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Here's what's up on Burnaby's arts and entertainment scene

NOTE: Due to the evolving COVID-19 situation, we recommend verifying with event organizers in advance of attending any event listed here.
Berzerkatroid Dragon, Luminescence
Ron Simmer's Berzerkatroid Dragon returns for Luminescence V, opening at Deer Lake Gallery March 21.

NOTE: Due to the evolving COVID-19 situation, we recommend verifying with event organizers in advance of attending any event listed here. Any cancellations/postponements that come our way will be updated whenever possible, but with the speed of change, it's wise to check directly with organizers.

 

ON NOW

To Friday, March 13

Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), onstage at the Laura C. Muir Performing Arts Theatre, fourth floor north, Douglas College, 700 Royal Ave., New West. Tickets through https://goodnightdesdemona.bpt.me/

 

To Sunday, March 22

Looking Through a Hole in the Earth, featuring the work of Genevieve Robertson, at Burnaby Art Gallery, 6344 Deer Lake Ave. For full details see www.burnabyartgallery.ca or call 604-297-4422.

 

To end of March

Burnaby Neighbourhood House is hosting an art exhibition by Nadia Diamond at its North House art wall, Mondays through Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. North House is at 4908 Hastings St. Info: 604-294-5444 or email northinfo@burnabynh.ca.

 

To Saturday, April 4

Seriously Surreal, an art exhibition by Artists in the Boro at the Art in the Atrium gallery at Queensborough Community Centre, 920 Ewen Ave. Info: www.artistsintheboro.ca.

 

To Saturday, April 18

Shards, Bone Deep, an exhibition of ceramic art by Otto Kamensek, explore life with chronic disease, in the Amelia Douglas Gallery, fourth floor, Douglas College, 700 Royal Ave., New West. Info: www.douglascollege.ca/artsevents.

 

To Sunday, May 3

Warren McLachlan: Future Primitive, a Burnaby Art Gallery off-site exhibition at the Bob Prittie (Metrotown) branch of Burnaby Public Library, 6100 Willingdon Ave., open during library hours. Info: www.burnabyartgallery.ca.

 

To Monday, May 4

Justin Patterson: Bad Moon Rising, a Burnaby Art Gallery off-site exhibition at the McGill branch of Burnaby Public Library, 4595 Albert St., open during library hours. Info: www.burnabyartgallery.ca.

 

To July 2020

Nikkei, a year-long exhibition at the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre, explores the personal stories of individuals and families of Japanese descent: unique stories of arrival, heroism in the face of racism, the resilience of community and the experience of generations. The core exhibit will rotate through more than 30,000 photographs, 35 metres of textual records, 500 oral history recordings, 100 film reels and more than 2,500 artifacts and artworks. The Nikkei Centre is at 6688 Southoaks Cres. See www.nikkeiplace.orgfor details.

 

UPCOMING

Thursday, March 12

Tellers of Short Tales, featuring Crystal Hunt, presented by Royal City Literary Arts Society, 6 to 8 p.m. at the Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia St., Room 413 A. Free. Open mic available; bring a story to share. Info: www.rclas.com.

 

Friday, March 13

NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED: Solidarity Concert for Unist’ot’en, featuring Old Soul Rebel, Tonye Aganaba, Curtis Clearsky & the Constellationz, Kin Balam, The Spiritual Warriors, Dakota Bear, Mamarudegyal + Hope, plus Invasion film screening, speakers, vendors, action booth, silent auction and more, at Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for 7:30 p.m. show. Tickets: sliding scale $5 to $40. Proceeds to Unist’ot’en Legal Fund. Info: https://www.masseytheatre.com/event/solidarity-concert-for-unistoten/

The Jerry Cans perform for Deer Lake After Dark at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave. Tickets: tickets.shadboltcentre.com or 604-205-3000.

Laughter is the Best Appetizer, 7 p.m. at Yauti Jr. Food Stall, 609 12th St., New West. Tickets $15 at www.eventbrite.ca (food and beverages extra).

 

Friday, March 13 to Friday, March 20

Jekyll, a female-oriented reimagining of the Jekyll and Hyde story, presented by Douglas College in the Stuiod Theatre, fourth floor, 700 Royal Ave. Tickets $20 general, or $10 for seniors, students and Talkback Tuesdays. For tickets and showtimes, see jekyll.bpt.me.

 

Saturday, March 14

Singing Can Be a Drag 2020, a drag show extravaganza by the Vancouver Men’s Chorus at the Anvil Centre Theatre, 777 Columbia St., with shows at 5 and 9 p.m. Tickets $35, or $65 for patrons (with tax receipt). Info and tickets: www.vancouvermenschorus.ca.

