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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Friday, January 3, 2014 | 12 Artscene by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver "Connected to your Community" Oakville Chinese Network ringing in New Year with musical The Oakville Chinese Network (OCN) will ring in 2014 with a musical. The performance, titled I Wish, plays Saturday, Jan. 11 at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts and features performers from the Sixteen Mile Creek Musical Mission, a group affiliated with OCN. Founded in September 2012, OCN is a not-for-profit organization serving the Chinese communities in Oakville and Halton. It encourages Chinese-speaking residents to get involved locally in social activities and cultural traditions. The organization recently held a press conference at the Oakville Chinese Evangelical Missionary Church to announce its upcoming show. "Our goals are to be the voice of the local Chinese community, to promote Chinese traditional culture and to participate in various multicultural and social activities," said Rena Lu, OCN president. Lu said the inaugural performance is an excellent opportunity for people to learn about Chinese culture. One of the network's goals is to "build a common platform for the Chinese community in Oakville to get to know and help each other." "Even though the Chinese immigrate to Canada, we still keep the tradition of watching some traditional Chinese shows. This coming show is the first high-quality and formal show not only for the Oakville Chinese community, but also for the neighbourhood," said Lu. "The show will be one of the milestones in the development of the Oakville Chinese Network." Li Chen, one of the musical's directors, said the title means "I wish to live in Oakville forever." I Wish consists of four scenes depicting the story of Oakville's Chinese community. Chen said 95 per cent of the performance is based on "things that really happened." "It tells the stories of when they came, why they settled here, what difficulties they had, how much they love it here and what they expected," said Chen. He noted the opening scene shows Chinese immigrants arriving in Canada. They Oakville Chinese Network president Rena Lu, at left, and musical director Li Chen will be putting on the Network's I Wish musical to ring in the Chinese New Year at the Oakville Centre for Performing Arts Jan. 11. | photo by Riziero Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or www. facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) LARGEST COLLECTION EVERYTHING ON SALE! initially settled in Toronto for its transportation services. "When people chose Oakville, they found a job at Ford Canada or somewhere else around here. They had to move because there's nothing (in Toronto). It's not convenient," said Chen. "However, the parents didn't like it because no one spoke Chinese here." A total of 250-300 people are involved in the production, which has been in the works since April 2013, Chen said. The performance will include a variety of musical and dance numbers. In the past, the OCN has hosted events such as the 2013 New Year Gathering, MidAutumn Night and Walking Trails Club. While the performance of I Wish will be for one night only, Chen noted the OCN plans on hosting a New Year show annually. "Every year, we will have a Chinese New Year celebration show, but the format may change. This is the first year for us, which is special. So, that's why we're using music to tell our story. Next year, we will do something else." I Wish is at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, 130 Navy St. Curtain time is 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $25. For tickets, call 905-815-2021 or visit www.oakvillecentre.ca. For more information on the Oakville Chinese Network, visit www. oakvillechinesenetwork.ca. Jazz radio show in concert tomorrow Glen Woodcock and The Big Bands will be bringing a stage version of its radio show to the Oakville Centre for Performing Arts tomorrow (Saturday, Jan. 4). For more than 37 years, the jazz radio show has been a weekend tradition in the GTA. The concert starts at 3 p.m. Glen Woodcock and The Big Bands concert version has played in Port Hope, Ont., Mississauga and Lindsay, Ont. Woodcock provides the commentary and the Swing Shift Big Band supplies the music. "When I was asked to put together this show I knew I wanted the Swing Shift Big Band working with me," Woodcock said in a news release. "Leader Jim John has put together a talented group of 17 musicians and has two exceptional vocalists in David Statham and Larisa Renee." The show is a brief tour through the many various sounds and styles of the big bands, from the 1930s to the present day. The audience will be treated to selections made famous by Glenn Miller, Stan Kenton and Count Basie, as well as Canadian bands such as Mart Kenney, Ellis McLintock and Jack Kane. For ticket information or to purchase, visit the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts box office, 130 Navy St., go online to www. OakvilleCentre.ca or call 905-815-2021. Following the concert, Woodcock will participate in the theatre's After Show Artist Chat at Paradiso restaurant, 125 Lakeshore Rd. E. FAMOUS EUROPEAN BRAND NAMES ALL UNDER ONE ROOF INGEBORG'S WAREHOUSE Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 to 5 Sat. 10-5 Sun. 11 to 4 Winter Bridge Lessons LOOK FOR US ON Mississauga-Oakville Bridge Centre For Beginners...8 weeks, $195.00 For "Rusty" Players...8 weeks, $195.00 Wednesday afternoons 1:30, beginning Jan. 22nd Monday mornings 9:30, beginning Jan. 27th Wednesday evenings 7:15, beginning Jan. 22nd Monday evenings 7:15, beginning Jan. 27th Bridge Games For Newer Players... 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