A Dramatic Turn of Events for Live Theatre! - theHumm August 2021
A Dramatic Turn of Events for Live Theatre! - theHumm August 2021
To keep their dramatic brains busy during Covid, both Studio Theatre Perth and Kanata Theatre were recently offered opportunities to participate in 10-Minute Playwriting workshops facilitated by award-winning playwright Guy Newsham. The playwrights who took part learned how to quickly develop character, conflict and settings by getting creative and experimenting while cutting out extraneous details. Not an easy feat!
Under Guy’s tutelage, eight original plays came into being: four with Studio Theatre Perth and four with Kanata Theatre. Both theatres felt these plays deserved a live audience, so they came together to create A Weekend of Pop Up Theatre! For good measure, they included one of Guy’s award-winning 10-minute plays for a total of nine plays coming to the streets of Perth on the weekend of August 28 and 29.
The Weekend of Pop Up Theatre production team has been engaging with the Town and many Perth businesses to create an event that offers a more immersive community experience. Through creative collaboration, cross-promotion and forging new relationships, these efforts have resulted in a multi-venue event allowing all nine plays to be performed outdoors at different locations around the Town.
So, how does it work? Each play has been linked with a Perth business to create or support a space for the performance. The plays will be performed twice daily in the specified location, on both Saturday and Sunday. Actors in each play will “pop up” their set, announce the start of their play, perform, and then be available to provide information on the event or the theatre group performing. Anyone may happen across one of the plays throughout the weekend. They are welcome to stop and enjoy some free theatre as part of their day.
For the more adventurous, or for theatre buffs who want even more drama in their lives, Studio Theatre Perth has created a scavenger hunt opportunity — complete with prizes — to seek out all of the plays while you enjoy our lovely little theatre town. In order to play, you must purchase a Pop Up Theatre Passport. The Passport will give you the inside scoop on all of the plays: playwrights, directors, actors, crew, times, locations, and a map to find each play. The Passport also includes a Game Card to collect stickers/stamps from the actors at each Pop Up venue. Collect a sticker from all nine plays and enter to win the Grand Prize! Collect a sticker from 2–8 of the Pop Ups and enter to win additional prizes. Prizes are listed on the Studio Theatre Perth website. Prizes have been generously donated by the many venues and partners involved in supporting this event.
Pop Up Theatre Passports are available for purchase through Tickets Please (485–6434, ticketsplease.ca) as well as at Studio Theatre Perth box office every Saturday morning in August from 10am to noon. In order to keep the information secret until the Weekend of Pop Up Theatre starts, a QR code will be provided to those who purchase online and a gift card will be given to those who purchase in person leading up to the weekend.
Starting Saturday August 28 at 9am, Studio Theatre Perth will be open for you to trade in your QR code or Gift Certificate for your Pop Up Theatre Passport. Then you can start to plan your adventure! The nine plays are done in two cycles each day: the first round starts at 10am with the last play at 2pm, and the second round starts at 1:30pm with the last play at 5:30pm. All performances are within walking distance and there are many washrooms available for use throughout the town.
Pop Up Theatre Passports will also be available for sale during the event weekend for anyone who wishes to join into the fun!
For information about Studio Theatre Perth and the Weekend of Pop Up Theatre, including links to the local businesses that are supporting this venture, please visit studiotheatreperth.com . For information about Kanata Theatre, including information on seeing these 10-minute plays live on stage in September, please visit kanatatheatre.ca . For information about what else is going on in Perth that same weekend, visit perthtourism.ca .
Chris Lemaire — Powerful Art - theHumm August 2021
By Sally Hansen
Art… and Soul
It’s both refreshing and disconcerting when you encounter evidence that causes you to question your preconceptions (i.e., biases). So I was a bit surprised that a guy who describes himself as a redneck, worked as a heavy equipment operator, builds muscle cars and worked as a logger, creates artworks with the emotional clout and beauty that Chris Lemaire does.
Skies rule in his paintings. Lemaire credits the five years he spent in Newfoundland with his emergence as an accomplish......
