A special appearance by local singing group The Three Divas will be one of the highlights of the Fourth Annual Richmond Theatre Critics Circle (RTCC) Awards – or “the Artsies” – which will also feature performances from several of the past year’s most celebrated musicals. Calling the event “A Night of Song and Celebration,” the RTCC will recognize excellence in locally-produced professional theatre during the 2010-2011 season at a black tie awards gala to be held at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 16, at the Empire Theatre.

“We’ve really boosted the entertainment value of this year’s event,” says David Timberline, a theatre critic for Style Weekly magazine and chair of the “Artsies” gala.

On Friday, April 8, Richmond Shakespeare will bring together more than 120 high school students from across the region to Richmond CenterStage, for the second annual Bardathon—a unique theater festival featuring the Bard’s work. This year’s event focuses on The Tempest. In addition to local participants, students from School 213 in St. Petersburg, Russia, will participate, with the help of technology.

In choosing to participate, nine different school groups selected one scene each from The Tempest to prepare. Students have been working for weeks to memorize lines and create their props and set pieces. They determined a setting for their scene which means that, in this Tempest, some of the action will take place not on a magical island, but in outer space or other imaginative times and places. 

Tour exotic locations, paddle the wildest waters and climb the highest peaks without leaving Chesterfield County. The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is returning to James River High School March 11 and 12 at 6:30 p.m., and features a different lineup of films from the 35th annual Banff Mountain Film Festival each night. Advance tickets are $5 per adult and $2 for ages 18 and under each night, or $8 per adult and $3 for ages 18 and under for both nights. Single-night tickets will be available at the door for $7 per adult and $4 for ages 18 and under.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit chesterfield.gov/parks or call 804-748-1623.