Jane Harris Zsovan
Photography: Sarah Underwood
ARTSTAGE IS BACK, and the curtain rises on Act II of the popular Allied Arts Council of Lethbridge’s (AAC) fundraiser at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, January 16, at the Yates Memorial Centre. “ArtStage provides the community with a creative showcase of mostly pre-professional and professional artists they might not otherwise be aware of. The inaugural event went over very well. So, this is our second year,” explains Lindsay Meli, Communications Co-ordinator for the AAC.
Lindsay adds that the show will include dance, music, drama, spoken word and graphic arts. “It’s going to be a very engaging evening for the audience,” says the show’s Artistic Director, David Mikuliak, adding that Southern Albertans will be amazed at the breadth of talent displayed by the innovative, rising Southern Albertans booked to perform at ArtStage Act II. “The focus is on young or emerging artists this year, and it’s a very diverse group of performers,” says David.
This year ArtStage will include performances from Troy Emery Twigg whose contemporary aboriginal dance is based on his Blackfoot Nation heritage. Drawing upon his personal encounters with nature, Troy explores the First Nations themes and issues that continue to shape him. Southern Alberta’s Ali Golbabai, one of Canada’s rising flamenco guitarists, will entice audiences while Sonis McAllister and the Barracuda Orchestre combine unique instrumental music with the spoken word. Also added to this eclectic mix are Lethbridge-based improvisational theatre group, Drama Nutz; members of the University of Lethbridge Opera Workshop; and Sludge, the ArtStage house band. The whole evening will be hosted by a face familiar to many Southern Albertans, Jeff Carlson.
Planning for the event began in the fall, and once the acts were signed in mid-November, David was faced with the enormous task of pulling the show together in time for ArtStage’s January debut. “It’s an interesting challenge to put together a showcase that is so diverse,” he explains. However, if anyone’s up to the challenge, it’s David. His broad experience in the arts includes being a vocalist, actor, director, as well as a performing arts teacher at G.S. Lakie Middle School–his day job.
For the full story pick up the current issue of Lethbridge living Magazine
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