PANAMA CITY — Happy Winter Solstice/Mayan Apocalypse everybody. Since the world hasn’t ended yet, here’s what’s up:
- I had the opportunity to hear the trio, Ladybird Sideshow, last week at Rosemary Beach Town Hall, as they gave a benefit concert for Alaqua Animal Refuge. The three solo artists from Canada hadn’t performed together in three years, but you never would have known it — their voices and stories melded so well, treating the intimate gathering of listeners to a warm, funny, touching and inspirational evening.
“They were extremely grateful for the opportunity to showcase their work in front of a gracious audience,” said Malayne DeMars, executive director of the Rosemary Beach Foundation.
The members — Melissa McLelland, Janine Stoll and Lisa Winn — have toured with Sarah McLachlan, Feist, Blue Rodeo and others. Their visit provided a chance to learn from Alaqua founder Laurie Hood, as they are forming a similar refuge in their homeland. (Learn more about them and their work at LadybirdAnimalSanctuary.com.)
“We plan on taking some of that Florida warmth back with us to Canada to help more animals in need,” McClelland said.
- Took the family to see “Every Christmas Story Ever Told (and Then Some)” at the Seaside Repertory Theatre, starring Meghan Bode, Alan Daugherty and Brook Stetler (and a couple of audience volunteers). Always fun, they added new gags and references, including a “Gangnam Style” dance. The show repeats at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays until Dec. 29. Details: SeasideRep.org.
- Gulf Coast State College’s Division of Visual & Performing Arts presented its annual Holiday Concert for a packed house at the Amelia Center Theatre on Dec. 2, and the joy continues. You can watch the concert (as well as the Bay District Schools Holiday Concert, “A Child’s Christmas Gift”) broadcast by the college’s TV station, GCTV, on local cable channels.
Today through Jan. 6, you can catch the concerts at these times: Monday through Friday, the GCSC Holiday Concert will broadcast at 2 a.m., 5 a.m., 5 p.m., 8 p.m. and 11 p.m.; the Bay District Schools Concert will show at midnight, 3 a.m., 6 a.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. On Saturdays and Sundays, the GCSC Holiday Concert will broadcast at 2 a.m., 6 a.m., 10 a.m., noon, 4 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.; the Bay District Schools Concert will be at 7 a.m., 1 p.m., 7 p.m. and 11 p.m.
- Dancer and supporting cast auditions for “East Side Story” took place this week at GCSC, and the production is still looking for talent. In addition, the movie (set to begin filming in January all over PCB) has added more stars from “So You Think You Can Dance” to its cast list, including Witney Carson.
“Dance auditions were off the chain great, but with the holidays people are out of pocket, so we are going to the high schools to scout for more people,” said Julie Gordon, film commissioner. “Interest is heating up, staff is outgrowing our production space and we are hunting new square footage and spare desks and chairs for all the interns and production people.”
- Prudence Farrow Bruns, the Santa Rosa Beach resident and inspiration for the Beatles’ “Dear Prudence,” has a new Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for a documentary. (You can link to the page in the online version of this column. >>Click to read a profile of Bruns, who has taught meditation at Zen Garden in Panama City Beach.)
The Dear Prudence Foundation plans to film the ancient Kumbh Mela festival that takes place in India every 12 years — “the largest human gathering on the planet of saints, yogis and people seeking enlightenment or merely the company of the enlightened.” Some 70 million to 90 million people are expected to gather for three weeks from late January to mid-February 2013, and the documentary would show the magnitude and uniqueness of the event.
Various levels of support earn donors things like copies of the video, T-shirts, invitations to the world premiere, and even a dinner with Bruns.
Peace on Earth.
