WHAT’S ON IN OCTOBER

Sampradaya celebrates 30th anniversary on October 19. Sampradaya Dance Creations celebrate their 30th anniversary with a daring, new, kinetic work, Mandala. Six virtuosic dancers and four acclaimed musicians consecrate the stage with dynamic movement and evocative music, exciting the imagination and transcending borders of culture, religion and ethnicity. This stunning performance brings to life a performed meditation in dance, combining the mantras of Hinduism and the sand mandalas of Tibetan Buddhist practice. 7:00 pm at Hammerson Hall. Tickets at www.livingartscentre.ca or by calling 905-306-6000.

Honour: Confessions of a Mumbai Courtesan, October 3-6. The deeply moving coming of age story of a girl in a brothel, offering a glimpse into Mumbai’s red light district. Meet the eunuch, priest, pimp, mother and daughter who call it home. The show reveals the truth about millions of sex trafficked-girls across the world. Post-show talkback after the Oct. 5 matinee. Written and performed by Dipti Mehta. Directed by Mark Cirnigliaro. Original score by Rhythm Tolee; choreography by Monica Kapoor. Teesri Duniya Theatre at Montréal Arts Interculturels. Tickets: $20-$28. Visit www.teesriduniyatheatre.com or call 514 848-0238.

Until Oct. 12:  Hungarian director László Bérczes tackles one of the great American classics, Tennessee Williams’s renowned tragedy The Glass Menagerie, resonating with love, loss, bitterness and heartache. Narrator and aspiring poet Tom Wingfield (André Sills) recalls growing up in a Depression-era Midwest apartment with his shy sister Laura (Julia Course) and their overbearing mother Amanda (Allegra Fulton). Yearning to escape his stifling home and family obligations, Tom pins his hopes on Laura’s ‘gentleman caller’ (Jonathan Tan), only to be forever haunted by the devastating outcome of their encounter. At The Shaw’s Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre. Tickets through the Box Office at 1-800-511-SHAW and online at www.shawfest.com.

Until Oct. 12: Rope, a psychological crime drama by Patrick Hamilton at the Shaw Festival’s Royal George Theatre. Jani Lauzon directs the play that’s loosely based on the infamous Leopold and Loeb 1924 murder case. Inspired by debates surrounding amorality with a former teacher , two students murder a fellow student – just to see if they can pull it off.  And then throw a party and use the locked wooden chest containing the body to serve the evening’s buffet. Tickets at 1-800-511-SHAW and www.shawfest.com.

 Until Oct. 20: A new adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, Edmond Rostand’s romantic tale of unrequited and selfless love, at the Royal George Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake. A brash and daring 17th century swashbuckler, Cyrano de Bergerac oozes panache. He can do anything and fears nothing, except telling the beautiful and intelligent Roxane that he loves her. Highly self-consciousness about his unusually large nose and unable to deal with rejection, he hides his true feelings from her. It’s only as the ghostwriter of Christian’s love letters that Cyrano is able to woo Roxane with his wit and cleverness – always knowing he can never reveal to her it’s his words that have won her heart. Age recommendation 14+. Tickets at 1-800-511-SHAW or www.shawfest.com.

Oct. 11, 12: Canadian comedy superstar Sugar Sammy returns to perform live in Ontario. Oct. 11, at Rose Theatre, Brampton, and October 12 at the Winter Garden Theatre, Toronto. Tickets: $42.99 - $56.99 at www.sugarsammy.com.

Oct. 17-21: The 19th Annual Reel-world Film Festival. Opening night gala, Shelley Niro’s The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw and closing gala film, Rohan Fernando’s Becoming Labrador. Full schedule and details at www.reelworld.ca.

Oct. 19, 20: Celebrating its 20th year, the Lakeshore Art Trail is an artistic-community based art show tour. This highly anticipated annual art show runs  from 10 am to 5 pm and features 24 local, visual artists exhibiting and selling their artwork out of 12 venues – artists’ studios, local businesses and libraries – located throughout the scenic Mississauga villages of Clarkson and Port Credit. This year there will be three prize draws valued at $200, $100 and $25. For more information and an art trail map visit www.lakeshorearttrail.com or call 416-894-4494.

Nov. 23: G Pinto in concert with live band and special guests. Featuring the brand new album Escape with six brand-new, original songs plus four cover songs (Sweet Child O’ Mine and Hotel California). Track #1 was shot on location in Northern Greece. Portion of the proceeds go to the Artritis Society. 7:30 pm at Westdale Theatre, Hamilton. For details and info, visit www.gpinto.com or call 416-296-9494.

Nov. 23 - Dec. 1: Civic Theatres Toronto presents the glitter and sparkle of Bollywood with the Canadian premiere of Taj Express. Set to a soundtrack featuring the songs of A.R. Rahman, Taj Express captures the vibrant, expressive spirit of the world of Bollywood. At St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, Bluma Appel Theatre, 27 Front Street East, Toronto. Tickets: $49 - $79 at www.ticketmaster.ca, by calling 1-855-985-ARTS (2787), or in person at the following Civic Theatres Toronto box offices.

OUT OF PLACE: 15 year-old’S first original EP RAISES awareness about youth mental health

Fifteen-year-old, Priyana, launches her first original EP, Out of Place, to share her vision for children and teens to feel heard, validated, and understood through her music.

Her mission is to make sure kids have a safe place to seek the support they need through Kids Help Phone by providing a digital download of her EP when anyone donates to her fundraiser.

Just after turning 13, Priyana started regularly hearing stories about kids hurting themselves and committing suicide. Saddened and very concerned, she needed to express her feelings and figure out how she could help. Within a few days she wrote her first song and continues to regularly write songs focusing on mental health. To-date she has written over 20 songs.

Priyana wants to write music that helps kids feel understood and know they’re not alone. She also wants to make sure they have access to the help they need. So, she decided to create a fundraising EP to support youth mental health through Kids Help Phone, which provides free professional counselling online or by phone for young people.

Priyana has performed her original songs at various mental health events including WE Speaks at WE Well-being, High Notes Avante fundraiser for mental health and the State of Mind Festival for youth mental health. She also sang O’Canada for 5,000 supporters at Walk So Kids Can Talk in Toronto and at the Toronto Diversity Festival at David Pecaut Square.

Her EP, Out of Place, includes five original songs about mental health and emotional well-being that she wrote, composed and performed. It has been produced by Mark McGugan.

Priyana’s fundraising campaign runs until October 10, World Mental Health Day. Her goal is to raise $5,000 or more!

Visit https://priyana.ca/ and help Priyana share her vision and achieve her goal.

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