Two arts council Board members, Nathan Linders (second from right, on console, above) and Penelope Johnson, attended a technician training workshop and work party at the Frank Venables Theatre on Saturday September 27.  They joined other interested volunteers from the community (left to middle): Steve,  Mike, and Ron. Teaching the basics to the five stage hands were interim theatre manager Glen Cairns and theatre technician Dave Mai (pictured at right above).

Glen provided an overview of the safety features in the building, including operating the fire curtain, location of fire extinguishers and first aid equipment, and exits for audiences and stage crew. Dave Mai began with a colourful demonstration of the lighting board. With LED lights, a full colour palette is now available at the flick of a switch. The volunteers tried their hand at setting cues such as a sunset on the cyc (back wall).

Dave also introduced some of the intelligent lighting system (moving heads with gobos), creating colourful visuals with motorized “spots” and patterns of light and shadow to simulate a variety of environments such as underwater eddies, a disco, or forest leaves.

Dave continued his instruction with a tour of the catwalks above the audience (pictured above). Here the crew gained some familiarity with the two manually operated travel spots and learned how lights can be adjusted on the lighting bars. Having a head for heights came in handy!

Back in the booth, Dave explained how the sound board handles everything from announcements to the foyer and backstage, to individual mics and monitors for up to 48 separate performers, to a variety of vocal and instrumental sound effects for each mic. Music, video, and sound effects can also be run through the system via laptop.

The introductory session wrapped up with a backstage work party to label the dozens of mic cables and other equipment. Above, Mike and Steve label the cords. Below, Nathan shrink wraps protective coating using the approved lighter method, while Dave commandeered the hairdryer for the same purpose.

Thank you to the Oliver Community Theatre Society for providing this introduction to theatre tech. Their hope is for more in-depth training in the future to increase a stable of knowledgeable, local technicians. Thank you to OCTS Chair Wendy Newman for the coffee and doughnuts (which of course were consumed in the lobby only!)

 submitted by Marion Trimble, FASS committee

“The World is but a canvas to our imagination,” said Thoreau, and appropriately, Dreams and Visions is the theme when the Oliver Community Hall is once again transformed into a gallery of fine art for the 31^st annual Fall Art Show and Sale presented by the Oliver Community Arts Council. The textures and colours of the imagination matched by the seasonal splendor of Fall will be everywhere apparent during the 2-day event being held Saturday, October 4^th and Sunday, October 5 at the Oliver Community Centre on Park Drive

Nine categories of art showcase some of the finest artists of our region. Works include Photography, 3-Dimensional, and Fibre Art, as well as paintings and mixed media. All vie for top honours with awards chosen by the voting public on Saturday.

A new category has been added this year. The “Budding Artist” features art by youngsters as young as 3 years old to encourage community involvement in the arts no matter what age or ability.

While many pieces are for sale as usual, this year many are also for display only, allowing visitors a rare chance to view an outstanding, broader collection of art. Besides viewing the artwork entries, visitors can enjoy two additional displays. The Fabricators’ “Seasons of the Okanagan Calendar” project will be featured on the stage. Each of the members uses several different techniques to produce the quilts featured in the calendar. The Ripoff Artists will also be featured, setting up their creations of this year’s summer challenge, “Queen of the Fish,” by Mimi Parent. Each Ripoff artist re-creates Parent’s needlework mermaid in their own medium, and the results are fascinating!

All visitors paying admission by donation on both days are eligible to win a stocked wine fridge. The fundraiser—replacing the Silent Auction of past years—will reward the lucky winner with 17 fine wines from some of Oliver’s best wineries.

Show times Saturday are from 3 to 9 p.m. The Opening Reception from 7 to 9 p.m. features live music performed by “Jazz Out West” with radio host Brock Jackson as the evening’s M.C. Saturday’s event concludes with the Awards Ceremony.

The show continues Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., but only through admission to the “Festival of the Grape.”

If saying goodbye to summer has dampened the spirit, be uplifted by welcoming the magic and incredible creativity of our local artisans at the “Dreams and Visions” weekend show. See you there! Bring your friends!

by Marion Boyd, South Okanagan Concert Society

Flex pass tickets are on sale for a musically stimulating and emotionally enthralling series of concerts performed under the auspices of the South Okanagan Concert Society.  This will be the first full season to enjoy all the concerts at the new Venables Theatre.  The lineup promises to meet the high standards of an exceptional venue.   Don’t let the winter blahs get you down when you can join friends and come alive to an eclectic mix of performances guaranteed to brighten your spirits.

First to appear on Monday, October 20^th, is Quartetto Gelato.   Known as the “Cirque du Soleil” of classical music they are supremely talented, deliciously smart, endlessly creative, refreshingly funny and totally surprising.   Virtuosic showpieces, romantic tenor arias, pyrotechnical solos, blazing gypsy show pieces, multi-instrument mastery and a World Accordion Champion – this is Quartetto Gelato.   This quartet ‘s theatrical stage presence and relaxed humor establishes an intimate rapport with audiences world wide.   They are not to be missed!

For those impatient to get tickets, here is the scoop.  Four admission flex pass tickets for only $70 are already on sale for the concert series at Beyond Bliss in Oliver, and Imperial Office Pro in Osoyoos or at the door.   The flex ticket can be used in any combination.   Four can go to one concert, snowbirds can share a ticket or one person can come to all 4 concerts.    A single entrance is $20.  Those students 17 and under gain admission free and those needing a ride from Osoyoos can call Maureen at 495-7978 and arrange to come by bus.    All concerts start at 7:30 p.m.

What else is in store for you?  On Friday, January 23^rd Offramp Jazz Sextet  performs.   The best of the swing era and everything in between,  The Offramp Jazz Sextet brings you a sampling of jazz that will leave you dancing and singing!   Come and hear Duke Ellington and Count Basie, tasty Latin grooves, a bit of boogie, and some beautiful ballads.

On Friday, February 20^th, pianist Sara Davis Beuchner returns to our stage and we will hear our lovely new grand piano finessed by one of the leading keyboard artists of our time.  Sara is a dazzling pianist and a witty speaker who creates an intimate connection with her audience.   Her vast piano repertoire ranges from J.S. Bach to contemporaries.   Ironclad technique allows her to interpret music “with a masterful blend of rigor and authenticity and the seductive lightness of charm.”  Anyone who heard her perform here in 2011 will be back for more!

QuintEssence will be on stage for the finale of the season on Friday,  March 27^th.  Featuring four internationally renowned vocalists and pianist, Tina Chang, QuintEssence offers a fresh, innovative concert experience for lovers of classical music of any style.   Their concerts showcase cherished opera repertoire and exotic musical gems by songwriters spanning from Shubert to Poulenc, Britten to Heggie, and Gershwin to Weill.  They will dazzle you with vocal pyrotechnics, melt your heat with beautifully sung poetry and stretch your musical frontier to the limit with adored music from off the beaten track. The South Okanagan Concert Society invites each and every one of you to get your tickets and join us for the 2014-2015 concert series so the pleasure of good company and good music will be yours.

The Painted Chair

Huge Bag Sale

$5 a bag

Spring and Summer clothing must make way for Fall and Winter

Wednesday September 10

and

Saturday September 13

9 am – 12 noon