Opening Night – June 27th

Pigeon Inlet opened again this year on Ted Russell’s birthday.  The audience and cast joined in singing “Happy Birthday.”

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday

In addition to a new location, Pigeon Inlet has a number of other new features this season.

Guest Performers

First, there will be a special guest or guests each Saturday night.   For Opening Night the special guests were the Traditional Music Group from the Amalgamated Academy in Bay Roberts.

Amalgamated Academy Traditional Music Group

Amalgamated Academy Traditional Music Group

For July 4, the special guest will be Frank Maher.

Frank Maher

Frank Maher

Frank Maher was a member of Figgy Duff. He received the 2002 Tradition Bearer Award from the Celtic Roots Festival in Goderich, Ont., and the 2003 St. John’s Folk Arts Council Lifetime Achievement Award.

For July 11, the guest will be Con O’ Brien.

Con O'Brien

Con O'Brien

Con O’Brien is lead singer and guitarist in the Irish Descendants, who have toured the globe playing traditional music. The group won a Juno award in 1995 for the best roots traditional album – “Gypsies and Lovers.”

New Menu

Newfoundland Pea Soup

Either Traditional Jigg’s Dinner with Pease Pudding OR

Turkey Dinner with Gravy, Newfoundland Dressing, and Figgy Duff

Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce

Additional Play

“Algebra Slippers” will be alternating with “The Hangashore.”

Painting on Tickets

A professionally framed, limited edition print of Gerry Squire’s painting of Ted Russell will be on tickets.  The print can be viewed while attending the ‘Time.’

Photos from Opening Night

Brandon, Luke, and Naomi

Brandon, Luke and Naomi

Fresh Bread and Newfoundland Pea Soup, Jigg's Dinner with Pease Pudding

Fresh Bread and Newfoundland Pea Soup, Jigg's Dinner with Pease Pudding

New for Summer 2009

In Summer 2009, the “Time in Pigeon Inlet” will be held in the Masonic Lodge on the Conception Bay Highway, next door to Woodward Motors Ltd.

The Masonic Lodge

The Masonic Lodge

There will be a choice of two meals which will be ordered at the time of booking.  If a person has a special diet, every effort will be made to accommodate, but the special diet must be mentioned at the time of booking.

A seating plan is being established.  As soon as the seating is ready, it will be published at www.pigeoninlet.ca

At the time of booking, seating can be booked on a first come – first serve basis.

We are getting ready to announce more about Summer 2009.  Keep checking back for more information.

A Time in Pigeon Inlet – 2009 – Audition Call

All Ages – Musicians, Singers, Actors, Dancers, Storytellers.

We want YOU… to audition for this summer’s production of  A Time in Pigeon Inlet : A Musical Theatre Show

by the Bay Roberts Cultural Heritage Foundation
Produced and directed by
Kelly Russell & Tonya Kearley

Candidates must be available every Saturday night from June 27 to August 29 plus various weekend rehearsal times during May and June.

We seek talented performers in music and theatre, all age groups both youth and adult.

Auditions will be held at Ascension Collegiate in Bay Roberts on Sunday, April 26.

To book your 15 minutes of audition time slot, please contact us:
Phone: 709-488-3821
Email: kellyrussell@nf.sympatico.ca

Published in: on April 9, 2009 at 8:59 am Leave a Comment
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A New Season

Plans are underway for the new season of Pigeon Inlet.  If you check the Compass and the Telegram, there is an ad for catering services.  We are examining choices for a new venue for the show.

People of all ages in the community have become involved in Pigeon Inlet.

Coley’s Point Primary Art Smart Program about Pigeon Inlet

Younger members of the community have become involved in Pigeon Inlet. Mrs. Wendy King of Coley’s Point Primary has received funding for her students to study “Pigeon Inlet” and the writings of Ted Russell under the “Cultural Connections: K-12 Arts and Cultural Strategy” sponsored by the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Education. Kelly Russell will be visiting her classes and performing his father’s stories, as well as demonstrating his musical skills. The children will learn about Newfoundland culture as illustrated in Newfoundland literature, foods,  and music.

