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Chatter: Local arts, entertainment news

Laugh or cry, it's all in this week's listing
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Terri Clark, one of Canada's top-tier country recording artists, brings her It's Christams ... Cheers! Tour to the Arden Theatre on Dec. 6, 2022. SUPPLIED/Photo

This week's Chatter lists a diverse collection of entertainers from Terri Clark's frothy country Christmas concert, to Barvinok's journey into war-ravaged Ukraine, to Dmitry Romanov's stand-up comedy. The Ukrainian-Russian comedian specializes in poking fun at both the little things in life as well as current events around the world.

Terri Clark at Arden 

Have you noticed Christmas accessories are already on sale in stores? The Arden Theatre must have taken a cue for retailers because it just announced Terri Clark’s It’s Christmas ... Cheers! Tour. 

Originally raised in Medicine Hat and currently a Nashville resident, Clark rolls out an 11-stop Alberta tour with a concert at the Arden Theatre on Tuesday, Dec. 6. 

“Christmas has always been my favourite time of the year,” Clark said in a media release. “I released my first Christmas album in 2020, so this year is the first opportunity I’ve had since then to play some of these holiday favourites live ... I’m truly coming home for the holidays.” 

The three-time Juno Award winner and 19-time CCMA Award recipient’s It’s Christmas ... Cheers! album combines a mix of sacred and popular in Clark’s signature country music style. The 10-track blends a series of holiday gems ranging from Away in a Manger and Silent Night, to Winter Wonderland, Cowboy Christmas, and Up on the Rooftop

Tickets are $60 each and are available at tickets.stalbert.ca or 780-459-1542. 

A war story 

Barvinok, a personal account from war-torn Ukraine in 1944, transcends the decades and is never more relevant than today. Written by Ukrainian-Canadian playwright Lianna Makuch, it is part of an Alberta tour and will have a short run at Westbury Theatre from Sept. 21 to 25. 

Also starring in this heritage journey are two St. Albert actors. Alexandra Dawkins (Katya) and Kristen Padayas (Yelena) are both graduates of the University of Alberta Bachelor of Fine Arts acting program with a lengthy resume of critically acclaimed theatrical shows and films. 

Produced by Pyretic Productions, Barvinok presents the long history of struggles Ukraine has undergone. In the play, Hania’s Baba has a secret she will take to her grave. But since moving to a long-term care home, she grows agitated from haunting memories. 

She asks Hania to travel to Ukraine and find a missing piece of family history. Hania’s search eventually takes her to the edge of an ongoing war in eastern Ukraine. 

Westbury Theatre is at ATB Financial Arts Barns, 10330 84 Ave. Tickets are pay-what-you-can to $35. A portion of sales will be donated in support of Ukraine. 

Introducing Slavic comedy 

Odessa-born and raised, Dmitry Romanov’s brand new comedy show, Selfmade, makes its regional debut at the Arden Theatre on Sept. 26. 

The Ukrainian-Russian speaking comedian kick-started his career in shows such as Comedy Odessa and Comedy Kyiv before travelling to Russia. He launched standup in Moscow and became a major headliner. But at the start of the Putin-directed invasion into Ukraine, he left Russia and now resides in Europe using stand-up to speak against the military operation. 

Selfmade starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $69 to $109. Call 780-459-1542 or visit tickets.stalbert.ca. 

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