A Dramatic Turn of Events for Live Theatre! - theHumm August 2021
To keep their dramatic brains busy during Covid, both Studio Theatre Perth and Kanata Theatre were recently offered opportunities to participate in 10-Minute Playwriting workshops facilitated by award-winning playwright Guy Newsham. The playwrights who took part learned how to quickly develop character, conflict and settings by getting creative and experimenting while cutting out extraneous details. Not an easy feat!
Under Guy’s tutelage, eight original plays came into being: four with Stud......
Festival of the Wild Child Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Returns on August 28 - theHumm August 2021
On Saturday, August 28, the Mississippi Madawaska Land Trust (MMLT) invites you and your school-aged children to The Festival of the Wild Child — Scavenger Hunts at High Lonesome Nature Reserve near Pakenham, Ontario.
This year’s themed scavenger hunts offer you the chance to share creative outdoor learning and play. It will be a day of woodland fun — a fantastic opportunity for families and “social bubbles” to enjoy the outdoors together while respecting O......
Go Play Outdoors! An Interview with Summer Theatre Smiths Falls - theHumm August 2021
It’s been about a year-and-a-half since we’ve been able to take in any live theatre, and although several local troupes have really stepped up their Zoom games, everyone seems pretty keen to get back to in-person productions. Fortunately for area acting aficionados, Summer Theatre Smiths Falls (STSF) is jumping back onto the boards — outdoors at the Heritage House Museum — with an intriguing and varied line-up. theHumm contacted STSF’s General Manager Roger Sands and Artistic Direc......
Get Your Art Fix in the Valley! - theHumm August 2021
By Miss Cellaneous
Cornwall Comes to Burnstown
Bittersweet Gallery is gearing up to present the 49th Annual Show of Burnstown clay-relief sculptor Richard Gill.
The Coast of Cornwall in sculpted clay relief will open on August 21, outdoors on the grounds of the gallery. Richard and his wife Cheryl were captivated by Cornwall’s picturesque coast when they traveled there pre-Covid. A ceremonial county in the southwest peninsula of England, it is considered a Celtic nation and......
Magic Returns to Smiths Falls! OUTERBRIDGE – Clockwork Mysteries Shows Start on August 6 - theHumm August 2021
World-class magic show OUTERBRIDGE – Clockwork Mysteries is returning to The Station Theatre in Smiths Falls from August 6 through September 5, with shows on Fridays at 7:30pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 7:30pm, and Sundays at 2pm. Provincial guidelines will allow up to 70 people at each performance.
Critics across the globe have hailed Ted and Marion Outerbridge as “Champions of magic” (Bergedorfer Zeitung, Hamburg, Germany), described their performance as “A visual feast” (Jinhua Daily, Chin......
A.D. Redux — Almonte Art Crawl & Show - theHumm August 2021
By Stephen Brathwaite
Back in 1974, Ian Paige and I met at Richard Gill’s summer pottery course in Burnstown. For me it was a graduation present to myself. I think for Ian it was an escape from working for Playtex in Arnprior and a desire for a career change. He became a potter! I had bought land near Pakenham the previous year and wanted to get to know the community. Ian’s response was: “If you want to know the people of Pakenham, cultivate ME!” I did and I did, and it worked. I felt welcomed and fell ......
Merrickville Festivalof the Arts - theHumm August 2021
The first Merrickville Festival of the Arts will take place on Saturday, August 28 and Sunday August 29, when residents and visitors are invited to celebrate summer by enjoying diverse art activities in various village locations. With its heritage stone and red-brick buildings, not to mention the Rideau Canal — a UNESCO World Heritage site — Merrickville provides a relaxed ambiance for visitors of all ages to discover.
More than 25 Merrickville Artists Guild (MAG) artists will display their pai......
Artist and Studio Tour in Perth - theHumm August 2021
Art Works! Perth is delighted to announce that their 3rd annual Artist and Studio Tour will take place in and around the beautiful town of Perth from August 27–29. Come out and meet many local talented artists and see their newest works, in the places in which they create! Make a day — or two — of it by treating yourself to delicious meals and snacks in excellent local cafés and restaurants. Look in on the many delightful small businesses inside the downtown core.
For a map of the tour, a directe......
A Midsummer Night in Perth Landscapes Interpreted through Art and Fashion - theHumm August 2021
Two creative business owners, who opened their doors in Perth just as the pandemic gripped the province, are collaborating in an exclusive one-night-only gallery event to mark the midsummer and to finally have their grand opening!
