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Mike Uncorked: Fox on the Fairway Tees Off at CentreStage

Author: January 14, 2019

Mike Uncorked: Fox on the Fairway Tees Off at CentreStage By Mike Butler Happy New Year everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful, happy, healthy, and successful holiday break and, of course, here’s to a prosperous 2019! In this Best of the Bunch celebratory issue I’m pleased to be writing about what I think is one of the best entertainment venues in the Valley (and province): CentreStage Theatre on River Street in Kentville. They have a new show opening and a legacy worth mentioning, because even with decades in business, there’s still people who haven’t experienced this little theatre…
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Mike Uncorked: A Valley Triumph!

Author: December 16, 2018

Mike Uncorked: A Valley Triumph! By Mike Butler If you’ve been a Wolfville resident for a while then you’ve no doubt heard of, or had an experience at, the Eastern Kings Memorial Health Centre (EKM). When the EKM Hospital closed in the early 1990s, the EKM Hospital Foundation transitioned to the EKM Health Foundation. At the time of closure, the province took possession of the actual hospital building, and the donations made to build a new hospital in Wolfville, along with operating funds, were transferred to the Health Foundation, as well as various parcels of land. At the time of…
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Mike Uncorked: Winter Reading 2018

Author: December 5, 2018

Mike Uncorked: Winter Reading 2018 By Mike Butler Warm fires (or heat pumps!), a mug of hot chocolate (or rum & egg nog), comfy sweatpants, and a bulky hoodie, wrapped up under your best-loved blanket, snuggled in with your favourite book: sounds like the perfect stormy winter day doesn’t it? Yes there’s shovelling, shopping, and holiday chaos this time of year but there’s also the chance to take in some magnificent literature. Never deprive yourself of the written word. Let me help you out by giving you my holiday wish list of must-reads for the winter season that are also…
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Mike Uncorked: The Headstrong Summit Experience

Author: November 15, 2018

Mike Uncorked: The Headstrong Summit Experience By Mike Butler On October 18, 2018, I had the extreme pleasure of emceeing the very first Annapolis Valley Headstrong Summit at Brigadoon Camp. It was a tremendously rewarding experience and I want to share with you the highlights of this special day. Headstrong is an anti-stigma initiative created by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) for youth aged 12-18 to inspire students to “Be Brave, Reach Out, and Speak Up” about mental health. Launched across Canada (and now in Europe), Headstrong is teaching students how to recognize and reduce stigma, and become…
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Mike Uncorked: Sherlock Holmes Farce Comes to CentreStage

Author: November 4, 2018

Mike Uncorked: Sherlock Holmes Farce Comes to CentreStage By Mike Butler I know it might be too early to talk about Christmas but, honestly folks, it’s right around the corner and I am very excited! Christmas is my favourite time of year and its usually my busiest time of the year too, with so many family and friend events happening, as well as some dabbling in the local theatre community. 2018 has been a hectic but rewarding year for me in theatre and I’m going out with a bang with three shows during the months of November and December. The…
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Mike Uncorked: One Man Show about Troubled Artist Comes to Wolfville!

Author: September 26, 2018

Mike Uncorked: One Man Show about Troubled Artist Comes to Wolfville! By Mike Butler Vincent Van Gogh is a name that is recognizable to everyone, young or old. His paintings of sunflowers, his Starry Night, and his self portraits, have become treasured pop culture icons. Arguably one of the most talented and gifted artists of all time, he was also a very passionate and at times tortured soul, who never realized his full potential. His paintings today sell for millions and his life and work are celebrated all over the world, but like too many artists his life was cut…
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Mike Uncorked: Sweeney Todd and Charley’s Aunt: Demonic Barber and Classic Romp Hit Valley Stages

Author: September 8, 2018

Mike Uncorked: Sweeney Todd and Charley’s Aunt: Demonic Barber and Classic Romp Hit Valley Stages By Mike Butler So, there’s back to school stuff going on and the general autumn prep, which means we all need a little break with something to do, right? This September the Valley theatre scene is exploding with two terrific productions covering all genres and you should mark your calendars to catch both! Up first, for all you devilish musical fans, the Valley premiere of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street comes to the Al Whittle Theatre and it’s going to be a…
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Mike Uncorked: ALL for one and one for ALL!

Author: September 5, 2018

Mike Uncorked: ALL for one and one for ALL! Acadia Lifelong Learning Program 2018-2019 By Mike Butler Last year, I was so proud to have had the opportunity to write about the Acadia Lifelong Learning program (ALL) that’s offered here in Wolfville, through Acadia University. The response was terrific for the organization so I wanted to make sure I included some promotion for this year’s ALL program for those who are interested in some extraordinary learning opportunities. It’s very important to mark your calendars for this Thursday, September 6 for for the 2018-2019 ALL program picnic. It’s not mandatory to…
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Mike Uncorked: Summer Reads 2018

Author: August 26, 2018

Mike Uncorked: Summer Reads 2018 By Mike Butler Do you know when my favourite time of the year to read is? Well, if you know me then you know the answer is ANY TIME! I love to read! I love to get engrossed by a piece of literature and I love recommending books to other avid readers. We have so many wonderful booksellers in this province and the summer is a perfect time to gather up some cheap reads at yard sales too. Here’s a little list to use when selecting some choice summer reads: New to the bestseller lists…
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The 39 Steps: I Spy: A Very Fun Show!

Author: August 11, 2018

The 39 Steps: I Spy: A Very Fun Show!! By Mike Butler Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python, and you have The 39 Steps, a fast-paced comedy thriller for anyone who loves the magic of theatre! This two-time Tony and Drama Deck Award-winning treat is packed with nonstop laughs and a talented cast of 7 local actors. The play is based on the book by John Buchan, adapted by Patrick Barlow, and directed by Chérie Zinck. The cast in order of appearance includes Mike Butler (ME!), Candy O’Brien, Alan Tupper, Emily…
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