Halifax has Broadway fever. Thankfully, Neptune’s here to satisfy our craving.

THEATRE

Halifax has Broadway fever. Thankfully, Neptune’s here to satisfy our craving.

Billy Elliot—the season-closing show at Neptune, on until June 18, is as timely as ever thanks to its 2SLGBTQ+ themes. It also is the start of a mini-wave of musicals happening in Halifax this year.

It’s been six years since director Jeremy Webb began the process of bringing Billy Elliot to life—a timeline clogged by COVID delays that even domino-ed into the need to recast actors who, by the time of the show’s run, had aged out of the youngest roles.

Coast arts editor Morgan Mullin had the chance to speak with Webb about the show and his real-life experiences that helped bring Billy Elliot to life.

Need to know

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny with a high of 16C and a low of -4C.

🎻 Friday 7:30pm, Cecilia Concerts presents an exciting collaboration between two of North America's top chamber music ensembles, the Aizuri Quartet and Cheng² Duo. Get tickets here!*

🪧 Halifax area school support staff are officially on strike this morning after rejecting a tentative agreement that was previously agreed on by the province and their union. Schools will remain open.

🎭 Eastern Front Theatre’s annual STAGES Theatre Festival is back with an innovative lineup of bold and playful new shows, June 6-11 at Alderney Landing.*

🛍️ Open City is this Saturday, May 13! Get out and explore the local shops during this annual kick-off to summer. To see the Downtown Halifax businesses participating, click here.*

🎭 Get your tickets to Let’s Dance! The Musical, celebrating the greatest pop songs of the 1960s. At Neptune Theatre Fountain Hall July 27-30.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY GARRISON BREWING

Tastes like summer

Have you tried Garrison Brewing’s latest release?! Their Mango Dragonfruit Sour flew off the shelves last year, so don’t wait until the sun sets to try this brew.

They’ve got sunshine on their minds, so expect notes of bubble gum, dragon fruit, and mango on the nose. Bursting with flavours of tropical fruit, cranberries, strawberry, and cherry, this beer has a slightly sour finish and pours a beautiful reddish-purple.

Text your friends right now! Celebrate summer with this release at Garrison Seaport and The Oxford Taproom. Order from the Garrison Brewing website for free HRM delivery.

Cans are available from their friends at Harvest Wines, Westside Beer Wine Spirits, Rockhead Wine & Beer Market, Liquid Assets NS (in the Halifax airport!), and participating NSLC’s.

Follow them on Instagram: @garrisonbrewing

On The Coast

SPONSORED BY MAYWORKS KJIPUKTUK/HALIFAX

ZUPPA’s The Movements starts May 25

Catch ZUPPA’s The Movements—a high-octane theatre/dance spectacular about the global economy in the form of a 90-minute workout routine. Covering everything from GDP and the WHO to wealth inequality and inflation. Four actors examine the mind-boggling complexity of these hot topics in a way that is endlessly engaging.

In other news

👨‍🚒 Auditor General Kim Adair released her report on the examination of the Office of the Fire Marshal yesterday, you can read the full performance audit here. John Lohr, the Minister responsible for the Office of the Fire Marshal, also released a statement in response to the audit.

🏠 The Province is purchasing three Truro buildings with the Nova Scotia Co-operative Council Ltd. in order to maintain affordable housing units in the area.

💵 Nova Scotia is investing in two new programs, Clean Foundation and the Community Climate Capacity Support Program, to help achieve the province’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

🚨 A person was sent to hospital yesterday afternoon after a daylight shooting took place in Dartmouth on Primrose Street. Global News has the story.

🧑‍🌾 A new $46.25 million partnership between the federal and provincial governments aims to help support Nova Scotian farmers and grow the agriculture sector.

🔥 The wildfire that broke out in Digby County on Monday is no longer spreading however, it is estimated to have affected about 110 hectares of land.

🏫 Halifax parents shared their opinions on the new changes being rolled out across HRM schools.

🖼️ Applications are now open for the 2023 Gritty to Pretty Placemaking Grants. Artists who receive the grant will have the opportunity to display their art in downtown Halifax at a pre-approved location. Find more info here.

SPORTS

The Wanderer Grounds podcast: Halifax stays undefeated, but also winless—which one is closer to the truth?

In this episode of The Wanderer Grounds, Coast reporters Matt Stickland and Martin Bauman are joined by Alex Sheppard—a HFX Wanderers FC fan, but also a part of local minor soccer organization Suburban FC.

The three talk about:

• The Wanderers’ game over the weekend (a nil-nil draw with Winnipeg’s Valour FC).

• Alex tells Matt and Martin all about the upcoming Maritime Super Series, which will feature some big names in both men’s and women’s soccer—including some former Wanderers (one of whom is an all-time leading scorer for the club).

• And finally, Matt learns that Martin is famous.

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