On Saturday, August 14, artist Katherine Muir Miller, in collaboration with Ranelle Larocque from Queen Bee Millinery, will roll out the red carpet for an exclusive event at the Katherine Muir Miller Gallery (22 Gore Street E.). Tick......
The Pond Music Series Live Outdoor Shows on The Cove’s Westport Pond - theHumm August 2021
Always one of the most active live music venues in theHumm’s coverage area, The Cove in Westport is emerging from pandemic restrictions with a newly renovated patio and a full roster of outdoor music scheduled for August (and beyond!). We contacted manager Seamus Cowan to find out more about their plans.
theHumm: What kinds of renovations have you done to your patio in order to use it as a live music venue?
Semus Cowan: Due to Covid, we were able t......
Artists Against Racism, Honour Project - theHumm August 2021
By Colleen Gray
The billboard photo above is from the Artists Against Racism, Honour Project campaign. Six artists have work being featured on Pattison billboards across Canada for the next month. The artwork is designed to highlight the recovery of the bodies of children who have died in residential and day schools throughout the country.
This piece is titled “The Homecoming”. The story for it is as follows: A boy meets his Grandfather for the first time as the great homecoming begins. He lifts ......
Participate in theVirtual Run for AGH - theHumm August 2021
Walkers and runners of all ages and abilities are invited to participate in this year’s virtual Run for AGH, sponsored by Canadian Tire Corp., Carleton Place, and taking place from Saturday, September 11 at 6am to Sunday, September 12 at 6pm. In order to ensure everyone’s safety, participants can complete their run or walk anytime during the weekend, choosing either one of the mapped out routes or to walk or run their own route.
This......
New Gallery in Town! - theHumm August 2021
Some of the best art, the best music and greatest societal movements come during times of great struggle and strife. Is the middle of the pandemic the best time to open a new art gallery? The answer is most likely no, but Keith Busher seldom thinks “safe”. Keith saw the spike in the housing market, sudden lifestyle changes and a need amongst artists (with markets, comic cons and art shows on hold) as an opportunity to move to an art-rich community and open up a studio/gallery. His n......
Summer of 2021:Regrowth and Regeneration - theHumm August 2021
By Chandler Swain
Seeing our beautiful oaks and apple trees regrowing a second set of leaves after the devastation of the LDD moth invasion earlier this summer, it seems like regrowth and regeneration are possible just when we need it. This theme is truly alive in many local farms providing us with wonderful local organic food. This month, Climate Network Lanark will focus on the Food Security aspect of addressing the Climate Crisis.
To get more insight on this topic I talked to Alberto Suarez-Esteban about Nature......
Linda Hamilton —Wild About Flowers - theHumm August 2021
One of the best things about summer in Lanark County is the profusion of flowers that bloom — in gardens and in the wonderful wilderness. Almonte artist Linda Hamilton currently has a special celebration of local flora on display at the Mill of Kintail Museum, and the best part about her flowers is that they last forever! theHumm caught up with Linda to find out more.
theHumm: Your creations are so beautifully lifelike that it’s hard to be......
26th Annual Fibrefest - theHumm August 2021
It’s that time of the year again — when Almonte is normally crowded with fibre artists and fibre art enthusiasts. This year, however, due to the limits on social gatherings and with an eye towards public health recommendations, organizers have made the decision to cancel the in-person aspect of Fibrefest 2021, taking place from September 8–12. The market and shopping portion is postponed until September 2022, but there are new ways to participate in Fibrefest and support your favourite fibre......
Those Far Greener Pastures - theHumm August 2021
By Glenda Jones
My garden is no stranger to weeds. You might recall that a few years ago I suggested we hold Weedfest here. Alas, no one showed up, and our celebration fell flat. Weeding my own garden is a complete drag, but someone else’s always looks like it would be more fun to do.
Imagine, then, my delight in being able to work at a friend’s market garden, digging out weeds and planting stuff to my heart’s content. The earthy scent in the greenhouse is intoxicating as we watch seedlings maturing into prolific......
