The Pearl Company

Shari Vandermolen & David Brideau: Saturday May 5.  Doors: 7:30pm. Show: 8:00. Tickets: $20. Shari Vandermolen is a renowned vocalist and award-winning performer in Hamilton and the Greater Toronto Area who has been entertaining audiences for 15 years with her Quartet, Trio or 5-piece band Quarter to Nine.  She is also the lead vocalist for the 10-piece jazz combo SwingLine.  On May 5th Shari brings her powerful and impressive vocal stylings back to the Pearl Company for a more intimate evening of song with jazz guitarist David Brideau, James Gannett on bass and Vince Waters on drums.  “…hear Vandermolen make jelly of your emotions with her voice and her art… one example is Stormy Weather… I barely weathered that storm intact.”  – View Magazine
David Brideau is a Canadian jazz guitarist, composer, and teacher who has been an active musician for over 15 years. A Hamilton native, and honours graduate from the Mohawk Jazz program, David has played all around the GTA with his own group, the David Brideau Trio and Quartet, as well as being prominently featured in groups with Michael Morobito, Amber-Leigh Palka, and Lauren Perreira among others. He studied under jazz greats Bob Shields, Pat Collins, Kim Ratcliffe, and Mark Ucci and is currently continuing his studies at McMaster University. David often composes his own standards, and released the sold-out EP “Addicted To You” in 2016. He is a recipient of the Dave McMurdo Music Bursary, the Antony Roberts Music Bursary, and the Richard Newell Memorial Scholarship.
Ticets: https://www.ticketscene.ca/events/21098/

HELD OVER! Shelley Marshall Presents: The Award Winning Production “Hold Mommy’s Cigarette”: April 18 & 19. All One Woman’s story of an unfiltered life, written and performed by Shelley Marshall, directed by Linda Kash. It seems appropriate that world renowned Comedienne, Marshall would open her autobiographical One Woman Show in the city where the story and star were born. It took 10 years for Marshall to create this Play and it is the rewarding result of resilience, recovery, and reflection while exploring many genres of performance including elements of clown, stand up, improv, buffoon, and play. Shelley Marshall takes her audience many places; “I take them on an adventure, both emotionally and visually. There is no denying that my story is tragic, but it’s my story and time and writing without shame has been my comedic relief. ‘Hold Mommy’s Cigarette’ is not an exploitation of what has happened in my life, but rather, an acceptance of where it may lead. It is a dark comedy, a vulnerable piece about life, mental illness and survival.” Marshall reveals with a smile. She invites you to come to her show with an open mind and promises you’ll leave with a full heart. *Mature Content* http://www.holdmommyscigarette.com Tickets available at http://www.thepearlcompany.ca or 524-0606. Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1451939231706392/

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CHECK THE REVIEW FOR DEATH AND THE MAIDEN:
http://fringefestivalcommunityreviews.wordpress.com/2013/07/21/death-and-the-maiden/

Death and the Maiden: Written by Laurence Olivier Prize Winning playwright Ariel Dorfman. This is the fourth production that Nortesur has developed for the stage; chosen because it speaks passionately about current international events, it asks tough questions about forgiveness and the role of victims and perpetrators in transitory societies, and it is a local opportunity to see a truly amazing piece of theatre written by one of Latin America’s best contemporary playwrights.  It is raw, provocative, and driven by a cast of characters that are all-too-human. Performed, and designed by emerging professional artists from across the golden horseshoe and the GTA, it is an entertaining, insightful, and extraordinarily powerful piece that delivers an evening of truly engaging theatre.  Thurs.July 18@ 8:00pm, Fri.19@8:00pm, Sat.20@7:00pm, Tues.23@8:00pm, Wed.24@7:00pm, Thurs.25@8:00pm,  Fri.26@7:00pm, Sat.27@8:00pm

AND HERE’S  RIDERGIRL’S REVIEW :
http://fringefestivalcommunityreviews.wordpress.com/2013/07/22/ridergirl-second-review/

