Amateur performers around town are busy rehearsing and preparing for the upcoming Powell River Festival of Performing Arts.
The festival runs from Saturday, February 23 to Saturday, March 9 and performances will be held at various venues.
“It’s the best free entertainment you can possibly find,” said festival coordinator Valerie Thompson.
Speech arts, voice, choral, band and instrumental, piano and strings are all included in the two-week festival and this year organizers have added dance as a discipline to make the festival more representative of performing arts.
More than 480 entries have been submitted from individuals and groups to take part in the festival, which translates into a couple of thousand performers participating.
On Wednesday, February 27, eight choirs, which include approximately 700 performers alone, will perform at Evergreen Theatre, Powell River Recreation Complex.
There have been so many entries for the ever-popular Broadway evening, that this year organizers have decided to dedicate two evenings to individuals and duets singing music from their favourite Broadway shows and movies.
“It’s one little kid after another,” said Thompson. “It’s a really fantastic and popular event.”
Organizers have set the evenings of Thursday, February 28 for children’s performances and Friday, March 1 for adults at the Evergreen. Children’s duets will also be performed on March 1. Performers will dress in costume and be able to use limited props.
The festival culminates in the Grand Concert, an evening of the best performances on Saturday, March 9 at the Evergreen. It is the only ticketed event of the festival.
The festival is sponsored by The Rotary Club of Powell River and volunteers put in countless hours to make sure all the events run smoothly.
Though there aren’t any charges for most events, festival organizers are encouraging the public to donate generously as proceeds of the event go to help local amateur performers pay for attending provincial events, bring adjudicators to town and pay for their fees.
“Donations are gratefully accepted and make all the difference,” said Thompson.
More information about the festival and an event schedule can be found on Rotary’s website. Tickets for the Grand Concert can be purchased at Breakwater Books and Coffee, Powell River Academy of Music or at the door on the evening of the performance. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for youth under 16 years of age.
