The musical of musicals is set to hit the stage April 11 at Massey Theatre, and several Burnaby actors will be joining the cast of Royal City Musical Theatre's spring production of Oklahoma!
The 44-member cast includes locals Sandra Head as Aunt Eller, Brendan Cuff as Will Parker and Angela King as a dancer, and the dance captain of the show.
From the well-known Oh, What a Beautiful Morning, to the classic Oklahoma!, audiences can expect to hear their favourite numbers in this production of the musical that celebrates its 70th anniversary this year.
Preview shows will be held April 11 and 12, and the show runs April 13 to 27, with showtimes at 8 p.m., and 2 p.m. matinées on Saturdays and Sundays.
Tickets range from $20 to $40, with special rates for seniors and students, available at www. mas seytheatre.com or by calling 604-521-5050.
Family Round Up Day is Sunday, April 14, with a 2 p.m. show with special prices - buy two adult tickets and get two child or senior tickets free.
The Massey Theatre is located at 735 Eighth Ave. in New Westminster.
For more information visit www.royalcitymusic altheatre.com.
SFU student wins
A Simon Fraser University graduate student has taken the top prize for delivering an engaging, albeit short, presentation on his unusual research project.
Mike Henrey, a student in the engineering department, was a participant in the recent Three-minute Thesis (3MT) competition finals at SFU's Burnaby campus, in which graduate students had just three minutes to wow judges and the public with their subjects.
Henrey took home $1,500 for the judged element and $500 for people's choice award for a short showcase of his research on testing simulated gecko adhesives in outer space.
He said his win was due to his ability to tell a good story about his work.
"I put a lot of effort into trying to sell the robot," he said in a press release.
"I framed it as a problem with an interesting solution that I thought would captivate people."
In the presentation, Henrey explained how the six-legged robot he built uses a simulated gecko adhesive to attach itself to a satellite's exterior. He also explained his testing of the adhesive in a space-like environment at the European Space Agency in the Netherlands last summer.
Henrey's research paper will appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Aerospace Science and Technology. He and six other top presenters from this competition at other B.C. universities will show off their research-recapping abilities once again at the 3MT, B.C. winners' showcase next month.
The free public event will be held at the University of British Columbia, from 3: 30 to 5 p.m. on April 3.
Art all over town
Spring has sprung and art is popping up in galleries from Deer Lake Park to Burnaby Mountain.
At the Deer Lake Gallery, Rite of Spring is on display from April 5 to 27, showing the intersection between Stravinsky's ballet and the domestic ritual of spring cleaning - through a variety of media. The gallery is located at 6584 Deer Lake Ave. and is open Tuesday to Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. For information, call 604-298-7322 or visit www. burnabyartscouncil.org.
At the Burnaby Art Gallery, Arts Alive runs from April 19 to May 19, showcasing a selection of student paintings, drawings and sculptures from several Burnaby schools.
An opening reception will be held on April 18 from 5 to 7 p.m., free for all ages. The gallery is located at 6344 Deer Lake Ave. and is open Tuesday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 4: 30 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free.
On Lunch B.A.G. Day, April 26, from noon to 1 p.m., the gallery is offering a tour and lunch for $12, which includes dessert, tea and coffee. To register or for more information, call 604-297-4422 or visit www. burnabyartgallery.ca.
At the Simon Fraser University art gallery on Burnaby Mountain, an exhibition called Wild New Territories is on display until April 13. This group exhibit features the works of international and local artists and explores the connection between culture and nature and how these relate to the uncertainty of a changing environment.
The gallery is located in Academic Quadrangle 3004 at 8888 University Dr. on Burnaby Mountain. Hours are noon to 5 p.m., from Tuesday to Saturday. For more information, phone 778-782-4266 or visit www.sfu.ca/artgallery.
