There’s an extravaganza of entertainment to welcome the first month of spring at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough).

Musical theatre fans can say goodbye to the final week of winter with The Anne Shirley Theatre Company’s production of “Bare: A Pop Opera”. Then you can have your mind blown by experiencing magician Spidey’s amazing performance of mentalism.

If you’re a fan of classic American rock from the ’70s and ’80s, you won’t want to miss “Against The Wind – Canada’s Bob Seger Experience”. If classic British rock is more your thing, you’ll want to hear guitarist Martin Barre and his band perform the songs of Jethro Tull and more.

Roots enthusiasts have a rare chance to enjoy back-to-back nights of the blues in April, with gritty electric blues from the critically acclaimed duo Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer (Shawn Hall and Matthew Rogers), followed by the reuniting of Peterborough’s own acoustic blues trio Jackson Delta (Rick Fines, Al Black, and Gary Peeples).

Finally, for the more spiritually minded among us, Peterborough City Church continues its weekly service of inspirational messages and music each Sunday morning.

The Anne Shirley Theatre Company presents Bare: A Pop Opera on March 10, 17, at 7 p.m. and March 11, 18 at 2 and 7 p.m.

Since marking its arrival in 1971 with the staging of Anne of Green Gables, The Anne Shirley Theatre Company has strived to remain true to its stated mission: provide opportunities for Trent University students to experience all aspects of theatre, both on and off the stage.

Well, it’s mission accomplished for the student-run theatre troupe, which has served up a diverse menu of stage productions since adopting the name of Anne of Green Gables’ central character as its calling card. With artistic director Kalene Upton at the helm, that success story continues unabated with the staging of Bare: A Pop Opera on March 10th and 17th at 7 p.m., and March 11th and 18th at 2 and 7 p.m.

Based on the book by Jon Hartmere and Damon Intrabartolo — they combined on the music and lyrics as well — the musical premiered in October 2000 at Hollywood’s Hudson Mainstage Theatre. What followed were numerous critically acclaimed runs in the United States and across the big pond in Wales and Ireland.

The story follows the experiences of a group of high school students as they navigate their final year at St. Cecilia’s, a Catholic high school. Like most all teens, they experiment and party their way through school, all while dealing with pressures courtesy of their parents, their church and their peers. In the end, facing obstacles, the students are forced to decide on what, and who, they will place their faith in.

Tickets are $20 ($15 for students and seniors) and are available from the box office at Market Hall (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough), by phone at 705-749-1146 or online at www.markethall.org. Tickets are also available (cash only) at Moondance (425 George St., Peterborough, 705-742-9425).

Market Hall presents Spidey: Make Believe – Magic Of Your Mind on March 25 at 8 p.m.

When you’re a hypnotist, illusionist and magician and Penn and Teller profess to be blown away by your performance, you know you’re doing something special.

Since beginning his career 10 years ago, Spidey has enthralled audiences around the globe as well as millions online, wowing the judges on America’s Got Talent and Canada’s Got Talent to achieve finalist status on both. Combine that with nominations for Canadian Magician of the Year and Canadian Variety Artist of the Year and, well, you get the idea — this guy knows how to entertain.

It’s clear that Spidey isn’t disappearing anytime soon, although he could if he wanted to, and right before our unbelieving eyes.

VIDEO: “Make Believe – Magic Of Your Mind”

Market Hall Performing Arts Centre presents Spidey’s acclaimed mind-reading show, Make Believe – Magic Of Your Mind, on March 25 at 8 p.m. The same show has been featured on Entertainment Tonight and The Discovery Channel, the latter describing Spidey’s wizardry as “ridiculous … just crazy.” Now a local audience can experience what all the fuss is about.

General admission tickets are $25 ($20 for students and seniors) and are available from the box office at Market Hall (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough), by phone at 705-749-1146 or online at www.markethall.org. Tickets are also available (cash only) at Moondance (425 George St., Peterborough, 705-742-9425). Cabaret-style table assigned seating is available for $30.

Rock-N Entertainment presents “Against The Wind – Canada’s Bob Seger Experience” on March 31 at 8 p.m.

