Whoopi Goldberg, Stuart Mclean, Famous Puppet Death Scenes, and Popera to headline fall-winter season at The Banff Centre

Tickets on sale at 12pm MST, August 20, 2014
Box office: 403.762.6301 or 1.800.413.8368

Banff, Alberta, August 20, 2015 -- The Banff Centre is proud to announce its fall-winter lineup with over 100 public events and more than 30 free events for all ages. Included in the jam-packed roster is a taste of Popera with Banff Centre alumnus Richard Margison and Lauren Margison, Vinyl Café with Stuart McLean, the most tragic Famous Puppet Death Scenes by the Old Trout Puppet Workshop, an exhibition of commissioned work by Neïl Beloufa, performances by Measha Brueggergosman, Jenn Grant, Jill Barber, Compagnie Marie Chouinard, an evening with Whoopi Goldberg, more than 30 classical and world music events, and more. Tickets are on sale from 12pm MST Wednesday, August 20.

Season Highlights

The Banff Centre’s Fall-Winter season kicks off with an on-stage conversation with Douglas Cardinal on September 19. An internationally-renowned architect, designer, planner, activist, philosopher, and artist, Cardinal will share insights into Indigenous creative process, landmark architecture, and his remarkable career.

On September 26, Maori writer Witi Ihimaera will take the stage for a special evening of film and storytelling in conversation with Sandra Laronde, Director of Indigenous Arts at The Banff Centre.  Award-winning author of The Whale Rider, which became a smash film sensation around the world, Ihimaera’s latest novella is now a feature film, White Lies.

A window into music programs, The Fall Musical Encounter Series introduces the some of the finest emerging musicians from around the world. Set in our intimate concert hall, music aficionados will discover and rediscover works from the classical music canon to cutting-edge compositions. The Fall Musical Encounter Series runs October 3 to December 5, 2014; The Winter Musical Encounter Series runs January 23 to March 26, 2015.

From November 1 until November 9, the world’s best mountain films, books, and speakers take the spotlight for #NineEpicDays. Experience the adventure of climbing, mountain expeditions, remote cultures, and the world’s last great wild places at the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival. This year’s festival includes the new film DamNation with climbing pioneer and Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard, the North American Premier of Cerro Torre – A Snowball’s Chance in Hell, in partnership with Red Bull Media House, featuring David Lama’s first free ascent of Cerro Torre’s southeast ridge and many more.

On November 7 Neïl Beloufa’s, Counting on People, opens at Walter Philips Gallery. Counting on People is the North American premiere of two new works of contemporary art co-commissioned by Walter Phillips Gallery, The Banff Centre and the Institute for Contemporary Arts, London.  Shot on location in Banff, Beloufa’s videos and sculpture question the role of the artist as an image maker, but also the purpose and agency of digital images today.  

On November 22 and 23, The Old Trout Puppet Workshop promises to cure your fear of death in Famous Puppet Death Scenes. This puppet show features a collection of famous death scenes culled from the absolute best puppet shows in history, including Edward’s Last Meal from The Ballad of Edward Grue by Norman Strake, DungBeetle’s Lament from Flap Flap Flap by Lizzie Fook and many more.

Art and technology collide in Convergence, an interdisciplinary arts summit dedicated to exploring the the meeting of art and technology, on November 27 and 29. The summit will explore what happens when contemporary professional practices in all forms of music, visual and digital art, film, theatre, dance, literature, or interdisciplinary arts cross-pollinate with emerging production and dissemination technologies.

The holiday season would not be complete without Vinyl Café with Stuart McLean. Canada’s beloved storyteller and humorist returns to Banff for what has become a family holiday tradition on December 6. Accompanied by the usual cast of characters, including the Vinyl Cafe Orchestra and special musical guests, this year’s Vinyl Cafe Christmas Concert will feature two brand new Dave and Morley stories.

In the New Year, Performance Today returns with four special classical music performances featuring Pedja Muzijevic (January 23), Phyllis Chen (January 30), Nick Cords (February 6), and Steve Copes (February 13).

On February 21, The Banff Centre welcomes Whoopi Goldberg for an intimate evening and conversation as part of the Edwards Family Legendary Leaders series.

Then on March 7, Compagnie Marie Chouinard will perform two pieces at The Banff Centre: Gymopédies and Henri Michaux: Mouvements, both choreographed by Marie Chouinard.

Finally, on March 19 and 20, The Banff Centre presents Fish Eye Triology by Nightswimming Theatre, an audacious trio of dance-plays. Fish Eyes, Boys with Cars, and Let Me Borrow That Top by celebrated television and film actress Anita Majumdar tells the coming-of-age stories of three teenage girls in small town Canada. 

Full event listings are available online at banffcentre.ca/events

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