Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/81685
22 CULTIVATE SOME CULTURE: Of course, you don't have to go outside to be taken on a journey — Manitoba's myriad arts organizations are just as capable of moving you. And this year's calendar is positively jam-packed with a full slate of surefire winners. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet's (www.rwb.org) upcoming season premieres a new work by Twyla Tharp, while the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre (www.mtc.mb.ca) hopes you'll "give a damn" about the world premiere of their Gone With the Wind adaptation. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (www.wso.ca) tunes up to present Beethoven's Ninth and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring, while the Winnipeg Art Gallery (wag.ca) marks its 100th anniversary by unveiling recent additions to its contemporary art collection (the largest in the world). Manitoba Opera's (www.manitobaopera. mb.ca) winter plans include a pair of Verdi masterpieces — Rigoletto in November, and Aida in April — while the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra (www.manitobachamberorchestra.org) marks its 40th season with works by Mozart and Béla Bartók. Also celebrating a 40th anniversary — The players at Prairie Theatre Exchange (pte.mb.ca), where the upcoming schedule includes searing political drama, noir-ish detective stories and recession-era comedy. And over at Manitoba Theatre for Young People (www.mtyp.ca), they've got a can't- miss season of crowd pleasers, including Where the Wild Things Are, The Cat in the Hat, and a new 70-minute adapt of all seven Harry Potter books. Of course, there's plenty of culture to be found outside the city limits, as well. The William Glesby Centre in Portage la Prairie (www.glesbycentre.com) has a genre-spanning winter series lined up, featuring everything from showtunes to pop-opera to breezy Latin rhythms, while Brandon's Western Manitoba Centennial Auditorium (www.wmca.ca) hosts A Christmas Carol, The Producers, and The Music of Johnny Cash. Or check out the stunning visual art on display at the Selkirk Community Art Centre (www.gwenfoxgallery.com), the Golden Prairie Arts Council (www.gparts.ca) in Carman, the Watson Art Centre in Dauphin (www.watsonartcentre.com, or the Portage & District Arts Centre (www.portageartscentre.ca) in Portage la Prairie. ROYAL WINNIPEG BALLET PHOTO: DAVID COOPER ROOT, ROOT, ROOT FOR THE HOME TEAM: Fall is the favourite time of year for football fans everywhere, and with the 2012 CFL season already underway, local supporters have plenty to get excited about. Cheer on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (www.bluebombers.com) as they vie for their first Grey Cup in decades — and be sure to pack the stands for the annual "Banjo Bowl" against archrivals the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Of course, no winter sports schedule would be complete without a mention of our returning hockey heroes — the Winnipeg Jets (jets.nhl.com), who'll be looking to make the most of their second season in the city following a 15-year absence. If last season is any indication, downtown Winnipeg's MTS Centre will again come alive with the raucous roars of diehard fans — fueled, no doubt, by the same passion that prompted them to buy out several years' worth of season tickets in a matter of mere minutes! Further west, you can also show support for the Brandon Wheat Kings (www.wheatkings.com) as they compete for the top spot in the WHL rankings. For a complete schedule, see our events section (pages 56-87). A C TIVITIES Catch the action! Gridiron Glory in Blue and Gold