Events Featured

The Laramie Project presented by Recovery Theatre

It was 15 years ago on October 7, 1998 when, from a bar in Laramie Wyoming, two young thugs picked up gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard and took him, under gun-point, to the outskirts of town. When they got there they brutally beat him and left him for dead. The Laramie Project, a hit play written by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theatre Project of New York, explores, through the eyes and words of its own citizens, how this small otherwise peaceful community dealt with the aftermath of such a heinous crime.

Recovery Theatre of Brantford’s presentation, based on this award winning play, is itself a work of community — our community. Over the last 10 years, presentations of The Laramie Project have been used as a vehicle for community groups and communities to come together to examine the violent repercussions of bullying and homophobia. Remaining true to this tradition and to its mandate, Recovery Theatre has assembled an impressive list of community leaders and local residents from all walks of like to contribute to this production. Joining this cast of over 50, for example, is our Mayor Chris Friel, the Speaker of the Provincial Legislature and our sitting MPP Dave Levac, City Councilors David Neumann, Debbie Dingnan-Rumble, John Utley, Marguerite Cesni-Smith, Dan McCreary and Vince Bucci as well as various other local leaders and citizens from throughout the City and County. Together, they will participate in this dramatic reading of The Laramie Project.

The Laramie Project

According to Steven Boudreau, the theatre’s Artistic Director, “The decision to produce this play goes back a couple of years. Some of us felt that we needed to respond to the steady stream of news stories that seemed to be popping up every couple of months about young gay teens that were bullied to the point of making them feel that suicide was the only course for them to take.” He added that “As a group, we were attracted to The Laramie Project because it of its community focused message. Bullying, harassment and homophobia are not simply the responsibility of any single group or individual, they are something that communities need to deal with together.”

In the interest of raising the profile of these important issues, each of the three, scheduled performance of this production, will be followed by a moderated panel discussion on a topic specific to our community concerning the issues of bullying, violence and homophobia. Production dates are October 24, 25 and 26 and the three panel topics will be 1) Education; 2) Religion and Spirituality and 3) Law Enforcement and Justice. Information on the specific tittles of these focus groups and who will make up the panel members and moderators will be forthcoming in a follow-up press release. All performances of The Laramie Project will be held at the Brantford Arts Block and they will begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $20 and will be available at the door the night of the shows, or before hand by calling the Brantford Arts Block at 519 753-9400.

Recovery Theatre’s The Laramie Project is generously supported by the City of Brantford and the Ontario Trillium Foundation and sponsored by Harold & Goetz Timbr-Mart, Counterpoint Church, Laurier Brantford, The Bridge Brant, the Grand River Community Health Centre and the Expositor. 

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Brantford Film Festival – Nov. 14, 15, 16

 

The 4th annual Brantford Film Festival will take place November 14th, 15th and 16th, in downtown Brantford. Each year, the Festival brings in some of the most cutting edge films to be featured. Each screenings is themed, bring together similar stories from a mix of new and veteran filmmakers. Check the Brantford Film Festival’s website for the full schedule.

Tickets for a screening are only $5 each, making a night out at the festival exciting and affordable. You can purchase your tickets at one of many local businesses in Brantford and the surrounding areas.

The festival is growing and gaining a reputation for strongly supporting independent film. This year’s festival will feature five categories: Feature, Short, Student/Youth, Documentary, and Animation. Industry professionals judge each category, and cash prizes and awards are presented to the best films. A “People’s Choice” award is also presented based on the votes of the people who attend the festival.

The Brantford Film Festival is a community-led effort built on partnerships between the Brantford Arts Block, Brantford Public Library, Brantford Film Group, Wilfrid Laurier University’s Brantford Campus, Nipissing University and the City of Brantford. 

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Stage 88 Presents: “The Whores”

Local theatre group, Stage 88 will be presenting “The Whores” by Charles Crosby. The performance – directed by Susan Dignan – will take the audience on a tour of five women’s experiences and perspectives on life as a prostitute. Based on his interviews with real Halifax sex workers, Crosby develops unique characters representing different levels of a strangely hierarchical industry. At the end of each performance, there will be a debrief to discuss the content of the production.

