The Northern Arts and Cultural Centre will host a double-act, super weekend of comedy and classical music on Dec. 12-13.
Although the Ever Late Show: Christmas Edition! comedy event and the Gryphon Trio Celebrate Beethoven@250 Watch Party events are catered to different audiences, NACC executive director Marie Coderre said she's trying to cater to as wide an audience as possible leading up to the holiday season.
Simon Whitehouse/NNSL photo
"We're trying to target two different crowds and we tried to find programs that could really satisfy local audiences with laughter while also celebrating a big composer," Coderre said.
Tickets are now on sale for the Ever Late Show: Christmas Edition, to be held on Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. The event will feature Martin Rehak and JD and a lineup of comedians.
Rehak, 36, has been part of NACC’s mentorship program for more than a year and has been among the Yellowknife-based arts performers building a community of comedians in town, said Coderre.
“I think that during the pandemic, we really need to laugh right now and we really need funny content,” she said. “We are used to having music shows for Christmas and stuff like that, but I think a parody comedy show around Christmas will be quite different and quite relevant in these unprecedented times.”
NNSL file photo.
The lineup will also feature comedians Skye Plowman and Emily Blake, a brief appearance by Tom Parker and other surprise acts.
The musical guest is Ryan McCord and there will also be a special appearance by David Thomas Micheal.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there are only 50 spots available for the live act in the cultural centre. However, the event will be broadcast via Facebook and Northwestel later that day at 7:30 p.m.
All sales will be online as the box office is closed and people who attend are asked to take public health precautions.
Coderre said the show will be a Christmas-based parody and viewers are advised there could be adult content involved.
NACC hosted a Martin Rehak event in August at the Willideh stage and he said that audiences can expect a similar performance.
"It will be like a late-night talk show format with multimedia and local acts with some silly bits in-between and sketches," he explained. "The one at Willideh was the first of its kind that we had done and this is the next installment as a Christmas edition."
Gryphon Trio
The same weekend will also feature a virtual concert by the Gryphon Trio on Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. to mark the 250th birthday of musical composer Beethoven.
One of Canada's most celebrated classical music trios, the Gryphon Trio comprises pianist Jamie Parker, cellist Roman Borys and violinist Annalee Patipatanakoon.
Tickets are also on sale for that event. The show will include a pre-recorded performance of Beethoven’s G Major Piano Trio Op. 1, No. 2 and the Piano Trio in Bb Major, Op. 97, nicknamed the "Archduke."
photo courtesy of the Gryphon Trio official website
The event will only be seen via screen, exclusively for ticket-holders.
“All the classical music lovers will love that show and we'll have a chance to talk to the members afterwards,” Coderre said. “I will be on stage with them on the screen and we will have a discussion and the audience will be able to ask questions. "
She said that show will be a reunion of sorts as the Gryphon Trio have toured in the NWT in the past, the last time being December 2016 as part of the Broken Hearts and Madmen Project.
“So yes, it's good just going to be a reunion with the Gryphon Trio who have been an important asset for the community here and who have done so much for the Northwest Territories,” she said. “I'm sure they will be thrilled to to see a few patrons even though it will be just 50 people.”