"Their shared dreams rise and fall, worn down by circumstances caused by a multitude of factors. These include the onset of the Great Depression, economic uncertainty, job losses and racism," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
The end is near for the Shaw Festival’s Spiegeltent in Niagara-on-the-Lake, with its final show scheduled for Sept. 28. After that, it'll be returning to its original home in Belgium.
Other highlights include the Broadway musical “Funny Girl,” opening April 24 at the Festival Theatre under the direction of Eda Holmes, and the farce “One for the Pot,” directed by Chris Abraham and set to premiere May 27.
"Please, bring back the Spiegeltent in whatever future form it may take and do plan more of these innovative, imaginative offerings. Let's have more opportunities to tap, swing and lift our spirits," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"In 'Major Barbara' of the Salvation Army, we hear the voices of Victorian women aspiring to liberation, to work, to earn money and have the right to social, political, legal and gender equality," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
The new design would keep the theatre’s current face on Queen Street while constructing an entirely new building behind it, what executive director Tim Jennings called a “ghost façade.”
"Despite the absurdity of life and perhaps unreached dreams, our aspirations remain, and we can still find magic in the power of language and theatre," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
In response to editor-in-chief Richard Harley's July 31 editorial, The Lake Report, writes Garth Turner, "embraces the size, the massing, the demolitions, the height, the truck bays, the big-box architecture, the gobbling-up of a residential street and the three or more years of construction chaos involved."
Dozens of classic, exotic and sport vehicles are expected to show up on the lot at 1537 Niagara Stone Rd. in Virgil next Saturday for people to come and enjoy, with no entry fee for participants or spectators.
The garden party will once again be held at one of NOTL's most distinctive heritage homes — the Georgian-style residence at 83 Gage St., owned by Peter Howe and Judy McLeod.
Jessica Sevier is set to open for Tenille Townes at the Jackson-Triggs Amphitheatre for this year's Summer Concert Series, on Aug. 21. "It's going to be a very fun, high-energy acoustic," she says.
Yellow Door's theatre director hopes audiences will embrace a little “hakuna matata” when his cast of young performers takes the stage in "The Lion King" on July 19.
The Rotary Club hopes guests will don their best cocktail attire and enjoy an evening of live music, dancing, and what it calls “Niagara’s finest food and wine.”
The company has launched a second climate-controlled Freedom Jet vessel, five years after introducing the first, giving more guests a choice: Stay dry inside a glass-enclosed dome or get drenched up front in the open-air seats.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is set to celebrate Canada’s 158th birthday in style this Tuesday, with a full day of festivities ranging from fireworks to fine art and free museum access.
"'Tons of Money' has a strong farcical plot, fine performances by a talented cast, stunning set and 1920s costume designs ... It simply needs to more cohesively come together," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
The Laura Secord choir is recognized nationally through MusicFest Canada and the CBC Canadian Music Class Challenge, but choir leader Katryna Sacco said getting to perform for the community is a uniquely special experience: "It’s really nice to extend our reach throughout the community."
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church is ready to ring in the start of summer with the return of its annual Strawberry Festival, which will see an estimated 5,500 people come out to the church on June 21 to enjoy tasty strawberry goods — a tradition four decades in the making.
Summer's almost here in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and in a couple of weeks, residents can expect the town's public pools to open for another season of fun under the sun.
"In our current period of uncertainty, not entirely dissimilar from the 1930s, this timely Shaw production of 'Anything Goes' has audiences erupting in a catharsis of cheers, whoops and whistles of appreciation," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
The fair included several outdoor activities for kids, including face painting, mini-games and bounce houses. But the most exciting part was Crossroads principal Kate Fish in the dunk tank, as seen by the line of students waiting for their turn to make the perfect shot.
On June 13, NOTL comedian Joe Pillitteri will take the stage for a comedy night in support of Red Roof Retreat, running from will run from 7 to 10 p.m. at Pillitteri Estates Winery.
Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Joe Pillitteri is back to emcee a night at the seventh annual Garden City Comedy Festival, taking place next weekend in downtown St. Catharines, on May 24.
Thousands are expected to come out to the Virgil Sports Park from May 17 to 19. New this year, to help those driving to the Stampede, organizers and volunteers are introducing a free parking shuttle service, running only on Monday.
