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TerZettto Brings The Laughs

TERZETTTO BRINGS THE LAUGHS

A high tempo, high action show mixed with family friendly jokes!

By Amielle Christopherson

The last time the members of TerZettto performed the show was last December, but member Etienne Audent isn’t concerned. According to him, the show is about the cast themselves, just turned up and more dramatic. They will simply be slipping into roles they’ve practiced their entire lives for.

“We know the show. The show is kind of based on us. It’s going to be easy to get back into it,” he said. The group will be getting together and practicing, working on their blocking. “It’s just going to be timing wise, making sure we have the right timing and are hitting the right spots. Because there’s a lot of stuff flying around, there’s a lot of things that can go wrong, so we have to be on point.”

Audet explained that the show is “us to the extreme, but it’s still us. So it’s giving that to people and hopefully they will like it, hopefully they will like us.” The troupe’s goal is to bring joy to people and make them laugh for the hour and help them forget about their problems, even if it’s just for a short time.

The show, which is part of the Lougheed’s Fountain Tire Free All Ages series, will combine elements of clowning with jokes and daring and Audet says the aim is to get laughs from everyone, which isn’t always the easiest task.

“It’s just to make sure everyone finds something they can relate to,” he said. “For children, it’s not easier but it’s more simple. I don’t want to say that anything will make them laugh, but anything if done properly will make them laugh.” He added that, teenagers are probably the hardest group to make laugh. “Teenagers, they don’t like anything. Finding a way where they can relate to us is also a good challenge,” he said with a chuckle.

For adults, the trick is to integrate some mature humour with the family friendly jokes and clowning, things that adults will get that kids won’t. Audet is confident they’ve found the right mix to make everyone laugh, including the adults. “Every time we have a show on the weekends, we always hear adults laugh. Or even if we do the school show, we hear the teachers laugh at some stuff and we know that, ‘Okay, the teacher has a student who acts like I am right now.’ It’s trying to find a way where everyone can relate to you.”

The characters, three clumsy clowns, use wood props for their show, so the audience can expect a few boo-boos thrown in, which always gets people to laugh during the high tempo, high action show.

“Kids love that!” said Audet. “They do laugh when someone gets hurt. We don’t get hurt, but, you know. I’ll knock on wood for sure, but we’re lucky enough to know our craft and have enough time to get ready before that when we are on stage and when we’re performing and everything goes well.”

The stop in Camrose will be part of the group’s 12 city, 20 day tour. It will be Audet’s first time in Alberta and he’s excited to see the province and meet the people.

“It’s going to be my first time in Alberta, so I’m really excited to see it,” he said. “I really want to get and meet the locals. We’re really excited to just meet the people and make them laugh.”

TerZettto will be performing at the Lougheed Performing Arts Centre Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. The show is free, but the audience will need a ticket to get in. Get your tickets by going online to: www.camroselive.ca or calling the Box Office at: 780-608-2922.

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Chant’Ouest & Contact West: 19 to 22 September 2019

http://reseaugrandsespaces.ca/contactouest/index.html

From September 19 to 22, 2019, Edmonton will host Chant’Ouest and Contact West 2019. More than 150 artists, broadcasters and industry stakeholders from across the country and Europe will converge on the city of Edmonton for a week of workshops, discussions, networking events and performances by professional artists.

Contact West 2019

A must-see, Contact West is the only French-language performing arts market in Western Canada. With its showcases, workshops, exhibition booths and networking opportunities, Contact Ouest facilitates meetings between artists, broadcasters and professionals in the French-language performing arts industry in order to increase the frequency and quality dissemination in western and northern Canada. Through the presence of producers as well as national and international broadcasters, Contact Ouest offers high visibility to artists, across the country and across Canada’s borders.

Contact West 2019 is a production of the Réseau des grands espaces, presented in partnership with the Center for Musical Development (CDM) and The Francophone Arts Group of Alberta (RAFA).

Chant’Ouest

The 30 th  edition of the Gala Chant’Ouest is presented in Edmonton, Alberta. The HOM is the proud producer of this event, which will bring together four emerging artists, all of whom are finalists on musical springboards in the six western provinces and territories. Artists will receive training, surrounded by music industry professionals, before performing on stage for a unique show / competition in the West on Thursday, September 19th! Two winners will then be selected to represent Western and Northern Canada at the Granby International Song Festival, Quebec, in August 2020. The goal of this event is to provide artists with an opportunity to make a strong entry into the world. the professional sphere of music.

