Fans of mystery writing should make their way to the next Spoken Ink night.
Author Debra Purdy Kong will be on hand at the Burnaby Writers' Society's monthly reading event to present from her latest Casey Holland novel, The Deep End.
The Casey Holland series follows the adventures of a transit security cop; it's one of two crime series authored by Kong, who also writes a series of "white-collar crime" novels featuring tax auditor Alex Bellamy.
Kong, a Port Moody resident, will be on hand to read at 8 p.m. at La Fontana Caffe, 101-3701 Hastings St.
There will also be an open mike after her reading - you can sign up for that starting at 7:30 p.m.
The Spoken Ink series is presented by the Burnaby Writers' Society on the third Tuesday of each month (except July and August).
See http://www.burnabywritersnews.blogspot.com or email [email protected] for more info on the Spoken Ink series and other writers' society news.
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The Nikkei National Museum is taking a closer look at the history of Japanese performing arts.
Performer and researcher Yayoi Hirano will be on hand at the Nikkei Centre on Saturday, Feb. 21 for a talk, Japanese Performing Arts Before Kabuki.
Hirano, herself a dancer and mime movement artist, received a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts to conduct research into Japan's dance history from 800 to 1800. She travelled along the Sea of Japan coast to meet dancers and watch performances - and what she found out will be shared in her talk.
She's set to speak at 2 p.m. at the Nikkei Centre, 6688 Southoaks Cres. It's free, but call 604-777-7000 or email [email protected] if you need more information.
You can also find out more about Hirano at her website, www.yayoitheatremovement.ca.
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It's one of the best-known and most-loved operas of all time - and it's coming to the stage at the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.
Burnaby Lyric Opera is presenting Giacomo Puccini's classic Madama Butterfly, Feb. 21 to Feb. 28 in the Shadbolt's James Cowan Theatre.
The opera, for those unfamiliar with it, traces the story of a beautiful young geisha, Cio-Cio-San, who falls in love and marries B.F. Pinkerton, an American naval lieutenant. Shortly after their wedding, he returns to America, and Cio-Cio-San waits three years with their song for this return - only to find that when he comes back, it is to take his son back to America with him.
(And yes, Broadway fans may think, "hmmm, that plot sounds familiar" - yes, the popular musical Miss Saigon is in fact based on Madama Butterfly.)
Music director David Boothroyd and stage director Adam DaRos will lead a cast of emerging B.C. opera artists in this classic production, sung in Italian with English surtitles. The ensemble features Gina McLellan Moral, Nicolas Rhind, Francesca Corrado and Geoffrey Schellenberg.
It's on Feb. 21, 26 and 28 at 8 p.m., and Feb. 23 and 25 at 2 p.m.
See tickets.shadboltcentre.com or call 604-205-3000 to buy tickets.
You can also find out more at www.burnabylyricopera.org.
Do you have an item for the Lively City? Do you know a local artist or performer who deserves some recognition? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, [email protected], or find her on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.