Weekends in Perth - theHumm August 2021
As pretty well everyone knows, small independent businesses have not had the easiest year-and-a-half of it. At the same time, tourism associations have had to balance public safety concerns with business interests. With the advent of Step 3 of the Roadmap to Reopen Ontario comes a loosening of restrictions and the opportunity to encourage folks to come on back — safely — and enjoy all that our charming small towns and rural areas have to offer. Perth Tourism is doing just that through their “W......
Food Sovereignty - theHumm August 2021
By David Hinks
Over 800 million people in our world regularly go to bed with an empty stomach. One in five children under five years of age in our world is stunted due to chronic malnutrition. Every day over 25,000 people in our world die from starvation. We pride ourselves in Canada as one of the most advanced nations on earth, yet according to Food Banks Canada over 1 million Canadians rely on Food Banks — over one-third of these Canadians are children.
What is the focus of our media? Lately, I have......
Almonte Potters are Back in Action! - theHumm August 2021
The Almonte Potters Guild (APG), now a not-for-profit co-operative, is an innovative member-run facility that has been an active part of the Mississippi Mills community for close to twenty years. It provides a friendly and creative environment for potters, both new and experienced, to develop their technical and artistic skills.
Classes have always been the lifeblood of this facility, allowing the APG to grow and thrive throughout the years. Unfortunately, like so many small businesses in Ontario......
Artist Showcase: Colleen Gray - theHumm August 2021
Heritage House Museum in Smiths Falls is excited to present a showcase of artist Colleen Gray’s work. Painting with ground mineral watercolours, Gray creates vivid and iridescent artworks that share Indigenous stories and experiences with the viewer. Rooted in Indigenous spirituality, learned and practiced over her lifetime and informed by her Cree Elders, Gray uses her art to teach about how to think Indigenously and how to understand the deep connection to the land that we all have,......
Open Houseat Camp Lau-Ren - theHumm August 2021
Big news! Camp Lau-Ren is planning an in-person Open House for September 4! No, this is not a dry, online virtual event with mute button or Wi-Fi connection issues. The only connection that matters is the connection between people and nature at the beautiful Camp Lau-Ren site.
Executive Directors Ron and Joanne Hartnett recently announced plans for the Open House to take place on Saturday, September 4 from 11am until 2pm. “Although we couldn’t open this summer, we are anxious to welcome back camp......
Middleville Museum has Re-opened! - theHumm August 2021
The fine folks at the Middleville and District Museum are so excited (and relieved) to announce that they are once again able to welcome you and all your friends and relatives. They are now open on Saturdays, Sundays and holiday Mondays from 12–4pm through to the Thanksgiving weekend, and also by appointment. All health regulations will be in place to keep visitors and museum volunteers safe, so please remember your mask and be prepared to provide contact information.
And, to welcome people back to the Museum, admission through August will be by donation! Everyone is invited to come a......
Breakfast with Soul — Write On! - theHumm August 2021
Are you a writer? A would-be writer? Not sure where to begin? Come to the next Breakfast with Soul Zoom meeting on August 15 at 9am and hear from this month’s special guest, Peter Occhiogrosso peterocchiogrosso.com . A member of the Authors Guild, Peter is the author of five nonfiction books, and is a coauthor, collaborator, or ghostwriter of twenty more, all for major publishers like Simon & Schuster, Penguin, Doubleday and Hay House. In recent years his books have focused primarily on spirituality, the nature of consciousn......
Apr 20 Perth Trashure Hunt Clean-up
Apr 20 Solitary Man
Apr 27 Festival of the Maples
Apr 27 The Moth Project
May 4 - 5 Spring Fine Art Show
May 5 Music at Mera: The Andrew Collins Trio
May 11 - 12 Art in the Attic
May 11 Engelbert Humperdinck & Tom Jones Tribute
May 16 MMLT Talk & AGM
- IS THIS A PROTEST?
- A Classic Whodunnit Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee at Studio Theatre
- Readers, Writers, and Poets
- Celebrate Indigenous Culture in CP
- Celebrate the ClassicsWith the Arnprior Choir
- 4F Auction Concoction Food, Fun, Fashion & Favourites
- Cheerfully Made Spring Market
- Electrify to Decarbonize Lanark
- Volunteer Forum
- Frankenstein Comes to The Station Theatre
