The cold snap doesn’t seem to be affecting events as we hurtle towards February, with so many things going on that month it boggles the mind.
St. Paul’s Centre alone has seven major events booked in its Great Hall in February, and that does not include daytime events, or events in other spaces there…keep in mind, February is a short month.
Full disclosure here, I am the Communications Coordinator for St. Paul’s, but I would be remiss no matter who I was, if I failed to let you know about the awesome stuff happening there in the next several weeks.
Starting in January, there is a Reel Rabbie Burns concert with The Celts Jan. 25, a Gshkoziwin Reconciliation Art Project Workshop Jan. 26, Tarragon Theatre’s production of Cottagers and Indians Feb. 1, An Evening of Blues and Gospel VIII Feb. 9 (with Lance Anderson and friends), the Mariposa Grandmothers Annual Book Exchange Feb. 16, the Orillia Silver Band Falling in Love concert Feb. 16, The Northwest Passage in Story and Song with David Newland Feb. 21 (a fundraiser for Twin Lake students going to Nunavut), and finally a Piano Showcase featuring St. Paul’s newly restored Steinway grand piano on Feb. 23.
Just a heads up regarding the Piano Showcase, I have it right from the horse’s mouth that legendary Toronto and Orillia pianist Doreen Uren Simmons will be here as one of the guest performers that day…I’m her daughter, I should know. For tickets and further information about all of these incredible performances, check out St. Paul’s website.
Our other large performance space here in town, the Orillia Opera House, is busy in its own right, as always. The OOH presents Classic Albums Live-CCR Chronicles on Jan. 25, and Georgian Bay Dance Gala on Jan. 27, which is a fundraiser supporting the Opera House, put on by lots of the local dance companies here.
Feb. 7 is the start of Mariposa Arts Theatre’s run of Diary of Anne Frank, which runs until Feb. 15. MAT has been in the habit of selling its shows out the last several times, so don’t delay and grab your tickets now for this classic play. Tickets for all OOH events can be found on their website or by calling 705-326-8011.
Our other local-ish large performance space, and such a gem in its own right, is the Gravenhurst Opera House. Programmed by Orillia’s own Krista Storey, this lovely mid-size theatre has lots going on all year round.
Canadian singer/songwriter Carl Dixon will be performing there on Feb. 9 and if you like some easy listening country-ish vibes, check him out, I was pleasantly surprised when I went to his website.
On the other side of the coin, we have stand up comic Jeff Leeson in Gravenhurst on Feb. 23. His current tour, titled Grandma Used to Heckle Me, is a real crowd pleaser. Tickets can be purchased through the website. And don’t forget Old Man Flanagan’s Ghost is playing there this Saturday. It’s worth the drive to Gravenhurst.
Hey, under things that almost slipped by me, or is this really arts and culture? Severn’s Winterfest is this weekend. Severn seems to be where all the hardy winter-loving volunteers live, and they are putting on the first annual Severn Winterfest, at ODAS Park, all weekend long.
Things get under way Friday afternoon and run right though until Sunday at 4 pm. Five bucks will get you in to everything, every day, except the kids dance Friday night, which is $10, and the adult dance Saturday night. There will be food and fun, demos, fat biking, polar bear dip, a bonfire, horse and wagon rides, a demolition derby, snowga, and so much more. Full schedule can be found here: www.severnwinterfest.com. Yay to the volunteers for putting this on!
Also this weekend: Paul Brooks at the Hog ‘n’ Penny Jan. 25, Tech Night at the Brownstone Jan. 25 at 10 p.m., OMAH at 20 opening on Saturday afternoon, Storytelling Orillia at the OMAH Sunday from 2 to 4, and the deadline for Hibernations Arts February show Jan. 25, as well as other shows mentioned above already. I am going to the…and yes, I predicted it…sold out Old Dance Hall Players show on Friday.
Please send your arts, entertainment and culture events, to [email protected]. We have so much to promote in this lively and cultured city, keep those emails coming.
