Peterborough Folk Festival Kicks Off 37th Year With Celebration Concert and Emerging Artist Award Submissions

The Peterborough Folk Festival (PFF) has opened its Emerging Artist Award submissions, kicking off its 37th year with a celebration concert featuring previous award recipients at Market Hall.

Previous award RECIPIENTS (from left to right): Jeanne Truax (2025), VANCAMP (2024) and Irish Millie (2023). photo courtesy of the peterborough folk festival.

The PFF Emerging Artist Award strives to invest in upcoming local talent in Peterborough and the Kawarthas. The award has helped launch the careers of Canadian names such as Serena Ryder, Kelly McMichael, Benj Rowland, Irish Millie, Calvin Bakelaar (VANCAMP) and Jeanne Truax.

The Peterborough Musicians Benevolent Association (PMBA) supplements the award with the $1,000 PMBA Lynn Morris Memorial Award, and the Electric Alchemy Recording Studio provides the artist with recording and production of a single.

Submissions for PFF’s Emerging Artist Award are being accepted online until Feb. 20.

Celebrating the impact of the PFF Emerging Artist Program, PFF is hosting a concert Jan. 23 at Market Hall. The event will feature performances from recent award recipients Irish Millie (2023 recipient), VANCAMP (2024 recipient) and Jeanne Truax (2025 recipient).

Tickets are available on the Market Hall website.

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New Stages Theatre Presents Women of the Fur Trade

New Stages Theatre presents a staged reading of Frances Koncan’s Women of the Fur Trade, coming to Market Hall Jan. 24.

photo courtesy of new stages.

Set in “18 hundred and something-something,” the story revolves around the lives of three women, Ojibwe, Métis and British, all of whom speak in a 21st-century slang.

The playwright, Frances Koncan, found that historical accounts of the fur trade were written by men and decides to feature the perspective of “unheard voices”; three women during the time of the fur trade and the Red River Resistance.

Directed by Patti Shaughnessy, Women of the Fur Trade’s cast includes Michelle Bardach (seen recently in Rez Gas in Port Hope), Sera-Lys McArthur and Megan Murphy, featuring Mac Fyfe as Thomas Scott and Chris Mejaki as Louis Riel. The play is stage managed by Sarah Lazzarino.

The 7 p.m. show runs for approximately two hours and is suitable for ages 14 plus.

Tickets can be purchased online, or by calling the Market Hall box office. If preferred seats are not available, call the box office and join the waiting list, as some new seats may become available in the days leading up to the show.

Tickets are $30 plus a $4 venue fee, available on a sliding-scale of ticketing options.

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Market Hall Suplexes Cancer Care With Fourth-Annual 'Cancer Takedown' Fundraiser

Market Hall is body slamming cancer with its fourth annual ‘Cancer Takedown’ fundraiser for anyone touched by cancer on Nov. 4 and 5, starting at 7 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Market Hall.

The night shines a light on the mental burden of cancer and unites people through song, story and solidarity. All proceeds go to Cancer Care at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

Performances will be done by Melissa Payne, Kate Suhr, The Weber Brothers, Nicholas Campbell, Anthony Bastianon and more. The show also features three women (all diagnosed under the age of 40) sharing their cancer stories. It focuses on the emotional and mental rollercoaster that the cancer experience brings.

New this year is a show done outside of Peterborough, at the Flato Academy Theatre in Lindsay on Nov. 4 on 7 p.m. Market Hall’s event is scheduled for Nov.5 at 7 p.m.

Husband and wife Rick and Amy Kemp founded the event. Rick has been a patient of PRHC since 2019. He was diagnosed with two separate cancers over the past seven years, including metastatic kidney cancer in 2019 and CNS lymphoma in 2021.

“The physical battle of cancer is tough but the mental battle is tougher,” said Rick. “It’s a battle you can’t really fight, you just make your way through. Cancer Takedown is an opportunity to remind people they can get through.”

Tickets can be purchased online for the Lindsay and Peterborough dates.