The Whores

Told as interwoven interviews with five sex workers, Charles Crosby’s The Whores takes the audience on a tour of the womens’ experiences and perspectives on life as prostitutes.   The intimate dialogue pulls no punches about a profession that provides both freedom and danger in a strangely hierarchical industry.

“The Whores” is hosted by the Brantford Arts Block, located at 111 Sherwood Dr., and will take place on Friday, November 1st at 9:00pm, Saturday November 2nd at 8:00pm and  Sunday, November 3rd at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $15.00 with some proceeds going to benefit the Sexual Assault Centre of Brant.

For more information and to purchase tickets, you can go to www.brantfordartsblock.ca or contact Ashley Fournier at the Brantford Arts Block by email at [email protected] or by phone at 519-753-9400. 

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Events Featured

Gavin Stephens (Comedy) and Nicholas Wallace (Magic)

Gavin/Nicolas Comedy/Magic Show

Gavin Stephens and the Brantford Comedy All Stars

Friday, October 11, 2013
Doors: 9:00pm
Advanced Tickets: $10

Toronto based Comedian and writer, who’s been described as “Stan Lee meets Bill Hicks” by The Grid magazine. He’s filmed multiple one man specials for CTV and the comedy network, and recently preformed with Reggie Watts at #JFL42.

Gavin was the reader’s choice winner for best standup comedian from Now Magazine in 2010, and for five seasons was a leader actor and writer on the Gemini-nominated sketch show Comedy Inc. on CTV. A multi-media sensation, has appeared at international festivals like Montreal’s Just For Laughs, Cape town Comedy Festival, and Austin’s SXSW with indie comedy legends Margaret Cho, Janeane Garofalo and Andy Kindler.

He has toured throughout Canada, England, the U.S. and South Africa as a highly sought headliner with his one-man multimedia solo show “Spectacular! Spectacular!” opening for international comedy superstar Russell Peters, and appears frequently to offer up his unique and ironic brand of comedy to geeks of every flavour.

Check him out @GavinbStephens

Nicholas Wallace: Practitioner of the Art of Astonishment

Saturday, October 12, 2013
Doors: 8:00pm
Advanced Tickets: $20

nickwallace_photo

Nick Wallace has been described as a Master of subtle illusion and manipulation. He can best be described as a minimalist – who has forgone fancy props and special effects and prefers to conjure with an audiences imagination by presenting magic and mind reading in a way that is both entertaining and thought provoking. He has also recently been named “Canadian Champion of Magic” by the Canadian Association of Magicians.

Nick Wallace red curtain

See what’s in store… 

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Tuesday Night Music Club

A Music Club Like No Other

Individual Artists and Band Members Rejoice!

Are you ready for what could be your most important decission ever? Then you will look forward to Dan’s “Tuesday Night Music Club”. Come January 2013 Dan will be hosting workshops and Master Class sessions geared towards music recording artists and band personnel. Learn firsthand of what goes on behind the music industry door. Get direct access to the front line, and his contacts.

Need to know how to make your mark in the music scene? Don’t miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime! Musicians and recording artists will have chance to benefit from Dan’s several years of experience working at the highest level in the music industry both in Canada and Internationally. Learn about the invaluable knowledge he gained and the productive relationships he formed. Learn how you can do the same through 26 preplanned bi-weekly sessions.

Learn how to make a professional career in the music business through ten’s of thousands of dollars worth of information about the industry without spending anywhere near that much.

What’s in Store?

The Tuesday Night Music Club will give you the inside scoop in the form of several exclusive topics that will help you gain insight into the workings of the music industry. Some of the many topics up for discussion will include Introduction to the Music
Industry, Artist Development, Artist Management, Fan Base Management and Building, Intellectual Property, New Business Models, Band Agreements and Inter Band relations, Self Management and Making Money, Collection Societies, Getting
paid for Performing on Sound Recordings, Independent Labels, SOCAN and Neighboring Rights and the Live Music Industry.

