Christmas/Holiday movies can be anything you choose, according to my guests. Journalist Neil Armstrong discusses the TV series Get Millie Black and revisits the novel Sweetness in the Skin by Ishi Robinson. Then, he, Anne Gallagher, and I chat about the various iterations of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. After playing It's December, a track by Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks from their Another Christmas Day album, Gordon Gingras and arts and culture writer Heidy M (hyemusings.ca) share some classic Christmas films and modern classics (including ghost stories). The show ends with Peace is the Only Way by Lenka Lichtenberg and Roula Said.

Nadine McNulty, the Artistic Director of Batuki Music Society and I discuss the formation of The Juno Award-winning Okavango African Orchestra and their December 20, 2024 concert featuring the Queen of South African music-Lorraine Klaasen, kora virtuoso Diely Mori Tounkara, exceptional tama player Pape Ndiaye, Congolese soulful singer Mis Blandine and accomplished bassist Dally Dominic.

Plus I play a story told by Comfort Iyase Ero called The Storyteller and the Seven Days Story.

Music by

Lorraine Klaassen 'La reine'

Mis Blandine 'Makambo'

Okavango African Orchestra 'Ngaisangane'

What's going to be your next listen? I play a selection of audiobooks set during Winter/Holiday season and through in a could off new tunes by Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks latest album, Another Christmas Day.

Note: audio samples are those offered by the Toronto Public Library's website and includes the name of each work's publisher. No copyright infringement is intended.

Alex Bird of Alex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks joins me for an engaging conversation about the band's latest album, Another Christmas Day, which beautifully captures both the joy and bittersweet moments of the holiday season. Throughout our chat, you’ll also hear a selection of songs that highlight the diverse emotional range of the album, from playful exuberance to heartfelt nostalgia.The group’s versatility shines through, with each track offering a unique sound—ranging from lively, foot-tapping rhythms to soulful, introspective moments. Throughout our conversation, we listen to a selection of songs that highlight the band’s impressive musicianship and creative approach to the holiday genre.

Arts and Culture writer and Rotten Tomatoes approved critic, Heidy M (hyemusings.ca) joins me to talk about the Blood in the Snow Film Festival (BITS). Heidy is a programmer for the festival and shares some films and Industry events that will appeal to fans as well as those who wish to know more about genre films and filmmaking.

Then sit back and allow your ears to enjoy some old time radio drama with SUSPENSE! The episode 'EVE' is one of my favourites and stars Nancy Kelly, Tony award-winner and Oscar Nominee for The Bad Seed. 

PLAYLIST 

'Arachnophobia' by Lady Laistee featuring Jaeyez

'My Cutie Pie' byA lex Bird and the Jazz Mavericks 

MY CONTACTS

https://ciut.fm/tmtm/

FB/IG @tmtmwithdonnag

Bluesky @tmtmwithdonnag.bsky.social

CIUT listeners and The More the Merrier supporters Neil Armstrong, Anne Gallagher, and Marc S. join me to talk about movies. Neil shares Black-focused movies he recently saw on his travels, Anne reveals how movies expanded her world, and Marc talks about discovering the works of director Ken Loach.

I've been away for the past several weeks due to the passing of my beloved mother, Joy Blackwood. She was my radio champion from my early days at CIUT 89.5 FM in the mid-nineties, where I was part of the feminist collective By All Means, to co-hosting the Caribbean-Filipino fusion show baba(eh) mama with Danielle Gonsalves, and now with this solo show, The More the Merrier. She would have loved today's show, especially my interview from the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival with Academy Award-winning composer Volker Bertelmann. Volker won his award for All Quiet on the Western Front, directed by Edward Berger. In this episode, our conversation covers Volker's latest collaboration with Berger on the thriller CONCLAVE, starring Rafe Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini, just to name a few from this esteemed ensemble cast.

My mom would have had lots of questions about CONCLAVE after listening to the second part of my show, which features a discussion about the film with my friend Heidy M. Heidy is an arts and culture writer, the founder and creator of https://hyemusings.ca/, and a Rotten Tomato-approved critic. She is also a programmer for Blood in the Snow Film Festival (BITS), a genre festival in Toronto.

I can be reached on IG and FB under @tmtmwithdonnag or www.ciut.fm

We're diving into the Toronto Fringe's Next Stage Theatre Festival, running from October 16th to 27th at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, located at 12 Alexander Street in Toronto.

We’ll explore three dynamic productions at this year’s festival. First, I chat with Abigail Whitney, director of 'The Noose' a Haitian play that hasn't been produced in English since 1997. Then, you'll hear from Bonnie Duff, playwright of 'This Feels Like The End' alongside director Michelle Blight. And finally, I'll be joined by producer Olivia Daniels and director Ilana Khanin to discuss 'I Was Unbecoming Then'.

These interviews will flow back-to-back, so stay with me for a fantastic lineup of conversations!

For full details and tickets, head over to www.fringetoronto.com and click on 'Next Stage'

Frequent guest and tmtmwithdonnag longtime listener and supporter, Gordon G and I discuss some of our #TIFF2024 screenings.

Special shout out to arts and culture writer and interviewer Heidy M of hyemusings.ca who wasn't able to join us for our annual TIFF roundup. Please visit her site to check out her coverage. 😊

Music: Poso Oyo by Naxx Bitota

With the cost of living these days, do you ever feel like rebelling? Director Isabella Cesari and I discuss Low Pay? Don’t Pay!, a play about just that. Written by Nobel Prize-winning playwright Dario Fo, the production runs from September 25 to October 6, 2024, at Alumnae Theatre (Mainstage) 70 Berkeley Street Toronto, Ontario 416-364-4170 https://alumnaetheatre.com/

My coverage of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival continues my interview with Fabian Stumm, the director, writer, and star of Sad Jokes. This German tragicomedy tells the story of Joseph, a gay screenwriter, played by Stumm himself, who co-parents a child with his best friend. When she falls into depression, Joseph steps in as the primary caregiver, all while trying to craft a screenplay that will resonate with audiences. I had the chance to sit down with Fabian during the festival, and I hope you enjoy our conversation!

PLAYLIST

Chet Singh 'The Price is Right

Jade Elektra 'A Little Bit of House'

Jef Kearns 'Soulphisticsted'