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Lively City: Burnaby singer part of Motown Meltdown

A Burnaby singer is among those who'll be performing in an upcoming Motown Meltdown fundraiser. The event is set for March 28 at the Commodore Ballroom, raising money for Seva Canada.
Cecile LaRochelle
Cecile LaRochelle takes to the stage at the Commodore Ballroom March 28 for the Motown Meltdown fundraiser.

A Burnaby singer is among those who'll be performing in an upcoming Motown Meltdown fundraiser.

The event is set for March 28 at the Commodore Ballroom, raising money for Seva Canada.

Twenty-six vocalists will take part in the event, backed by a 12-piece band - all taking to the stage to offer up their soul and rhythm-and-blues performances.

Audience members can expect to hear such Motown favourites as I Heard It Through the Grapevine, Dancing in the Street and Papa was a Rolling Stone.

Among the evening's performers is Burnaby's Cecile LaRochelle (find out more about her at www.larochellevocalstudios.com), a singer and vocal teacher who has worked with such stars as Bryan Adams, John Denver, Sheena Easton and David Foster.

She has also written and produced numerous albums, including her own gospel and children's albums.

Seva, for those unfamiliar with its work, is a Vancouver-based charity (www.seva.ca) whose mission is to restore sight and prevent blindness in the developing world.

"We are honoured that proceeds from Motown Meltdown will now be benefiting Seva's sustainable and innovative blindness prevention and treatment programs in 13 of the poorest places in the world," said executive director Penny Lyons in a press release. "It's going to be such a fabulous night of entertaining by some of Canada's amazing vocalists."

Motown Meltdown is set for 8 p.m. at the Commodore, 868 Granville St. Tickets are $32 plus service charges, or $42 at the door. Call Ticketmaster at 1-855-985-5000 or see ticketmaster.ca.

 

CINDERELLA ONSTAGE

The students of St. Thomas More Collegiate are bringing an adaptation of a Rodgers and Hammerstein classic to life at Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.

The school is presenting Cinderella Enchanted as its 2015 school musical, and it takes to the Shadbolt's James Cowan Theatre stage March 26 to 28.

The musical began life on TV in 1957 as Cinderella, starring Julie Andrews, and was recreated in 1965 with Lesley Ann Warren in the title role. A second remake in 1997 starred Brandy as Cinderella and Whitney Houston as her fairy godmother.

"As adapted for the stage, with great warmth and more than a touch of hilarity, the hearts of children and adults alike still soar when the slipper fits," promises a write-up about the production.

St. Thomas More students have been putting the production together for months, and they're inviting everyone to turn out to enjoy the fruits of their labour.

Cinderella Enchanted is on Thursday, Friday and Saturday March 26 to 28 at 7 p.m., plus a Saturday matinee at 2 p.m.

Check out tickets.shadboltcentre.com to buy.

 

JAZZING IT UP

Jazz fans, check it out - Brentwood Town Centre is hosting a Live Jazz Lounge on weekends in April.

Musicians will be on hand Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 2 p.m., offering up jazz in the Centre Court.

PK3 Jazz Trio will be on hand for Saturday and Sunday, April 4 and 5, as well as April 11 and 12.

On April 18 and 19, you can enjoy Téa, and on April 25 and 26, you can take in the sounds of It Takes Two.

Check out www.brentwoodtowncentre.com for all the details.

 

Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, jmaclellan@burnabynow.com, or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.