The Lethbridge Senior’s Centre Organization is looking forward to seeing a few old friends performing a few of their old favourites at the Yates/ Sterndale Bennett Theatre, Feb 17-18.
 For Scott Carpenter, one of the organizers and performers of the event,  helping out the LSCO and Nord-Bridge Senior’s Centre has a personal connection.

“ All of our parents use the services of either Nord Bridge Senior’s Centre or the LSCO. And my dad, Don Carpenter, teaches carving at the LSCO. I go for lunch there every day,” Carpenter said, showing off a couple of his dad’s carvings, which usually sit on his desk at city hall, where he his responsible for booking city facilities like hockey rinks and theatres. Scott Carpenter, Jeff Carlson, Jordana Kohn, Erica Hunt, Arlene Bedster, Andre Royer and Kelly Roberts have been “reuniting ” for the past two years just for this event and to revisit some of their favourite moments on stage together.

 While the Old New West performances aren’t affiliated with New West Theatre, a handful of New West Theatre veterans enjoy revisiting some of their old favourites from the early days of New West Theatre for this popular annual event.
“You can’t throw a stone without hitting a song that New West has done,” Carpenter laughed.
“These shows are a lot more intimate. A grand piano, a few chairs and us and out instruments is the only set,” he said.
It is a challenge as most of the group holds down full time jobs, so rehearsals must  be scheduled around them.
“We‘ve been rehearsing since December for this. Usually when I’m in a New West production, I’m only rehearsing for two weeks to a month,” he said.

 They decided to have some fun with the “old folk theme,” as most of the songs they will be performing fall into the folk or acoustic vein, they thought they’d throw the word  ‘folk’ in between the show’s title ‘ Old Favourites and have some fun with the double  entendre.
 Selections include ‘Blowin’ In The Wind,’ ‘California Dreaming,’ ‘Big Yellow Taxi,’ ‘King of the Road,’ ‘Landslide,’ ‘Turn, Turn, Turn,’ ‘Walk Right In,’ and many others.

The University of Lethbridge is bringing William Shakespeare’s epic tragedy Hamlet into the twenty-first century, Feb. 14-18.
“Shakespeare wrote plays with mass appeal. There are some comedic moments in it. This play has blood, guts and sex and mystery. If Shakespeare was alive today, he’d be writing action movies, except action movies with a meaning,” said director Brian Parkinson.
 He has contemporized the play somewhat, moving it out of Denmark, and instead making the characters the members of an anonymous modern royal family.

 Though the dialogue is still Shakespeare, the setting and costumes have both been contemporized.
“It’s about a man whose father has been murdered and he seeks out the killer and discovers his uncle did it,” Parkinson summarized.
“ It could be anywhere and about anyone. Everything is so accessible,” Parkinson continued.

 He trimmed the production down from four hours to two-and -a-half hours.
“That was the tough part, cutting it, because it’s Shakespeare and it’s all so good,” he continued, adding Shakespeare explored universal themes which are still relevant today.
The production has a large cast of 34 different people, some of whom play multiple roles.

There are a couple excellent shows worth checking out this week.
 If you like jazz music or unusual jazz fueled takes on popular songs, check out the Keith Price Trio, who play the Slice, Feb. 15.

 On the other hand, if you want to get your funk on, Regina’s Fur Eel are playing a free show at the Slice, Feb. 16.

 Other great shows this week including a return from the Pernell Reichert band, who play the Slice, Feb. 16. There is also an interesting show at the Enmax centre as both Nova Scotia rapper Classified and  Hedley are scheduled to play the Enmax, Feb. 16.

 Several New West Theatre veterans will be playing  Old ‘folk’ Favourites at the Yates/ Sterndale Bennett Theatre, Feb. 17 and 18.

 The folk themed event is fundraiser for both the Nord Bridge Senior’s Centre as well as the Lethbridge Senior’s Centre Organization.

 Daniel Sky is also back in Lethbridge to play the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Feb. 18. He will be playing upbeat original folk/ rock along the lines of George Harrision.
If you want to dance, DJ Pauly of Jersey Shore fame plays Bully’s Entertainment  Centre Feb. 15.
 If you want to laugh, comedian Pickle is performing at Average Joes, Feb. 18.

 Don’t forget open mics all over the city.
 There is an open mic at the Cave on the Lethbridge College Campus, Feb. 16 and  Paul Kype and Texas Flood host the Slice’s open mic,  Feb. 21.
 Last, but not least, there is a cool metal/ progressive rock show at the Slice, Sunday, Feb. 19 with Chron Goblin and Lustre Creame.