RiderGirl: Written and performed by Ottawa based actor and Saskatchewan native Colleen Sutton. Professional sports and
independent theatre meet head on in Tiger Town! This is the story of a young woman whose prairie roots and home team inspire her to get off the sidelines and get in the game of her life.  With the end zone in sight, she fights for every down, but fumbles when she tries to go it alone.  Her team is about to make it – can she do the same?  Come in your colours, GAME TIME is here!  Two?time Rideau award nominee Colleen Sutton will energize your inner fan!  “ **** ½ “The only reason I’ve withheld that last half?star is because I cannot in good conscience give 5 stars to a Rider fan. Other than that, the show was superb.” CBC Manitoba.   Note: Fri. 19 – 2 for 1.  Friday, July 19, 6:30; Saturday,  20, 9:00; Sunday,  21, 2:00; Tuesday,  6:30; Wednesday, 24, 9:00; Thursday,  25, 6:30; Friday,  26, 9:00; Saturday, 27, 2:00

Times, dates, and tickets are  on the Fringe website – www.hamiltonfringe.ca 

The Art Bus is Sponsored by Judy Marsales Real Estate Brokerage:

Last Art Bus for the Summer! Check out Hamilton’s unique and constantly evolving art scene! Call Barbara (905.524.0606) or email (info@thepearlcompany.ca) to reserve your seat. Next dates: Sept 6 & 20. Cost: $15/$10 students/artists. Group rates available.  Start: 6:30 from The Pearl.

• July 5: (L’Arche Gallery, Workers Arts & Heritage, Nathaniel Hughson, Book Club Gallery, Manta Gallery) This will be another varied and interesting trip with specially-opened galleries, and tours of places you have never been before!

FOR THE LOVE O’ NAT – CHRONICLING THE LIFE, TIMES & MUSIC OF NAT KING COLE: Dean Hollin presents another of his popular “Musical Biographies”.  Saturday, May 28th,  8 pm.  $18 advance / $22 door.  An evening of memories and melodies, all tied together by one man — that tremendous crooner of the twentieth century, Nat King Cole. The songs: “A Blossom Fell”, “Route 66, “Mona Lisa”, “Straighten Up and Fly Right”, “Paper Moon”, “When I Fall In Love” and, the timeless “Stardust”! In direct keeping with the instrumentation of the original Nat King Cole Trio piano, rhythm guitar, and upright bass — Dean will be accompanied by a live jazz trio.  http://www.deanhollin.com

Rita Chiarelli in Concert: Friday, September 10 & 11. 8:00pm. $25 at the door. Dubbed the Canadian Goddess of the Blues by CBC’s Shelagh Rogers, Rita is releasing her 8th CD, SWEET PARADISE… All new! Featuring some of Canada’s finest musicians! If you didn’t see the story that Graham Rockingham of the Spectator wrote about what this astonishing woman has been doing lately, here is the link: http://www.thespec.com/whatson/music/article/253754–music-from-the-big-house
“I like to take the listener with me, so they get a picture as to where I’ve been… I guess you could say that I write from the road trips of my life.”  Rita Chiarelli
“These past few years, I took long and lonely journeys to Mississippi and Louisiana… the songs you will hear are the bluesy swampy rootsy experiences I had… they are real and they are from the heart” Rita again.

“What a voice! Powerful…lively, warm, and sensual. The emotion is there, it vibrates and is palpable. This Sweet Paradise is really superb!” Gilles Blampain, Blues Again, Paris, France
www.ritachiarelli.com

The ƒ Holes: Thursday, September 9.  8:30. 15$ at the door.10$ students/artists: … An impeccably authentic, raucously entertaining blend of gypsy jazz, zippy Dixieland, viper blues and roots from this Winnipeg creative hybrid that is rewriting the definition of roots music.  Over-the-top vocals meet pedal steel, blistering horns, banjo and fiddle to create this campy, slightly twisted take on country, blues, dixieland, klezmer and anything that piques their interest, apparently. With music that would be at home on an off-Broadway stage, this musical conglomerate swirls around the hell-fired vocals of Patrick Alexandre Leclerc and a group of talented musicians who throw caution to the wind in their bid to make a distinctive mark. (The F refers to the holes in acoustic guitars and standup basses…)  www.thefholes.ca

Venturing out the first two Fridays of every month:
The ARTBus is sponsored by Judy Marsales Real Estate

• September 3: From The Pearl we’ll head to the Mustard Festival, Arts Hamilton and the Intolerant Gallery. Then the Anastasia Gallery, a Locke Street Ramble and off to Dundas for the Carnegie and the Oddfellows Hall.
• September 10: An Ottawa Street Stroll, the James North Art Crawl, the Tiger Group Studio Gallery.  Another great night!