It is in front of an  audience of nearly 200 people  that the artists will try to win their place for Granby. The family nature of the event attracts as many fans as professionals, mostly French-speaking. While a large portion of the public comes from Edmonton, the professionals come from more distant horizons: British Columbia, Yukon, Northern Territories, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are the provinces and territories involved in the event. 

Opening Cocktail of West Contact and Chant’Ouest

September 19 – 6:15 pm – La Cité francophone – La Rotonde

The Great Outdoors Network, the Music Development Center and RAFA invite participants to the opening cocktail that will mark the beginning of the Contact West. This activity will be followed by the Chant’Ouest Gala, which will allow you to discover the emerging talents of Western and Northern Canada.

It’s an appointment at La Cité francophone in La Rotonde

  • 8627 Marie-Anne Gaboury Street

The West Contact Showcases

Three showcases of six excerpts of shows each will be presented during the Contact West. These 18 performances will be an opportunity to showcase eighteen artists from Western and Northern Canada, Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. They will present a twenty minute excerpt from the show they want to shoot. Each excerpt will be followed by a short interview to help you better know the artist or group. The showcases will be held at La Cité francophone in Edmonton in the UniThéâtre room. Buses will be available to Contact West and Chant’Ouest participants between Coast Edmonton Plaza and La Cité francophone.

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Employment Opportunity: Sponsorship Development Coordinator, St. Albert

Sponsorship Development Coordinator

City of St. Albert

Organization: City of St. Albert
Website: www.stalbert.ca
Department: Community Services
Location: 5 St. Anne Street, St. Albert
Salary: $68,390 – $83,207 per annum
Closing Date: August 25, 2019
Competition #: 19/150

OPPORTUNITY

The Community Services Department is currently recruiting for a Sponsorship Development Coordinator. St. Albert has a strong grassroots cultural community with a history of celebrating arts and culture. The City has a well established cultural department focused on nurturing and developing the arts and cultural sector through direct delivery of programs and services, partnerships and collaborations throughout the community. We are looking for a creative, collaborative individual to develop and implement sponsorship and donation strategies to support programs and initiatives offered by department including: the Northern Alberta International Children’s Festival of the Arts, Arden Theatre, St. Albert Children’s Theatre, Amplify program, Building Assets & Memories, Public Art, and other special projects/events.

Reporting to the Manager, Cultural Programming, the Coordinator is responsible for developing relationships with business and organizations to obtain sponsorships and advertising sales for these programs and initiatives as well as building and maintaining relationships with corporate and private donors to support growth in revenues. This position will be responsible for executing prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship activities, which have as an objective, the development of short and long-term funding support of events within Community Services.

The person we seek has a strong understanding of the selling process combined with sponsorship, advertising, and group sales experience. We are looking for an excellent communicator who excels at customer service. This role will allow you to utilize your research and negotiation skills and apply your knowledge of Alberta Gaming and Liquor Control Regulations, non-profit and board governance and Federal Charitable (CRA) regulations.

In relation to event funding and development work, the Sponsorship Development Coordinator requires comprehensive knowledge of all business areas in the department, fund development, research and analytical skills, and the ability to write and prepare comprehensive proposals and final reports.

QUALIFICATIONS

• At minimum, a 2-year Diploma in a related field (Public Relations, Business, Marketing, Arts/Culture) and 5 years of direct experience. Or, a Degree in a related field combined with 3 years experience.
An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Direct experience negotiating, securing and executing annual and multi-year sponsorships.
• Knowledge of professional and children’s theatre programming, cultural festivals, and general knowledge of community and social development programs and services.
• A valid Class 5 driver’s licence is required.
• Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) an asset, but not required.
• Membership with the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) is an asset.

HOURS OF WORK

We offer a compressed work schedule of 72 hours bi-weekly (Monday – Friday, 8:00 – 5:00 with a regular day off [RDO] every two weeks). There will be the occasional requirement for extra and evening hours, which could include attendance at meetings and events.

COMPENSATION

$68,390 – $83,207 per annum. In addition, the City of St. Albert offers a generous and comprehensive benefit package.

The successful applicant will be required to obtain a satisfactory police information check.