Illustration by Sylvia Ficken

Illustration by Sylvia Ficken

From “The Point” Newsletter:

Our Grade 3 students are involved in a special project in February. Through funding that our school has received from the NL Arts Council ArtSmarts initiative, we hope to develop a deeper understanding of the works of local native son, Ted Russell,  by having our students work directly with Kelly Russell, Ted’s son. Last week was their first session and the children were in awe of Kelly’s talent in spoken word, song and music. The project will include a performance at the Heritage Concert to be held at Amalgamated Academy on March 4th featuring “Our Time in Pigeon Inlet” and using Kelly’s, “A String of Squids”, based on his father’s, “The Smokeroom on the Kyle”, and his uncle, Art Scammell’s, “Squid Jiggin’ Ground”. We’re so excited about this opportunity for our Grade 3 students and hope to build on it in future years as the Town of Bay Roberts expands its “A Time in Pigeon Inlet” project.

Pigeon Inlet Quilters

The Regional Quilters’ Guild has formally adopted the name: Pigeon Inlet Quilters.   They are currently making a “Pigeon Inlet” quilt which will be on display in the Holdin’ Ground Room at the Bay Roberts Visitor’s Pavilion on the Veteran’s Memorial Highway.

Illustration by Sylvia Ficken

Illustration by Sylvia Ficken

“The Holdin’ Ground:  Saving Our Cultural Heritage.”

Congratulations to the Bay Roberts 50 Plus Club for being awarded funding from New Horizons for their project “The Holdin’ Ground: Saving Our Cultural Heritage.” The project will preserve the traditions, values, and spirit of the municipality of Bay Roberts – through documenting traditional skills, music, stories, local history, customs, language, and points of interest. The objective is to record the intangible history of the community before older citizens pass away and it is lost. The recording will include how to perform tasks such as building / repairing boats (punts), preparing or mending cod trap, barking nets, developing and maintaining kitchen gardens, repairing fences, preparing traditional recipes and crafts. It will also include recoding traditional stories, music and dance, games, traditional methods of celebrating holidays and occasions such as weddings and births, story telling (ghost and fairy stories), local history, history of organizations and churches, local sites of interest with traditional names, and local heroes and persons of interest. A major objective of this endeavour is involve seniors and to improve their self-esteem, showing them that what they are respected and recognized for their contributions. They will have access to educational opportunities in the use of new media, and they will participate in community development.

The Mummers have landed!

Last night, “A Mummers’ Christmas” was held in the Lion’s Club in Bay Roberts. There was a great turn out, despite the scary forecast…and the Bell Island ferry problems which could have left Kelly and family stranded on Bell Island.
Russells in the Corner
Pictures of the event with a commentary have been uploaded at Flickr.
A Mummer’s Christmas

The mummers are coming to Bay Roberts!

Enjoy “A Mummers’ Christmas” in Bay Roberts on Saturday, January 3, 2009

Featuring Kelly Russell, Pigeon Inlet Players, Russells in the Corner….and MUMMERS!mummers2The Bay Robers Lions Club, Bareneed Road

Doors open 7:30pm, Starts 8:00pm.

Tickets: $30 [HST in] Limited number of tickets. Book early.

Call 1-866-786-2126
or 786-2126
email: unclemose@pigeoninlet.ca

Participate in our “Time” with MUMMERS
- forget the modern world as you experience Ted Russell’s works and story telling, join in the Christmas music, and are entertained by mummers.

Musical Director: Kelly Russell

Artistic Director: Tonya Kearley Russell

Our Summer Production of Pigeon Inlet which includes a scoff.

pi-christmas-sm

News from Pigeon Inlet.

——————–

Sylvia Ficken’s Sketches this fall.

