Another week of “Arts in the City” with arts editor HELEN MUSA.

ONE of Canberra’s musical treasures, singer, actress and piano player Leisa Keen has been commissioned by Jordan Best at The Q to present “Olivia: I Honestly Love You”, a celebration of the musical journey of Olivia Newton-John. The “B”, Bicentennial Hal, 7.30pm, October 28, with a “Morning Melodies” version at 11am. 

QUITE a coup for Ylaria Rogers’ company HeartStrings Theatre Co, which has stitched up a deal with Sydney’s tiny Hayes Theatre for a January staging of its production, “Urinetown”, seen here at the Courtyard Studio in July, with the Canberra cast and new musical director Matthew Reid, who replaces the busy Leisa Keen.

“TO Barbra, With Love: an 80th Birthday Celebration”, a tribute to Barbra Streisand, will be at Canberra Theatre October 28-29, with Canberra Symphony Orchestra supporting featured singers Elise McCann, Ryan Gonzalez and Caroline O’Connor. 

CANBERRA conductor Leonard Weiss reports from NZ, where as assistant conductor in residence with Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra, he’s stepped in to conduct “The Princess Bride in Concert”. He’s also been booked to conduct their final two performances at the end of 2023. 

THE thirteenth annual “Come Alive Festival of Museum Theatre”, where young people make little plays based on the stories in our cultural institutions, will be held in the Liangis Theatrette, National Portrait Gallery, on October 28-29 and November 1, 2 and 5. 

“THE Wind in the Willows” is coming to ArtSound FM from October 23 as a new, nine-part series featuring Graham Robertson as Badger, Geoffrey Borny as Rat and Tony Turner as Toad. It’s a production by Papermoon Theatre Company, recorded by ArtSound and airs on Sundays at 4pm and reruns on Mondays at 10pm on ArtSound FM, 92.7FM (90.3FM in the Tuggeranong Valley). 

CANBERRA Mandolin Orchestra, the Monaro Folk Society and Dance Delights are holding an afternoon feast of social dance music and demonstrations titled “Settlers, Sheds and Ballrooms”. Folk Dance Hall, Hackett, 2pm, Sunday, October 30.

GREEK Fringe is presenting the raw sound of rebetika, music from the Greek underground in “Rebetiko Caravan”, led by Greek musical virtuoso Fotis Vergopoulos, with a line-up of local musicians. Smith’s Alternative, 7pm, October 28.