Qualified applicants are invited to submit their cover letter and resume via the City of St. Albert employment website www.stalbert.ca/employment

CLOSING DATE

August 25, 2019

We wish to express our appreciation to all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for this position. However, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

 

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Employment Opportunity: Professional Programming Presenter, St. Albert

Professional Programming Presenter (Permanent Part-time)

Apply: https://careers.stalbert.ca/…

Requisition #: 19/116
Job #: J0619-0688
Job Title: Professional Programming Presenter (Permanent Part-time)
Job Type: Permanent Part Time
City, Province, Country: St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
Job Category: Cultural Services
Number of Positions: 1
Posting Date: June 20, 2019
Posting Closing Date: July 2, 2019
Salary/Wage: 40.36 – 49.10/Year
Department: Community Services
Location: 5 St. Anne Street

Cultivate your Career:

A city rich in arts and heritage, St. Albert has superior cultural opportunities for the enjoyment and learning of our residents and visitors. The City of St. Albert’s Community Services Cultural branches promote the development of arts and cultural services throughout the community and the team connects to the community through programming and operation of The Arden Theatre, the International Children’s Festival of the Arts, St. Albert Children’s Theatre, and other community cultural events

The Opportunity:

We are currently seeking to fill a permanent part-time role within the Cultural Programming team. The Professional Programming Presenters are responsible for managing the day to day business and advancing of presenting activities for the City of St. Albert.

This position, in tandem with another full-time Presenter, will project manage a wide variety of presentations including the negotiation of artist contracts, management of artist logistics including accommodation, transportation, hospitality, and the management of budgets directly related to presentations. Areas of focus include, but are not limited to, the International Children’s Festival, family-focused programming at various city venues, and other community cultural events. The successful candidate will build relationships within the local and regional arts community. They will also develop and recommend a strategic artistic and business plan to utilize City performing arts spaces/venues to their highest potential in the area of professional performing arts presentations. In addition, the Professional Programming Presenter is required to collaborate and research co-presentational opportunities with other Albertan and Canadian professional presenters, artist management companies and potential community partnerships within the City and Capital Region. This position will work closely with the other Professional Programming Presenter, marketing, sponsorship, front of house and venue operations teams as well as with a wide variety of artists, agents and managers.

The work requires a detailed knowledge and understanding of all performing arts genres, the professional presentation genre, technical theatre operations and front of house operations.
The individual we seek has comfort with public speaking and media relations. The role requires an incumbent who is skilled at organization and time management.

Qualifications:

• Diploma in Arts Administration, Theatre Management or a related field and 7 years of related experience, or a related Degree and 5 years experience. Equivalent education and experience may be considered.
• Previous work experience in programming for young audiences and for soft seat venues and large-scale festivals is considered an asset.
• Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, financial management, budget planning, monitoring and reporting skills and experience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills including the ability to research, write and prepare comprehensive grant applications and final reports.
• Prior experience working with presenting associations such as CAPACOA (Canadian Arts Presenting Association), ATAA (Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta) would be considered an asset.
• A valid Class 5 Drivers License and a personal vehicle for work use is required.

Hours of Work:

This is a 0.50 permanent part-time position that will work approximately 18 hours per week. This position may be offered the opportunity to work additional hours. The nature of this position includes evening and weekend work, as well as the necessity to travel.

Compensation:

$40.36 – $49.10 per hour. In addition, the City of St. Albert offers a comprehensive benefit package.

TO APPLY: 
Qualified applicants are invited to submit their cover letter and resume via the City of St. Albert employment website https://careers.stalbert.ca/…

The successful applicant will be required to obtain a satisfactory police information check.

Applications will only be accepted to 10:00 p.m. (Mountain Time Zone) on closing date.

We wish to express our appreciation to all applicants for their interest and effort in applying for this position. However, only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted. The City of St. Albert will no longer accept applications in person, via fax, email or by post.

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CHRISTMAS IN JUNE WITH STRICTLY BUSINESS

CHRISTMAS IN JUNE WITH STRICTLY BUSINESS

Dynamic cabaret duo will get you in the holiday spirit

By Jessica Ryan

Attendees at the Jeanne and Peter Lougheed Performing Arts Centre launch will not only be the first to find out what exciting events are coming to Camrose next season, but will also be treated to a free performance by Edmonton-based Strictly Business Theatre, the cabaret pairing of musical theatre adepts Kelsey Visscher and Kayla Nickel.