When it comes to classic blue-collar rock, few musicians have done it better than Detroit’s Bob Seger. Following a string of hits from his 1976 breakout album Night Moves as well as 1978’s Stranger in Town, he released Against The Wind in 1980 — his first and only #1 album on the Billboard album chart.

In 2015, in honour of the 35th anniversary of that record, drummer Dean Goldstein formed “Against The Wind – Canada’s Bob Seger Experience”. The band is dedicated to honouring Seger by performing selections from his albums from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and beyond.

You have a chance to experience “that old time rock and roll” when Against The Wind comes to Peterborough for a 27-song, two-set performance at the Market Hall on Friday, March 31st at 8 p.m.

The band features John Jamieson (musical director/keyboards), Jerry Dean Goldstein (drums), David Forbes (lead vocals and acoustic guitar), Gerry Strother (lead guitar), Chris “Fish” Bishoop (bass guitar), Kevin Cato (sax/keyboards), Cyndi Richards and Amanda Rose (background vocals), and Josh Gordon (guitars).

VIDEO: “Old Time Rock and Roll” – Against The Wind

VIDEO: “Hollywood Nights” – Against The Wind

You can expect to hear all of Seger’s hits, including “Like a Rock”, “We’ve Got Tonight”, “Against The Wind”, “Hollywood Nights”, “Night Moves”, “Still The Same”, “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man”, “Beautiful Loser”, “Katmandu”, “Turn The Page”, and, of course, “Old Time Rock and Roll” — the 1978 tune that became famous when Tom Cruise lip-synched to it in his underwear in the 1983 film Risky Business.

General admission tickets are $25 plus fees, available from the box office at Market Hall (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough), by phone at 705-749-1146 or online at www.markethall.org. Tickets are also available (cash only) at Moondance (425 George St., Peterborough, 705-742-9425).

Market Hall presents Jethro Tull’s Martin Barre Band on April 11 at 8 p.m.

While you may not know Martin Barre by name or face, if you’re a fan of the music of classic British rock band Jethro Tull, you are most familiar with his talent.

The guitarist joined Jethro Tull for its second album Stand Up in 1969 and, with Ian Anderson, anchored the band’s progressive sound over the next 45 years. But it was Barre’s contribution to the album Aqualung — his work on the title track has been voted among the top rock guitar solos of all time by a number of music industry magazines — that he remains best known for.

Barre also played flute and mandolin with Jethro Tull, again adding to the band’s trademark sound that brought it a Grammy Award and album sales of more than 60 million.

VIDEO: “Song for Jeffrey ” – The Martin Barre band

If he wasn’t busy enough, Barre launched a solo career in the early 1990s and subsequently recorded four albums, the latest being 2015’s Back To Steel.

Market Hall Performing Arts Centre presents Barre April 11 at 8 p.m. as part of as extensive tour of Canada and the United States. Joining him will be singer Dan Crisp, drummer George Lindsay and bassist Alan Thomson. Expect a healthy dose of signature Jethro Tull songs as well as performances of Barre’s solo work.

Tickets are $35 and are available from the box office at Market Hall (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough), by phone at 705-749-1146 or online at www.markethall.org. Tickets for Row C and Tables 8 and 18 are also available (cash only) at Moondance (425 George St., Peterborough, 705-742-9425). Cabaret-style table seating is available for $30 while VIP table seats cost $75 and include a meet-and-greet with Barre, complimentary refreshments, and a signed poster.

Market Hall presents Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer on April 14 at 8 p.m.

After meeting by chance at a jingle recording session in 2006, Shawn Hall and Matthew Rogers discovered they had a mutual love for folk and blues music. That led to their forming a duo, Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer, and a wide acclaim for their live shows.

Singing and playing guitar, harmonica and foot percussion, the duo has recorded four studio albums and been a major player on the festival circuit across Canada. The music industry has sat up and taken notice as well, evidence of that including a Juno Award nomination for their 2014 album, A Real Fine Mess, as well as a Sirius XM nod in 2013 for Blues Artist of the Year.

