Greetings arts enthusiasts!
Last week I was at the grocery store and overheard the song “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” on the sound system. Guess it’s that time again! Now I realize that many people embrace Christmas time and savour every snowfall, while other people despise the very mention of the holiday season. So I’ve divided this month’s newsletter into two sections: Christmas time joyful activities, and other stuff to distract the Grinches.
Have fun!
HOLIDAY JOY
December – January
Eddie May Murder Mysteries presents “And To All a Good Knife”
http://www.eddiemay.com
Just when I started talking about Yuletide joy, Eddie May goes and puts a knife through it! Experience interactive dinner theatre with some of Ottawa’s funniest performers, including newcomers Sterling Lynch and Michelle Leblanc. You can catch the show at the Velvet Room, or at the National Arts Centre; there’s also a show called “Survive This!” on tour.
December 3 to 19
The Gladstone presents “The Farndale Avenue Housing Estate Townswomen’s Guild Dramatic Society’s Production of a Christmas Carol”
http://thegladstone.ca/
Speaking of hilarious theatre, this one should be a hoot. A misfit group of ladies decide to mount A Christmas Carol, and things go horribly, horribly wrong. Features a great collection of local talent, including Kristina Watt, Colleen Sutton, and Chris Ralph. The Gladstone will be holding a food drive for families in need, so bring your canned goods to the show!
December 5
Tarts and Crafts Holiday Edition
http://www.ottawakiosk.com/event/tartsandcraft.html
Avoid the crowded malls… and hit up the crowded craft sales! But seriously, Tarts and Crafts has locally made, creative, original gifts for the whole family; you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the variety. Get there early to get the good stuff!
Thursday, December 7
Musica Viva Singers “Vespers and Carols”
http://musica-viva.pinetree.org/
Highly recommended by Brian Carroll and Barb Popel, this Christmas concert in the Glebe features Mozart’s sublime Solemn Vespers (note: not actually solemn at all!) and many other works, as well as a special appearance by the Harmonia Choir of Ottawa.
December 8 to 26
The NAC English Theatre presents “A Christmas Carol”
http://nac-cna.ca/en/theatre/0910/christmascarol/
Knowing director Peter Hinton, this will be A Christmas Carol like you’ve never seen it before. With Stephen Ouimette as Ebenezer Scrooge and local actors Kris Joseph, Matt Miwa, and John Koensgen, you can expect great things with this production. Also, this is the first time we’ll be seeing a performance from the National Arts Centre Resident Company; this company has been in the making for some time, so I’m looking forward to seeing how it pans out.
Sunday, December 13
Arts Court presents a “Holiday Helping of Christmas Soup” starring Jen Gould
http://www.artscourt.ca/
Children, aged two to six and their adult accompaniment, will delight in some of Juno award winning Jen Gould’s best-loved tunes, and may experience a Winter Wonderland after the show. I do realize that most of my readers aren’t between the ages of two and six, but sometimes kids’ activities are just what we need at Christmas time!
Tuesday, December 15
Ottawa International Children’s Festival presents “Angel Square”
http://ottawachildrensfestival.ca/
Check out this special performance fundraiser for the Children’s Festival, the second-annual staged reading of Brian Doyle’s Angel Square, adapted and directed by Ottawa writer-director Janet Irwin. This performance features actors Todd Duckworth, Mary Ellis, Andy Massingham, Sara McVie and Alix Sideris, CBC Radio’s Alan Neal, and a group of Canterbury High School students.
REGULAR JOY
December 1 to 2
Pixie Cram film trilogy release: Nature and Technology
http://artengine.ca/pixiecram/factory
The Nature and Technology trilogy will be screened in its entirety for the first time at Club SAW, and include themes of cyborgs, cloning, and artificial intelligence, with a focus on the natural world and questions of human creation and responsibility. Set in rural locations, the films are also linked by a sense of isolation and mystery.
December 2 to 5
MiCasa Theatre presents “Countries Shaped Like Stars” vs. “Inclement Weather”
http://micasatheatre.com/
Both these crowd-favourites sold out at this year’s Ottawa Fringe Festival, and now they’re back for a short run at the Irving Greenberg Theatre Centre before touring across the country in January. Whimsical and playful with elements of clown, these productions showcase the many talents of performers Nic DiGaetano and Emily Pearlman. Bring the kids!
December 6
Komi Olaf’s exhibit “Angels of Music”
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=164452035965&ref=ts
Spoken word performer / visual artist Komi Olaf captures various Iconic Musicians through an artistic translation of portraiture. The exhibition will open at the National Arts Centre- Salon and will run throughout the month of December at the Ottawa Public Library. The paintings are accompanied with music from Dj Memetic and Musk Ox.
Saturday, December 12
GuerillaLIVE Sin+Innocence
http://getguerilla.ca
Guerilla Magazine and The Loft salon on Elgin Street invite you to a sinfully innocent night out to celebrate in high style. Don’t miss the launch of Guerilla #22 online and in print!
Wednesday, December 16
Dipna Horra in “The Colonial Times”
http://www.dipnahorra.com/
http://www.ottawafocus.com/events/The+Colonial+Times+-+Dipna+Horra.aspx
Check out this intimate sound installation where a teapot, a tea cup and a table tell stories of migration from multitalented Ottawa artist Dipna Horra.
Thursday, December 17
isme(e) Performance Cabaret – Third Year Anniversary
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2344143106&ref=ts
Catch an evening of great performances and lots of experimentation at the 3 year anniversary of isme(e) performance cabaret, one of my favourite underground events. Rumour has it: I’ll be performing. But shhh, that’s a secret.
ONE MORE THING!
For the national multimedia challenge entitled Roots/Racines, CBC Television is calling on Canadians of all stripes who have a story to tell about their roots/identity to turn their tale into a short film or web/multimedia production (film, animation, slide show, podcast) for a chance to win professional equipment (iMacs, camcorders, etc) and gain international recognition. For more information, visit www.rcinet.ca/roots
Thanks for reading! If I’ve missed anything, please post your event information on my website at http://jessicaruano.wordpress.com/blog
Artistically yours,
Jessica Ruano
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Tschüß!
Jessica Ruano
Ottawa Arts Enthusiast
Publicist, Journalist, and Theatre go-er









