Sweet secrets and a little night Sondheim

Arts events, it seems, are happening everywhere and this week’s “Artsweek” column by HELEN MUSA has everything everywhere (pretty well) listed. 

“MARRY Me A Little” is a musical revue that features songs by Stephen Sondheim. Two single strangers, left alone in their studio apartments on a Saturday night, pass their time with sweetly secret dreams, not knowing that they’re just a floor away from each other. Directed by Jarrad West, it runs at ACT Hub, Kingston, June 15-24.

STORYFEST, the storytelling festival based in Milton, Mollymook and Ulladulla on the south coast, is back with a line-up of more than 50 authors, musicians, filmmakers and slam poets. Running June 15-18, it will be staged over five landmark local venues, including Ulladulla Civic Centre and the historic Milton Theatre.

CANBERRA writer Ayesha Inoon’s debut novel “Untethered” will be launched in a conversation event with Barbie Robinson at The Book Cow, Kingston, 2pm, June 18.

ROBERT Clancy will give the next ADFAS Canberra lecture on the subject of decorative maps, National Library, 6pm, June 20.

“WATANDAR: My Countryman” is a new film by Muzafar Ali, the Fred Hollows Humanitarian of the Year 2022 and filmmaker Jolyon Hoff. There’ll be a Q&A screening of the film at Dendy, 6.30pm, June 16.

Concerts

• NATIONAL vocal ensemble The Song Company, under the baton of guest director Jack Symonds, will perform works by Britten, Saariaho, Gyger and more in “Songs of Rosa Mystica”, Gandel Hall, National Gallery, June 14.
• MUSICA Viva is bringing Grammy-winning American piano virtuoso Garrick Ohlsson to Llewellyn Hall, June 15. 
• CANBERRA Choral Society’s next concert, “Coming Home”, will feature the world premiere of its director Dan Walker’s composition “The Last Migration”, commissioned last year by the choir to commemorate its 70th anniversary. Wesley Uniting Church, Forrest, June 17.
• TWO of Canberra’s powerhouse, horn-driven bands, Brass Knuckle Brass Band and Lucy Ridge & the Derby Widows will come together for a night of big sounds at the Polo, Turner, June 17.
• PHILLIPA Candy on piano will premiere a major Australian solo sacred work, “Keys of the Kingdom”, by Canberra composer Mike Dooley. Wesley Music Centre, 3pm, June 18.
• Typical Drew, Transista Groove and Matriarch will be playing to help buy more live recording gear for Music at the Bunker. At Bunker Arts Studio, Queanbeyan, from 2pm, June 18. Beer and sausages served.
• SOPRANO Veronica Milroy and harpist Rowan Phemister will perform a lunchtime concert. Wesley Music Centre, 12.40pm- 1.20pm Wednesday, June 21.
• 10CC, one of the most successful bands ever to come out of the UK, is at Llewellyn Hall, 7.15pm, June 21.

Stage

• Canberra Youth Theatre is hosting a scratch night as a platform for emerging artists aged 16-25. There’ll be drafts of plays, solo shows in the making, virtuoso routines and a sneak preview of material from the upcoming Emerge Company show, “Sympathetic Resonance”. Smith’s Alternative, June 20.
• GRANDE dame of burlesque Rhonda Burchmore will be ring-mistress in “Cabaret De Paris”, Canberra Theatre, June 15-16.
• CANBERRA Rep’s coming play, “Home, I’m Darling” at Canberra Rep Theatre, June 15 (preview) to July 1.
• REBUS Theatre presents “’Systems and Sanity”, a show that challenges traditional thinking about the mental health system. Performances begin in the Main Hall at Gorman Arts Centre before moving to The Ralph Wilson Theatre, June 15-17. 
• WITH a seasoning of rock standards, Dianna Nixon will reprise her solo cabaret show created in celebration of the cocktail, “The Gentleman’s Companion”. Yazzbar, 81 Comur St, Yass , 4pm-6pm, Sunday, June 18.
• “ACTING the Playtext” is a course of six, two-hour sessions over six Wednesday nights at the Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning, Stirling, from June 21 to July 26. Information 0408 034373.
• CANADIAN musical “Come From Away” continues at Canberra Theatre until July 9.

Galleries

• STUDENTS from ANU’s School of Art & Design have combined with PhotoAccess, Manuka, to stage a “Funeral for Photography”, billed as “an evening celebration of the life and death of photography as we know it, 6pm, June 15.
• “FOR the Record,” the Members’ Show at Canberra Contemporary Art Space, takes the humble LP as the starting point for member-artists to re-use, re-work or re-write the record. A one-day exhibition will take place at CCAS on the Lake on June 17 only.
• THE National Portrait Gallery opens its doors to the public on June 17, with the National Photographic Portrait Prize 2023, running until October 2.
• LIBRARIES ACT in partnership with Afghan Women on The Move will launch “The Power of Colour” art exhibition, a creative display of storytelling through mixed media. ACT Heritage Library, Fyshwick, June 17-July 1.
• “WINDOWS of Perception” by Amy Schleif together with ceramics and textiles by Gail Nichols will be on show at Suki and Hugh Gallery, Bungendore, June 17 – July 23. 

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