Hapas, Hafus and the Future of Japanese Canadian Identity, a 10-year anniversary screening of One Big Hapa Family, plus panel discussion, 6:30 at the Nikkei National Museum, 6688 Southoaks Cres., with tickets $5 regular, $4 seniors, free for members and students. Buy through centre.nikkeiplace.org/events/hapa-identity/ or call 604-777-7000, ext. 109.

 

Saturday, March 14 and Sunday, March 15

Kim’s Convenience, an Arts Club on Tour production at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave. Tickets at 604-205-3000 or tickets.shadboltcentre.com.

 

Saturday, March 14 to Sunday, May 10

Currency, a new exhibition at New Media Gallery, third floor, Anvil Centre, 777 Columbia St., with panel discussion, artist talk and closing reception on May 9 and 10. Info: www.newmediagallery.ca.

 

Sunday, March 15

Walking With My Ancestors, a series of workshops led by explorative designer Nicole Preissl, features Memories of the Land, a talk with internationally renowned artist Xwalacktun (Rick Harry) and other special guests, 1 to 3 p.m. at Burnaby Art Gallery, 6344 Deer Lake Ave. Space limited, sign up at 604-297-4422.

 

Tuesday, March 17

Sound Bites concert series at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, featuring harpist Janelle Nadeau, with shows at noon and 2 p.m. Tickets $5 in advance, $10 at the door, tickets.shadboltcentre.com or 604-205-3000.

 

Thursday, March 19

Jazz singer Marion Cowings is onstage at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave. Tickets: tickets.shadboltcentre.com or 604-205-3000.

 

Saturday, March 21

NOTE: THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. Adele M. Wilding performs for Music at Queens, 7:30 p.m. at Queens Avenue United Church, with guest vocalists Natalia and Akylina Pardalis, plus musicians Dan Reynolds, Mark Bender and Buff Allen, 529 Queens Ave. Admission by donation at the door (minimum $10). Info: www.queensavenue.org/musicqueens.

 

Sunday, March 22

No Way Out, a screening of the award-winning documentary by local filmmaker Gabor Gasztonyi, 2:30 p.m. at the Anvil Centre Theatre, 777 Columbia St., with Q&A after screening, www.ticketsnw.ca.

 

 

Wednesday, March 25 to Saturday, March 28

Between Breaths, presented by Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland at the James Cowan Theatre at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave., tickets.shadboltcentre.com or 604-205-3000.

 

Saturday, March 28

Walking With My Ancestors, a series of workshops led by explorative designer Nicole Preissl, continues with an Indigenous Plant Walk through Deer Lake Park, 1 to 3 p.m. Space limited, sign up at Burnaby Art Gallery, 604-297-4422.

Haiku – 5-7-5 and Beyond, a writing workshop with Isabella Mori, presented by Royal City Literary Arts Society, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Anvil Centre, Room 417, $15 for members, $25 for non-members, www.rclas.com.

 

Monday, March 30

Hope Gap screens for Last Mondays at the Movies at Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave. Doors at 6:30 p.m., film at 7 p.m. Tickets $9 general, or $8 for seniors and students, available in advance at www.ticketsnw.ca or cash only at the door. Info: www.acnw.ca/movies.

 

Wednesday, April 1

David Alexander Robertson, Governor General’s Literary Award-winning author, speaks at the McGill branch of Burnaby Public Library, 4595 Albert St., 7 to 8:30 p.m. Free, no registration needed. Info: 604-299-8955 or www.bpl.bc.ca/events.

 

Thursday, April 2 to Saturday, April 25

Next Fall, presented by the Vagabond Players at Bernie Legge Theatre, Queen’s Park, Thursdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2 p.m., tickets $17 regular, $15 seniors/youth, with $12 previews on April 2 and 3, www.vagabondplayers.ca/tickets, or 604-521-0412.

 

Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4

O Hanami, a festival of spring at Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre, with festivities Friday from 6 to 10 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Info: www.nikkeiplace.org.

 

Friday, April 3 to Sunday, May 3

Brad McMurray: Pedestrian, a new exhibition of photography at Burnaby Art Gallery, 6344 Deer Lake Ave. Opening reception Thursday, April 2; In the BAG family studio drop-in on April 19; photographers’ walking tour of Metrotown area on April 26. Gallery is at 6344 Deer Lake Ave., admission by donation (suggested donation $5). Info: www.burnabyartgallery.ca.

 

Friday, April 3 to Sunday, April 5

Art in Bloom, a spring show and sale by Burnaby Artists Guild at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, with demonstrations, raffle and more at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, 6450 Deer Lake Ave. Show open 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, with opening ceremonies at 7:30 p.m., then running Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Info: 604-291-6864 or www.burnabyartistsguild.com.

