Living Arts Centre

Articles from the Mississauga News


"Comedy Lounge opens tomorrow at LAC"
Comic Laurie Elliott is one of six comedians who will perform at the Living Arts Centre on Thursday as part of the ALTdot Comedy Lounge show.
"Sometimes, with all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, it can be hard to find a moment to smile.
Rushing off to the mall to fight the crowds to find that perfect gift and driving in increasingly poor weather can dampen even the most festive spirit.
Those looking for a little frivolity might want to head down to the Living Arts Centre's RBC Theatre this Thursday when a group of comics come to town to help get everyone into a lighter mood as part of the ALTdot Comedy Lounge series. The evening features a host/emcee who will be joined by six comedians.
The shows feature some of Canada's best up-and-coming comics and happen the second Thursday of each month at the LAC between December and April.
This week the host is Adam Growe. He's appeared on CBS's Star Search and starred in his own Comedy NOW! special on CTV and The Comedy Network. He currently hosts the game show Cash Cab on the Discovery Channel.
Fans of MuchMusic's Video on Trial show will recognize featured comic Laurie Elliott. A two-time winner of the Funniest Female Stand Up at the Canadian Comedy Awards, Elliott has appeared on The Red Green Show and The Jon Dore Television Show and has performed at Montreal's Just for Laughs Festival..."
www.mississauga.com



"Comic ready for laughs"
Toronto comedian Gerry Dee comes to the Living Arts Centre's Hammerson Hall Friday. Dee says he's a regular guy who loves stand-up
'' Toronto comedian Gerry Dee considers himself a regular guy.
And, it's that everyman quality that shines through in his numerous television commercials, film appearances and stand-up routines.
Take, for example, his commercial for Wiser's Canadian Whisky where he portrays a husband saddled with a hideous-looking sweater from his wife he surreptitiously rips so he doesn't have to wear it out. People seem to connect with the commercial and his character - just an average guy ducking a confrontation with his better half while also avoiding a fashion disaster.
Fans can see Dee this Friday when he comes to the Living Arts Centre's Hammerson Hall. Show time is 8 p.m.
"I'm a regular guy," Dee told The News. "It's just natural for me to (perform) that way because it's who I am." ... ''
www.mississauga.com


"Film looks at how a musical comes to life"
The creation of the musical A Chorus Line will be explored through the film Every Little Step, which airs on Tuesday at the Living Arts Centre. Photo by Martha Swope and courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics.| Nov 20, 2009 - 3:38 PM
" Viewers will get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of a Broadway musical through a film being screened next Tuesday at the Living Arts Centre.
Every Little Step follows the creating of A Chorus Line, focussing specifically on the casting for the musical's 2006 revival. It also takes the audience through the musical's many incarnations and back to how it first started.
It airs in the LAC's Hammerson Hall. Show time is 8 p.m.
A Chorus Line began to take shape in the ’70s when choreographer Michael Bennett thought he might have the basis for a show after listening to conversations of stage performers and actors. The documentary, created by directors James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo, includes old footage plus new interviews.
The 96-minute film is rated PG. It was screened at last year's Toronto International Film Festival. Following the screening, film reviewer and author Christopher Heard will host a discussion.
Tickets cost $10-$12 and can be purchased by calling 905-306-6000."
www.livingartscentre.ca/homepage/
www.mississauga.com

"Mandel magic at Mayor's Gala"
Howie Mandel, host of Deal or No Deal, performs at the 23rd annual Mayor's Gala on Saturday evening at the Living Arts Centre. Photo by Daniel Ho | Nov 22, 2009 - 9:37 AM

" It was a night of big laughs and good fun when Emmy Award-winning Canadian funnyman Howie Mandel came to the Living Arts Centre last night for a performance.
Mandel, who was recently inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame, was in town to entertain the crowd at the 23rd annual Mayor's Gala, held in Hammerson Hall. The event, dubbed The Magical, Mythical and Mysterious Mayor's Gala, also included a sampling of culinary treats from some of the city's finest restaurants as well as a live auction and cocktail reception.
Mississauga tenor Michael Ciufo also performed.
Funds raised at the event will go to the Hazel McCallion Foundation for the Arts, Culture and Heritage.
With a career that has spanned three decades, Mandel is currently host of the popular television show Deal or No Deal. Mandel has starred as Dr. Wayne Fiscus in the long-running Emmy Award-winning show St. Elsewhere and added his voice to the animated program Bobby's World.
Mandel's career started on a dare in Los Angeles in the late 1970s. A few of his buddies convinced him to get up on stage at the Comedy Store on amateur night and, as luck would have it, a television producer happened to be in the audience and immediately hired Mandel for the comedy game show Make Me Laugh.
Besides his numerous television and movie roles, he also had a chance to open for the songstress Diana Ross during one of her tours.
Bobby's World, in which Mandel provided the voice of the protagonist, his dad and many of the other characters, ran for eight seasons on Fox and is now in syndication six days a week in 65 countries.
He also hosted the talk show The Howie Mandel Show."

