Blog Posts

"Hilda's Yard" Makes for Hugely Satisfying Entertainment

6/12/2015

Photos by Mark Girdauskas

It’s 1956 and Hilda Fluck has spent her life doing everything expected of a good housewife and mother of the 50s. Now, she anticipates having some peace and quiet to enjoy with Mr. Fluck. However, calamity is about to strike. It will bring misfortune to Hilda but two hours of delightful entertainment to the fortunate audiences of "Hilda's Yard".

Towards the end of the first act, it appears that Mr. Fluck may lose his job, and the children are back for more than a brief visit. Hilda glumly notes, “They took a giant pin and pricked our happiness balloon.” It appears that things couldn’t get any worse. But they can and do – rapidly – as Gary’s ‘bookie’ and ‘bimbo’ make their own entrances over the back fence, Bobbi with a good-natured and boisterous greeting to Hilda, “Are you the mom?!”

AVSS Farewell to Broadway a Hit with Audiences

5/22/2015

Arthur Voaden Seconday School's Off-Broadway Singers wowed audiences on four nights with their performance of forty-seven musical selections from ten broadway shows, under the direction of Tom Pietrangelo.

Visit the Newest Island "Hotspot" - "Neville's Island" Starts Thurs April 30th at the Princess Ave Playhouse

4/29/2015

Neville's Island is a Marvel of Human Ingenuity
Neville Island is a marvel of human ingenuity, taking hundreds of person-hours to construct. Those persons are pretty darned proud of their work, as they should be. They have accomplished the feat of turning the simple stage of the Princess Ave playhouse into an island of adventure.

Get away to the newest island hotspot - "Neville's Island" (aka Ennis Island). It's just the place to kick back, relax and rejuvenate.

Rotary Festival Award Competition Night Displayed Musical Excellence, More to Enjoy at Keynotes Concert April 10th

3/10/2015

"Snow White & The 7 Dwarfs" a Delightful Pre-Christmas Outing at the Princess Ave Playhouse

12/15/2014

Congratulations to the Elgin Theatre Guild on their presentation of Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs, a pantomime by James Barry, produced by Lesley Chapman and Ken Roberts. Once again the annual pre-Christmas "panto" presentation attracted large audiences, enthralled children (actors and theatre-goers alike), and kept everyone in stitches for much of the show. The sold-out performances ran from December 4th to 15th, with a huge cast of main characters, dwarfs, woodland creatures, guards and chorus.

The Irresistible Rhythms of the Stan Brown Blues Band

11/27/2014

When the Stan Brown Blues Band is in town it’s always a special occasion for his many long-time local followers. Stan, an almost life-long musician, along with his band-mates, have recently been taking their show to a wider area of southwestern Ontario. They are finding appreciative audiences for their distinctive brand of jump blues wherever they go.

Born in St. Thomas, Stan has lived in Fingal all his life, the second-generation on his dairy turned cash crop farm. He attended Central Elgin Collegiate Institute and at thirteen bought his first guitar at the “House of Music” in St. Thomas.

Read the article in the Holiday Edition of Relish Elgin magazine.

Calling All Musicians - Rotary Music Festival Syllabus Now Available

9/22/2014

The St. Thomas Rotary Music Festival will reach its 61st year when it takes place February 23 to 27, 2015. The St. Thomas Rotary Club has released the Syllabus which is now available on the Club’s website www.rotarystthomas.org. Printed copies may be picked up at Maestro Music Academy, 323 Talbot St, Central Music Academy, 135 Wellington St, Public Libraries in St. Thomas and Aylmer, or from Ron Somerville [email protected]. Copies are also available at schools in East and West Elgin and at Belle Aire, London. Registration deadline is December 15th, 2014. New this year is the offer of free registration to groups and bands if they are required to take buses to the festival. Contact for festival information: Ron Somerville, 226-377-2958.

"Stag and Doe" a Brilliant Play to End Port Theatre Season

8/26/2014

Entertaining Elgin - Article & Photos by Dave Ferguson

Mandy (Rose Napoli) & Robert (Jaron Francis)

A series of unfortunate events is a sure-fire set-up for interesting twists and comedic collisions. The goal is to invoke tears brought on by tummy aching laughter from the believability of the situations being acted on the stage. Stag and Doe by first time playwright Mark Crawford eloquently paints a calamity of errors that create the well woven and humorous twists and turns.

New Comedy from an Exciting New Playwright Sure to be a Fun Finale to 2014 Port Theatre Season

8/18/2014

Mark Crawford (Photos by Melissa Kempf)

“Stag and Doe” is a “laugh filled romp through the perils of prenuptial shenanigans”. It will cap off the varied and well-received summer 2014 line-up of plays at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre.

Theatre Manager Melissa Kempf acknowledges “tremendous support from our Season Subscribers as well as single ticket holders across London-Middlesex and Elgin County. It is encouraging to see the overwhelming response for musicals and newly scripted plays in addition to our traditional comedies and drama.”

The Cabin is a "Fixer Upper" But Performances are Perfectly Hilarious

8/4/2014

Entertaining Elgin - Article & Photos by Dave Fersuson

If laughing out loud until your stomach hurts and you cannot breathe were a crime, then the majority of the audience at Port Stanley’s Festival Theatre would be guilty as charged.

The fourth production on the PSFT stage for the 2014 season, The Fixer Upper, written by Lorne Elliot, is a meticulously crafted hilarious comedy set in Prince Edward Island. The entire laugh-riot of a play is propelled throughout the performance by a series of seven phone calls.

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