 

Saturday, April 4

Storytime with Terri Tatchell, Oscar-nominated screenwriter, signing copies of the first book in her new children’s series about endangered and misunderstood animals, Aye-Aye Gets Lucky, noon at Indigo at Metropolis at Metrotown.

 

Wednesday, April 8

Lilies, by Michel Marc Bouchard, a staged reading of the play at 7:30 p.m. at Plaskett Gallery, Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave., part of the theatre’s Queerly Canadian play reading series. Free, open to all. Info: www.masseytheatre.com/queerly-canadian-a-play-reading-series-2/

 

Monday, April 27

The Body Remembers When the World Broke Open, screening for Last Mondays at the Movies at Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave. Doors at 6:30 p.m., film at 7 p.m. Tickets $9 general, or $8 for seniors and students, available in advance at www.ticketsnw.ca or cash only at the door. Info: www.acnw.ca/movies.

 

Monday, May 4

Mandy Moore brings her North American tour to Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave., with show at 7 p.m. Tickets $55 to $115. Info: www.masseytheatre.com.

 

Monday, June 8

Swollen Tongues, by Kathleen Oliver, a staged reading of the play at 7:30 p.m. at Plaskett Gallery, Massey Theatre, 735 Eighth Ave., part of the theatre’s Queerly Canadian play reading series. Free, open to all. Info: www.masseytheatre.com/queerly-canadian-a-play-reading-series-2/

 

ONGOING

Call for Canada Day performers, for the City of New Westminster’s July 1 celebrations in Queen’s Park. Submission deadline March 31, 4 p.m. Individual and group acts are invited to apply to perform as mainstage, roving or wild card entertainment. Submissions must include description of act, including performance history and links to New Westminster; preferred length of performance; artist fees for mainstage performances; links to website, videos and other relevant online content. Info: Hannah Bennett, 604-515-3837 or hbennett@newwestcity.ca.

 

Tickets on sale for the Burnaby Blues + Roots Festival 2020, featuring Brandi Carlile, Steve Earle and the Dukes, St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Colter Wall and more. It’s on Friday, Aug. 7 starting at 6 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 8 starting at 1 p.m. at Deer Lake Park. Tickets through www.ticketmaster.ca. Info at www.burnabybluesfestival.com.

 

Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance!, a musical theatre summer camp for nine- to 19-year-olds, returns to the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver. Registration now open; deadline to apply is April 1. Camps run July 7 to 30 and from Aug. 4 to 27. Full details and registration: www.jccgv.com.

 

Begbie’s Comedy Night, Thursdays at 8 p.m. at Judge Begbie’s Tavern, 609 Columbia St. Comedy nights will feature all kinds of comedy: stand-up, musical acts, improv. Tickets $10 regular, $5 for students, available through www.eventbrite.caor at the door. For information and full lineup, search for Begbie’s Comedy Night on Facebook.

 

SFU Writer’s Studio offers writing consultations on the first Tuesday of each month at New Westminster Public Library main branch (716 Sixth Ave.), with sessions at 4, 5 and 6 p.m. available for booking (45 minutes each). Writers can have up to seven pages of creative writing or poetry workshopped with a tutor. Free. To book an appointment, email full name and phone number to AskUs@nwpl.caand the SFU Writer’s Studio will then contact you to review available dates and times.

 

Royal City Literary Arts Society’s Write On! Contest for 2020 is open for submissions. Deadline April 1. Work is accepted in three categories: fiction (max. 1,500 words), non-fiction (max. 1,500 words) and poetry (max. one page single spaced). Cash prizes of $150, $100 and $75, plus three honourable mentions, are awarded in each category. For full submission details, see www.rclas.comor email writeon@rclas.com.

 

Musical open mic nights, first Monday of the month at 100 Braid Street Studios, 7 to 10 p.m. Sign-up list starts at 7 p.m.; 10 spots available for eight minutes apiece. All ages welcome, solos and groups. Concession available, pay what you can (suggested donation $10). Info: www.100braidststudios.com.

 

Spoken word open mics, third Monday of the month at 100 Braid Street Studios, 7  to 10 p.m. Sign-up list starts at 7 p.m.; 10 eight-minute slots are available. All genres welcome. Concession available, pay what you can (suggested donation $5). Info: www.100braidststudios.com.

 

Children’s handbell choir invites new ringers in grades 3 to 7 to take part. Group meets Mondays from 3:45 to 5 p.m. at Queens Avenue United Church, 529 Queens Ave., New Westminster. Children from New West and surrounding areas are welcome; no charge. Info: musicatqueens@gmail.com.

