Event: Andy Jones: An Evening with Uncle Val
Date: Tues, March 31st - Sat, April 4th, 2009 at 8pm
Venue: Mary Irwin Theatre, Rotary Centre for the Arts
Ticket Price: $40 per adult / $10 per student

Sunshine Theatre wraps up the '08/09 Season with Andy Jones: An Evening with Uncle Val. The critically acclaimed performance is one of five one-man comedy shows written and performed by award winning Canadian writer and actor Andy Jones.

Andy brings us the hilariously sarcastic Uncle Val, an indignant, 70 year old retired fisherman, trapped in the 'big city' of St. John's after being displaced from his outport home.

Homesick, Val struggles to figure out what life has left to offer him. Is there anything of use for a senior citizen in the suburbs to do? Is there any mystery or magic left for him to discover?

An Evening with Uncle Val opened at The LSPU Hall in 2006, where it sold out its entire run and was held over for an extra weekend. The performance has since toured extensively nationwide.

Following the opening performance of An Evening with Uncle Val, Sunshine Theatre will be announcing the exciting new line-up for the upcoming '09/10 Sunshine Theatre Season.

Early Bird Subscriptions will be available through April 1st-June 30th for only $90 per adult and $40 per student. Don't miss your chance to get great seats at a very affordable price!

To learn more about Andy Jones: An Evening with Uncle Val and Sunshine Theatre visit www.SunshineTheatre.org.

Event: William Joseph & Emma-Lee
Date: Thursday, April 30th, 2009 at 8pm
Price: $50 per person

Free Preshow: Olga Osipova at 7pm

World renowned pianist, composer and performer William Joseph will perform for Kelowna audiences at the Rotary Centre for the Arts on Thursday, April 30th. William's sound is best described as 'classical pop' for its mélange of genres, along with its exceptional range and versatility.

Discovered by multiple Grammy award-winner & producer David Foster in 2003, William Joseph is known for his polished precision and emotionally powerful performances. His style is unique, as it takes classical themes and infuses them with rock and pop elements.

Since the 2004 release of his first record Within, William has earned a growing legion of fans and has been in-demand for a number of high profile musical events, including a support tour with 143 Records' label mate Josh Groban, a two-month tour with Clay Aiken, Andre Agassi's "Grand Slam for Children" fundraiser with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and John Mayer and a charity event for Carousel of Hope with Beyoncé.

William has also supported and performed with a range of esteemed artists including Il Divo, Barbra Streisand, Lionel Richie, Natalie Cole, Kenny G, Peter Cetera, Alicia Keys, Andrea Bocelli, and Chaka Khan.

William's success undoubtedly stems from his early love of music. At age eight, William had already won a full-ride national music scholarship that allowed him to study classical piano with acclaimed Russian instructor Stella Saperstein.

By age 17, he had written the theme song for his hometown hockey team, the Phoenix Coyotes, as well as a special anthem called "Seeds of Hope", intended to help draw attention to the victims of the Kosovo refugee crisis.

William's music captures a variety of moods, from the dramatic, to the heart-wrenching, to the light and playful. Always original, William has described many of his songs as "cinematic - like the soundtrack to an epic film that has yet to be made."

Toronto based singer/songwriter Emma-Lee, whose music features dreamy 50s pop with sweet hints of folk & blues, will open for William Joseph. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster, by visiting the Rotary Centre for the Arts Box Office, or by calling (250) 717-5304.

Event Date: Saturday, May 2nd / Sunday, May 3rd, 2009
Times: Saturday & Sunday 1-5pm
Featuring: Art Exhibition & Sale, Community Barbeque, Artist Demonstrations

The Rotary Centre for the Arts is teaming up with Wilden to present the Wilden Art Promenade. The event will feature a contemporary art exhibition & sale, a community barbeque and spectacular show home living. Everyone is invited to experience this exciting collaboration.

Commenting on the Wilden Art Promenade, RCA Executive Director Tracie Ward said, "The Rotary Centre for the Arts is looking forward to working with Wilden for this great event. The opportunity to display artwork by local artists in the stunning show homes is such a great way to showcase art and the beauty of living in the Okanagan."

