Arts & Entertainment – Winnipeg Free Press

What’s up: Grotoko, Philipp Schott, flower arranging, Dirty Dancing

4 minute read 6:00 AM CDT

GrotokoPark Alleys, 730 Osborne St.Saturday, 9:30 p.m.Tickets: $12One month after donning witch hats at Public Domain for their first gig as a full band, Grotoko — the former solo project of Winnipeg songwriter Blue McLeod — will keep on rolling at Park Alleys, a revitalized bowling alley that forms a veritable South Osborne venue trifecta along with the Park Theatre and Sidestage.

Known for its cynical, yet routinely optimistic lyrics — a necessary specialty for post-pandemic indie dirges — and McLeod’s clear-eyed, diaristic delivery, Grotoko is gearing up for its third album, a followup to 2022’s Periwinkle.

For those looking to get acquainted, Periwinkle sees McLeod’s lyrics floating atop jaunty baroque rock air, with the panflute and the glockenspiel joining as occasional passengers. Alongside Veronica Blackhawk’s project Tinge, Grotoko is one of the city’s top contemporary interpreters of the grunge era, with McLeod frequently decorating their tunes with Celtic mysticism. Grotoko is the main event on Saturday night, with midwest emo rockers On Purpose greeting audiences at 9:30 p.m. sharp.

— Ben Waldman

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Heather Morris returns to WWII with ‘The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse’ set in Nazi-occupied Paris

Hillel Italie, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Heather Morris returns to WWII with ‘The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse’ set in Nazi-occupied Paris

Hillel Italie, The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: 11:55 AM CDT

The next novel by the author of “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” will again take place during World War II, this time in Nazi-occupied Paris and based on the family of Grammy- and Emmy-nominated composer Kara Talve.

Heather Morris' “The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse” will be released Oct. 20, Blackstone Publishing announced Thursday. The novel centers on a Jewish girl, Josephine, whose family faces arrest by the Nazis, and on her piano instructor, Andrée, a member of the French Resistance who attempts to hide her.

“I am humbled to be re-imagining the lives of Andrée and Josephine: a powerful story of the courage, strength and resilience of ordinary people in extraordinary times,” Morris said in a statement.

“The Tattooist of Auschwitz,” her first book, was published in 2018 and sold millions of copies despite criticism from some scholars over the accuracy of its historical details. Through a 2024 television adaptation, Morris met Talve, who worked on the score along with Hans Zimmer. The character of Josephine is based on Talve's grandmother; the composer inherited her piano and used it for “The Tattooist of Auschwitz.”

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Updated: 11:55 AM CDT

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Royal Winnipeg Ballet featured in popular Heated Rivalry fan-fiction series

Eva Wasney 8 minute read Preview

Royal Winnipeg Ballet featured in popular Heated Rivalry fan-fiction series

Eva Wasney 8 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 5:04 PM CDT

A Heated Rivalry-Royal Winnipeg Ballet crossover was not on Christopher Stowell’s 2026 bingo card.

The ballet company’s new artistic director was surprised and delighted to learn about a piece of popular online fan fiction that sets the main characters of the gay hockey romance in Winnipeg during the RWB’s seasonal run of Nutcracker.

“We’re very flattered. I told the dancers as soon as I found out about it; they were like, ‘Are you kidding me? That’s hilarious and amazing,’” Stowell says. “It made the world feel very small that this exists, that there’s this sort of connection with something as globally popular as Heated Rivalry.”

Nutcracker! was written by fanfic author OpalApparition and posted to Archive of Our Own, an online fan-fiction platform commonly called AO3, in December.

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Updated: Yesterday at 5:04 PM CDT

RWB photo
Amanda Solheim and Marco Lo Presti as Clara and the Prince in RWB’s 2023 Nutcracker

Hailee Steinfeld says she and Bills quarterback Josh Allen have welcomed a baby girl

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Hailee Steinfeld says she and Bills quarterback Josh Allen have welcomed a baby girl

The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: 12:09 PM CDT

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and actor-singer Hailee Steinfeld are proud parents of a baby girl.

Steinfeld announced Thursday in her newsletter that their daughter has been born without sharing any further specifics on the date or the baby's name.

“We’re feeling incredibly grateful and blessed and savouring these early moments. Thank you so much for the love and well wishes,” Steinfeld wrote. “Love, Hailee and Josh.”

Steinfeld is coming off a year in which she earned acclaim for her role in the movie “Sinners." She married Allen last May and announced in the same newsletter in December that they were expecting their first child.

