The Royal Tyrrell Museum will be host to the sixth annual Fossil Preparation and Collection symposium this year from April 20 to 22. 
    Palaeontologists from all over North America in the field of preparation and collections will travel to the museum to discuss and learn more about preparation, fieldwork, handling collections, and everything that goes along with it.
    “It’s a major learning and networking opportunity for people involved in technical aspects of palaeontology,” said the museum’s director of preparation and research, Don Brinkman.
    “There are always new developments, new technology, new materials and situations people have run in to that give them a chance to share how they’ve responded to those situations.”
    An icebreaker will take place on the evening of April 19 where renowned palaeontology artist, Julius Csotonyi, will have a signing for the book, Dinosaur Art: The World’s Greatest Paleoart.
    The symposium will feature two full days of presentations and workshops based on preparations and collections, as well as a field trip to Dinosaur Provincial Park on April 23.
    Opening sessions will start at 8:40 a.m. on Saturday, 8 a.m. on Sunday with a banquet in the evening starting at 5:30 p.m., and another 8 a.m. session on Monday.
    This is the first time the Museum has ever been host to such an event, and the first time the event has ever been held in Canada.
    “There’s a lot of awareness and interest in what’s going on here, and recognition that it’s a place people in the field can learn from,” said Brinkman.
    “We’re quite looking forward to it.”

    Budding thespians will have a chance to take the stage this summer.
    Kaleidoscope Theatre, Drumheller’s homegrown theatre troupe, is looking for volunteers to help in their upcoming production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic Oklahoma!
    Auditions will be held on April 21 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Kaleidoscope Theatre.
    “People will need to have a song prepared and will need to do a cold line read,” said Deanne Zariski with Kaleidoscope Theatre. “We need all sorts of people to audition, especially guys. We have parts for all ages.”
    Due to the larger scale of the production, in addition to people to be on stage, volunteers are needed backstage to help bring everything together.
    “We are definitely looking for people to work backstage doing larger roles, like stage manager, sound, and set construction. We need the actors of course, but the behind-the-scenes stuff is just as important,” said Zariski.

Kaleidoscope Theatre is getting ready for their first summer production since Hello Dolly (pictured here), five years ago. Auditions for Oklahoma! will be held on April 21, 4 to 7 p.m. and April 22, 7 to 9 p.m. Volunteers are also needed to fill a number of crucial backstage roles as well.

    The production will  be the first summer production for the theatre since they did Hello Dolly in 2008. The goal is to continue to have regular productions throughout the year.
    “We’re trying to do a season with two shows a year at least, have other events in between, and try to do a summer show every second year at least,” said Zariski.
    Oklahoma! tells the story of two cowboys in 1906 as they compete with a ranch hand and travelling peddler for the women they love.
    “It’s a great musical. There is a great ensemble, catchy songs, and it’s a classic. It’s good for all ages,” said Zariski.
    For more information and to volunteer contact Zariski at 403-820-9593.