Artsweek / Desperately seeking… Maria

RICHARD Block, of Dramatic Productions, is auditioning this weekend at Gungahlin Theatre for his coming production of “West Side Story” in October.

There is no shortage of would-be Jets and Sharks, but, oddly, he’s having problems finding a Maria – it’s one of the great musical theatre parts of all time. Auditions run at Gungahlin Theatre, 9am-6pm on June 10 and 11. Book a slot at email [email protected]

GOULBURN author Andrew Geoffrey Kwabena Moss is launching his new novella “Nicked Names” at The Book Cow, 3pm,  June 10. In the book, Norman and his friends take centre stage, silencing their opponents and proving the power of words to unite us all.

THE Braidwood Book Fair will be held at the National Theatre, 9am-4pm, June 9-12.

On stage

• THE Broadway hit musical “Come From Away” tells the real-life story of the 7000 air passengers from all over the world who were grounded in Newfoundland during the wake of 9/11. Canberra Theatre, June 8-July 9.
• THE cult late-night festival hit comedy show, “Shad and Pete Save the World”, is coming to Smith’s Alternative, where Shad Wicka and Peter James will solve the audience’s problems. Thursday, June 8.
• AT  The Q is “The Waltz”, a new Australian play by David Cole which focuses on two ageing radicals, former members of The Push subculture in Sydney, played by Pauline Mullen and Martin Sanders. At 7.30pm and 2pm, June 9 and 10.
• “MARRY Me A Little”, a musical revue that features songs by Stephen Sondheim, will be directed by Jarrad West for Everyman Theatre, at ACT Hub, Kingston, June 14 (preview) to June 24.
• CHILD Players ACT are waiving the $550 fees for their 2023 Musical Theatre Training program. Designed by Georgia Pike-Rowney and Susan West for participants aged 12 to 20 years of age, the program will conclude with a specially adapted production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Pirates of Penzance” with a live orchestra, in the first week of the September school holidays. Expressions of interest are open at childplayersact.net until June 24.

Concerts

• SLAVA and Leonard Grigoryan perform in “This Is Us,” National Museum of Australia, 6.30pm, June 10.
• CANBERRA’S Apeiron Baroque are dedicating a concert to the viola d’amore and the viola. Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, 5pm, June 11.
• THE Song Company’s “Songs of Rosa Mystica” contains music by Elliott Gyger, Jack Symonds, Kaija Saariaho, Benjamin Britten and Michael Tippet. Gandel Hall, NGA, June 14.
• PIANIST Angela Zhu, an outstanding young student from the studio of Elena Nikulina, will perform piano works by Bach, Mozart, Chopin and Poulenc. Wesley Music Centre, Forrest, 12.40-1.20pm, June 14.
• CANBERRA composer Sally Greenaway is seeking financial backing (bit.ly/support-sally) from 1000 supporters with a $40 tax-deductible donation to employ several creatives in Canberra artists, musicians and film animators to record new music, including a piece about the history of poplar trees in country towns. 

Galleries

• ISOBEL Rayson and Nick Stranks return to Canberra Contemporary Art Space Manuka for their second collaborative exhibition, “Intersections”. Exhibition opening at 6pm, June 8, then the show runs until June 18.
• “GRIT & Gold: Tales from a Sporting Nation”, National Library of Australia, June 9-November 5.
• YUIN artist Natalie Bateman’s exhibition “Djiraali Muriyira” runs in Tuggeranong Arts Centre Foyer Gallery from June 9 to August 12, with an official opening at 6pm on June 16.
• AARWUN Gallery has a new exhibition by Carlos Barrios titled “del amor y los animales” (about love and animals) alongside Jane Millington’s “Sea Poems” and “ Our Coloured Earth – Abstract Impressions by Lisa Taylor King”. Opens at 11 Federation Square, Nicholls, 2pm, June 10 and runs until July 9.
• AN interactive family exhibition about the magic of cities is coming to Canberra Museum and Gallery from June 10 to October 8. 
• “COMING Together: a portrait of the Gungahlin region” is a changing display of Gungahlin stories from artists and community members with a connection to the region. Eastlake, Gungahlin, until August 22.

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