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Updated: 12:09 PM CDT

FILE - Josh Allen, of the Buffalo Bills, and Hailee Steinfeld appear at the NFL Honors award show ahead of the Super Bowl 59 football game in New Orleans on Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

Vic Rauter, the voice of TSN’s curling coverage, to retire after 53-year career

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Vic Rauter, the voice of TSN’s curling coverage, to retire after 53-year career

The Canadian Press 2 minute read Updated: 11:53 AM CDT

TORONTO - Vic Rauter, the voice of TSN's curling coverage for more than 40 years, is retiring after the men's world championship.

TSN announced Rauter's retirement Thursday in a release paying tribute to the popular broadcaster, known for his curling knowledge and his famous "Make the final..." call.

Rauter, who will turn 72 in May, said it's "the right time to step away" after 53 years on the air.

The Toronto native joined TSN in 1985, a year after the network launched, and called every edition of the Canadian men's and women's curling championships since 1986, except for 2006 when CBC had the rights.

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Updated: 11:53 AM CDT

Former curling great Russ Howard, left, Vic Rauter, right, and Olympic curling silver medallist Cheryl Bernard, the TSN team at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, call the action from the broadcast booth at Centre 200 in Sydney, N.S. on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

Peter Nygard files lawsuit, alleges authorities abused process with Manitoba charges

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Peter Nygard files lawsuit, alleges authorities abused process with Manitoba charges

Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 1:04 PM CDT

WINNIPEG - Sex offender Peter Nygard is suing the Manitoba and Saskatchewan governments, Winnipeg police and others, alleging charges he faced in one case were an abuse of process.

The former fashion mogul was charged in 2023 with sexually assaulting and unlawfully confining a woman in Winnipeg in 1993.

Those charges were stayed in October, after a judge ruled records of police interviews with the complainant in 1993 were destroyed without justifiable reasons, violating Nygard's Charter right to a fair trial.

Prosecutors had decided not to lay charges in 2020, but the Manitoba government later forwarded the investigation to Saskatchewan Justice for an independent review and Nygard was arrested.

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Yesterday at 1:04 PM CDT

Former fashion mogul Peter Nygard arrives at a courthouse in Toronto on Oct. 3, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston

Kids ate the multiplex: How family movies are taking over moviegoing, one blockbuster at a time

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Kids ate the multiplex: How family movies are taking over moviegoing, one blockbuster at a time

Jake Coyle, The Associated Press 5 minute read Updated: 11:54 AM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — As “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” lands in theaters, coloring stations, collectible popcorn containers and mascot Marios are all in place to entice arguably the most prized moviegoers to Hollywood today: kids.

By Sunday, Universal Pictures expects the five-day opening of the “Super Mario” sequel to reach $186 million domestically, and around $350 million worldwide. That would make it easily the biggest hit of the year, surpassing a pair of successes that also launched with young moviegoers in mind: Pixar’s “Hoppers” ($297 million worldwide) and Amazon MGM’s “Project Hail Mary” ($300.8 million).

It’s not the start of a new trend but the culmination of one. In 2024, PG-rated movies outgrossed any other rating for the first time in decades, with $3.18 billion in domestic ticket sales according to Comscore. Five of the top six movies worldwide were PG movies: “Inside Out 2,” “Moana 2,” “Despicable Me 4,” “Wicked” and “Mufasa: The Lion King.”

Last year was no different. PG-rated films amassed $2.96 billion, again besting the longtime leader, PG-13. The top draws globally were “Ne Zha 2,” “Zootopia 2,” “Lilo & Stitch,” “A Minecraft Movie” and the PG-13-rated but not exactly kid-adverse “Avatar: Fire and Ash.”

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Updated: 11:54 AM CDT

Charlie Day, from left, Jack Black, Donald Glover, Chris Pratt, Anya Taylor-Joy, Benny Safdie and Keegan Michael Key pose for photographers at the photo call for the film

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Dan Levy teams up with Canadian musician Peaches for score on Netflix’s ‘Big Mistakes’

Craig Macrae, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Preview

Dan Levy teams up with Canadian musician Peaches for score on Netflix’s ‘Big Mistakes’

Craig Macrae, The Canadian Press 5 minute read Updated: 12:33 PM CDT

TORONTO -

Dan Levy is ready to grab the attention of Netflix audiences with his first original scripted series since "Schitt's Creek" and he's combining his comedy prowess with the avant-garde sounds of Canadian electroclash musician Peaches for the score.

"There is a euphoria that comes when you're creating things and a piece of the puzzle comes in and just blows your expectations out of the water."

The heartbeat of the show is the music, with Levy's sonic story pulsating in sync with an anxiety-inducing rhythm.

