The Pearl Company

Scarlett Jane: Friday, February 7: 8:00pm $20 /$15 students/arts workers/seniors. Andrea Ramolo and Cindy Doire: One of the most exciting new collaborations in recent Canadian music — the marriage of the distinctive songs and beautifully haunting voices, the collaborative song-writing, sultry performance style, and full band arrangements of Andrea Ramolo and Cindy Doire. The blend of the singer’s voices stops conversations; their musical sensibilities interweave seemingly without effort. And now, Stranger, their debut recording, captures their strength and their vulnerability, with a progressive roots sound which embodies the raw and candid demeanor of Lucinda Williams, the moody sensuality of Stevie Nicks, and the tender playfulness of Dolly Parton. A rootsy folk/noir album with enough country-edged rockin’ wailers to keep dancers moving, and gorgeous ballads and moody set-pieces to satisfy the indie-pop fans. Andrea has two previous albums; she’s of Italian heritage, a sweet city woman with fire in her heart, embers in her voice, and a background that includes school teaching, acting, and even tap dancing. Cindy calls herself a troubadour and a vagabond. Her voice can whisper or roar, as the song (and the lyrics) demand. She has three solo albums, two in French, which has given her a following in both French Canada and Europe. www.scarlettjane.com  Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1OtCr52sj4 

A very special fundraiser for Scott (Professor Piano) Cushnie: Wednesday, February 5. 8:00pm. $15.00 adv / $20 at the door.  Guests for this evening with Professor Piano include Sonnie Bernardi, John Gibbard, and Roly Greenway from Crowbar, Lori Yates, Duane Rutter, Omar Tunnoch, Bucky Berger from Fathead, Trickbag and more to come…….  Scott Cushnie is 75 and currently living in Toronto. As Terry Murphy tells us, “He is in need of more support personally and professionally than I can provide for him from Hamilton so I have asked him to re-locate to Hamilton and he has decided to finally take me up on it. He grew up in the Bronte area and taught Kelly Jay from Crowbar his first piano lesson when they were in High School together. The guys from Crowbar are all contemporaries of Scott. In the 70’s he toured with Aerosmith and played on two of their albums “Toys In The Attic” and “Rocks” for which he has received two gold albums. He recorded an album with Ronnie Hawkins at Muscle Shoals Studio that featured local harmonica legend Richard “King Biscuit Boy” Newell and Duane Allman from the Allman Brothers. Today he still plays but because of his visual impairment, he has great difficulty keeping up with his fans, friends and maintaining a performance schedule that is conducive to his considerable talents. He has recorded several Albums of Instrumental Piano Duets with Some Canada’s finest musicians including Lance Anderson, and the late great Doug Riley.  Scott is interested in continuing down this path and future duet CDs are planned.” Bio: http://bit.ly/1hKwyGk  Listen:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb7VVHV8w70

La Ronde – An “Intimate” Play About Seduction: January 30 thru February 1. 8:00pm Tickets: $16.00 / $12.00 students/arts workers/seniors/unwaged. The McMaster Thespian Company turns up the heat with Viennese playwright Arthur Schnitzler’s best-known drama, LA RONDE in a new stage adaptation by local playwright and director Brian Morton (recipient of the 2013 City of Hamilton Arts Award for Theatre). Provocative, stylish, and erotic, LA RONDE follows a chain of amorous couplings across turn-of-the-century Vienna. Exchanging one lover for another, ten actors take on diverse characters in sexy duets that explore the passions, deceptions and disconnections of modern love. Written in 1897, each scene centres around one pair of lovers, depicting their sexual encounter and a brief conversation with characters changing partners ending with a count and the prostitute from the first scene.
LA RONDE features a cast of ten actors which includes Rebecca Lamarche, Gabriel Pinto, Luis Arrojo, Jordan Hallin-Williamson, Erin Dykstra, Sage Hyden, Megan Vukelic, Nicole McDermott, Katie Baldwin, and Matt Breton.  The play will be stage managed by Sydney Stonier with Kayla Michelle Mazepa as Producer.
The McMaster Thespian Company is non-profit theatre organization which specializes in developing and performing classical plays, including but not limited to scripts from Grecian, Elizabethan and Victorian eras. MTC provides opportunities for students who are interested in performing, technical theatre, and production. This is the company’s eleventh season.
LA RONDE contains subject matter of a sexual nature – audience discretion is advised.
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The Pearl Company Winter Theatre Festival: Jan 16 – 18 / 23 – 25:  Tickets: $15 per show. All shows 7:00/8:30. Laughing at God, Sex, and Harper at The Pearl Company Winter Festival, theatre and comedy fans are in for an upbeat treat. This year’s festival features the long-awaited Hamilton debut of one of Canada’s brightest new theatre personalities Wesley Colford, producing the religious farce Genesis and Other Stories by Rosamund Small. We are also presenting the first ever Hamilton visit by Buffalo’s “Queen of Comedy” Kristen Becker with The Dykes of Hazard Comedy Hour; the return of Stephen Harper: The Musical, starring CBC radio personality James Gordon; and the first Pearl Company show by Hamilton’s own underground sketch comedy group The Ugly Stiks.

