Edmonton children’s writer Kathy Jessup is doing a storytelling show at St. Albert Chapters today from 3 to 4 p.m.
Jessup, a former CBC producer turned children’s writer, has compiled a CD of eight original stories titled LISTEN UP! Tellable Tales for Hungry Ears.
LISTEN UP! was chosen by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre to be included in their guide Best Books for Kids and Teens 2010.
“Storytelling CDs are independently produced. They don’t have a huge publishing house behind them. If you’re a parent, when you go to buy them you don’t know if it’s good. To get this kind of national endorsement looks good,” says Jessup.
Many of Jessup’s stories are based on a common character named Hilary, who goes on a series of adventures. For added spice, the former broadcaster has also included a Spanish and East Indian folk tale.
For more information visit www.kathyjessup.com
Now in its ninth year, the Sprouts New Play Festival running today and tomorrow presents four new plays by Edmonton playwrights.
Patricia Darbasie’s When Water Meets Stone takes us to a 1910 prairie homestead where water is scarce and settlers need help from Cree neighbours to live.
Nick Green’s Left Field looks at a young boy stuck playing baseball when he’s more interested in being Fred Astaire. Ian Leung’s Terra Cotta Soldier is also about a boy who imagines an ancient Chinese warrior comes to his aid against a school bully.
And finally Mari Sasano’s A Very Grouchy Dragon visits three friends worried about their dragon pal. The festival is at the Stanley Milner Library, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Square.
Activities begin at 1 p.m. Storytelling is at 2 p.m. All tickets are $5 through Tix on the Square at 780-420-1757 or at the door. For more information call 780-439-2905 or visit www.concretetheatre.ca
Mark Ammar, St. Albert’s king of open stage jams, celebrates his 300th show on Tuesday, June 15 at LB’s Pub.
Ammar highlights special guests Dale Collins, a mainstay at the Moosehead Open Stage, and Sean Grieve, keyboardist for The Boogie Patrol and The Vindicators.
“Dale brings a clean one-of-a-kind sound to the stage and has a lead guitar style sound like no other,” says Ammar of Collins, who was influenced by Rush and Led Zeppelin. Collins even did a stint with Bernie Shaw, current lead vocalist for Uriah Heep.
Grieve, on the other hand, just works magic on the keyboards and fits in with any style. “His reputation has gained him work with some of the biggest names on the blues scene in western Canada — Sam Cockrell and Russell Jackson to name a few.”
The jam starts at 9 p.m. at 23 Akins Drive. No cover charge.
The St. Albert Cultivates the Art is making a last ditch effort to let local poets know that the Poetry on the Bus deadline has been extended to Monday, June 15.
The competition invites writers to submit unpublished works. Four poems will be selected and mounted on bus panels. The winning poets receive an honorarium and the opportunity to read their poem at the StArts Fest in September.
The competition offers developing and professional writers a chance to compete with their peers in three categories: 12- to 14-year-olds, 15- to 17-year-olds and 18 and over.
For complete Poetry on the Bus details visit www.startsfest.ca. Questions can be emailed to [email protected].
