Playgoers of Lethbridge is making an ambitious departure from the usual for their Spring production.
 While  cast and crew are busy getting their October  22-26 dinner theatre of the dark comedy of Exit Laughing, Playgoers of Lethbridge are also preparing for an ambitious Spring production of Sean Devine’s “Daisy,”  and possibly longer, which will take place in the Sterndale Bennett Theatre, Feb. 19-22.

 But auditions for Daisy are in the casa community room, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.
Director Rita Peterson is excited to put on the play, which explores media and advertising’s role in the 1964 Johnson/ Goldwater election, particularly the role the controversial “ Daisy” ad played in the election and on public perception.

“ I read the play and something just resonated for me. It’s so timely with the American election coming up,” enthused Peterson.
“This is the most excited I’ve been about a play in quite a while,” she said.

 In addition to exploring the world of advertising in the 1960s, it explores issues of racism and women in the workplace. "Daisy" is an exciting new play that "launched the age of negative advertising and forever changed how we elect our leaders."  Serious, but not without humour, this is a timely play that will resonate with any eligible voter.

 The cast requires six men and one women ideally in their 40s or 50s, though adjustments can be made for a younger cast.
One important character, lawyer and White House liaison Clifford Lewis needs to be a person of colour.
“So we’ve reached out to Josh Williams who was in ‘Where‘s Oscar,” Peterson said.

The Allied Arts Council kicks off the sixteenth annual Arts Days celebration with Word On The Street, Saturday, Sept. 21.
 ArtsDays  continues with a variety of  events happening the following week.

“We’re sponsoring a tent this year,” said Allied Arts Council communications manager Kelaine Devine, adding it won’t be the music tent, which begins at 11:30 a.m. with Calgary blues rock band the Eric Braun Band followed by local country musician Tyra Whitson, more blues with the Steve Keenan Band at 1:35, local folk/ blues band In Cahoots, Willy Big Bull and winding up with Fred Penner at 4 p.m.

“We’re sponsoring the cartoon and comic stage with Eric Dyck and Carson Morton,” Devine continued.
 Word On The Street features a variety of authors writing teen fiction, non-fiction like cook books,  science fiction, Canadian authors and much more.

 “But the next day, I’m really looking forward to  Mimosas, Muffins and and  Movies in Casa. We’ll be showing the Double Take: The Art of Elizabeth King. You’ll really enjoy it if you like stop motion animation,” Devine continued. It begins at 10 a.m.. There will be coffee , food and mimosas for $5. Admission is by donation.

The ArtWalk quilt show begins at City Hall on Monday, which also features Dawn Leite’s walking theatre tour of downtown Lethbridge.
“It’s hard to believe there used to be 30 theatres in Lethbridge,” Devine said.
 there are plenty of exhibitions opening throughout the week at the Trianon, Mortar and Brick and the SAAG. The seven new exhibits at casa continue for ArtsDays as well. You can see them all during th Gallery Stroll, Sept. 29.

There are a couple of changes this year.
“ We’ve moved  the SOAR Emerging Artist Cabarets from May to September because we found most of the students  had left in May,” Devine  observed, noting they will be at Casa on Sept. 25 and 26 featuring  works by Ashley Thomson, Austin Culler, David Gabert, Garrett Mallory Scott, Integra Contemporary and Electro Acoustics (ICE). There will also be performances by Megan Wittig, Marigold, Michael Bartz, Sydney Murdoch and Zach Pollis. There will be a different lineup both nights. The cabarets run from 7-9 p.m.

Arts Days kicks off  this week with the Word On the Street Festival, Sept. 21. The annual celebration of all things reading and writing features  a lot of authors, First Nations  history, fun for the family, poetry, comics and more.
 It also features an excellent line-up of music performing throughout the day.

Fred  Penner , known for his big hit “the Cat Came Back,” finishes off an excellent afternoon of music beginning at 11 a.m. with Calgary blues band the Eric Braun Band.
 Local country musician Tyra Whitson follows them. There will be more blues with the Steve Keenan Band at 1:35. Then local folk/ roots/ blues band In Cahoots take the stage. Willy Big Bull will tell stories and sing songs inspired by the Blackfoot people. And Fred Penner will entertain kids and adults alike at  4 p.m. Admission is free to attend the vent, outside the Lethbridge Public library.

 But that isn’t all.
 The week starts with laughs as a Tina Randell’s “Oh Me Nerves’” Newfoundland comedy show rolls into town at the Lethbridge Legion, Sept. 18. The show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30.
And Kingston’s Tom Savage returns to Lethbridge in support of his new solos CD “Great Beyond.”

 The Slice continues to rock the rest of the week.
 Instead of their usual open mic on Thursday, The Slice has a big rock show, Sept. 19. Kelowna based rock band The Carbons , fresh off recording their new CD with the Trews, play the Slice with Regina based blues rockers Dead Levee and new local alternative rock band the Cayley.