Genesis and Other Stories: Colford, artistic director of Aim For The Tangent theatre in Toronto has been garnering universal acclaim since the company debuted in 2012 with “Best of Fringe” and “Critic’s Choice” awards for a sold out The Wakowski Bros, a musical comedy tribute to vaudeville. Genesis and Other Stories is about pure intentions gone wrong. Christopher, a theology student, leads a misfit cast of amateur actors in a production of his late father’s play: a hyper-sexed version of Adam and Eve set in 1960’s USA.  While the play turns on slapstick and satire, the comedy frames a surprisingly complex story about lonely people trying to fill roles that do not suit them.
Last year’s Toronto production of Genesis and Other Stories was widely praised: “Chaotic perfection…truly hilarious play… an absolute must see,” said Tarah Kennedy, Mooney on Theatre. Colette Shaw of The Charlebois Post simply said, “this is a brilliant, funny show. See it.”

Stephen Harper: The Musical: For those who prefer their idol worship in a more contemporary vein, who better to profile than our own “saviour” – Stephen Harper. James Gordon trades barbs with Harper as a ventriloquist’s dummy, taking the PM to task for his“How To Survive and Thrive In The Dying Days of the Empire Of Oil”, the show is a unique multimedia presentation with original songs, reflecting Gordon’s long history of social commentary, political activism, and passion for his subject. “I think the timing is right for this innovative work,” explains Gordon, “So many Canadians are feeling that their voice is not being heard under the “Harper Government”. What can we do about this? Audiences can find out, and have a fun theatrical evening at the same time.” Gordon is a polished performer with a 30-year career as a singer-songwriter, and has recorded 40 albums to date.

The Dykes of Hazard Comedy Hour – 1 Night Only: Despite the name, The Dykes of Hazard are not all dykes, points out Kristen Becker, known as the Queen of Comedy in her hometown of Buffalo, and the driving force behind the DOH cabaret act. Straight fans will enjoy the show, as long as they appreciate edgy (and hysterical) humour about sex: a serving of bawdy reality topped with a slice of southern charm, as DOH’s fearless leader guides you through a great blend of stand up, sketch and burlesque. Becker has been touring her rowdy, political, personal, intelligent, and unrelentingly honest point-of-view comedy across North America for 10 years.  She’s the winner of the Queen City Comedy Competition; Buffalo’s Artvoice named her the city’s Best Stand-up Comic four years running; in December 2012 she was named one of the most influential citizens of the year by Buffalo’s Spree magazine – high praise indeed for an entertainer!

The Ugly Stiks: Hamilton’s The Ugly Stiks have performed continuously for more than six years in venues around Southern Ontario. The 4-man, 1-woman troupe is Gabe DiFabio, Tyler Brent, Len Cain, Doug Millar and Elisha West. They are all seasoned theatre vets, who discovered a shared love for improv, which then morphed into sketch routines. Recent shows include Christmas is My Mistress; The Good, The Best and the Ugly; and Don’t Touch That – Santa’s Watching. A mix of Kids in the Hall, SCTV and Monty Python with a steel-town edge, The Ugly Stiks are a relentlessly funny and energetic event. Expect a “Best Of” show from their years together, with a few new skits.