VIDEO: “Don’t Make ‘Em Like They Used To” – The Harpoonist & the Axe Murderer

Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer will be performing at the Market Hall at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 14th. General admission tickets are $25 ($20 for students) and are available from the box office at Market Hall (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough), by phone at 705-749-1146 or online at www.markethall.org. Tickets are also available (cash only) at Moondance (425 George St., Peterborough, 705-742-9425). Cabaret-style table assigned seating is available for $30.

Jackson Delta: Slight Return on April 15 at 8 p.m.

If you had to name one legendary Peterborough band, there’s little doubt Jackson Delta would come to mind.

The musical trio of Rick Fines, Alan Black, and Gary Peeples first formed in the 1980s to create their own blend of rootsy acoustic blues. They toured extensively across North America and the U.K. in the ’80s, performing at every major folk, blues, and jazz festival. They provided back up for Colleen Peterson, Ann Rabson, Pinetop Perkins and many others. Among their albums, they recorded two Juno-nominated records: Acoustic Blues and I Was Just Thinking That.

VIDEO: Jackson Delta – Slight Return

VIDEO: “Sink or Swim” – Jackson Delta

The trio last reunited in October 2014 for “Jackson Delta – Revisited” at the Market Hall, and now they’re coming together again at the Market Hall for “Jackson Delta: Slight Return” on Saturday, April 15th at 8 p.m. Make sure you don’t miss this chance to hear “the best acoustic blues north of the Mason/Dixon Line.”

General admission tickets are $30 plus fees, and assigned cabaret-style table seats are available for $40 plus fees. You can purchase tickets from the box office at Market Hall (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough), by phone at 705-749-1146, or online at www.markethall.org. Tickets are also available (cash only) at Moondance (425 George St., Peterborough, 705-742-9425).

Sunday morning services with Peterborough City Church

When you think of the Market Hall, you probably imagine performing arts rather than religious services. But the latter is one of the more innovative uses of the venue this year, after the formation of Peterborough City Church a year ago this month.

Pastors Chad Trivett and Sasha Trivett hold services every Sunday morning at 10 a.m. at Market Hall as part of their non-denominational church.

Both Trivetts are ordained with the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies, a pentecostal Christian association. They met at Toronto’s Tyndale University College and Seminary and eventually married. Just after getting married, they moved to Tokyo in Japan, where they started an international, interdenominational church.

In 2007, after spending six years in Tokyo (where their son Ari was born), they moved back to Sasha’s hometown in Peterborough to be closer to family, and decided to form another interdenominational church. Peterborough City Church was born.

But the Trivetts needed a location to hold their weekly services, and realized the Market Hall would be an ideal space. There’s also a connection between the church and the performing arts: Chad is in a band that performs contemporary music at the church.

Peterborough City Church offers “inspirational messages and music in an educational and engaging atmosphere where each can worship, pray and learn at their own pace.” For a calendar of Sunday services at the Market Hall, including topics and special speakers, visit www.ptbocitychurch.com.

With files from Paul Rellinger.

Just a month ago the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra (PSO) wowed its audience at Showplace Performance Centre with a sold-out 50th anniversary gala concert featuring acclaimed local and international guest artists, a legendary violin and the world premiere of new music.

The excitement surrounding the organization’s 2016/17 concert season continues this month as the orchestra prepares to present A Life’s Work, sponsored by Bryston. On Saturday, March 25th, PSO audience members will again be treated to a world-class performance featuring an internationally revered soloist.

The incomparable Janina Fialkowska, “one of the Grandes Dames of piano playing” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, July 1, 2015), will join the PSO on stage at Showplace for the fourth concert in the PSO’s 50th anniversary season celebrating “the journey”. A Life’s Work will honour the personal journey of musical artists with Janina’s appearance in Peterborough as part of her 65th birthday tour, itself a celebration of the talent and skill developed through years of dedication to her craft.

Born in 1951 in Montreal to a Polish father and a Canadian mother, Janina spent the first year of her life in Peterborough. Her parents had settled in the city in 1947 after meeting in Scotland during the war. Janina’s father worked as an electrical engineer at General Electric, but when her grandfather passed away in 1952, the family returned to Montreal so her father could take over the estate.

