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BBA fans can take a A;hance on a musical roduction dedicated to the 1970s band, this Satâ€" urday at the Centre in the ABBAMANIA: The Rock Musical, the world‘s largest tribute to the 1970s band who brought songs like Dancing Queen to dance halls all over the world, is sure to take audience memâ€" bers back in time, and send them off humming memoâ€" rable tunes like Money, Money, Money, and Mamma ‘ABBAMANIA runs wild at Centre in the Square The best part of the show may be that the performers look and sound much like the original foursome, according to producer Garry Lichach. "You close your eyes and they sound so close to the original band." _ Lichach put ABBAMANIA together four years ago, after watching a documentary on the musical Mamma Mia in London, England. "Sure, they‘re not the real performers, but they‘re the next best thing," he said. _ "Mamma Mia‘s a great show, but it‘s not ABBA," he said. "It doesn‘t look like ABBA or sound like ABBA. "The idea occurred to me that if someone put together an ABBA show the way it should be, it could be someâ€" thing that really takes off. "When I heard Mamma Mia was coming to Toronto, 1 thought ‘Perfect."" A veteran in the music industry and the brains By Anprea BauLey Chronicle Staff Gees and Neil Diamond. "There was such hype over the Bee Gees a few years ago, and 1 knew a guy that looked like Barry Gibb (of the Bee Gees)," Lichach said. ARTS FOCUS "People want to see these shows because they know they‘ll likely never see the (original) bands again. ABBA and the Bee Gees are no Volkswagen Waterloo 550 Weber St. North, Waterloo 884â€"7470 service@vwwaterlo0.com Continued on page 17 Volkswagens Love Qrivers wonted.~ G‘ Real Volkswagen Parts N f HRONMCL _ _ Oil Change ; 4â€"Cylinder Gas Engine® paspldeey Musical, featuring tributes to ABBA, The Bee Gees and Neil Diamond, will perform ffrainanow ol at 8 p.m. Saturday at The Centre in the Square U xpres f on "S ne o (Shres man the MON MAR 1 â€" 8rm 29 +34 +3J .sm... mmuma The Waterloo Community Arts Centre will host the improvisational jazz group The Ebony Tower Quintet, with guest vocalist Margaret Sweatman, Friday at 8 _ The Ebony Tower Quintet performs jazz standards as an art form. The hallmark of the group, led by acclaimed Canadian composer Glen Buhr, is its Sugscmer®‘s Caorrr Cenrer Sran Meninens savr $5 Grour or 20+ save 10% unique, often quirky arrangements and also its studâ€" ied approach to improvisation. The group is a veritable who‘s who of local talent, featuring Glen Buht, professor of composition and improvisation from WLU, on pianc; Kâ€"W Symphony‘s Larry Larson on trumpet; David Wiffen, WLU teacher and soloist on saxophone; noted musician Paul Camâ€" rass on bass ;and Brandon Vivaldia, principle percusâ€" sionist with "Improvisation Concerts Ensemble" from WLU, on drums. Also performing is vocalist Margaret Sweatman, novelist, playwright, singer and artistic director of the Broken Songs Cabaret Ensemble. Tickâ€" ets can be purchased in advance at the arts centre and at Words Worth Books for $12, or at the door for $15. The Waterloo Community Arts Centre presents three new workshops this month. s This Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Sheila MacDonaldâ€"Roberts will teach a class in Encaustic Painting Techniques. Participants learn how to incorâ€" porate melted wax into paintings to give them a new and interesting look. This is an introductory class suitâ€" able for all levels of experience. The course fee is $30 for WCAC members and $45 for WCAC‘s future memâ€" On Feb. 11 from 1â€"4 p.m., Portraits in Acrylic and Oil will be taught by noted artist Podi Lawrence. The lesson will include a oneâ€"hour demonstration and lesâ€" son on portrait painting followed by practice time in acrylic or oils for participants. The fee is $20 for WCAC members and $30 for WCAC‘s future members. And on Feb. 18 from 1â€" 4 p.m., David Antscherl will teach Composing Interesting Still Life. â€" instruction in composition, light, shade and reflections. Bring a sketchbaok, pencils and a basic watercolour kit. The fee is $20 for WCAC members and $30 for WCAC‘s future members. WCAC holds February workshops Quintet jazzes up Waterloo arts centre ten | 0 tenors wavw centre square comitentenars him