Michael Hughes is returning to Toronto with a special concert , Michael Hughes Unexpressed: An Evening of Songs From the Heart, Feb. 2, at the Berkley Street Theatre, 26 Berkley St. The Beach singer/entertainer has been flying high since the release of his debut, self-titled CD. You may remember that we mentioned his appearance in the successful cross-country tour David Foster & Friends. Before that Michael appeared in Anne & Gilbert (as Gilbert) in Prince Edward Island; starred as David Hyde in the sold-out Canadian premiere of All Shook Up, and joined with Walt Disney Entertainment to perform in Japan.
Special guest for this evening will be Michael’s good friend Calladra Dendias. The two met while studying in the Music Theatre Performance program at Sheridan College in 2002 and have been fast friends ever since.
“When Calladra was in call-backs for the lead in Mama Mia, I was the one who stayed up late to read sides with her, and when she stepped onto the stage at the Royal Alex for her very first performance in the starring role, I was in the fourth row,” Hughes recalls “I was the ‘Man of Honour’ at her wedding, and when she gave birth last summer while I was performing in PEI, I flew back to be at her side. Feb. 2 marks our first ever performance together,and it’s going to be a really exciting event.”
In addition to her role in Mama Mia, Dendias has done radio and television work, and appeared in A Christmas Carol and Anne of Green Gables for the Grand Theatre. For more information on this rising young star visit her website at www.calladradendias.com.
Unexpressed will feature songs by Rogers & Hart, Gershwin, Guetell, Pasek & Paul, Shoenberg, Sondheim, and Webber. For more information visit Michael’s website at www.mickehughes.com
The Hughes-Dendias concert is the first of three planned concerts put on by the Acting Up Stage Company as part of its Dark Night Caberet Series. Tickets are just $15 and can be ordered by calling 416-368-3110. The Berkley Street Theatre is located at 26 Berkley St., south of Front St.
•
Scarborough Music Theatre presents Children of Eden, Feb. 11 to 27 at the Scarborough Village Theatre, 3600 Kingston Rd., at Markham. Written by John Caird (Jane Eyre) and composer Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell, Pippin), Children of Eden takes the familiar Biblical story and retells it as a contemporary fable for parents and children alike. After the Father’s, two children, Adam and Eve, let their innate curiosity get them into trouble, they are cast from their garden home. So begins the cycle as Adam and Eve’s children do no better. As the play continues the lesson we learn is that parents have to learn to let go more, and their children have to learn to forgive their parents for not letting go enough. Forgiveness is the central theme of the production.
“We hope the audience comes to our view of these wonderful stories with the same spirit of adventure, awe and delight as we present them,” says composer Schwartz.
Children of Eden runs Thursdays through Sundays at 8 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinées on Feb. 14, 21, and 27. Regular admission is $24, $20 for seniors and students, with discounts for groups, and rush seats available.
Tickets can be ordered through the box office at 416-267-9292, or online at www.theatrescarborough.com (where you can also find more information about this and other upcoming events).
•
Beach United Church continues with its popular Jazz Vespers series in 2010, this time in a new location. The Malvern Jazz Ensemble kicks off the first service Feb. 6 at the Beach United Church, 140 Wineva, just north of Queen. Keep looking for upcoming Jazz Vespers services throughout the year. Or you can call 416-691-8082, or visit www.beachunitedchurch.com for more information.
•
The fourth annual Brenda Carol Renaissance Jazz Fair will take place Feb. 6, beginning at 8 p.m. at the Peace Theatre, 305 Dawes Rd. Carol, along with sponsor John Long of Long & McQuade, is proud of this year’s line-up of some of the best up and coming jazz artists in Toronto.
Along with Brenda Carol herself, performers include George Koller, bass; Nathan Hiltz, guitar; Brownman, trumpet; Rob Christian, sax and flute; Stephen Gardner, keyboards; Hank Furman, keyboards; and vocalists Jen Sager, Holly Deveaux, Suzanne Mallet, Melissa Pisarzowski, and Mark Sepic.
This event is by invitation only, so it is suggested that you email Brenda Carol at darwynrecords@yahoo.com, or call her at 416-467-7959, for information on getting on that list. The event itself costs $20. BYOB and snacks are suggested as well, and all ages are welcome.
During the Jazz Fair there will be a special display of original art by Judy Gibbs, an artist we mentioned a few issues back. Judy is from East York, and you can find out more about her at www.jagibbsoriginalart.com
As part of the Brenda Carol Renaissance Jazz Fair, Brenda and John are holding a special Jazz Vocal Master Class Feb. 6, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Long & McQuade, 925 Bloor St. W. This will be an excellent opportunity for aspiring jazz vocalists to sing for their peers and be critiqued by one of Toronto’s finest singers. The master class is free, but you should bring along charts for the piano accompanist, Stephen Gardner of Gardner Piano & Guitar. For more information, or to register, call 416-467-7959, or email darwynrecords@yahoo.com.
For more information on the Brenda Carol Renaissance Jazz Fair visit www.bcrjf.com, or www.brendacarol.com.
•
Pjs & Pillows presents a special concert for children called If Fish Could Sing and Sheep Could Dance, Feb. 5, at 10 a.m., and again at 1:30 p.m. Special guest for the concert will be East Coast singer-songwriter Teresa Doyle (right). All are welcome.
If Fish Could sing... will be held at Pegasus Studios, 361 Glebeholme Blvd., in the Coxwell and Danforth area. Tickets are $5 per person, and can be reserved by calling 416-699-2608 (schools are required to pre-book).
•
Teresa Doyle will also be joined by guitarist October Browne (right) for a special house concert Feb. 6 at 8 p.m.
Doyle is from PEI and specializes in both Celtic roots music and jazz. She has released 10 CDs and has played a concert backed by the PEI Symphony Orchestra. Her sassy swing repertoire has earned her a huge following (www.teresadoyle.com).
October Browne has established a reputation as one of the finest finger-style guitarists in Canada, and is known for her Celtic adaptations (www.octoberbrowne.com). She has appeared on record with such guitar greats as Bruce Cockburn and Amos Garret. Together they will make for a fun, rollicking evening.
Tickets can be reserved by calling 416-690-2184 or emailing joanmweed@gmail.com. When you call, you will be given details such as the cost, and the address for this very special house concert.