All tickets are $15 per show. Reserve online at www.thepearlcompany.ca under the “Buy Tickets Tab”, by phone at 905-524-0606, or email at info@thepearlcompany.ca

Schedule:

Week One:
Thursday Jan. 16  7:00 pm –   Genesis & Other Stories: Aim for the Tangent Theatre
Thursday Jan. 16  8:30 pm –   Harper: The Musical: James Gordon

Friday      Jan. 17  7:00 pm –   Harper: The Musical: James Gordon
Friday      Jan. 17  8:30 pm –   Genesis & Other Stories: Aim for the Tangent Theatre

Saturday  Jan. 18   7:00 pm – Genesis & Other Stories: Aim for the Tangent Theatre
Saturday  Jan. 18   8:30 pm – Sketch Comedy: Ugly Sticks

Week Two:
Thursday  Jan. 23  7:00 pm – Genesis & Other Stories: Aim for the Tangent Theatre
Thursday  Jan. 23  8:30 pm –  Harper: The Musical: James Gordon

Friday       Jan. 24  7:00 pm – Genesis & Other Stories: Aim for the Tangent Theatre
Friday       Jan. 24  8:30 pm – Sketch Comedy: Ugly Sticks

Saturday   Jan. 25  7:00 pm –  Genesis & Other Stories: Aim for the Tangent Theatre
Saturday   Jan. 25  8:30 pm –  Dykes of Hazzard: Kristen Becker

Ryan Van Sickle: Saturday, January 11; 8:00pm. $20 at the door: Born and raised in Dundas, now living in New York, Van Sickle comes home to rock The Pearl with his annual show! The man is an excellent singer/songwriter whose yearly visit we enjoy enormously.  Writing songs of character and integrity that resound with the timeless and universal, Ryan Van Sickle uniquely translates the themes of love, war, life and death and the epic and mundane struggles within. Following in the steps of the masters from his native Canada, Ryan draws on the influences of Neil Young, Daniel Lanois, and Leonard Cohen alongside American greats Bruce Springsteen, Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, Pete Seeger and Lucinda Williams. With the release of his latest album Ghosts Of The Brokenhearted, Ryan emerges as a powerful songwriter; asserting his prowess in building a lyrical highway with a strong voice to carry listeners on the journey. http://ryanvansicklemusic.com/  Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmBiU67-2q8

Paul Reddick: Saturday, January 4: 8:00pm. $15 /$10 students/arts workers. Back by popular demand (and ours), Paul Reddick calls Toronto home, but his reputation is spreading internationally. The award-winning (phenomenal!) harmonica player, bandleader and songwriter described his most recent CD, Wishbone, as “a soundtrack for dancing and sex.” (!) The January ‘12 issue of Mojo, listed the CD in the #3 spot on its annual list of the Top 10 blues records of 2012. And if those accolades weren’t enough, here’s Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin, a long-time Reddick fan, “Wishbone is terrific!”  When Reddick, nominated for no less than five Maple Blues Awards, was asked “What is the blues?” the answer: “The Blues will always provide a soundtrack, a language, an endless landscape. It offers an unlimited means to express, explore and experience everything and every question that matters most.  It can be the heart singing its deepest song.” http://www.paulreddick.ca Listen:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dcae11Tx0w

Hot Jazzy New Years at The Pearl! Tuesday, December 31, 8:00 ‘til ?  $50 per person.  We’re changing it up this year with more entertainment and an even better buffet (Is that possible?). The entertainment is an astounding collection of super-talented jazz musicians. We promise fun, great conversations, musical magic, and definitely dancing

      To welcome in the New Year:

• Chef Gary Santucci will outdo himself (again) with a pan-global buffet throughout the night.
• There will be two sets from the incredible collection of jazz artists assembled for the evening and
• Michael Williams (whom you may know from his days as a VJ on Much Music) will get us dancing between sets. (Do you have any musical requests?)
• We need you to RSVP: Buy tickets online, via email, or phone.  We are expecting a crowd so let us know as soon as you do!

In our warm, welcoming ‘lofty’ atmosphere!
Featuring: The Spanjazz ensemble: Mike Malone on trumpet, Mike Filice on sax, James Gannet on bass, Jordan Abraham on keyboards, Gary Santucci on guitar and Steve Wilson on drums.

