night starting at 8:30, Po’boy Jeffreys and Calamity Jane; and Sunday afternoon from 2 to 4, Katherine Fisher.
Couchiching Craft Brewery has Cam Galloway on Friday and Jeff Young Saturday.
Enjoy the summer fun and weather, and don’t forget to send your arts news to [email protected] by Tuesday at noon to be included.