Visscher took some time to describe what Strictly Business is all about and hint at what is in store for theatregoers on June 20 (answers have been edited for length):

What does a Strictly Business performance entail?

For us, cabaret is a series of songs, sometimes some dancing, and we tie it together with stories, jokes and fun facts about us. We like to share as much as we can with the audience about us as people and performers. It’s a fun, casual night. We really like to get people out who don’t usually go to live performances.

How did it all come about?

(Five or six years ago) we had just graduated from Grant MacEwan university’s theatre arts program, and we wanted to further our studies in New York. So we decided, since New York is so stinking expensive, that we should put on a cabaret as a fundraiser. People kept asking when our next one was, so we decided to do some more, and here we are!

Are there things you learned while studying in New York that you incorporate into your shows?

For sure. General acting tips, our different voice teachers would help us with performing different styles and people there recommended songs that made it into shows. Seeing different shows definitely inspired us to do a few different little bits or different songs. We did get the chance to see a more cabaret-style show at a really famous cabaret venue there, so that was cool, just to see how that happens in a big city like New York and how we can bring that back here.

What do you hope your audiences experience at your shows?

We hope they get to know us a little bit. And a lot of times theatre is seen as a very hoity-toity type thing, so we want to make it more casual again, make it fun. If we can make them feel things — whether it be happy, sad, make them maybe learn something new about a situation — and just have a good time, go home and enjoy the people they were with, enjoy what they saw, enjoy what they drank and ate, then we’re happy.

What do you have planned for the performance in Camrose?

We’re hoping to make people laugh. A really big thing we have learned at our Christmas shows is people tell us that’s what gets them in the Christmas spirit, so I think that’s definitely started to inform the songs we choose to do and how we decide to do them. I guess our No. 1 goal is to entertain people, No. 2: get people in the Christmas spirit and just have a good time.

What are some of your all-time favourite songs to sing?

We always, at Christmas, like to do an Elvis tribute. We have a couple classic Christmas songs; The Christmas Song is one of our favourites. We’re really big fans of the Andrews Sisters and that era, so we have a couple of those that are some of our favourites to perform. They’re hard work, but they’re so worth it once you get them.

See Strictly Business showcase their cabaret at the Lougheed Centre’s Season Launch on Thursday, June 20th. This is a free event and no tickets are needed to attend. Come early (6pm) if you would like a facility tour. For more information, call the box office at 780.608.2922

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CAPACOA Update: Tourism Strategy and the Performing Arts

The federal government unveiled a comprehensive tourism strategy last week. Taking a whole-of-government approach, the strategy acknowledges the contribution of festivals and performing arts organizations in realizing Canada’s full tourism potential.

Arts presentation and creative export acknowledged in the tourism strategy

As requested in CAPACOA’s brief on tourism, the strategy identifies the Canada Arts Presentation Fund and Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage as key programs in the strategy. Both programs are listed in the “empowering Canadian communities to develop tourism experience” section of the strategy and the investments of the 2019 federal budget are explicitly mentioned as allocations supporting the strategy. As a reminder, the 2019 federal budget committed $16 million over two years to the Canada Arts Presentation Fund and $24 million over two years to the Building Communities Through Arts and Heritage Program and the Celebration and Commemoration Program.

The Creative Export Strategy is also identified as a contributor to the tourism strategy, under “Supporting Businesses and Empowering the Tourism Workforce”.

  • The fact that these time-limited investments in arts presentation and export (all are set to expire at the end of the 2020-2021 fiscal year) are mentioned in a longer-term tourism strategy is very meaningful. It creates a strong rationale for extending these investments after the federal election.  Please, take a moment to tell your Member of Parliament that you appreciate the tourism strategy and that you want the government to follow through on it after the federal election.

A new Canadian Experiences Fund

One of the key elements of the strategy is the new Canadian Experiences Fund (CEF), a $58.5 million investment over two years. The CEF will enhance Canada’s tourism products and experiences across five focus areas:

  • winter and shoulder-season tourism;
  • Indigenous tourism;
  • inclusiveness, especially for the LGBTQ2 community;
  • rural and remote communities; and
  • farm-to-table, also known as culinary tourism.