•    Starting at 6:30 from ‘The Pearl Company’, 16 Steven Street and King William.
•    Please reserve a spot beforehand via email or phone, and purchase your trip ($15.00) when you arrive.
•    We finish up at The Pearl for an après-tour wind-down which includes a tour of the building and usually whatever event is happening on the theatre floor.

16 Steven is at King William just north of King, 4 blocks east of Victoria, and 2 blocks west of Wentworth.  It’s a three-storey factory/warehouse building. Any other questions?  Either call or email me, Barbara Milne (905 524-0606), barbaramilne@cogeco.ca

The Art Bus and The Pearl Company are promoted and supported by THEZine: http://www.thezine.ca

Dean Hollin: The Songs of COLE PORTER & HOAGY CARMICHAEL: Featuring Dean Hollin accompanied by pianist Mark Spencer: Friday August 27. 8:00pm. $15 at the door.  $10 artist/student: Catch this captivating actor/singer as he presents: A state of musicality…? A mere 131 U.S. miles separate Peru, Indiana and Bloomington, Indiana – the respective birthplaces of Cole Porter and Hoagy Carmichael.  Was there something particularly musical in that 1890’s Indiana state water?  Coincidental?  Apparently.  Worth singing about?  Absolutely!

Join Hamilton native, Dean Hollin and pianist Mark Spencer for an undeniably delicious evening of lyric & melody as they journey through the music of Porter & Carmichael.  Presented with unparalleled affection, you’ll remember the hits (Stardust, I Concentrate On You, Miss Otis Regrets, The Nearness of You) – experience the rarities – and re-live the genius of two of the greatest tunesmiths of the twentieth century (and the state of Indiana!). www.myeyeproductions.ca

The 8th Annual Arts of August: Thursday August 26, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at The Pearl Company. Admission: Free.  Living Rock Ministries invites you to make Summer 2010 count by attending the 8th Annual Arts of August Grand Finale.  Youth from Living Rock, Immigrant Culture and Art Association, RE-Create Outreach Art Studio, and the community have submitted art, photography, poetry and music to showcase.  Themes include peace, equality, love and culture.  You will be touched and inspired by what you see and your support will encourage and celebrate these young artists. There will also be raffles and refreshments, with all proceeds supporting Arts of August.  Come and support this wonderful initiative.  Celebrity Judges will honour youth with prizes and Scotiabank Medallions. www.livingrock.ca

The John M. Crawford Blues Band: Friday, August 20, 8:00pm, $10 at the door.  Like the blues?  You’ll love them John Crawford style.  Here’s the line-up: Bass, Kerry Nash; Key board/Vocals, Willie Van Culuart:  Rhythm Guitar Michel Leon; Lead guitar/Vocals John M. Crawford; Drums Bob Letzer.  These guys always rock; you need to hear them sing (and this is exclusive to Hamilton) The Code Red Blues!

Wednesday Night Showcase: Wednesday, August 18, 8:00pm, $10 at the door. The Wednesday Night Showcase is a venue for talented singer songwriters in Hamilton and surrounding areas. Hamilton is a hotbed of talent that often has a hard time highlighting their works; The Pearl Company is happy to provide the opportunity to turn up the volume and let these artists show what they can do. We are hoping to find new talent and have more established musicians work with them while displaying their own talents. Some of the showcased artists will be headlined at the Pearl Company in a future date. The showcase is a once-a-month feature. This Wednesday: Gordon Odegaard and Tim Selles with his band “bruekke” – and more!

Studio Babette Puppet Theatre presents: Pulcinella, il Cameriere (the Waiter): Friday, August 13. 10:30pm – 11:00pm.  After the Art Bus, free for Art Bus patrons, all others PWYC (Pay What You Can)

A Commedia dell’Arte style puppet show for adults. This zany, constantly evolving half-hour puppet play is the perfect way to end an evening of Art Crawl. www.studiobabette.ca

Aidan Knight’s Friendly Friends Tour: Thursday, August 5. 8:00pm. $10 at the door, $8 artist/student: Aidan was known as a great backing musician, playing everything from pop-rock bass lines to violent, pounding hardcore drums. All the while, he was writing songs of his own resulting in ‘Versicolour’, a deeply personal yet universally relatable eight-song collection of ‘oddly charming and delightfully catchy’ tunes. His songwriting is striking, from a hushed love song set on top of classic horns and fingerpicked guitar to life-affirming lyrics and timeless anthems. With a talent like this, it’s clear that it was only ever a matter of time before Knight rose above his supporting role and struck out on his own.