37 SANDIFORD DRIVE, 4TH FLOOR MAIN SWITCHBOARD: (905) 640-1900 STOUFFVILLE, L4A 7X5 (905) 895-2423 AUTOMATED LINES: (905) 640-1910 (905) 895-5299

FAX: (905) 640-7957 MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release September 29, 2009

LEBOVIC CENTRE FOR ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT – NINETEEN ON THE PARK LAUNCHES 2009/2010 PROFESSIONAL SERIES WITH A PERFORMANCE BY JULIE CROCHETIERE

Opening Night for the inaugural Professional Series at the Lebovic Centre for Arts & Entertainment – Nineteen on the Park is set for Friday, October 9 at 8pm. Singer / songwriter Julie Crochetiere will perform music from “A Better Place” (2007) and her new recording to be released later this Fall.

Montreal-born Julie Crochetiere is an independent Canadian singer/songwriter whose heart wrenching vocals and soothing soulful arrangements are making their way into the consciousness of the mainstream. Julie's music is a fusion of pop, soul, rhythm and blues, and a touch of jazz. After a successful tenure with pop group "Sugar Jones" under her belt, two top ten hits, a platinum selling record and two national tours (one as the opening act for Destiny's Child and the second as the headliner), Julie was intent on honing her songwriting skills and carving out her own musical path.

In 2008, Julie's passion and dedication finally paid off. Her debut full length album "A Better Place" sold over 25,000 copies in , the USA and Europe and became the 8th highest downloaded album on iTunes Canada's soul/R&B chart in April 2008. "A Better Place" also produced 3 hit music videos, which are currently on rotation on Bravo and MuchMoreMusic. The album's first single "Precious Love" soared to #18 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary charts and stayed in the top 20 for 20 weeks. "Precious Love" was also nominated for Best Mainstream Adult Contemporary Song at the 2009 Canadian Radio Music Awards and Best New Single and Best Female Vocalist at the Canadian Smooth Jazz Awards.

Julie has performed at some of the most highly esteemed live music venues in Toronto, Montreal and New York, including the Toronto and Ottawa Jazz Festivals, Canadian Music Week, North by Northeast, and the Montreal International Jazz Festival.

OTHER EVENTS IN THE 2009/2010 PROFESSIONAL SERIES

October 15, 16, 17 / Perspectives (8:00pm) – Experience MOTUS O’s World Premiere of Perspectives and shape your own response! For 3 nights only, we’ll barrage your senses with a series of short works using a variety of dance forms, video, eclectic music and lighting designs. An array of world issues will be illuminated through social, emotional and cultural perspectives.

October 29 & 30 / You Fancy Yourself (8:00pm) – Set in 1950s Scotland, You Fancy Yourself tells the story of Elsa whose family has travelled from Iceland to chilly grey Edinburgh and a new world that will require more than learning the words to 'Scotland the Brave'. Hot on the heels of a run at the Edinburgh Festival, this 2009 Dora Award nominee is sure to thrill audiences with its glorious story and beautifully drawn characters.

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November 8 / Sharon Wei & Angela Park (2:00pm) – Since 2003, Sharon Wei (viola) and Angela Park (piano) have worked together as a duo and are the founding members of the award-winning ensemble ‘Made in Canada’. They were awarded a 2006 CBC Rising Stars Galaxie Award, and in 2008 were identified by Chatelaine Magazine as part of ‘80 Women to Watch.’ These accomplished performers will present a recital of music written in 1919.

November 29 / Jim Parker (2:00pm) - Since starting out in 1976, Jim Parker has devoted much of his attention to children’s programming. In 1983 Jim began performing with Ernie Coombs (Mr. Dressup) and by 1997 Jim had toured Canada 7 times entertaining thousands of children.

December 5 / The Essentials (8:00pm) - The Essentials are an a cappella group that has moved from their beginnings in London, ON to international acclaim as "one of the finest a cappella groups in the world". In 2007, they began recording what fans for years have been asking for: a Christmas CD! Their recording Remember December was released in 2008.

December 18 & 19 (8:00pm) and December 20 (2:00pm) / MOTUS O’s A Christmas Carol - This always adventurous dance company’s A Christmas Carol uses a range of movement styles, text and video. The choreography focuses on Scrooge’s journey from three ghostly encounters to his transformative Redemption. After two years of performances at the Markham Theatre, MOTUS O brings this production to their hometown.

