Playgoers of Lethbridge celebrating 100 years with a Taste of the Arts this weekend

Playgoers of Lethbridge is celebrating their 100th anniversary by giving the community a taste of the arts this weekend.

There will be workshops, performances, film and a chance to dance and sing at the Yates Theatre and Sterndale Bennett Theatre, Friday, April 21 and Saturday, April 22.

Mayson Merkle, Cole Fetting and Jaclyn Elfring perfoming in Alternative Accomodation. photo by Richard Amery

“ Move between the two venues, stay for the day or come and go. The longest performance is 45 minutes. So come and see what you like and maybe learn a little about Playgoers’ history,” said Nancy Purkis, Playgoers of Lethbridge Board member and one of the festival‘s organizers.

Planning the two day event has been in the works for a year when Playgoers started applying for city, provincial and federal grants to cover the costs of the event and to ensure that everything is free to attend and to ensure the performers receive an honorarium.

“ It’s certainly snowballed,” Purkis said, adding they had to submit a tentative schedule to apply for the grants, so Playgoers was pleased the Lethbridge arts community answered calls through the Allied Arts Council and on social media.

The opening ceremonies at 5 p.m., Friday, April 21 and plaque unveiling featuring speeches by Mayor Blaine Hyggen, Playgoers of Lethbridge president Elaine Jagielski and Dr. Mike Bruised Head, has been moved inside due to concerns about the weather.

“The Southern Accord Chorus are going to sing Happy Birthday to Playgoers at 5:50 in the Yates Theatre. And The Lethbridge Big Band will be performing “Going Up” from the first musical comedy Playgoers of Lethbridge ever did,” Purkis continued, adding local dance companies including Beyond Limits will perform and provide an opportunity for the audience to dance if they desire.

There will be historical photos of Playgoers of Lethbridge from the Lethbridge Historical Society as well as art from local high school artists in the Yates Theatre mezzanine to check out between performances.

In addition to performances there will also be a couple interactive workshops beginning Saturday at 12:45 with Theatre Basics by Em Carlson, Stage Combat with Brent Clark at 1:45 and Stage Makeup with Kacie Hall at 2:45.

MCs Mark Campbell, George Gallant, Jason Schilling, Mike Spencer and Mark Campbell will keep things moving along.

If you missed the Chinook Region One Act Drama Festival this year, over Easter weekend, catch the encore of all three Taber Players’ entrants— Julia Cho’s ‘The Break Up’ and Pam Valentine’s “ A Dog’s Life and “Alternative Accommodation.”

The Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society will get you in the spirit for this summer’s production of “ Taming of the Shrew.”

There are several local dance companies, singing groups and more.

There is plenty of live music.

The Geomatic Attic curates an hour of music featuring Ryland Moranz to wind things down at 8 p.m. in the Yates Theatre where the festivities end with a 1920s cocktail party in the mezzanine.

A Taste of the Arts runs Friday, April 21 at 5 p.m. with the opening ceremonies and ends at 8:45 p.m. with Dan and the Technicolour Suit Jacket at 8:45 in the Sterndale Bennett Theatre.

Things resume at noon on Saturday with the film Becoming Unlimited in the Sterndale Bennett Theatre and local percussion dup the jamani duo in the Yates Theatre.

Friday, April 21

Sterndale Bennett Theatre

5 p.m. Opening ceremonies and plaque unveiling

6:15 p.m. Lethbridge Community Taiko association

7:15 p.m. Metis Jigging with Roy Pogorzelski

8 p.m Bridge Brass

8:45 p.m. Dan and the Technicolour Suit Jacket

Yates Theatre

5:50 p.m. Southern Accord Chorus

6:45 p.m. Alternative Accommodation Taber Players

7:45 p.m. Troyanda Ukrainian Dance Club

8:30 p.m. Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society