Quickies - Iration Ites

Imagine a fusion of cultural vibes, international acts and positive, conscious performers. That is exactly what Iration Ites (The Itesperience) is, being staged by The Uprising Roots Band and The Wicky Wacky Venue.

Promoter Darren Hamilton thought it best to invite bands that will bring a 'big festival feel to an intimate setting'. The festival's acts will include the likes of Winston McAnuff, Earl 'Chinna' Smith and Inna De Yard, Fredlocks, Prophecy, Vania, Earth Warrior, Field Marshal, Lee Tafari, The Uprising Roots, From The Deep, Unity Band and Lees Unlimited sound system.

The show will take place at Lot 14 Wicky Wacky Drive in Bull Bay, St Thomas, tomorrow. "It promises to be a night of thrilling, drum-beating, energetic, reggae vibrations," Hamilton says. Earlier this year, Hamilton himself lamented the small amount of live music shows and noted how integral a role these play in not just developing and exposing artistes, but alerting the country to its natural talents.

"It is very important that musicians and performers have a space to exercise their craft and where music lovers can get a chance to see music in its truest and purest form. It's absolutely fantastic that there are already people and places where this platform for our local music to shine and grow is provided, but live music needs more, and the people want more," he commented.

'Single Entry' for Pantry

A cast of some of Jamaica's exciting and fresh faces in theatre has been assembled by multi-talented, award-winning director Michael Holgate to perform in Aston Cooke's comedy Single Entry. The show, scheduled for opening on October 15, at 8:30 p.m., boasts a top-flight cast which includes Ashe performer Sharee McDonald Russell, Nyanda Cammock and Dennis Titus, along with youth actors Akeem Mignott and Jovan McPherson.

Following the gala performance at the Pantry Playhouse, Single Entry will play Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. with matinee performances on Sundays at 6 p.m. Patrons are advised to make reservation for tickets in advance by calling 960-9845 or to pick up tickets at the theatre, 2 Dumfries Road, New Kingston.

Gyllenhaal's life beginning at 30

Jake Gyllenhaal isn't worried about turning 30 because his life is just "beginning".

The actor reaches the milestone age on December 19 and he's confident his 30s will be better than his 20s because he is comfortable in his own skin. He said: "I'm not 30 yet, but I definitely feel more like myself. I feel like now, it's just the beginning. I guess you get to a point at 30 or somewhere and you say, 'What I am is what I am, and that's what I'm going to be. And that's all good. I don't need to be anything else.' That's kind of how I feel."

Jake also revealed he was inspired to become an actor by his elder sister Maggie Gyllenhaal, now 32, and that the pair used to love putting on performances for their family - even though Maggie always wanted most of the praise. He said: "Some of my earliest memories are of my sister coming back from doing a rehearsal for some musical during elementary school. I would watch her and I realised that she got attention that way. I joined her and we would put on shows together and she would always boss me around. She would put on a stage performance of Cats for me, and I would be a lone, poor cat sitting in the corner while my sister performed. I never got to be the star. I did everything wrong, according to her."