1. Booking Shows and Tours

The sessions will also cover a Booking Shows and Tours segment which will discuss topics like Large Scale Productions, Working with Agents, Promoting Shows and Tours, Tour Management, Large Scale Production Touring, Merchandising, The Recording Industry, Negotiating Licensing Agreements Establishing & Developing a Record Label, , Music Marketing, Product Manufacture& Distribution, Press & Promotion, Sound Recordings in TV, Film, Advertising, Games & Corporate as well as several other topics.

2. Publishing and Music Videos

Ever wish you were in a music video but did not know how to navigate through the proper channels to get your face onscreen. Sessions based around this area will include Music Publishing, Production & Use and Music Publishing.

And that’s not all. Dan will also host sessions that are geared towards how artists can work through Self Publishing and administrative issues. Topics up for discussion in this session will include Advertising, Games and Corporate Production, Film,
Television and a whole lot more.

What are you Waiting for?

That recording contract will not come to you by itself. Don’t miss this chance to get you several steps closer to recording, distribution or marketing your own album. Dan’s 26 Master Classes will be available on a “pay as you go” bases for
a mere $10.00 per class.

Attend all 26 Master Classes!

Visitors who want to attend all of the Master classes are in luck. Grab a deal for a “Tuesday Night Music Club” membership by paying an advance special rate of $150.00. That is a huge difference of the $110 off the weekly P-A-Y-G rate. Gain exclusive access into all 26 Master Classes and find out the little known secrets of the music industry all at once without having to pay extra for individual classes. In fact you can have access to his teachings for less then a $1.00 an hour. Let him iImprove your chances for success, and inprove your musical business acumen to unfathomable and professional levels, super fast.

More Benefits

Not only will a one-time membership to the “Tuesday Night Music Club” get you through every Master class with a single fee it will also entitle you to the following additional benefits –

An Advanced Purchased Membership can be used by any of you band members or friends for any classes that you are unable to attend

Advanced Purchased Members will also be entitled to exclusive a 60 minute one-on-one session with Dan himself scheduled at mutually convenient times. Take this chance to question Dan about your specific goals and projects.

There is no Business like Show Business

Will you be Joining Dan? If the answer to that question is a resounding yes then you will be several of the lucky ones with front row seats to everything that will help your musical aspirations soar and stay there. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from one someone who’s be there, and has been considered of the best in the business.

Tuesday Night Music Club – 2013 Annual Membership
26 Music Master Classes delivered throughout 2013.
C$150.00 

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Heart To Art Project

Heart to Art, a community project working in partnership between the Grand River Community Health Centre, focuses on using forms of art to combat issues of poverty and create awareness of mental health and healthy eating in the community.

There are several workshops being offered, free to the community, in the coming weeks. The first, an infused vinegar workshop is taking place on Wednesday November 21st from1:00-2:30pm at Grand River Community Health Centre. An evening version of this workshop will also be held on Monday, November 26th, 2012 from 7:00-8:30pm at Karahkwa House (237 Mohawk St.).

An “I love my Slowcooker” class will also be held on Thursday November 29th, 2012. Participants are invited to sample some slow cooker meals, learn how to prepare the meals, and take home their own prepared ingredients. Stovetop versions are also available to anyone who does not own a slowcooker.

To register for any of these classes or workshops, please contact the Heart to Art Coordinator, Kate Leeming, at 519-753-9400. Registration is required for all classes. 

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Recollections of Cordage

Memories of days spent working in the Brantford Cordage filled the room of the Brantford Cordage Workers Reunion on November 8th, 2012. Dozens of workers, family, friends and community supporters came to share stories of the Cordage factory’s past, and their hopes for the futures of the site.

Hosted by landlord Howard Rotberg, guests gathered for a light reception and enjoyed artifacts and pictures from the glory days of operations at the Cordage. In addition, several photographs of the new renovations and developments, and artistic re-imaginings of the site by Jack Jackowitz were on display. 

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