Greater Tuna - A Comedy

GREATER TUNA
"Two actors, twenty characters, and a barrell of laughs!"
by: Jaston Williams, Joe Sears, Ed Howard

Buy Tickets Now!
Starring:
Mike Bullett
Sean Roberts

Directed by:
Amie Bello

Come to the Baby Grand and set a spell with the good folks from Tuna, Texas. If you like Stuart McLean's Vinyl Cafe, Don Harron's Charlie Farquharson, and the good folks from HEE HAW, you will enjoy this irreverantly funny take on life in Tuna,  Texas' third-smallest town.

Join Arles Struive, and Thurston Wheelis at radio station OKKK as they discuss current events, including the top essays from The Tuna Junior High American Heritage Essay Contest, entitled "Human Rights, Why Bother?", "Living With Radiation" and "The Other Side of Bigotry".  Then, head on over to Bertha Bumiller's kitchen as Charlene, Stanely, and Jody talk about weight management, dogs,  and text book censorship over breakfast. Down to the Humane Society, Petey Fisk is trying to  save  Yippy's life, but the already over-burdened Bumiller's household can't handle another canine. Phinas Blye and Leonard Childers hit the airwaves with "This Week in Tuna". Stanley adds his two cents to the show to suggest taxing the stupid, and over at the Burras' home, Pearl has a solution to the dog overpopulation problem, but gets into trouble with her bitter pill.

And folks, that just some of Act One.

Sean Roberts and Mike Bullet are the hardest-working actors in show business as they bring you all of the characters of Tuna Texas in two acts. Quick costume and character changes make this a fun and challenging show for actors--not to mention the stage dressers who have to get these two changed in seconds flat! Come and set a spell, grab a cool beverage and enjoy the wit and wisdom of Tuna, Texas!

Performing in the Baby Grand Theatre, within the Grand Theatre.

FLEETWOOD NICKS and PRACTICALLY PETTY

FLEETWOOD NICKS and PRACTICALLY PETTY

Friday November 6 at 7:30 PM

Two exciting acts -One ticket!

Rock down memory lane with Practically Petty and Fleetwood Nicks. Using the same equipment as the Heartbreakers, Practically Petty leaves no stone unturned in recreating the original band sound. Their show has all of Petty's hits with the Heartbreakers as well as his solo work. Tom Petty toured with Stevie Nicks and their amazing Stop Draggin' My heart Around is recreated on stage live by Pratically Petty and Fleetwood Nicks. If you love Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Practically Petty is the show for you. But that's not all. Fleetwood Nicks takes the stage with the whole Stevie Nicks-Fleetwood Mac experience. Plucked from relative musical obscurity by the mega band Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks was rocketed to fame and stardom. Fleetwood Nicks has the look, feel and distinctive sound of Stevie Nicks with Fleetwood Mac plus her highly-in-demand solo shows. Fleetwood Nicks portrays Fleetwood Mac with an incredible authenticity. Backed by seasoned professionals, it is definitely a show you will not want to miss.

Practically Petty and Fleetwood Nicks exudes all the charm and mystique of both famous artists in a stunning recreation of some of the worlds most popular music. A highly entertaining night of great music! Two great shows for the price of one!

BUY TICKETS NOW!

For more information about music shows at the Grand Theatre please go to Music Shows in Kingston ON

Gut Punch - You're Welcome

We have the privilege of presenting two dramatic works this week; Edward Albee's "The Zoo Story" in Kingston, at The Baby Grand, and Charles Robertson's "Ghost of the Tree", at Arts Court in Ottawa. The plays have similarities - both are gritty, need few to no props, have minimal sets and are vehicles to showcase talented actors. For actors and directors, these scripts are meaty and exciting. For audiences, these pieces are moving reminders of human connectedness.

The Zoo Story

As theatre artists, we strive to tell stories that touch people. We want to achieve a level of intimacy with strangers that is normally reserved for the closest of friends. We find writing that is honest and poetic, a story that moves in a natural arc, and actors who have the talent to deliver nuanced roles... and then we punch the audience right in the gut. Hard.

Not all dramatic works have this outcome. There are comedies, and histories, and other types of stories - so why choose to produce works that are "hard to watch"? These two particular plays are also hard to define. They are just plain hard. Like life.

But -like life- they are worthwhile. Worthwhile in the writing, worthwhile in the producing, and worthwhile in the watching. In the hands of talented performers, these scripts bring the audience along an

emotional roller-coaster in a risk-free environment.