"Holidays get musical treatment"
" Everyone loves gifts, especially at Christmas.
With this in mind, the Salvation Army Mississauga Temple Community Church presents a free concert, The Gift of Christmas, this Sunday at the Living Arts Centre's Hammerson Hall. Although tickets are complimentary, a service charge of $1-$2 will apply.
The concert, an annual tradition since 1998, is described as a celebration of the real meaning of Christmas through music, drama and carol singing.
The show will have a strong local flavour with performances by the Thomas Street Middle School Chamber Choir under the direction of Carole Anderson, the Cawthra Park Secondary School Chamber Choir under the direction of Bob Anderson, flautist Elizabeth Colley and The Salvation Army Mississauga Temple Band under the direction of Robert Miller.
Also expected to perform are The Mississauga Temple Teen Singers under the direction of Gena Norbury with accompaniment by Kevin Norbury and the King's Christian Collegiate theatre troupe the King's Players.
Show times are 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m."'
www.mississauga.com


"Hot Box creates artistic view of derailment"
A troupe of Mississauga community actors will use art to recall the historic train derailment and subsequent evacuation of Mississaugans on Nov. 10, 1979.
The Hot Box BOOM Performance, which opens on Friday, is directed by artist Sonja Hidas, who wanted to engage people in a performance to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the largest peacetime evacuation in Canadian history. She asked the public to recall their memories of the derailment, which she incorporated into her work, which includes paintings, sound and performance.
The free performance will be held Nov. 13, 7 to 8 p.m. at the Central Library, 301 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W.
The art exhibit is at the Living Arts Centre until Nov. 15, and is titled Evacuate.
www.mississauga.com

"Locals nominated for Jazz Awards"
" The nominees for the sixth annual Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards have been announced and a pair of Mississauga performers are among them.
Mississauga's Rik Emmett and Chris Smith are both up for male vocalist of the year. The 2010 awards gala will be held April 23 at Mississauga's Living Arts Centre (LAC).
Meanwhile, Alexander Zonjic, who has hosted the Smooth Jazz Awards for several years at the LAC, is nominated for best wind instrumentalist and broadcaster of the year. He's also up for album of the year for Doin The D.
For a complete list of the nominees and to take part in the voting process, visit"
www.mississauga.com

"Backyardigans take audience on underwater trip"
" Parents of little ones take note: The Backyardigans are coming to town this week for a live stage production that takes the five friends on an underwater adventure.The Backyardigans Sea Deep in Adventure show – based on the animated children's television program – comes to the Living Arts Centre on Friday. Performances are at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. in Hammerson Hall. In the show, The Backyardigans – Pablo, Tyrone, Tasha, Uniqua and Austin – sing, dance and play their way through the deep sea. They explore a coral reef, play in a octopus' garden and join the jellyfish ballet.
The five friends explore clues, discover underwater magic and match wits with a very neat octopus and a pair of playful and messy dolphins. The music will be as diverse as the ocean itself with styles including psychedelic soul, Bollywood, bossa nova and others.The stage show is based on the Emmy Award and Gemini Award-winning animated television show from Nelvana and Nick Jr. It's broadcast in over 40 countries across the world.
The performances run about an hour in length with a 15-minute intermission."
WWW.Mississauga.com

"Film series continues"
Show time is 8 p.m. in Hammerson Hall.
"The Mississauga International Film Series continues at the Living Arts Centre on Oct. 27 with a screening of a film about a Senegalese taxi driver working in North Carolina."
http://www.mississauga.com

"Show chock full of temptation"
Show time is 8 p.m. in the Hammerson Hall
" While most everyone will be there to hear the hit songs such as My Girl, the audience that comes to the Living Arts Centre on Friday to hear The Temptations in concert might be treated to a few originals from the group..."
http://www.mississauga.com

" '80s come to life at LAC "
Show time is 8:30 p.m. in the RBC Theatre.
"The sounds of the ’80s are getting a contemporary makeover when a Quebec group comes to the Living Arts Centre for a concert on Friday..."
http://www.mississauga.com/