Category: Entertainment

Where: The Music Gallery at 918 Bathurst St.
When: November 17, 2018 @8pm
Cost: $20 Regular, $15 Advance, $10 Members at musicgallery.org



Details: Over the years, the Music Gallery has had a long history of presenting challenging and exhilarating large ensembles. Percussionist/composer Adam Rudolph’s visit to the MG in 2016 was a memorable encounter between his Go: Organic notation system and the talents of fifteen eclectic Toronto musicians. One member of the ensemble, Araz Salek (This Tale of Ours Quartet, Shiraz Ensemble), was particularly inspired by encounter. Salek was the only musician in the ensemble whose primary background was outside of jazz or Western classical music. He was struck by how easily the format of the composition could be adopted to fit Iranian music, his main field and training. While Rudolph’s scores use an even-tempered 12-note scale, his approach could easily be adapted to include the tunings used in Iranian music.

Salek engaged Rudolph with the notion of a follow-up project. More than two years later, Dastgah is the result: a new work for large improvising ensemble made up of musicians whose home practices are in Iranian/Persian music, jazz, and new music.

Adopting and modifying Rudolph’s notation system and extending it to accommodate Iranian scales and tunings, this new piece will consist of scored material and hand gestures Rudolph uses to direct performers through the score, individually or in groups.

Conducted by Adam Rudolph the musicians are
Santour: Sadaf
Amini
 Kamanche: Hamidreza Khalatbari
Tar: Araz Salek
Tuned Piano: Jonathan Adjemian
Ney: Ernie Tollar
Violins: Aline Homzy
 & Nelson Moneo
Double bass: Rob Clutton
Clarinet: Karen Ng
Trumpet: Emily Denison
Bassoon: Peter Lutek
Saxophone: Jay Hay
Tombak: Pedram Khavarzamini
Congas: Brandon Valdivia
Drums: Nick Fraser

More Info: www.musicgallery.org @MusicGalleryTO

(l-r) Angela Broadley, Colin Lapsley, Stevie Pike. Photo by Marek Michalek

Where: Theatre Auditorium at Ancaster High School, 374 Jerseyville Rd., Ancaster
When: November 16 – December 1, 2018
Cost: Tickets can be purchased at www.theatreancaster.com or 905.304.7469

Details: Al Croxall, co-founder of Theatre Ancaster and director of Chicago is thrilled to finally be able to bring the classic musical to the community theatre’s stage: “Chicago is the iconic American Broadway musical. We have been asking for the rights to produce Chicago for over ten years, so it was a red-letter day when, expecting our usual refusal, we heard that we had permission to do the show! I am thrilled at the opportunity to bring this very topical satire on American justice to life.”

Set in jazz-age Chicago, the famous musical tells the universal tale of the trappings of fame and fortune. Chicago holds the record as the longest-running Broadway musical revival and the longest-running American musical in Broadway history having earned 6 Tony awards including Best Musical Revival. It was made into a feature film in 2002 winning Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

Chicago is full of show-stopping numbers and breathtaking choreography. The music is by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse. Bob Fosse choreographed the original 1975 production and his signature style lives on in the Theatre Ancaster production.

Choreographer Tina Rath is excited to tackle the complex dance sequences: “It is a choreographer’s dream to work on this show. To use the incomparable Fosse technique and marry it with my own ideas has been incredible. The cast is pumped, prepped and ready to perform!”

Theatre Ancaster is delighted to welcome Jeff and Lisa Peller as Premier Season Sponsors.

More Info: www.theatreancaster.com

Chris Antonik & Ashley Belmer. Photo by Dahlia Katz

Where: Burdock Music Hall, 1184 Bloor St W, Toronto
When: November 2, 2018, Doors open at 9pm, Show at 9:30pm
Cost: $10 in advance, $15 at the door burdockto.com

Details: After three successful albums and tours across North America and the UK, acclaimed guitarist, singer, songwriter, and producer Chris Antonik has paired up with soulful vocalist and loving partner Ashley Belmer (and full time Toronto theatre publicist and entrepreneur) to embark on an acoustic journey that will go back to the musical basics, and present Antonik’s music in new and simplified ways, with a larger focus on vocals and acoustic guitar.

The Northwood Tour tour, named after the place where Chris and Ashley had their first date, has travelled throughout Eastern Canada, and included stops in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and is currently in Ontario then Quebec.

Toronto-based Chris Antonik was nominated for Best New Artist in 2011 at Canada’s Maple Blues Awards after the release of his debut album and has since become one of Canada’s fastest-rising blues artists. Blending innovative and thoughtful songwriting with stunning blues guitar work, some music critics have drawn comparisons to Eric Clapton.

Ashley Belmer has been working as a singer and actor in both Montreal and Toronto for over a decade. With a focus on harmonization, Ashley has been a member of the Lyric Theatre Singers, the Montreal Jubilation Choir, and is currently a member and soloist for Newchoir Toronto.  In addition to Ashley’s career in vocals and theatre, Ashley is also a well-known public relations specialist for the arts and runs a PR and graphic design agency called B-Rebel Communications.

More Info: www.chrisantonik.com @chrisantonikofficial @ChrisAntonik #northwoodtour

Where: Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, 12 Alexander Street
When: October 31, 2018. Doors: 7:30pm / Show: 8pm / Dance Party: 10pm
Cost: $25 – Show and 90’s Vampire Dance Party or $20 – Dance Party Only. Tickets are available online at buddiesinbadtimes.com

Details: After a sold out run in 2017, Cardboard Sword Collective presents A Night At The Bronze: Once More With Feeling on Halloween night. Cardboard Sword calls on all Buffy fans for a live read-through of one of Joss Whedon’s most beloved episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Things in Sunnydale aren’t as harmonious as usual. Balance has been thrown off kilter when a mysterious force makes everyone in town burst into song and dance, revealing their deepest secrets as they do. It’s up to Buffy and the gang to get to the bottom of this musical mystery before everyone dances themselves to death.

The cast of A Night At The Bronze will read and sing-through the entire episode of Once More With Feeling, followed by a 90s vampire dance party, so the fun never ends. Lyrics will be provided so audience members can sing along with this satirical performance of the cult classic.

A Night At The Bronze: Once More With Feeling cast will include: Jenna Warriner (CMT’s Hottest) as Buffy, Liz Johnston (Entrances and Exits, Star Falls) as Willow, Kaitlin Morrow (Sex T-Rex) as Tara, Stephanie Malek (Songbuster, D&D Live) as Anya, Ian MacIntyre (Degrassi, The Beaverton) as Xander, Mark Andrada (Cannibal The Musical) as Giles, Nkasi Ogbonnah (The Second City House Co.) as Dawn, Kyah Green (D&D Live, Songbuster) as Spike, and Conor Bradbury (Sex T-Rex) as Sweet. Connor Low (Entrances and Exits) will narrate, Jordan Armstrong (The Second City) and Tricia Black (She The People) will be the musical directors, and the ensemble will include Andrew Cromwell (The Second City Diversity Fellowship), Monica Garrido (Buddies Queer Emerging Artist Award Winner 2018), Nancy Kenny (Roller Derby Saved My Soul), and Ophira Calof (Second City Diversity Fellowship).

More Info: www.buddiesinbadtimes.com facebook.com/crdbrdswrdTO  @crdbrdswrdTO @crdbrdswrdTO