9 1 0 2 y r a u r b e F z e n e m i J a i c r a G d i v a D PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND’S GUIDE TO WHAT’S GOING ON / BUZZPEI.COM Page 2 The BUZZ February 2019 The BUZZ February 2019 Page 3 Page 4 The BUZZ February 2019 Profile: Grace Kimpinski by Jane Ledwell tival’s “creativity and energy,” and com - munal spirit. “The Fringe is fun and unique in the sense that it’s non-tradi - tional theatre in non-traditional spaces – it adds a rawness to it. Also, there is a cool group of people associated with the The Producer Fringe, and I’m pretty boring day to day,” she smiles. Grace was an English major but admits drama classes didn’t pique her interest. So how did she end up with theatre as “a side gig that takes up more time than my actual paid work”? Five years back, ACT PEI put on “plays in a day”: writers had 12 hours to write a play; directors had 12 hours to produce it. Grace signed up to the open call for performers. “It was so fun,” Grace recalls. When ACT later called for people to get into the production side of theatre, Grace signed up again, and has been producing theatre ever since. She is now also on the ACT board as director of the - atre, helping to recruit shows. And, independent of ACT, she produces shows herself. In February, the show is Raised on TV 3 , the third iteration of a sketch comedy show conceived by Grace’s friend Rod Weatherbie, inspired by television. This year, Grace’s first as sole producer, is focused exclusively on Canadian television. “It’s a TV show—in a theatre,” Grace enthuses. “February is a miserable time of year, and (this show) gets people out of the house. If people want to come in their pyjamas, I 100% back that,” she laughs. Raised on TV 3, she says, will remind people of “the amount of Canadian TV we all watched,” with “nostalgia, good times, and laughter—in the dead of winter.” Grace muses, “If I could live full-time on theatre… I’ve asked myself a number of times if I would do it. But I’m not sure I would love it as much… “I am a sole-support single parent going on 16 years,” Grace says, “and I think if people want to be creative, if they want to take a risk: they should do it… Money limits people—money makes it difficult for people to take that risk. I say money should be at the bottom of the list. “When I have to pick between things, of course I pick my son first, but even when Z Z U I’m literally rubbing two nickels togeth - B er, even if I don’t pay the electric bill one month (to produce a show), it’s worth it, Grace Kimpinski has produced or co-pro - an official Fringe Festival, a major thing for the love and experience of it.” duced a theatre show every few months is that it is not juried,” Grace says. “We for almost five years—but this year, she’s have categories—then the entrants are This is the personal attitude Grace wants preparing for ten shows in four days. As of literally drawn from a hat.” to expand into the 2019 Island Fringe: the day we met, she had no idea which “The audiences have been getting larger. plays or where they’d be staged. The Island Fringe is going into its ninth Some shows that premiered at the Fringe year, and Grace first attended in its early have been suggested to move into other That’s not poor planning: that’s the days. “I was really drawn to it,” she says, venues. Some personal stories have exhilaration of being festival director for but she didn’t immediately take on a role. helped people grow and learn,” Grace The Island Fringe. “I had a son who was way too young at says. “Positive energy and feedback are the time. Theatre hours are crazy hours.” great things I want to have continue to We spoke when Grace was preparing for happen at the Fringe. We want people to the live lottery to determine the 2019 As her son and the Fringe both grew, take a risk. In the end, we uplift and sup - Fringe lineup: “To be acknowledged as Grace continued to be drawn by the fes - port one another.” The BUZZ February 2019 Page 5 Red Deer bound Jack Frost Teams represent PEI at Canada Winter Games needs you Volunteers sought The Jack Frost Winterfest is seeking reliable, energetic volunteers interest - ed in helping out during the upcom - ing festival weekend, February 15 to 18 in Charlottetown. Now in its 14th year, The Jack Frost Winterfest, presented by Island Coastal, offers families the opportuni - ty to celebrate and embrace Canadian winter at Jack Frost’s Eastlink Outdoor Snow Kingdom, an interac - tive winter playground featuring snow and ice slides, a mountainous tube run, and ice sculptures by the Canadian Snow Sculpting Team. Festival goers can also warm up at Jack Frost’s Indoor Playland and Live Family Stage featuring performances by Emmy-Award winning entertain - ers Imagination Movers, a petting zoo, inflatables, face painting, family