The One Act Play festival returns to the newly renovated Sterndale Bennett Theatre, March 29 and 30.
To date five plays have been submitted including  submissions from Shakespeare in the Park, Two from University of Lethbridge Student’s and a couple from other community groups.

“So we’ll be going both Friday and Saturday as we currently have three long plays and a shorter one.  Could possibly do them in one night if we start early enough,” observed organizer Rita Peterson, in an e-mail.
 The festival was at Casa last year and was so popular that they had to turn people away at the door. This year, they are excited to be back in the newly renovated Sterndale Bennett Theatre for at least one day.

 The One Act Play Festival has been an important part of long standing theatre troupe Playgoers of Lethbridge’s mandate to develop actors and up and coming directors since the early ’70s
 All entries will be adjudicated by  adjudicator Richard O”Brien, who among his many accomplishments founded Red Deer college’s drama program.
“He’s been working in drama for most of his adult life,” Peterson said. There will be awards for best original script, best play, best actor and best actress. The winner can go to High River to compete in the provincial One Act Play festival May 3 and 4.

“Playgoers  of Lethbridge has been involved with the One Act Play Festival for at least 40 years,” summarized Peterson, who has participated in the festival as an actor in director many times.
 ADFA (Alberta Drama Festival Association) covers some mileage and accommodations expenses for the winner to participate in the provincial festival.
University student Tracy Wyman who has submitted an original script  called “Falling Through Time” which she will perform with Jocelyn Steinborn and Halley Gray.

“It is a series of three monologues by three women  talking about their memories and their lives,” Peterson described.
Shakespeare in the Park’s production of Edward Albee’s Zoo Story features Josh Hammerstedt and Cole Fetting, and several familiar faces from backstage including first time director Mary-Lynne  Muhly.

“They needed a director and I’ve been involved backstage with enough plays, so I volunteered,” chuckled Muhly, holding a rehearsal at her home.
 Fetting and Hammerstedt planned to perform Zoo story for last year’s  One Act Play Festival, but weren’t able to get it ready in time.

“Zoo Story is about a guy sitting on a park bench who encounters this interesting character and they have an interesting conversation,” said Fetting, a familiar face with Shakespeare in the Park and with several University of Lethbridge productions, who plays Jerry, who encounters Peter, played by Josh Hammerstedt.

Surprise, surprise, it is another busy week in Lethbridge.
U of L based radio station Into the Realm of Radio themed CKXU’s FUNDrive continues this week with several events happening throughout the week. There is a karaoke night at the ZOO in the SU on Tuesday beginning at 8 p.m. Feel free to dress as your favourite fantasy character and get ready to sing your heart out and maybe you will find the web wizard who will help fund a new website for CKXU which will allow you to download your favourite shows and listen to them at your leisure.

FUNDrive ends on March 22 at the Old Firehall with Musical Monarchy featuring performances by  Shaela Miller, Biloxi Parish, Chief Mountain, Tut and Jess and Sil who will be playing  the hits of your favourite monarchy or fantastic themed bands like Queen, Queens of the Stone Age, Prince and more. There is a $10 cover at the door. The music begins at 9 p.m.
 But there is a lot of other fun happening.
 Josh Davies and HBO3 host the jazz jam at the Owl Acoustic Lounge on Wednesday, March 20. And the Geomatic Attic has the first of three shows this week featuring Winnipeg country musician Sean Burns. The show begins at 8 p.m., March 20. Tickets are $25 and $30 at the door. As usual, Geomatic Attic shows start at 8 p.m.

 Juno nominated folk/ pop musician Donovan Woods plays a Geomatic Attic show at the Sterndale Bennett Theatre, March 24 at 8 p.m. Sharp with special guest Katie Pruitt. Tickets are $38.
 Samantha Martin And Delta Sugar featuring Lethbridge singer Mwansa Mwansa return to the Geomatic Attic, Wednesday, March 27.
Friday night will be off the hook beginning at 7:30 p.m. where local country musician Trevor Panczak plays the fourth annual Boots and Roots Benefit for STARS.
 The event happens at the Sandman Signature Hotel downtown. It features a prime rib dinner hosted by Prime Catering, a live and silent auction and Panczak playing all the country music you want. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $75.

Good Times features comedian Simon King performing two shows at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.., Friday, march 22.  Tickets are $15 in advance $20 at the door.
 Theatre Outre features The Drinking Game in Club Didi, “an opportunity to learn about yourself and a celebration of human relationships in all their simplicity and complexity,” March 21 and 22. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.

 If you like the Eagles, Hotel California an Eagles tribute is back at Average Joes, March 22 beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance $25 at the door. The Nova Scotiables will open the show at 8 p.m..

 For blues fans, The Steve Keenan band return to Casino Lethbridge for two nights, March 22 and 23. The show begins at 8 p.m.
It will be mellow but fun night at the Slice, March 22 with singer songwriter Max Hopkins, Silent Mike and Makiisma performing.

One of my favourite  duos, Edmonton’s F&M aka Ryan and Rebecca Anderson return to the Owl Acoustic Lounge, March 22. Tyson Ray Borsboom opens the show.
Saturday, March 23 will be just as hectic.
 If you want to laugh, comedy trio the Arrogant Worms best known for  writing “Last Saskatchewan Pirate”  are at the Empress Theatre in Fort Macleod at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $34.50.

Samantha Martin is excited to bring her hot blues/ gospel band Delta Sugar back to the Geomatic Attic, Wednesday, March 27.
 She will be bringing beloved local singer Mwansa Mwansa with her, who opened for her the last time and who soon joined her band, which has since toured all over the world.
“ We haven’t played there  since 2016 and it was really really great because we found Mwansa Mwansa who opened for us. She joined the band soon after,” Martin recalled, taking a quick breather at home, having just returned from a successful European tour.
Their latest CD Run To Me has been nominated for Blues Album of the Year, up against luminaries like Colin James, Jack DeKeyser, Myles Goodwyn  and Sue Foley.
 In which case it really is just an honour to be nominated. They won’t be attending the Juno awards celebrations in London, Ontario.
“We’re not going to be there because we‘re touring out there,” Martin said, noting they  will be in the middle of a tour of  B.C. and Alberta.
She is pleased with the big band sound of the new record “ Run To Me,” which she released last April.
“ We didn’t have a very large budget for the last record  ‘Send The Nightingale.’ We  had a bigger budget for this one, so I wrote these songs with a big band sound in mind,” she said.