Curtain goes up, student prices go down

STORY BY JASMINE ANTHONY

If you’ve been having a hard time finding something fun to do in Oakville, you’re in luck.

The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts has announced its 2015-16 season and the selection of performances will appeal to all tastes.

For students on a budget there are $20 tickets for events like Evil Dead the Musical and the Devin Cuddy band.

“For $7 you can buy a very elaborate Starbucks drink,” said theatre manager Robin Howarth in an interview. “So for $20, come and check out one of our shows.”

If that is still a little too steep for your budget, there are also a few pay-what-you-can performances.

Robin Howarth, theatre manager at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, talks about new and exciting performances taking place in the 2015-16 season.

Bboyizm, which Howarth says is the “best hip-hop breakdancing you will ever see,” is one of these shows, and is coming up on Oct. 16.

For those less concerned about budget, the selection widens.

If you fancy yourself a music connoisseur, there is a series called Classic Albums Live that play some of the top oldies rock albums.

“It’s a group of talented musicians in and around the GTA who recreate, note for note and without any gimmickry, classic albums,” explained Howarth, who says that it is the Oakville Centre’s most popular series.

“They perform it exactly. If you close your eyes, it’s as if you are in that particular concert.”

The Beatles, Supertramp, John Lennon, Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin are some of the covers that will be coming up in the 2015-16 season.

If you are out to find a good laugh, there are comedy performances such as the duo Bowser and Blue in February.

For people over 19, there is even a bar.

Along with presenting concerts and performances, the centre also takes a big part in a few town events, including the Oakville Jazz Fest every year. The festival is used as a test to see how audiences respond to different acts.

“We call that artist development, kind of welcome them and introduce them to the community, and then bring them back and put them on our main stage.”

If anyone is interested in becoming more involved with the centre, there are volunteer opportunities available. In future years, there are also plans to introduce a community ambassador, who will help in community events such as Culture Day and the Oakville Jazz Festival.

For the full 2015-16 roster, visit oakvillecentre.ca.