Cash Grab: Friday, December 27. 8:00pm $15 /$10 students/arts workers/seniors. Having performed on the stages of Toronto’s Yuk-Yuks, The Second City, and Comedy Bar, Cash Grab represents a new generation of Canadian comedy – comedians that actually studied comedy in college (the troupe met while enrolled in Humber College’s Comedy: Writing and Performance program). Nominated for the prestigious Tim Sims Encouragement Fund Award, selected to compete in the Fresh Meat competition at The Second City, their biggest highlight to date was writing and performing with former Kids in the Hall star, Dave Foley, at the Humber Fresh Faces Show 2012. A Cash Grab show isn’t just sketch – it’s sketch, stand-up, music and dramatic physical comedy all packed into an hour and a half show of non-stop laughter. “…awesome and memorable… uproarious… mind-bending… Eloquent writers, strong performers, and great at accents, this seven-member troupe ….deliver a fast-paced, high-energy and consistently hilarious set.” Victoria Laberge, Bloody Underrated  http://cashgrabcomedy.com

Danny Michel Trio: SOLD OUT! Saturday, December 21. Doors: 7:15. Concert: 8:00pm. $25 Admission. “With two Juno nominations and six solo albums to his credit, Danny Michel is one of the finest and most charming songwriters to grace the stage. His honest and straightforward lyrics, earnest live performances, and engaging stage banter, have earned him a devoted global fan base. As his fans will attest, he is a spontaneous & fearless performer.  If you’ve seen Danny live in concert, you’re probably already a fan. If you haven’t, you are missing out on “one of this country’s …..musical treasures” (Toronto Star). Like a chameleon, he slips into any genre with ease, playing off the energy of the crowd. Danny is an innovator, demonstrating that creative artists in the digital age can build a rich, successful and intimate relationship with their fans. He gained publicity in 2008 for making the tracks of his hit single “Feather, Fur & Fin” available for his fans to remix and then posting their submissions on his website. For his birthday this past year, Danny “showed the love” to his grateful fans by offering his entire catalogue of music free for download for the day.  www.dannymichel.com   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMkeNwU-0Ew&list=PL1DC4BB9370A1BE60

Dawn and Marra´s Second Annual Christmas Show: Friday, December 20. 7:00pm. $10 or $8 with a canned good or monetary donation. The night will consist of many top local acts, collaborations between artists and lots of Christmas cheer! There will be caroling, snacks, Kim Koren, Lori Yates, Hachey the MouthPEACE, Quails In The Nest, Special Guest Magician, Gazer The Amazer, and more. Proceeds will go to the Hamilton food bank. A night to put you in the mood for the holidays! Come celebrate with us! Dawn and Marra keep adding to the evening so expect some surprises! Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSialCiYxxU  www.dawnandmarra.com

Santa’s Big Sleep: Sunday, December 15, 1 pm.  Reserved Tickets: $10 Adults, $6 children, $26 Family Pass for 4 (Max 2 adults) At the Door: Pay What You Can. Start your Christmas season with this magical story about children’s love for Santa and the true spirit of Christmas that has entertained Hamilton for 10 years. There is a worldwide mail strike and no letters are coming to the North Pole. Santa falls into a deep sleep and we discover that it is the children’s love contained in the letters that keeps Santa alive. Can the Elves solve the problem and wake Santa before Christmas Eve, or will the Spirit of Christmas be lost forever? They will definitely need help. Will the children of Hamilton have enough love to wake up Santa and save Christmas? Come to the show and find out! This 11th Anniversary Production is presented by Northern Lights Theatre & The Pearl Company. Written by Lee Fairbanks. Directed by Patti Cannon. Starring Tyler Brent, Luis Arrojo, Liz Buchanan & Krista McNaughton. For tickets: 289.778.1508 or nltc@bell.net