The Wilden Art Promenade will be held at a selection of show homes in the Wilden Skylands development (access off Clifton/Rio). The event will include artist demonstrations and a community barbeque. Visitors will also be eligible to enter a fabulous door prize for a chance to win a trip for two to Paris!

Any artist who is a member of KVPACS is welcome to apply to be a part of the Wilden Art Promenade. The event is a great way to highlight local professional artists and encourage people to visit the RCA. For further details on the event and how to apply visit www.RotaryCentrefortheArts.com.

On Saturday, May 2nd the Rotary Centre for the Arts will be bursting at the seams with a variety of exciting events. Following the Wilden Art Promenade, guests are encouraged to visit the RCA for an evening of festivities.

Highlights of the evening will include:

Event: Tons of Fun University
Date: Saturday, May 2nd, 2009 at 8pm
Price: $30 per adult / $10 per student

Tons of Fun University, aka T.O.F.U. consists of C.R. Avery, Shane Koyczan, and Mike McGee. All three (being well-accomplished poets and spoken word performers individually) together have created a unique sound that incorporates poetic lyrics, song, beatbox, keyboard, harmonica and humor.

They are three frontmen in one band without backup. They are collected thoughts made into understandable noise. They are tons of fun, and the university they run has a huge enrollment. Their curriculum is simple: think, love and understand as best as possible. They call the resulting sound Talk-Rock.

Formed in an abandoned building in Chicago in 2003, Tons of Fun University is one of the premier North American groups to combine spoken word and music. Having performed at nearly every major folk festival in Canada, T.O.F.U. is a trio unlike any other.

Tickets to see Tons of Fun University can be purchased through Ticketmaster, by visiting the Rotary Centre for the Arts Box Office, or by calling (250) 717-5304.

Finish off this year's Okanagan Spring Wine Festival with WAM! Featuring live music, fabulous artwork and a vibrant atmosphere, WAM! is the only FREE late-night event following the spring wine fest.

Guests can enjoy a fantastic live performance by the Michael Garding Group featuring Candice Deacoff, visit participating artist studios and meet local artists in person. Tasty treats, specialty drinks, local wine and delicious artisan gelato will be available for purchase at Staccatos bistro.

For further information on WAM! please contact the Rotary Centre for the Arts at (250) 717-5304 or visit us online at www.RotaryCentrefortheArts.com

This month in the Galleria...
Kelowna Painters' Studio
Various works by members of the Kelowna Painters' Studio will be on display in the Galleria through March 16th-April 30th and are available for viewing daily from 8am-8pm.

Other Exhibitions this month at the RCA...
Mezzanine: Tari DiBello / Display Cases: Ponderosa Spinners, Weavers & Fibre Artists & Potters Addict

Visit the Rotary Centre for the Arts on Thursday, April 2nd from 4-7pm for the First Thursday Art Crawl. The event will feature the Mount Boucherie Jazz Band, a group of talented young musicians who recently appeared with the Ross Taggart at the RCA.

Guests have the chance to enjoy food, art and music while visiting with artists at work. This is a great opportunity to learn all about the wonderful processes involved in creating art first hand. Everyone is welcome to attend!

Festivals Kelowna is inviting interested Artisans and Crafters to submit their applications for the society's 2009 artisan programs including Arts Alive!, Made in Canada Marketplace and the Artisan Marketplace and Crafters Walkway at the Kelowna Music & Arts Festival.

Each of these programs is juried, requiring individuals to submit an application for each of the opportunities that they are interested in. Additional information is available online at www.festivalskelowna.com where applicants can review the application form and learn more about the application process and deadlines.

We are pleased to announce that the Rotary Centre for the Arts has been nominated for the 2009 "Presenter of the Year" award by the BC Touring Council (BCTC).

The nomination recognizes the Rotary Centre for the Arts as an outstanding performing arts facility. We would like to thank all of those who nominated the RCA for this esteemed award.

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