 

The Flame New West seeks storytellers for a new season of storytelling evenings at the Plaskett Gallery – new storytellers, veteran performers and all in between are welcome to apply. Two more sessions are coming up on Sunday evenings: an “adult” edition on March 1 and a regular evening on June 14. Email flamenewwest@gmail.comwith questions, pitches and more.

 

Love to sing? The Maple Leaf Singers are inviting people to audition for the dynamic show chorus. All voices welcome. Call 778-245-4445 or email joinus@mapleleafsingers.com. For more on the choir, see www.mapleleafsingers.com.

 

Spoken Ink reading series, the third Tuesday of each month (except July and August) at Deer Lake Gallery, 6584 Deer Lake Ave., presented by the Burnaby Writers’ Society, with featured readers plus open mic. Info: burnabywritersnews.blogspot.com.

 

Writers meet-up, hosted by the local writing organization The Other Eleven Months, which has been hosting write-ins around the Lower Mainland for 12 years. Sessions run Wednesdays from 5 to 8:50 p.m. at the Tommy Douglas library branch (7311 Kingsway) for writers of all kinds. Drop in, no registration required. Info: www.bpl.bc.ca/events.

 

Drop in and do art, at the New West Artists Gallery, 712 C 12th St., Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. Bring your own art supplies and paint, draw, sketch, doodle, colour or whatever you like, $2 or by donation. Info: www.newwestartists.com.

 

New Westminster Photography Club meets on the first and fourth Tuesdays of the month, 7 p.m. at Centennial Lodge, Queen’s Park. Info: www.nwphoto.org.

 

Gentlemen of Fortune Chorus is looking for new men to join the a cappella group, focused on singing in barbershop harmony style. The chorus has moved to Burnaby and now meets Tuesday evenings at 7:25 p.m. at Cliff Avenue United Church, 1600 Cliff Ave. Interested potential singers and guests are always welcome at rehearsals (enter rehearsal hall from rear parking lot). See www.gof.bc.ca for details.

 

Life drawing sessions, Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. at the New West Artists/Royal City Arts Alliance gallery at 712C 12th St. Bring your own drawing tools and paper; cost $2. Hosted by Lavana La Brey. RSVP at 604-525-4566 or email lavanalabrey6@gmail.com.

 

Artists in the Boro is seeking applications for six-week exhibitions in the Art in the Atrium gallery space at Queensborough Community Centre. For submission information and to apply, see www.tinyurl.com/ArtInTheAtrium2019.

 

Queens Avenue United Church Bell Ringers welcomes new adult members who can read music. The group meets Thursdays from 6:15 to 7:45 p.m. Call Virginia at 604-597-3894 or email musicatqueens@gmail.com.

 

Circuit Fridays, featuring underground house music with DJ’s Darius Kramer, Dezyman and Hixz, with special guests, the second and last Friday of the month at Magnetiq Nightclub, 27 Church St., $10 at the door, doors 9:30 p.m.

 

Burnaby International Folk Dancers, meets Tuesdays at Charles Rummel Centre, 3630 Lozells Ave. Info: 604-522-7468 or burnabyfolkdance.org.

 

Queen’s Academy offers a non-profit musical theatre program in Burnaby for children aged two to 12. Registration now open at queensacademy.weebly.com.

 

Volunteers required to help the Burnaby Arts Council in a variety of capacities, including gallery attendants for Deer Lake Gallery, 6584 Deer Lake Ave. Info and application: www.tinyurl.com/BACGalleryVolunteers.

 

Dance and laugh the night away with round dance and/or square dance lessons. Round dancing is choreographed ballroom dancing done in a circle; lessons Sunday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Charles Rummel Hall, 3630 Lozells Ave. Modern square dancing is done to modern music with groups of eight people in a square; lessons Tuesdays from 7 to 8:20 p.m. at the Burnaby Lake Rowing Pavilion, 6871 Roberts St. Couples and singles welcome, no special clothes required. For info, contact Pat at 604-521-7497.

 

Poetry New Westminster, presented by Royal City Literary Arts Society on Sundays, 2 to 4 p.m. (except holiday weekends) at the Heritage Grill back room, 447 Columbia St. Each Sunday features two poets and an open mic. Search for Poetry New Westminster on Facebook for the latest schedule.

 

Paint and Sip Nights at 100 Braid Street Studios, offering a night of beverages, refreshments and a chance to receive step-by-step instruction from a professional artist to create your own painting. Each night costs $35, or $60 for two adults registering together, and runs from 7 to 9:30 p.m. A variety of upcoming themes are offered. See www.100braidststudios.com.

 

Email entertainment listings to jmaclellan@burnabynow.com.