The CEF will be delivered through Canada’s Regional Development Agencies. Not-for-profit organizations will be eligible. Eligible projects will support the growth and diversification of the tourism sector. These activities may include:

  • Planning and development of tourism products and services: improving or designing new tourism services and products such as tours, special events and festivals
  • Market readiness training: working with tourism associations to provide training to businesses to market their products, adopt foreign payment systems, manage cultural differences, etc.; and
  • Creating or improving tourism facilities: physical assets used by tourists such as trails, campgrounds, and shelters.

Any arts organization who fits with any of the Fund’s five focus areas should connect with local or regional tourism partners and explore options for a joint or solo application.

Other non-updates

There are still no news on how the new CAPF funding or the expanded Student Work Placement Program will be administered.  We are in touch with Canadian Heritage and we will share information as it becomes available.

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Contribution of Culture and Sport to GDP

Source: ATB Financial’s Economics & Research Team, April 30, 2019

Contribution of Culture and Sport to GDP

From music festivals and libraries to sporting events and video game design, Albertans both produce and enjoy a wide range of cultural and sports activities. In economic terms, these activities generated more than $6.1 billion of GDP for the province in 2017, or about 2.0 per cent of that year’s total GDP.

Culture-related activities account for majority, at 86.5 per cent of the total GDP. In per capita terms, that amounts to $1,248 of GDP generated per Albertan compared to $194 for sports activities. The national figures are $1,448 per person for culture and $180 per person for sport.

The largest sub-sector is audio-visual and interactive media at $1.9 billion (31.1 per cent of the total culture and sport GDP). According to Statistics Canada, this sub-sector “includes activities related to video game publishing, film, television and video production, as well as motion picture exhibition.”

The second largest sub-sector is visual and applied arts at just over $1.0 billion (16.3 per cent of the culture and sport GDP). Organized sport, which includes both professional and amateur sporting events, generated $349.5 million of GDP (5.7 per cent of the culture and sport GDP).

When it comes to jobs, 66,584 Albertans were employed in the culture and sport sector in 2017. Of these jobs, 53,739 were in culture and 12,845 were in sport. The number of jobs in culture slipped by 8.4 per cent between 2014 and 2017 while jobs in sports increased by 4.4 per cent. This suggests jobs related to cultural activities were hurt more by the recession than those related to sports.

https://atb.com/learn/economics/Pages/default.aspx

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Two Little Birds by Diyet and the Love Soldiers

Inspired by the desire of youth to break away and be free. To seek freedom from imposed rules and becoming something that you do not want to become and finally finding some sort of redemption and peace from those wild and reckless years.

Two Little Birds by Diyet and the Love Soldiers

Conceived by Alistair Maitland
Video by Alistair Maitland and Brendan Preston

—

Diyet & The Love Soldiers is alternative country, folk, roots and traditional with catchy melodies and stories deeply rooted in Diyet’s Indigenous world view and northern life. Backed by Love Soldiers: husband and collaborator, Robert van Lieshout and Juno Award winning producer, Bob Hamilton; this multi-instrumental trio from the Yukon has a sound that can fill a big stage or capture an intimate room.

More About Diyet & The Love Soldiers >>

Bookings via Maverick Cooperative: http://maverickcooperative.com/diyet-and-the-love-soldiers/

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Tim Isberg – 25 Years After: Songs and Stories from a Canadian Soldier in Rwanda

25 Years After: Songs and Stories of a Canadian Soldier in Rwanda

Singer, songwriter and soldier, Tim Isberg returns to Festival Place for a special evening and tribute, 25 Years After: Songs and Stories of a Canadian Solider in Rwanda, April 18, 2019.

Using song, stories and photography, Tim Isberg shares his personal account in his year as a UN Military Observer in Rwanda amid the best and worst humanity had to offer. Tim has entertained audiences in many corners of the world. He brings well-crafted songs to the stage, and a unique and endearing array of life experiences he shares in a way that makes each listener feel connected. Tim recently celebrated the release of his third studio album, Running on the Edge, in February.

25 Years After: Songs and Stories of a Canadian Soldier in Rwanda
April 18, 2019 – 7:30 pm
Festival Place – Sherwood Park, AB
Tickets: $32 – $36

Tickets are available through the Festival Place Box Office (https://festivalplace.ab.ca/festival/view/buy or 780.449.3378) or through Ticketmaster.ca