Hit Australian musical stage production Queen: It’s a Kinda Magic is returning to Canadian stages for a full national tour from 4 May to 12 August 2022. 28 May 7pm Brandon, MB Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium wmca.ca Originally scheduled for 2020, the tour underwent several postponements due to the worldwide pandemic restrictions which have crippled international travel and entertainment venues for more than two years. Now back on track for this Summer, the tour will perform 36 shows right across the country. Director and Producer Johnny Van Grinsven has been pleasantly surprised by ticket sales so far: “It’s been an unbelievably hard couple of years for our industry, and I thought it would take much longer for customer confidence to bounce back, but Canadians have been showing amazing support for the show, and now the cast is more excited than ever to get back on stage and put on a memorable show.” This will be the long-running production’s first Canadian tour since 2018, and the first visit with the new cast, including South African music prodigy Dominic Warren - an acclaimed vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, and former student of the prestigious Drakensberg Boys Choir School. Performing as ‘Freddie Mercury’, Warren takes on the enormous task of performing Queen’s biggest hits – all live on stage and in their original key – for up to six shows per week. “I’m constantly studying Freddie – his mannerisms, his movements and his energy are super important, as well as the musicality of course… but there will only ever be one Freddie, so rather than trying to ‘be’ him, I hope that Freddie’s character will shine through in my performance and that we’ll do justice to his musical legacy, for his fans,” says Warren of his preparation for the role. The tour promises to deliver the true Rock concert experience with all the spectacular lighting and FX of a big international production. Tickets are available now from the venue websites or visit queenitsakindamagic.com for more information.

Westman Dreams for Kids recently announced that the Children’s Country Fair will return in 2022. This year's event will take place at the Riverbank Discovery Centre on Sunday, June 5 from 10am to 4pm. Royal LePage returns as the presenting sponsor. Children’s Country Fair is a free event for families in Westman featuring a variety of activities and entertainment for everyone of all ages. Activities in the past have included bouncy castles, live entertainment, face painting, petting zoo, and and lots of educational attractions. This year's event will also serve as the official grand opening of the Westman Dreams for Kids Accessibility Park. Additional details to follow on their Facebook page.

After having to shut down our 2020 production of "Be More Chill" just over a month before showtime and then going for 2-years without singing, dancing, and playing together...we are all ready for "somewhere that's green". While New York City celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman's, "Little Shop of Horrors" with the sold-out Off-Broadway revival, Crocus Plains Secondary School celebrates a little closer to home. This cult classic brings a loveable and eclectic cast to life with outstanding puppetry, eye-catching set design, and musical acts that will make you want to stand up and dance. The story starts at Mushnik’s Flower Shop, deep in the heart of Skid Row. Meek flower shop assistant Seymour is in love with co-worker Audrey. During a total eclipse, he discovers an unusual plant he names Audrey II, which feeds only on human flesh and blood. The growing plant attracts a great deal of business for the previously struggling store. After an unfortunate accident, Seymour finds himself feeding Audrey's boyfriend, Orin, to the plant, and he must continue to find more bodies to sustain the increasingly bloodthirsty plant. This talented cast of students, grades nine through twelve, performing roles of both the human and alien plant variety, features newcomers Diego Garcia-Solis (Thursday/Saturday Evening) and Edwin Cerquera Malaver (Friday/Saturday Matinee) as Seymour and Ava Thexton (Thursday/Saturday Evening) and Emma- Marie Wiebe (Friday/Saturday Matinee) as Audrey. Little Shop of Horrors reminds us of the importance of community, that greed is poison and that any one of us, willing to act out of selflessness, could change the world. This outstanding cast and crew of both students and staff are thrilled to be presenting this fantastic show at the Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium (WMCA). Reigniting the Crocus Plains Major Production has been a team effort, with the collaboration and support of multiple staff and students, including the entire ACE Creative Promotions class acting as an advertising agency, choreography by Monique Roy- Keller (Steppin' Time Dance Studio) and the realistic plants built by Brandonite Marilyn Hardy. The cast, crew, volunteers, and Crocus Plains community are all very excited to get back to doing what they love! Tickets are on sale now at http://www.wmca.ca/lsoh.html

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers ZZ Top made an appearance in Brandon earlier tonight playing a concert inside the Keystone Centre. The classic rock band has fifteen studio albums and over 30 million record sales to their credit. The ‘Celebration with ZZ Top’ Canadian tour kicked off April 22 in Victoria, BC. Scramble Studio was on-hand to capture the following photos for bdnmb.ca.

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID restrictions, the Rotary Westman Wine Festival presented by Manitoba Liquor Marts is back! The two-day festival features distinct experiences, a Gala Dinner and a Public Wine Tasting, all in support of a worthy cause. Since 2003, the Festival has raised more than $200,000 for the Elspeth Reid Family Resource Centre and local Rotary Projects. The Gala Dinner takes place on Thursday May 5th and features a five course, chef inspired, gourmet meal which has been carefully paired with ten different wines. It features local ingredients prepared by local talent (Chef Brett Rystephanuk at the Victoria Inn) and is a momentous event to get back to socializing with friends or colleagues. Tickets are still available for $130/person by calling Tracy Baker at 204-724- 6576. The Public Wine Tasting takes place on Friday May 6th at the Imperial Ballroom at the Victoria Inn. This year's event will have more than 75 different wines to sample. Each station typically has four different wines to try and interaction with the representatives is encouraged. They will be happy to provide the tasting profile, history and even the price so you can find your favourite at your local Manitoba Liquor Mart Public tasting tickets are still available at any of the Brandon Manitoba Liquor Marts locations for $39.95 tax included.