Here’s HELEN MUSA’s weekly “Arts in the City” column.

“FRIENDS! The Musical Parody” national tour will relive favourite moments on stage from the smash hit TV show as Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey and Phoebe navigate life and friendship though song and dance. The Playhouse, July 13-15.

SINGER/songwriter, Melinda Schneider, presents “Love Songs”, billed as an “emotional, intimate and soulful” concert production featuring her Golden Guitar-winning hits plus love songs spanning her 40 years in entertainment. The Street Theatre, July 16.

CANBERRA’S Kim Yang joins rock legend Steve Kilbey to perform her original songs. Kilbey will share stories and perform music from The Church albums “Heyday” and “Starfish”. Belco Arts, July 15. 

“THE Exploration of Space” is a series of oil and watercolour paintings by Paul Martin based on research and exploration endeavours, both current and historic. Rusten House Art Centre, Queanbeyan, until July 23.

ELISE Walsh’s jazz band, Bella Groove, will be back at Smith’s Alternative, Civic, at 4pm, July 17, with five of her new songs, arranged with pianist John Black, who will also perform with the band.

PIANIST Andrew Rumsey has  partnered with Sally Greenaway on an  arrangement of  her work, “Dawn of Evening” for cello and Veeh-Harp, to be premiered with David Pereira on cello. They’ll also perform works by  Canberrans Kim Cunio, Matthew Hindson, Kenneth Lampl, Leanne Bear, as well as Greenaway and Pereira themselves. Wesley Music Centre, July 16.

CANBERRA was well-represented at the recent NIDA (National Institute of Dramatic Art) graduation, where Phoenix Mac won the $10,000 Leslie Walford Award, Bethany Hewitt took out a BFA in costume, Sophie Benassi an MFA and Jesse Donaldson-Jarrett a diploma in musical theatre.