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Updated: 12:33 PM CDT

Dan Levy is the star, as shown in this handout photo, executive producer and showrunner on his new Netflix series 'Big Mistakes' THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout-Netflix-Spencer Pazer
(Mandatory credit)

BJ Novak to host PEN America gala on May 14 at the American Museum of Natural History

Hillel Italie, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

BJ Novak to host PEN America gala on May 14 at the American Museum of Natural History

Hillel Italie, The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: 11:57 AM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Actor, filmmaker and author B.J. Novak will host next month's PEN America gala at the American Museum of Natural History.

Hundreds in the publishing community and beyond are expected to gather May 14 for the free expression organization's signature fundraising event. Novak is known for his role as Ryan Howard on “The Office” and for such bestsellers as “One More Thing: Stories and Other Stories” and “The Book with No Pictures.”

“His exceptional and wide-ranging artistry on screen, on the page, and in writing rooms makes him ideal to celebrate the written word and free expression at a moment when governments want to censor and deny both at alarming levels,” PEN America co-CEO Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf said in a statement released Thursday.

Honorees will include author-bookseller Ann Patchett and film producer Jason Blum.

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Updated: 11:57 AM CDT

FILE - B.J. Novak speaks at a ceremony honoring Mindy Kaling with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on Feb. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

A priceless ancient golden helmet stolen from a Dutch museum is recovered

Aleksandar Furtula And Molly Quell, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

A priceless ancient golden helmet stolen from a Dutch museum is recovered

Aleksandar Furtula And Molly Quell, The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: 10:48 AM CDT

ASSEN, Netherlands (AP) — A priceless ancient golden helmet from Romania stolen last year from a museum in the Netherlands has been recovered, Dutch authorities announced Thursday.

Under the guard of heavily armed, balaclava-clad police, prosecutors unveiled the 2,500-year-old Cotofenesti helmet, one of Romania’s most revered national treasures from the Dacia civilization, during a news conference in the eastern Dutch city of Assen.

“We are incredibly pleased,” Corien Fahner of the prosecution service told reporters. “It has been a roller-coaster. Especially for Romania, but also for employees of the Drents Museum.”

The helmet was on display at the small museum in January 2025, the last weekend of a six-month-long exhibition, when thieves broke in and grabbed it, along with three golden wristbands.

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Updated: 10:48 AM CDT

Police officers stand by a stolen artefact from Romania, the 2,500-year-old Cotofenesti helmet, recovered in Netherlands, is shown during a press conference in Assen, Netherlands, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Aleksandar Furtula)

‘Bob’s Burgers’ actor Eugene Mirman rescued from fiery crash by New Hampshire governor’s detail

The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

‘Bob’s Burgers’ actor Eugene Mirman rescued from fiery crash by New Hampshire governor’s detail

The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 6:15 PM CDT

BEDFORD, N.H. (AP) — “Bob's Burgers” voice actor and comedian Eugene Mirman suffered serious injuries after crashing his car into a toll plaza and being pulled from the fiery wreckage by a state trooper assigned to protect the governor of New Hampshire.

The crash happened just before noon Tuesday when a northbound electric vehicle struck the Bedford Toll Plaza and caught fire, New Hampshire State Police said. Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte and her security detail came upon the crash soon after, and a trooper and two others pulled Mirman from the burning car through a window, said State Police Col. Mark Hall. The governor, who left her vehicle and retrieved a fire extinguisher, was not in any danger, he said.

“Eugene was in a very scary car accident,” Mirman's agent Jay Glassner confirmed in a statement Wednesday. “He wants to thank the bystanders, state police, first responders and hospital staff who saved him. He is grateful to be on the mend. At this time, we kindly ask for privacy for Eugene and his family as he focuses on recovering from his injuries.”

Hall called the actions of the rescuers “heroic.”

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Yesterday at 6:15 PM CDT

Fact File: Clickbait pages spread false information about Tumbler Ridge survivor

Marissa Birnie, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Preview

Fact File: Clickbait pages spread false information about Tumbler Ridge survivor

Marissa Birnie, The Canadian Press 3 minute read Yesterday at 2:56 PM CDT

VANCOUVER - Multiple Facebook pages are claiming to share updates on the condition of a girl who survived a British Columbia school shooting in February, including that she is talking or has died. The posts are false, and come from Facebook "clickbait" pages that seek to divert users to external websites for the purpose of collecting advertising revenue.

THE CLAIM

The deadly school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., on Feb. 10 brought worldwide attention to the small town, its victims and survivors — some as young as 12.