At four years of age Janina began piano studies at home with her mother. She later studied in Montreal with Yvonne Hubert, then in Paris with Yvonne Lefébure, and in New York with Sascha Gorodnitzki at Juilliard.

In 1974, Janina’s professional piano career launched when she won Polish piano great Arthur Rubinstein’s inaugural Master Piano Competition. Himself a master of Frederic Chopin’s music, Arthur called Janina a “born Chopin interpreter” and became her mentor. Now known as “Canada’s first lady of Chopin” (Classical.net, 2012), Janina explains her lifelong identification with the composer, influenced by an upbringing where her Polish heritage was celebrated:

“There was an emphasis that one should not forget where one came from. We always celebrated Polish Christmas, things like that… I am pre-disposed to like [Chopin] because I have a Polish father. If you have a smidge of Polish blood in you, you would be excommunicated if you don’t love Chopin. He does use a tremendous amount of Polish rhythms in mazurkas and polonaises. I believe that I do have this in me. I’ve never had a problem trying to find the inflections there. They come naturally to me.” (Ottawa Citizen, July 27, 2016)

The PSO’s Maestro Michael Newnham also feels uniquely connected to Poland. He lived there in his twenties while completing his Master’s degree in conducting at the Chopin Academy of Music, then began his professional conducting career at the Warsaw Chamber Opera. Michael is a recipient of the “Order of Merit” from the Republic of Poland and was recently granted the Turzanski Award for his services promoting Polish music and culture in Canada.

Piano was Michael’s first instrument, and he has had a lifelong fascination with the piano world. He has always particularly loved performing the music of Chopin with great pianists. But it wasn’t until he lived in Poland that Michael truly understood how symbolic the composer’s music is for the country’s citizens. Echoing Janina’s account of Chopin’s characteristic Polish folk music beats, Michael describes his rhythms as “an example of music that truly represents a specific nation.”

When Michael moved to Peterborough 16 years ago to lead the PSO, he knew of Janina’s connection to the city from her childhood as well as through her brother, long-time CHEX Television personality Peter Fialkowski. Michael wondered then if the associations might someday lead to an opportunity to perform Chopin with Janina, “one of Canada’s finest gifts to the international piano world” (Ottawa Citizen, August 5, 2012), in Peterborough.

Last year, Michael’s hope to have Janina return to Peterborough began to take shape as a real plan when her husband Harry Oesterle contacted Michael ahead of the 65th Birthday Tour. Harry explained that the international tour would bring Janina to Canada where she wanted to perform in cities that she felt a connection to.

Janina’s return to Peterborough on March 25, when she will share her own Life’s Work, performing Chopin’s Piano Concerto no. 1 accompanied by the PSO under the baton of Maestro Newnham, will be a beautiful nod to the personal journeys of musicians everywhere.

VIDEO: An interview with Janina Fialkowska

The performance will be a thrill not only for the community and conductor, but for the orchestra’s musicians. Michael explains that Piano Concerto no. 1 is one of the most demanding concerti for orchestras to play with a soloist.

“It’s treacherous because of the rhythms characteristic of this type of music,” he says, referencing rubato tempo, another musical quality Chopin is known for. This free speeding up and slowing down of the music’s tempo by the soloist expresses the feeling and sound of going backward and forward, and is a challenge for accompanists to match. The Concerto’s performance will be a rewarding experience for everyone involved.

In addition to Chopin’s Piano Concerto no. 1, Ludwig van Beethoven’s powerful Egmont Overture and Franz Schubert’s lyrically graceful Symphony no. 4, “Tragic”, will be performed at A Life’s Work. The latter is a special favourite of Michael who first conducted it as a student in Poland almost 25 years ago. This concert marks his first time presenting it with the PSO.

Concert tickets for A Life’s Work are available now from the Showplace box office by phone (705-742-7469), online (www.showplace.org) or in person at 290 George Street North. Adult tickets are $48.50, $38.50, or $20, and student tickets are $10. Ticket buyers are also invited to attend “Meet the Maestro”, a free pre-concert chat with Maestro Newnham in the Showplace theatre at 6:40 p.m.