photo ops, and more. A variety of volunteer shifts are available at both the outdoor and Team PEI archery athletes Spencer Freeze, Keegan Crawford, Macy Shaddick, Kristen Arsenault indoor festival sites, including posi - tions such as: admission gates, slide monitors, volunteer check-in, and Team PEI’s men’s curling team is led by Canada Winter Games team. The team, mascot handler. Each volunteer will head coach Lori Robinson and skipped consisting of five male and two female receive a Jack Frost winter toque, by Mitchell Schut. Nick Johnston, Liam skaters, will participate in four individ - complimentary weekend pass to the Kelly, and Colin MacKenzie along with ual events. In addition, PEI will have a festival (one per shift), and a compli - Schut and Robinson, are hopeful head - male team in the 3000 metre relay. mentary meal voucher courtesy of ing into the Games with expectations to Sarah Taylor is returning as head coach Jack Frost Volunteer Program spon - qualify for the medal round. of the short track team. The following sors, Tim Hortons and DP Murphy athletes will make up the PEI short Hotels. Volunteers must be at least Table Tennis is comprised of 12-year-old track team roster: Jenna Larter, 16 years of age and complete a crim - Mike Li, 13-year-old Daniel Zhao, and Brookfield; Mia Stewart, Stratford; inal background check prior to their 17-year-old Steven Liu. The team is led Andrew Binns, Stratford; Kyle Connell, first shift. by head coach Najam Chishti and man - Charlottetown; Peter McQuaid, The festival highlight is Jack ager Farida Chishti. This will be Charlottetown; Thomas McQuaid, Frost’s magical Eastlink Outdoor Najam’s seventh time coaching at the Charlottetown Snow Kingdom, located at the Canada Games. Charlottetown Event Grounds. The Team PEI’s archers who will be compete Outdoor Snow Kingdom will remain Team PEI’s women’s curling team is are Kristen Arsenault of Wellington, open on February 18 for Family Day. skip Lauren Ferguson and her team - Macy Shaddick of Grand Tracadie, The Indoor Playland at the mates Alexis Burris, Lexi Murray and Keegan Crawford of Covehead, and Eastlink Centre will have a large Katie Shaw. They are prepping almost Spencer Freeze of Charlottetown. With selection of bouncies and inflatables. every day with coach David Murphy. national andi nternational results on For information, tickets, or to sign some of the team members’ resumes, up as a 2019 volunteer, visit Speed Skate PEI has named seven short- they will be shooting for no less than jackfrostfestival.com. track speed skaters to the Island’s 2019 the medal podium. Page 6 The BUZZ February 2019 To Mar 29 Fri (except Feb 15, 22) Mar 1 Afternoon Recital Series Trent McClellan UPEI Music Students; Steel Recital Hall, PEI Brewing Company, Ch’town, 7:30 pm UPEI, Ch’town, 12:40 pm PERFORMANCE Mar 1 –2, 8 –10 Jan 31 Feb 9 Feb 17 Rumors Gadfly Ryan Doucette Comedy Eddy Quinn and Fiddlers’ Harbourfront Players; Harbourfront Homburg Theatre, Ch’town, 7:30 pm Theatre, S’side, 7:30 pm (2 pm Mar 10) The Guild, Ch’town Sons and Keelin Wedge Jan 31, Feb 7, 14, 21, 28 Joey Kitson and Todd Trinity United Church, S’side, 2 pm Mar 2 Island Jazz MacLean Don Ross and Pipo Romero Alan Dowling and the Funkmeisters (Jan Alan Dowling, Ian Toms, Glen Strickey, Grahame Rhodes CD launch The Pourhouse, Ch’town 31); Teresa Doyle Quintet (Feb 7); Deryl Gallant; The Pourhouse, Ch’town The Pourhouse, Ch’town, pm Feb, 7 pm Mar 3 Valentine's Day Romance Special (Feb 14); Feb 20, 21 Disney Themes (Feb 21); Catherine O’Brien Bluegrass & Old Time Music (Feb 28); Baba’s Lounge, Ch’town, 8 pm Dylan Menzie Joel Plaskett Concert Copper Bottom, Montague, 7:30 pm Harmony House, Hunter River, 8 pm Feb 1 The Stiff Famile (Dave, Heather, Aaron, Finals Dr. Frances Gray Music VampSite Lounge Feb 21 Hannah, Elizabeth, Abigail), Bluegrass The G.L.A.M. Bats and friends; Rolston String Quartet Revival, more; Beaconsfield’s Carriage Performance Competition House, Ch’town, 2 pm Confederation Centre Art Gallery, The Mack, Ch’town, 7:30 pm UPEI Music Students; Steel Recital Hall, Ch’town, 8:30 pm Mar 7 –9, 12 –14 UPEI, Ch’town, 7:30 pm (snowdate Feb 2, Feb 22 7:30 pm) Feb 10, Mar 10 Wake in the West Beat the Winter Blues Concert Fireside Stories and ACT (A Community Theatre) w/ Michael Pendergast, Tre Holland College SoPA students; Florence Singalong Benevolent Irish Society; Irish Cultural Simmons Hall, Ch’town, 7:30 pm Center, Ch’town, 7:30 pm Sutherland, Tom Gammon W/ Cameron MacDuffee; Bonshaw Hall, Moth Lane Brewery, Ellerslie, 8 pm Bonshaw, 2 pm Calm Baretta and Racoon Mar 8 Feb 1, 2 Feb 12 Bandit Thank You for Being a Friend Ledwell & Haines: The Shack Holland College Welshmen Copper Bottom, Montague, 9 pm Homburg Theatre, Ch’town, 7:30 pm Wacky Review Community Band