A young Burnaby actor is taking centre stage in a new musical production at Coquitlam's Evergreen Cultural Centre.
Frankie Cena is starring as Gabriel Goodman in the Theatrix Youtheatre production of Next to Normal, onstage May 16 to 19.
The Tony-and Pulitzeraward-winning musicaltakes aim at unusual musical subject matter: mental illness in a suburban family.
The production also stars Elizabeth Cushnie as Diana Goodman and Dmitri Antos as Dan Goodman. Also featured are Sevan Kochkarian, Sheamus Collins and Shayn Solberg.
It's on nightly at 7: 30 p.m. in the Studio Theatre at the Evergreen, 1205 Pinetree Way. See www. theatrixyoutheatre.com.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
A Burnaby-based art group has just celebrated its fourth birthday.
MAC - My Artist's Corner - marked the completion of its fourth year with a gathering on April 13.
MAC is a group of adult artists who are living with mental health issues.
The group has opened its ECHO Clubhouse at the Canadian Mental Health Association's Edmonds site.
It holds regular Tuesday and Friday meetings, and members also take part in a range of community exhibitions - 10 members were recently featured in the New West Artists show May 4 to 6, and a MAC artist recently sold a piece at the Burnaby Artists Guild's spring show.
See www.myartists corner.ca.
BENEFIT CONCERT
An upcoming benefit concert for the Vancouver Academy of Music features some Burnaby ties.
The academy is presenting a special afternoon concert on Sunday, May 20 at 2 p.m. at its Koerner Recital Hall. The concert will benefit the academy's bursary program for underprivileged children.
It will feature Juno Award-winning violinist Mark Fewer, who is spending this week as the academy's artist in residence and working with string students.
He'll be joined by Vancouver-based jazz bassist Jodi Proznick - who has a master's degree in education from Simon Fraser University - alongside Brad Turner on trumpet and Tilden Webb on piano.
They'll offer up repertoire that runs the gamut from Beethoven to Ellington, including a new work by local composer Kathleen Allan.
Joining them onstage will be an all-star academy string orchestra featuring faculty and students.
"Mark Fewer is as versatile a musician as you can possibly imagine," said Joseph Elworthy, a Burnaby native and executive director of the Vancouver Academy of Music. "As our artist-inresidence, he has much to share with our students and audiences."
Tickets are $10 regular, or $6 for students and seniors. Buy at the door or at www.vancouver academyofmusic.com.
The Koerner Recital Hall is at the Vancouver Academy of Music, 1270 Chestnut St. in Vancouver.