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New Stages Theatre To Stage Production of 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' At Market Hall For Mid-December

New Stages Theatre is staging the production of the classic tale 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' for five shows at Market Hall running from Dec. 13 - 17.

Photo courtesy of News Stages Theatre.

The classic story depicts George Bailey looking back over his life and remembering what a precious gift it is. The production is putting a unique twist on the original tale, with the play set in a 1940s radio station with five actors playing all the characters from the movie and creating all the sound effects in front of the live studio audience.

The show features well-known local actors and actresses such as M. John Kennedy, Ordena Stephens-Thompson, Megan Murphy, Kerry Griffin, and Brad Brackenridge.

The play is directed by Mark Wallace who is the Artistic Director of New Stages, two-time Dora Mavor Moore Award nominee (recipient in 2003 for Outstanding TYA production. Toronto’s Gabriel Vaillant is the music director and pianist, Korin Cormier from 4th Line Theatre is the costume designer, Sean Harris and Patricia Thorne are the set and lighting designers and Esther Vincent is the stage manager.

Tickets are available online and can be found at Market Hall’s or New Stage Theatre’s website.

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Market Hall Is Back To Provide Uplift Spirits With "Cancer Takedown" For Cancer Care

Market Hall is back for the second Annual Cancer Takedown as a 'spirit-raiser' for anyone touched by cancer for Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Market Hall.

The night shines a light on the mental burden of cancer and unites people through song, story and solidarity. All proceeds go to Cancer Care at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

Performances will be done by Melissa Payne, Kate Suhr, Linda Kash, Megan Murphy, Anthony Bastianon, Rob Phillips and Pol Coussée. It also includes people sharing their cancer stories.

Husband and wife team Rick and Amy Kemp founded the event. Rick has been a patient of PRHC since 2019 when he was diagnosed with metastatic kidney cancer. In May 2021, his battle doubled as he was diagnosed with a second primary cancer, CNS lymphoma.

“The mental battle of cancer is as tough as the physical battle. Some days, even tougher,” said Rick. “Let's find more ways to help more people get through the mental part.”

Donations can be made at the event or online.

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Peterborough Concert Band Hosting PATH Benefit Concert For Oct. 15

The Peterborough Concert Band is holding a special musical program, ‘The PATH Forward’ to benefit Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) for Oct. 15 at Market Hall.

The performance is conducted by Juno-nominated Music Director Saman Shahi as Kate Suhr and Megan Murphy will guide the audience through a program that features big band standards, classical gems, new compositions and vocals. A celebratory reception hosted by PATH volunteers will follow the concert.

All tickets are $40 ($44 including HST and fees). They are available by phone (705-775-1503), at the box office and online. Live streaming tickets are also available online and are $10 each.

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Peterborough Concert Band Holding Special Performance to Benefit PATH On Oct. 15

The Peterborough Concert Band is holding a special musical program, ‘The PATH Forward’ to benefit Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) for Oct. 15 at Market Hall.

Photo courtesy of The Peterborough Concert Band.

The performance is conducted by Juno-nominated Music Director Saman Shahi as Kate Suhr and Megan Murphy will guide the audience through a program that features big band standards, classical gems, new compositions and vocals.   

The proceeds benefit PATH to help provide transitional housing for unsheltered citizens in Peterborough. 

The performance runs from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Market Hall, located at 140 Charlotte St. A reception will follow the performance. Tickets are $44 (including HST and fees) and are available through Market Hall online.

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Kate Suhr Presents ‘Backstage Diary’ at Market Hall This October

Local talent Kate Suhr is returning to the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on October 12 to share her Backstage Diary Cabaret.

photo courtesy of kate suhr, facebook.

Suhr will share a delicious mix of folk, pop and show tunes from her favourite shows and composers. The evening will feature Musical Director Anthony Bastianon as well as Victoria Yeh, Sam Quinn, Curtis Conkwright and a few other special guests such as Linda Kash, Jonathan Cullen, Megan Murphy, Shannon McCracken, Indigo Chesser, Melissa Payne and Kate Brioux.