The General Store - Sylvia Quinton Ficken

Plans are also underway to hold a exhibition of Sylvia Ficken’s sketches this fall. Her black and white sketches were included in the books: The Best of Ted Russell#1 and Stories from Uncle Mose (the Best of Ted Russell #2. The books were published by Harry Cuff Publications Ltd.

Summer of 2009.

Kelly, Tonya, and the Pigeon Inlet Committee are already discussing “Times” and other events for next summer. We should be ready to make plans public in the near future.

Official Pigeon Inlet Logo.

Pigeon Inlet Logo

Pigeon Inlet Logo

The Pigeon Inlet Committee has officially adopted a logo that will be used on all materials and correspondence.

Community Involvement in Pigeon Inlet

Younger members of the community have become involved. Mrs. Wendy King of Coley’s Point Primary has received funding for her students to study “Pigeon Inlet” and the writings of Ted Russell under the “Cultural Connections: K-12 Arts and Cultural Strategy” sponsored by the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Education. Kelly Russell will be visiting her classes and performing his father’s stories, as well as demonstrating his musical skills. The children will learn about Newfoundland culture as illustrated in Newfoundland literature, foods, and music.

Older members of the community are also excited by the Pigeon Inlet Project. The Regional Quilters’ Guild has formally adopted the name: Pigeon Inlet Quilters.

Published in: on October 6, 2008 at 3:34 pm Leave a Comment

The Time in Pigeon Inlet Over for Summer 2008.

Welcome to the time from "King David."

Welcome to the Time from King David

Thank you to everyone especially our audiences and our sponsors for making “The Time in Pigeon Inlet” such a tremendous success this summer. August 23rd was the final performance of Pigeon Inlet for the Summer of 2008. The performance brought an end to a very busy summer for the Manager, Kenny Sharpe; Artistic and Musical Directors, Kelly Russell and Tonya Kearley Russell; the Pigeon Inlet Players; the Caterers, Skipper Ben’s from Cupids; and all the members of the Pigeon Inlet Committee.

During the summer evaluations were accepted each night and guest comments were recorded to ensure better productions in the future. For the most part, the comments were highly favourable, with almost all persons either agreeing or strongly agreeing that the food, the music, the acting, and the dance were excellent.

Keep checking back at www.bayroberts.com and www.pigeoninlet.ca and this blog for updates and future events which are in the planning stages.

Below are photos from the August 23rd Time.

Audience

Audience

Kelly Russell performing Smokeroom on the Klyle.

Kelly Russell performing "Smokeroom on the Klyle."

Tonya Kearley Russell taking people for their contributions over the summer.

Tonya Kearley Russell thanking people for their contributions over the summer.

Meggie - Naomi Russell and Liz Walcott - Melissa Dawe

Meggie - Naomi Russell and Liz Walcott - Melissa Dawe

Ally Dawe and Melissa Dawe of Pigeon Inlet Players

Ally Dawe and Melissa Dawe of Pigeon Inlet Players

Stephen Power

Jethro Noddy : Richard Porter and Ben Walcott: Stephen Power

Published in: on August 24, 2008 at 8:00 pm Leave a Comment

Pigeon Inlet Flash Presentation.

A Pigeon Inlet Flash Presentation has been assembled from the shows so far this summer. You will see photos from various shows, as well as photos and information about Kelly and Tonya Kearley Russell, Pigeon Inlet Players, and Ted Russell.

A Time in Pigeon Inlet.

Published in: on August 5, 2008 at 8:36 am Leave a Comment

Sold out again!!

Even with 40 extra tickets per night, the “Time” in Pigeon Inlet has completely sold out again !!

Everything was moved to St. Matthews Hall which is much larger than the SUF Lodge (the original location .) The first “Time” was held at St. Matthews Hall on Saturday, July 26. All the remaining “Times ” for this summer will be held in the St. Matthew’s Hall, which is adjacent to the War Memorial on Water Street in Bay Roberts.

St. Matthew's Hall

St. Matthew's Hall

We hope this summer’s productions are just a taste of what is to come in the future!!

Published in: on July 28, 2008 at 10:56 am Comments (1)