Huntsville Festival of the Arts (HfA) is launching it’s 2021 programming, with the theme “Arts For All Stages”, and wants the community to know they will soon be offering a number of online events and projects.
Programming will focus on outdoor and online spaces allowing HfA to better adapt to changing regulations of the different ‘stages’ of the province’s recovery and to engage community members at all ‘stages’ of life, notes HfA executive director, Dan Watson.
When asked why it is important to support the arts right now, Watson said, “I would frame it rather that we need the arts. The arts offer an opportunity to connect with others, to engage our imaginations, to share emotions, to learn. Participating in the arts is vital to our physical and mental health, our sense of belonging, our development. The fact that we can’t physically gather right now, the arts takes on even more importance, and the programming that HfA is offering provide excellent opportunities to help get through these challenging times.”
On January 30, you can enjoy the popular community event A Play, A Pie & A Pint from the comfort of home with a virtual night of theatre and pizza. Full-price tickets include your choice of full-sized pizza and a small salad from Mill On Main—on the day of the event, pick up your pre-made pizza, pop it in the oven and tune in to the show featuring four short plays performed by local thespians.
“This year’s program features three favourites from years past as well as a brand new play written by Alberta Robinet and Sarah Vanasse,” explains Watson. “The plays have been pre-recorded by John A. MacDonald from Creative Construct, and are performed and directed by local artists. Each play is hilarious and short—under 10 minutes. The experience is also an opportunity to connect with others as you can book a private ‘virtual table’ where you can eat and visit with friends and family who you are separated from.”
The four plays featured are:
“I’m Herbert” written by Robert Anderson, directed by Caroline Heyblom, and starring Jeanine Spring and Jamie Jordan; “Sure Thing” written by David Ives, directed by Tia Pearse, and starring Lauren and Mark Rodrigues; “Waiting for the Matinée” written by Eric Coble, directed by Cyd Jones, and starring Karen Thorn and Terry Savory; “I have ZOOM news” written by Alberta Robinet, story concept by Alberta Robinet and Sarah Vanasse, directed and edited by Sarah Vanasse, and starring Alberta Robinet, Sarah Vanasse and Eric Vanasse.
Tickets for this can be purchased online at huntsvillefestival.ca.
You can also get your fill of local music with the Muskoka Music Sessions. Every Friday night at 7 p.m. until February 12, tune into the HFA website or its Facebook page for the free series of online concerts featuring the original music of Muskoka musicians including Sean Cotton, Gina Horswood, the Mighty Lopez, Tobin Spring, and Bet Smith & the Currie Brothers. The series was recorded at Canvas Brewery in November 2020.
The HfA wants the community to know that they remain committed to local youth and are still offering their Teen Performing Arts Program (TPAN) online, are developing their Online Artists in Schools program in partnership with the Huntsville Art Society and Monarch Studio, and will be announcing their call for arts scholarships in the spring.
“We hope that soon we will be able to present again in indoor venues, but until it is safe to do so, we will continue to adapt and come up with creative solutions,” says Watson.
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