December 23 / The Good Lovelies (8:00pm) - The Good Lovelies are not your run-of-the-mill "all girl" band. At a time when many of us are affected by gloom and doom they are the perfect antidote. Armed with a pile of instruments, a repertoire of sassy songs and an effervescent sense of humour they never fail to charm even the toughest audiences. This show will feature music from their new holiday recording.

January 15 / Bookends: An Evening of the Music of Simon & Garfunkel (8:00pm) - Join two of Canada’s most talented musicians - Kevin Fox & Patrick Allcock - as they celebrate the songs of the legendary Simon & Garfunkel. A journey through all the classic hits!

January 31 / Fizzical Fizzicks (2:00pm) - What do you get when you cross circus skills, science concepts and a couple of wacky characters? You get Fizzical Fizzicks - an interactive show about the science of motion!

February 4 & 5 / Antoine Feval (8:00pm) - London, 1896. Barnaby Gibbs is an optimist, Sherlock Holmes fan and a man who knows he’s not particularly good at anything. One night, while checking on a friend's house, he encounters a stranger, holding a bag of stolen belongings and writing a poem about sapphires. There is only one conclusion a reasonable man could come to: this is the notorious burglar known as the Rhyming Bandit! However, Barnaby is not a reasonable man, and when the stranger explains that he is the detective Antoine Feval, a new crime-fighting duo is born. This production premiered at the 2005 Winnipeg Fringe Festival, won Best Comedy at the Montreal Fringe and has been part of the Just For Laughs Festival.

February 21 / TorQ Percussion Quartet (2:00pm) - TorQ was formed in 2004 by four Toronto-area percussionists looking to add energy to percussion repertoire and performance. TorQ has performed to much acclaim across Canada, including performances at MusicFest Canada Nationals, the Open Ears Contemporary Music Festival and the Four Seasons Centre for the Arts. TorQ’s repertoire ranges from lyrical mallet quartets to no-holds-barred show pieces.

February 25 / (8:00pm) - The Arrogant Worms have sold more than 150,000 albums and played on 3 continents to crowds as large as 100,000. Their tuneful and silly songs are in school lesson plans, in textbooks and even played on the Space Shuttle. On earth or in space, everyone digs these Worms!

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March 28 / Aldeburgh Connection (2:00pm) - The Aldeburgh Connection was founded by Stephen Ralls and Bruce Ubukata, who for many summers were staff at the Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Studies in Aldeburgh, England – an internationally recognized school for singers and instrumentalists. In 1982 they developed a vocal and piano concert series that balances solo and ensemble singing, vocal and piano pieces. This recital will feature several young vocalists included in this year’s Aldeburgh Connection Discovery Series.

April 8 & 9 / Sharron’s Big Broadway Show (8:00pm) - Musical theatre diva and comedienne Sharron Matthews shares an offbeat look at her journey from small town Ontario to the beckoning lights of Broadway. Sharron takes you from her first job in the chorus of Les Miserables to starring roles in Beauty and the Beast and the film Mean Girls. Featuring music from West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, Grease and other Broadway favourites, this is an evening of musical comedy that is guaranteed to entertain and enchant.

April 23 / Patricia O’Callaghan (8:00pm) - Patricia O’Callaghan’s shows are a theatrical blend of repertoire ranging from Erik Satie to Astor Piazzolla, with lots of Leonard Cohen and Kurt Weill in between. Her concerts are always intimate, eclectic, and powerful.

TICKET INFORMATION Single Tickets and Subscriptions (3 or more events) are now on sale. Prices vary for each performance.

These can be purchased by:

Calling (905) 640-2322 Online at www.townofws.com/nineteen Visiting our Box Office (19 Civic Ave., Stouffville). Wednesday to Saturday / 1pm – 6pm.

For more information on events taking place at the Lebovic Centre for Arts & Entertainment - Nineteen on the Park visit www.townofws.com/nineteen.

The Lebovic Centre for Arts & Entertainment - Nineteen on the Park is Whitchurch-Stouffville’s new, multifaceted arts, culture and entertainment centre located in the heart of downtown Stouffville. Created by the careful restoration and redevelopment of one of the Town’s most historic landmarks, Nineteen on the Park is a hub of activity. The flexible programming space accommodates a variety of community-based arts and culture programming, such as:

. Exhibitions, films, live dance and musical performances . Concerts and rehearsals . Corporate and social receptions, meeting and workshop space . Community events (horticultural, craft, cooking, etc.)

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For further information, please contact: Steven Foster Cultural Facility & Programming Coordinator Telephone: 905-640-2322 Fax: 905-642-1941 E-mail: [email protected]

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