Ron Hynes: CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW! Saturday, December 14. Doors 7:30 / Concert 8:00pm. $20 advance / $25 at the door. Living legend, musical icon, recent throat cancer survivor… just a few of his tags…. Hynes’ songs are woven into the fabric of Atlantic Canada, he’s won countless awards and his work has been covered by some of the biggest names in music.  For Ron Hynes, it’s all about the songs-and the soul-baring stories… and he has a few left to tell. With a songwriting career that spans more than 30 years, Ron is a six-time East Coast Music Award winner, a Genie Award winner and a past Juno, CCMA and Canadian Folk Music Awards nominee. Frequently referred to as the “man of a thousand songs”, Ron Hynes’ songs have been covered by dozens of artists worldwide, including Emmylou Harris, Murray McLauchlan, Valdy, John McDermott, and Prairie Oyster. His song “Sonny’s Dream” has become a folk classic, performed and recorded by artists all over the world.  He’s an actor, a songwriter/composer.  The feature film about Ron’s life “The Man of a Thousand Songs” debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival to sold-out audiences and critical praise.  “He touches people… it’s a rare gift for songwriters to be able to distill a song until only its essence remains. He’s a treasure.” Fan.   For more, visit: www.hynesite.org Listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV6QlEL46Bs

Christmas Connections: Jazz Connection Big Band w Sophia Perlman: Friday, December 13. Doors at 7:30, Jazz at 8:00. Cover of $15 / $25 for couples. $10 for artists/students/seniors. Performing a mix of standards, Christmas charts, and selected pieces from Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite. All guests are asked to bring a non perishable food item, a monetary donation to FoodShare, or a new unwrapped toy. The JCBB is a well-established 17-piece jazz ensemble delivering high energy, uncompromising and straight ahead jazz, funk, and Latin combining the highest level of musicianship and great charts in an entertaining show that equally engages both the jazz enthusiast and the casual listener. Sophia Perlman has become a fixture of the Ontario jazz and blues scene. Her musicality, old-soul voice, and skill as an improviser have made her a first-call featured singer with some of the top ensembles and musicians in the country. In addition to performing and touring with her own quartet, she performs regularly with numerous artists and ensembles, including Adrean Farrugia, The Toronto Jazz Orchestra, and The Darcy Hepner Jazz Orchestra. “Perlman’s approach is all at once soulful, gut-wrenching, funky and provocative” WholeNote Magazine “This is one of the most exciting, entertaining and musically interesting jazz ensembles to come along in many years – the musicianship, the repertoire and the energy are all of the highest level!!” Nick Deutsch – Co-ordinator, Mohawk College, Faculty of Music www.jazzconnection.ca  Listen: http://epresskitz.com/index.php?u=2691  Listen to Sophia: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjzKseuIpa4

THE FULL BAWDY COMEDY SHOW: Saturday, December 7: 8:00. $25 General Admission.  Shelley Marshall world renowned Comedienne and the  winner of  Hamilton’s 2013 Best Local Theatre Production View Magazine for her One Woman Show “Hold Mommy’s Cigarette brings her production of the edgy and irreverent, THE FULL BAWDY COMEDY SHOW. It’s an always SOLD OUT vaudevillian variety show that celebrates the diversity of comedy through Music, Burlesque, Stand-up, Circus and more! Featuring original material from the funniest-and raciest-Stars this country (and beyond) has to offer The show has featured some of the creamiest of the Canadian funny crop such as; Nikki Payne and Debra Digiovanni both Canadian Comedy Award and  Gemini Winners, Canadian Comedy Award Winner’s, Sandra Battaglini and Christele Bartalese, Fringe Festival Winners Evelyn Reese, Precious Chong, Rachelle Elie, Hamilton Music Award Winners Ginger St James and Robin Benedict ,  Juno Award Winner Lori Yates  and many more!  December 7th Line up: Shelley Marshall, Ginger St James, St Stella, Erin Keaney, Chelsea Manders, The Vagetarians. Come with an open mind and you’ll leave with a Full Heart. Adult Content. www.shelleymarshall.com  Check this out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embeddedv=omL9gW9h04 g FaceBook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1425984960963077/1426702160891357

December 6: Grand Opening of Art in “The Pearl District”! 7:00 pm. to ? No Charge. Gerardo Mansang, has set up Casa Mansang featuring art and artisans from South and Central America in one of our storefronts at Steven and King. Art on the walls includes Gerardo, Dora Restepo and Zunayme Romero.  Great gift ideas and just in time for Christmas!
St. Jacques Photography: will be open. Joanna St. Jacques is a welcome addition to the arts scene creating itself here in “The Pearl District”.
Members of the Hamilton Sculpture Guild will be here with their winter show in the main gallery in The Pearl showing us their work and how they put it together….
Our regular Pearl Company artists will be hanging in our other gallery spaces too. Snacks, beverages, fun!
More information to come….