You've seen and heard him sing "O Canada," and now White Rock-based singer Mark Donnelly has taken a lead role in a production of The Mikado, May 9-19 at Coast Capital Playhouse.

"Mark did some shows with us years ago, and his daughter Colleen has also," Dann Wilhelm, president of FVGSS, told me.

"Now his son Sean (who played the Beast in our panto, Beauty and the Beast, earlier this season) is playing the lead tenor, Nanki-Poo, in our upcoming production of The Mikado. We were struggling to find a suitable actor to play the part of Nanki-Poo's father, the Mikado. So Mark offered his services, saying it would be nice for father and son to play father and son stage as well. It's been a lot of fun, so far!"

Question: What if the Canucks are still playing for Lord Stanley's mug in mid-May (I hope)? A potential time conflict for Mr. Donnelly's services? Just wondering.

Meanwhile, the society is staging a "Musicals, Operas & Movies, Oh My!" fundraiser Saturday, March 31 at St.

Cuthbert's church in North Delta. The evening of music will involve nine performers doing songs from some famous musicals and movies, including Rent, Fiddler on the Roof, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, West Side Story and more. Show time is 7: 30 p.m. at 11601 82nd Ave., tickets $15/10 at the door.

CITY JAM STARTS FRIDAY

This year's City Jam event kicks off Friday, March 30 at Fleetwood Community Centre, a stage for preteen and teen performers.

Bands and solo acts compete for prizes in the yearly series, which continues Saturday, March 31 and April 14 at the community centre before moving to Surrey Arts Centre for the finals, on May 4. All performers are between age 10 and 18.

Eleven bands will compete for the City Jam title Friday during the first round of competition. Saturday, a dozen soloists/ instrumentalists are in that category. It's a 6 p.m. start nightly. Tickets are $4 at the door, or $2 in advance.

New to City Jam for 2012 is a visual arts category. For details, see the links at www. surrey.ca/youth.

THE JOINT SHOULD BE JUMPIN'

The dance floor at Crescent Beach Legion hall should be jumpin' Saturday night (March 31).

A band will be playing the Second World War-era jump blues, swing and early rock 'n' roll music, originally done by the likes of Big Joe Turner, Roy Brown, Wynonie Harris, Howlin' Wolf and Little Walter.

Advance tickets are $15 for the gig, which includes players Chris Noel (bass and vocals), Wailin' Al Walker (guitar, vocals), Gord Bertram (baritone sax), Jerry Cook (tenor sax), Tom Gould (tenor/alto sax), Norm Quinn (trumpet) and Mark Ibarra (drums). Shell out $20 if you show up at the door of the venue, 2643 128th St., South Surrey.

'SONGS ON THE SPOT' AT SAC

Ever wanted to create "Songs on the Spot?" A free introductory session for the music class at Surrey Arts Centre happens Monday, April 2, from 7 to 9: 15 p.m.

The song-creation sessions are led by Alan Marriott, a stage and voice-over performer with a speciality in improv.

Under his guidance, "Songs on the Spot" participants will create "instant songs, spontaneous solos, three-part harmony and backup vocals" during the class, which runs from April 16 to May 14 ($83 for the fiveweek course). Call 604-501-5100 to register.

KISS VIP DEAL FOR $1,250

No word yet about a Vancouver date for the KISS/Motley Crue summer tour announced last week, but get this: The date at Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto includes a "Meet & Greet - Soundcheck" package that sells for $1,250 per ticket.

The package deal includes one reserved ticket somewhere in the first eight rows of the concert, a meet-and-greet session with KISS, a photograph with the band, autographs (two-item limit, with a "noinstruments" policy), access to the pre-show soundcheck, one T-shirt, a gold-plated KISS ring, a set of official KISS guitar picks in a custom case, commemorative VIP ticket and laminate, the services of one on-site VIP host and (I love this) "crowd-free merchandise shopping."

'OZ' IT UP WITH VSO

Fans of The Wizard of Oz might want to follow the Yellow Brick Road to Vancouver's Orpheum Theatre on Monday, April 2.

A Vancouver Symphony Orchestra show involves live music played in time with the classic movie, projected on a big screen.

The movie was made in 1939 -12 years after the Orpheum was built.

Come in costume to the 8 p.m. performance, says the VSO. "Dress as a flying monkey, Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Wicked Witch of the West, or whatever your favourite character might be. Great costumes take away great VSO ticket prizes." For event info, call 604-876-3434.

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