BC theatre
Princeton: ‘Dirty work’ on Friday
In an era of fast paced movies loaded with Hollywood special effects, it is wonderful to see the tradition of live theater being carried on in Princeton. No computer generated enhancements, no multiple takes, simply live actors presenting a story on stage in front of a live audience. . The Princeton Performing Arts Society was [...]
Theatre BC: Mainstage 2010 Early-Bird Registration
Just a quick reminder that the deadline for Mainstage 2010 Early-Bird Registration is fast approaching! Rates for packages go up June 1st so get your registration in before the end of Monday for the best deal. Links to the registration form and the playbill can be found at http://www.theatrebc.org/M2010/index.php May 31st is also the [...]
Beloved Babz takes final bow, and has the last word “Cancer is the opportunity we’ve been given to all be better at what we do. To be bigger of heart and greater of mind… God bless you all.”
They braved the morning rain Sunday, streaming into a Granville Island theatre wearing pins bearing Chula’s face and the simple message, “I (heart) Babz.” Beloved Vancouver actor Babz Chula filled the seats at Arts Club Theatre for the last time Sunday, as family, friends and fans came out to honour the 63-year-old matriarch of Vancouver’s [...]
Vancouver: Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl getting weatherproofed
A plan is moving ahead to weatherproof a historic outdoor theatre in Stanley Park and give the venue new life as a rehearsal space during the colder months. Theatre Under the Stars managing producer James Cronk told the Straight the goal is to “winterize” Malkin Bowl so that the stage area can be used year-round. [...]
Victoria: From stage to studio: Kaleidoscope boss joins media he used Shakespeare to skewer
If you were to use his production of Macbeth as a reference point, you might say Leslie Bland is crossing to the dark side. After serving 10 years as artistic director of Kaleidoscope Theatre, Bland is stepping down to launch Less Bland Productions, a television production company that has entered into a broadcast partnership with [...]
Summerland: Vagina Monologues controversial in B.C. town
The Vagina Monologues might be too controversial for some residents of one British Columbia town, almost 15 years after its New York premiere. The award-winning play premieres on Friday evening in Summerland, B.C., as a fundraising event for the Penticton and Area Women’s Centre. The play, composed of several frank and sometimes humorous monologues about [...]
Squamish: Actor lands first place in North Shore theatre competition
Between Shift Theatre continued their commitment of bringing top quality theatre to the corridor while winning prestigious awards against much bigger companies with top honours at the Theatre BC’s North Shore Zone Festival of Plays Friday (May 7). The theatre troupe performed the drama Independence at the regional competition last weekend, and if sales are [...]
A walk in the parkade: Nine-headed theatre production mixes it up
In a downtown parkade that grows desolate after 7 p.m., nine emerging theatre companies will take advantage of the location’s spectacular top floor views and treat audiences to sketch comedy, horror and butoh dance. Produced by Enlightenment Theatre and ITSAZOO Productions, Bridge Mix parks May 5 to 8 and 11 to 15 at the Metro [...]
Improv troupe moves into new Granville Island digs: A converted boat showroom is the new home for Vancouver TheatreSports League
Vancouver’s most famous improv company moved into brand-new $1-million Granville Island digs this week. Now it has to pay for them. Vancouver TheatreSports League executive director Jay Ono said the renowned not-for-profit comedy troupe has launched a capital campaign to raise $800,000, so it will be debt-free from the project that has given it a [...]
Theatre in the Raw gets creative in face of crippling funding cuts
Jay Hamburger, the artistic director of a Vancouver theatre company, wants to take the B.C. government to court for leaving his 16-year-old company scouring for funding because of arts cuts. But instead, he is opening a “virtual café” to entice private donations. “I have consulted a paralegal and tried to look into suing the government [...]
Victoria: Local theatre gets an expensive new mask
Intrepid Theatre Club and Metro Studio may be looking pretty swanky in the coming months, as a $45,000 government grant will offer the venues a new facelift. The grant, which came from the Department of Canadian Heritage and the B.C. Arts Council, was given to Intrepid Theatre at the end of March, and will be [...]
As it gets ready to open new digs, Vancouver TheatreSports League launches fundraising campaign
The Vancouver TheatreSports League just launched a capital campaign to lure in up to $800,000 needed to help with the mortgage on its new playground. The improv-comedy group is settling into its nest in the former Train Museum on Granville Island, and needs money for theatre staples including lighting and sound equipment, a ticketing system, [...]
These shows are not about being disabled: People are just people and we just want to show what regular people are up to,’ creator of Spine says
Spine is about a guy going through a midlife crisis. Rick is about a teenager who likes to fish. Spatial Theory is about the diverse influences on an artist. They are not, their creators stress, about being disabled. The Paralympic Games begin tomorrow, and art exploring the disability experience is very much in evidence in Vancouver’s continuing [...]
Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance Celebrates World Theatre Day, 3/27
2010 will mark the seventh year that The Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance has organized local World Theatre Day celebrations. While World Theatre Day was established by the InterNational Theatre Institute on March 27th, 1961, many theatre artists are still unfamiliar with this one day a year when we commemorate Theatre. This year’s WTD celebrations [...]
Future uncertain for arts groups: Proposed funding cut in half says Alliance for Arts
Depressing” is how Chelsea Haberlin describes the arts and culture budget the province outlined March 2. The general manager and co-artistic director of ITSAZOO Productions says the emerging theatre company received its first B.C. Arts Council grant this past year to tour a play, Death of a Clown. ITSAZOO focuses on new Canadian and site-specific [...]
