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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2009-03-19, Page 23Trees to Treasures: Folk Art from the George June Collection. From pine, poplar and walnut woods, George June created the extensive array of wooden folk art now on display at the Huron County Museum. George Forester June was a retired farmer, he was afflicted with sciatic rheumatism in 1929 from which he only partially recovered. While at his cottage near Lake Couchiching he first whittled a cedar cane. It was the beginning of a hobby that would last the rest of his life. Carved mostly in the 1930s and 1940s, his pieces vary from full size human figures to tiny intricate acorn chains and jewelry. Two beautiful tables are included in the display, one of which is made of 52,000 cubes of wood inlaid to create an interesting design of dogs and dragons. The exhibition is on display at the Huron County Museum until August 4, 2009. For more information contact the Museum at 519-524- 2686 or visit the website at www.huroncounty.ca/museum. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2009. PAGE 23. Is your son a character? Is your daughter a drama queen? If so, your child may have the chance of a lifetime to nurture his or her creativity in a professional production this summer at the renowned Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend. Drayton Entertainment is looking for 16 boys and girls between the ages of 10 and 14 to play Fagin’s kids in its production of the Broadway musical, Oliver! The company is also looking for a boy to play the lead role of Oliver, and another for the role of the Artful Dodger. “This is a wonderful experience for any child, whether it’s a building block in their career or simply for their personal development,” says Alex Mustakas, the theatre’s artistic director. An open audition will be held at the Huron Country Playhouse on Saturday, April 4, starting at 1 p.m. Although children will be taught a couple of the production’s stand-out numbers, Consider Yourself and Food, Glorious Food , it would be helpful if they familiarized themselves with the material. Previous acting experience is an asset, but not required. The complete list of requirements, including audition song lyrics, parental application form, and photo identification, is available on the company’s website: www.huroncountryplayhouse.com. Mustakas is quick to stress that there is a significant time commitment required for the lucky children selected to be company members. They will be expected to attend occasional rehearsals for a two-week period, May 18 through May 30. The children will then appear in every performance of Oliver!, Tuesday through Saturday, June 2 to June 20. Parents will need to make arrangements with the child’s school to accommodate the performance schedule. However, Mustakas notes the rewards are plentiful. Research shows through the performing arts children are able to learn such skills as self-confidence, co-operation, understanding of peers, and above all, a renewed sense of self. By developing positive skills in children today, they may become the productive adults of tomorrow. “A study of theatre is a study of ourselves and each other,” says Mustakas. “By introducing our children to theatre we give them the opportunity to develop interactive skills that will last a lifetime.” “These lucky young performers will have the chance to work with some of the most talented professionals in the industry,” says Mustakas. “It is truly a once-in-a- lifetime opportunity.” Huron Country Playhouse is located at RR1, B Line, Grand Bend. No appointments are necessary. Any additional inquiries may be directed to Steve Roth, executive producer of Drayton Entertainment, by calling 1- 888-449-4463 ext.245. Exceptional Canadians to read in Bayfield HC Playhouse holds 2009 auditions A panel of exceptional Canadian men will read their favourite passages from great hockey stories in the Bayfield Town Hall, on Friday, April 3. Continuing the tradition of Blyth Reads … the Blyth Festival has announced that award-winning novelist Paul Quarrington, “Canadian rocker” Dave Bidini and one of Blyth Festival’s own audience favourites, Ted Johns, will join artistic director Eric Coates for this exclusive event. Quarrington is a musician, acclaimed non-fiction writer and novelist, and an award-winning screenwriter and filmmaker. He won the Stephen Leacock Medal for King Leary, a novel about hockey, winter and a charming octogenarian rascal, that also won the 2008 Canada Reads competition. His most recent novel The Ravine (published 2008) was long-listed for the Scotiabank Giller Prize; his previous novel Galveston was short-listed for the Giller. Whale Music won the Governor General’s Award for Fiction and was one of several of his novels adapted as a feature film. His non-fiction writing includes books on some of his favourite pastimes such as fishing, hockey and music; his next non-fiction book about his life in music will be published by Greystone in 2009. He regularly contributes book reviews, travel columns and journalism to Canada’s national newspapers and magazines. Quarrington lives and works in Toronto, where he teaches writing at Humber College and the University of Toronto, and sits on the board of directors for the Fringe Theatre Festival. Bidini is a writer, well-known rock musician (Rheostatics) and sport enthusiast who says hockey is the game he loves best. His works include: The Best Game You Can Name, Baseballissimo, On a Cold Road, and Tropic of Hockey. Bidini wrote and hosted the Gemini Award-winning small- screen adaptation of Tropic of Hockey, called Hockey Nomad, which was first broadcast in January 2003. His follow-up film was The Hockey Nomad Goes to Russia, which was nominated for a subsequent Gemini Award. The CBC also commissioned Bidini for a one-hour documentary on soccer entitled, Kick In The Head for the 2008 Soccer Day in Canada. He lives in Toronto with his wife, Janet, and their two children. In The Best Game You Can Name, all aspects of the game are up for grabs – the sweetest goals, the worst fights, the trades, the off-ice perks and the on-ice rivalries, not to mention the rotten pranks. Bidini and former players offer sometimes startling observations about the fans, coaches, owners, other players and the huge rush of being on the ice, stick in hand, giving everything you have to the best game you can name. Johns has been described as the “master of local lore.” He has a canny ability to infuse his character with mountains of charm, reflecting issues and characters from our community with immense admiration and humour. Johns is currently working on The Bootblack Orator – a re-creation of a time, through the eyes of John R. Clarke aka “The Bootblack Orator” (circa 1880), when the little hamlets of Huron thrived with societies devoted to literature, science and art. This production will open the Blyth Festival’s 35th season on June 26, starring Johns and his wife, Janet Amos. Coates hosts the evening’s activities. Following the readings, Ted McIntosh of the Black Dog Pub will host a unique beer-tasting experience. Beer, like wine, is a complex and varied beverage and McIntosh will tutor guests on beer in all its many-splendoured tastes. Tasty treats from the Black Dog are included in your ticket price. Tickets for Blyth Reads: Hockey Night in Bayfield are just $20 and are available at The Village Bookshop in Bayfield or the Blyth Festival Box Office by calling toll free 1-877-862-5984 or visit: www.blythfestival.com Please join us for a... BEEF BBQ DINNER and DANCE By The Max Bent Band SATURDAY, March 29th, 2008 Dinner 6pm-8pm Dance to Follow at Brussels Community Centre Brought to you by the Huron County Beef Producers For more information please call Brussels Agri Services 519-887-9391 Kittie MacGregor 519-523-4368 Harvey Hoggart 519-482-9157 SATURDAY, March 28, 2009 Happy 2nd Birthday Madison Lee March 17 Love Mommy & DaddyLove Mom and Paul Terry Pierce March 22 Happy 50th Birthday Happy 23rd Birthday Brendan Pierce March 30 Love from Grandma and Uncle Paul Entertainment Leisure& Lordy, Lordy look who is 60 years young Cathie G. From the family and a friend Happy Anniversary to Dave and Leana Baker From a friend New exhibit at Huron Museum