Ghost of the Tree

Theatre is a safe space for the audience to participate in life, like arenas are safe places for fans to participate in sports. We are not on the field tackling the quarterback, but we are as invested in the outcome as if we were. We share this investment with the other members of the audience. We share the experience, even though we each have a different seat in the stands.

Plays like "The Zoo Story" and "Ghost of the Tree" give watchers  ground to start a discussion (internally or out loud). They stay with you - undefined, truthful, passionate, painful but cathartic.

You're welcome.

At Last – Georgette Fry Offers a Soulful Etta James Retrospective

Ottawa ON – Jazz, blues, soul--the legendary Etta James sang it all--and who better to take us through her songbook than Canada's own 2013 CMA Singer of the Year, Georgette Fry? Backed by her excellent 11 piece band, with 50 members of the local chapters of her Shout Sister! choir providing gospel harmonies, Fry's retrospective will be filling the Harold Shenkman Hall on July 3^rd.

With thanks to Josh Lyon https://vimeo.com/80557090

Like Etta James, Fry has a big voice that seamlessly glides across musical genres. Her love of “good music” does not sit solely with one particular iteration, making this retrospective a powerful work in its own right. Georgette never needs to imitate; she brings her own solid, sensitive self to these treasured songs and honours Etta's legacy.

Fry's excellent band are all-stars from her hometown, Kingston. Jon 'Bunny' Stewart (sax) arranged the music for the show. He plays on stage with James Wannamaker (sax), Janet MacRae (trumpet), Dave Barton (guitar), Zak Colbert (bass), Ken Hall (organ), Alain McCann (piano), Duncan Holt (drums) and vocalists Kevin Head, Anna Robertson and Christina Foster. Rounding out this already spectacular lineup is Shout Sister!, offering gospel backup during the finale.

With thanks to Josh Lyon https://vimeo.com/80557090

Shout Sister!, is Fry's own choral love-child. “I started Shout Sister at the suggestion of one of my vocal students. The idea of gathering women together to sing without judgement was appealing and daunting at first, but I knew that if I had at least 50 singers, willing to blend, that we could make a beautiful sound.” From that humble beginning, just a few years ago, to 19 chapters across Ontario, Fry invites 50 Ottawa-area women to back her up on stage at the Shenkman.

At Last! Georgette Sings Etta has toured Eastern Ontario to rave reviews and sold-out houses, but has never been performed in Ottawa. This is your chance, at last, to see this phenominal show at the Harold Shenkman Hall, the Shenkman Arts Centre on July 3. Tickets, $48.75, available in person at the Box Office, by phone 613-580-2700, or online at shenkmanarts.ca

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“'Fortunate Son', Matthew Woodward, to be Special Guest in Tribute to CCR

Kingston, ON – Local guitarist, Matthew Woodward, has been invited to join Green River Revival for a few songs at The Grand Theatre when they present Canada's most acclaimed Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute on Friday May 29.

Woodward, a well-known Kingston musician and teacher, has played with The Gaudi Birds, Weeping Tile, Wild Blues Yonder, and The Ila Vann All Stars(Dan Ackroyd)-to name a few. He as a founding member of K-Rock 105.7 FM's Local Talent Development Board and of The Kingston School of Music and now has his own teaching studio. He is also an active fundraiser and events creator. His organising efforts in the 1990's with the Live Music Lover's Weekend earned him a volunteer of the year award from the United Way in 1994. His benefit concert for Haiti raised over $16,000, and he has served on the board of The Joe Chithalen Memorial Music Lending Library. While his list of bands, events, and causes, is endless, he still gets excited to be on stage.

When asked about his upcoming guest spot, Woodward said, “I'm really looking forward to playing with the boys! I am good friends with the drummer, Brian Jennings, and this is going to be a great show.”

Green River Revival has been bringing the CCR experience to North American audiences for many years, and have toured from Newfoundland to British Columbia, Manatoulin Island to Mexico City. Their show incorporates a storyline that presents all of the hits from Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Band leader, Joe Brett, is happy to have Woodward come to the stage and play along with some of the numbers. “The show is full of nostalgia and fun – the audience sings along and we are hoping that Matthew's presence will make them feel all the more at home.”

You don't have to run through the jungle to get tickets for the May 29 show! They are available through The Grand Theatre Box Office by phone (613-530-2050) online (kingstongrand.ca) or up around the bend at 218 Princess Street.