The odds-defying survival of 12-year-old Maya Gebala, who suffered a gunshot wound to the head, is capturing attention on social media, with her parents providing frequent updates on Facebook about the girl's condition.

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Yesterday at 2:56 PM CDT

Maya Gebala is shown in this undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout - GoFundMe, Krysta Hunt for Cia Edmonds (Mandatory Credit)

It’s International Fact-Checking Day. Refresh your AI identification skills

Melissa Goldin And Barbara Whitaker, The Associated Press 4 minute read Preview

It’s International Fact-Checking Day. Refresh your AI identification skills

Melissa Goldin And Barbara Whitaker, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: 5:38 AM CDT

Artificial intelligence-generated content is everywhere these days, making it increasingly difficult to separate fact from fiction, particularly when it comes to breaking news.

Look no further than the Iran war. Since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28, researchers have identified an unprecedented number of false and misleading images that were generated using artificial intelligence and have reached countless people around the world. Among them, fake footage of bombings that never happened, images of soldiers who were supposedly captured and propaganda videos created by Iran that depict President Donald Trump and others as blocky, Lego-like miniatures.

Thursday, the 10th annual International Fact-Checking Day, provides a good opportunity to look at these evolving challenges.

Misinformation created with AI is being shared with unprecedented speed from an endless number of sources. From the outset of the Iran war, accounts from all sides of the conflict promoted such content.

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Updated: 5:38 AM CDT

FILE - In this image from video circulating on social media, protesters dance and cheer around a bonfire as they take to the streets of Tehran, Iran, on Jan. 9, 2026. (UGC via AP, File)

MLB revives ‘This Week in Baseball’ as a digital series

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MLB revives ‘This Week in Baseball’ as a digital series

The Associated Press 2 minute read Yesterday at 11:57 AM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball is bringing back “This Week in Baseball” by giving it a digital flair.

The iconic series will be revived on Major League Baseball's X account, as well as @XOriginals, every Friday at noon and will run through the postseason.

“This Week in Baseball” debuted in 1977 and was a weekly 30-minute program produced by MLB that highlighted the major events of the past week. The show was hosted by the late Hall of Fame announcer Mel Allen for many years. It ran until 1998 and saw a second stint from 2000-11.

The new-look “TWIB” will have episodes ranging from 5 to 10 minutes. It will be produced by MLB studios and include many segments from its predecessor, including highlights, bloopers, player profiles and “TWIB Notes." Kait Maniscalco will serve as the host.

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Yesterday at 11:57 AM CDT

Bruce Hornsby looks back with new album ‘Indigo Park’ that mixes simplicity and complexity

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press 5 minute read Preview

Bruce Hornsby looks back with new album ‘Indigo Park’ that mixes simplicity and complexity

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press 5 minute read 12:21 PM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Bruce Hornsby's new, reflective album starts off sweetly and melodically, a musician looking back at a fascinating life. Then it gets weird. That's by design.

“I’m going along very nicely and then I might just throw something at you,” the three-time Grammy Award-winner warns from his home in Williamsburg, Virginia. “I’m well aware that a whole lot of my old-time fans just hate that.”

“Indigo Park,” a 10-song set that arrives Friday, is a concept album of sorts as Hornsby mulls over his childhood and where he's come from. To borrow a line from one song, it's “one life in reflection.”

The album — which features appearances from Vampire Weekend's Ezra Koenig, Bonnie Raitt and Bob Weir, his late Grateful Dead bandmate — is a darkly comic collection that handles memories with soulfulness — and some quirks.

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12:21 PM CDT

FILE - Musician Bruce Hornsby performs at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

Max Thieriot is on fire. Meet the man behind TV hits ‘Fire Country’ and ‘Sheriff Country’

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Max Thieriot is on fire. Meet the man behind TV hits ‘Fire Country’ and ‘Sheriff Country’

Mark Kennedy, The Associated Press 6 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 11:47 AM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Max Thieriot is carving out a role as the King of Friday TV.

He's the star, co-creator and an executive producer of CBS and Paramount+'s “Fire Country” and a co-creator and executive producer of the spinoff freshman drama “Sheriff Country,” which both rule Friday nights as the No. 1 and No. 2 top-rated shows.

“It still feels a little surreal, for sure,” he says. “I didn’t feel like I was as smart as a lot of other writers, but the thing that I also realized early on is the biggest thing is you just need to connect with people. If you can move people, then you have them.”

“Fire Country” — the most watched freshman show of the 2022-23 season and now in its fourth season — and “Sheriff Country” are both set in the fictional California town of Edgewater, a rural community where everyone knows everyone else's business.

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Updated: Yesterday at 11:47 AM CDT

April 2, 2026

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