From Billy Bishop to Hel, the Destination Rosseau Has it All

ROSSEAU, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - July 2, 2014) -

Editors Note: There is a photo associated with this Press Release.

Although it only lasted a few seasons before going bankrupt, following their heroic effort in WWI, Billy Bishop and fellow Canadian ace Bill Barker started one of Canada's first commercial airlines flying his in-laws, the Eatons, and friends to their Muskoka retreats on Lake Rosseau. This summer, to commemorate being one of Canada's first commercial flight destinations, the Village of Rosseau celebrates with "Destination Rosseau", an integrated arts festival of live theatre, art, music and film.

Rosseau resident, television and stage writer/producer Vince Grittani, conceived the concept after he founded the Rosseau Culture and Arts Project (RCAP), a non-profit organization aimed at making the seasonal village a sustainable arts destination. Grittani, whose professional career spans from writing and directing the 80's Toronto hit "Yuppies! The Musical" to creating his internationally distributed lifestyle television series "The Weekend Guy", is bringing together friends and colleagues from a variety of media to assist with the inaugural festival. From former talk show host Dini Petty to professional artist Grace Short (sister-in-law to Rosseau cottager Martin), comedian Derek Seguin to jazz musician Jim Gelcer, Destination Rosseau is providing an ambitious fare of activity beginning July 1 through Sept 20.

Throughout the summer, RCAP's own gallery presents "Brave Art", three unique shows featuring, in addition to Ms. Short's work, new paintings by Stefan Galvanek, Barb TenEycke and Carolyn Megill. In the Rosseau Playhouse, The Muskoka Theatre Project presents Grittani's new play "The Audit", (a comedy about Revenue Canada's efforts to understand a dentists who gives up his practice to become a standup comic) followed by the award winning one-woman "Quiet! I'm Talking", starring Patricia Vanstone as the larger than life, wealthy American cottager Bunny Bevington-Smythe. Direct from "Just For Laughs", comedian Derek Seguin and friends entertains for one night only. Jazz musician Jim Gelcer, along with some of the country's top musicians performs at "Get Jazzed". For three days at the end of August, Destination Rosseau hosts the Muskoka Independent Film Festival. From over fifteen hundred entries, in three venues, MIFF is presenting films, discussions and lectures by emerging and accomplished filmmakers. Part of the film fest includes "From Eye of the Needle to Eye of the Camera", a costume exhibit presented by Kelly-Francis Costumes in Toronto with an additional feature, an exact replica of Hel, the original "fembot" from the classic 1920's movie "Metropolis".

For a complete list of dates and times, including great activities for kids, visit www.destinationrosseau.com.

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