The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 12 at Market Hall. Tickets are $40 for general seating, $55 for cabaret seating and $25 for youths. Tickets can be purchased online.

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Folk Under The Clock Presents Adventure Stories and Songs with Adam Shoalts and Ian Tamblyn

Folk Under The Clock is bringing Adam Shoalts and Ian Tamblyn to Market Hall Performing Arts Centre for an evening of adventure stories and songs Nov. 25.

photo courtesy of folk under the clock.

Adam Shoalts has been declared one of the ‘greatest living explorers’ by Canadian Geographic. He is a professional adventurer and the author of four national best-selling books. ‘A History of Canada in Ten Maps’, ‘Alone Against the North’, ‘Beyond The Trees’, ‘The Whisper On The Night Wind’.

His career has included mapping rivers, leading expeditions for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Mountain Equipment Co-op, archaeological digs, tracking endangered species and completing a 4,000 kilometre solo journey across Canada’s Arctic.

In 2022, Shoalts canoed and hiked a 3,400 kilometre solo journey from Lake Erie to the Arctic and his story is featured in his upcoming book, ‘Where the Falcon Flies’ to be released in October.

Ian Tamblyn is a musician, adventurer and playwright. He has been a working musician since 1972 and has released over 34 albums as well as acting as producer for many other artists. He has also written fourteen plays and over one hundred theatre soundtracks.

In 2012 he was made a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society for his guiding and creative work in the Canadian Arctic. He has worked with many Adventure Tour companies where he guided, sang and studied wildlife from Scotland to the Arctic and Antarctic. In 2022, Tamblyn was appointed an Officer of The Order of Canada.

His songs have been covered by numerous artists and there is a tribute album of his work entitled, ‘Coastline of our Dreams’ featuring artists like Lynn Miles, Susan Crowe, Hart Rouge and Valdy. His song ‘Woodsmoke and Oranges’ is a Canadian classic known by most canoers.

Tickets are $45 incl. HST and fees and the show begins at 8 p.m. For more information, visit the website.

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New Stages Theatre Announces Eight Contemporary Professional Shows for the 2023-2024 Season

New Stages Theatre has announced the launch of their largest season to date, including a staged reading series, cabaret tribute to founding Artistic Director Randy Read, a week-long festival of new work and a holiday production in December at Market Hall.

photo courtesy of new stages theatre.

The full season line-up includes: 

October: THIS IS HOW WE GOT HERE by Keith Barker

A staged reading at Market Hall. A beautiful drama by Métis playwright Keith Barker about two families in north Ontario grieving a tragic loss, when they are surprised by a mysterious visitor.

November: LET’S GET RANDY

An outrageously fun cabaret tribute to Randy Read’s 25 years as the founding Artistic Director of New Stages. With all-star performers gathering from near and far to sing and sling stories, get ready to get randy!

December: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY adapted by Joe Landry.

A holiday production with a unique twist on the beloved classic, our play is set in a 1940s radio studio, with 5 actors playing all the roles and creating all the sound effects in front of you, the live studio audience. It’s going to be a wonderful night at the theatre!

February to March: BRAND NEW STAGES

From Feb 27 to March 3, enjoy a week-long festival of exciting new work, including:

LOOKING FOR LEAR by Dreda Blow and Brad Brackenridge. Presenting a family-friendly workshop production by Nervous System at Market Hall.

LIFE WITHOUT by Steve Ross. A staged reading of this riveting family drama at Market Hall.

TUSSAUD/ANTOINETTE. Written and directed by Jody Christopherson. Presenting a staged reading at The Theatre on King. 

May: LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE by Nora Ephron (When Harry Met Sally) and Delia Ephron

A staged reading at Market Hall, directed by Linda Kash. An intimate collection of stories told by women about pivotal moments in their lives and how they were shaped by the clothes that they wore.

June: YELLOW FACE by David Henry Hwang.

A staged reading at Market Hall. A satirical play about the once-common practice of casting White actors to play Asian roles on stage and screen. At once wickedly funny & vital viewing.

For subscription package and ticket details, visit the website.

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