The recent opening of Arts Club Theatre Company’s Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol marked the return of main stage theatre to Vancouver since COVID-19. And what better way to re-ignite the stage lights of the Stanley Theatre than a masterful blend of creative staging, technical design, and live performances. The result is musical theatre magic that we’ve been deprived of for far too long.
Read more#BoysDanceToo: Jacob Williams finds his footing
Jacob Williams, Emerging Artist at BalletBC. Photo credit: David Cooper
When Jacob Williams was a kid, he loved singing and dancing around the house to his mom’s disco music. It was clear that he found his passion for performing and dance early in life – and this passion would eventually lead him on a journey of training and self-discovery before finding his place at BalletBC in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Read moreSpine is disturbingly fascinating storytelling
Kate Besworth stars in Clara Brennan’s one-woman play, Spine. Photo credit: Charlie Gallant
From the first moment of walking into the theatre, Backbone Theatre Collective’s Spine is undeniably compelling. This one-woman play by Clara Brennan, originating from the Edinburgh Fringe and London’s Soho Theatre, is an intimate and intriguing look at a young woman’s journey from being kicked to the bottom of society, to finding her voice and rising up.
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Arts Club's Noises Off is a three-part free fall into divinely crafted chaos →
A tight ensemble nails the comedic clockwork of Noises Off's farce. Photo credit: David Cooper
Good things come in threes. And so does great comedy. The Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of Noises Off is a hilarious farce about putting on a play, and the train wreck that can erupt when you combine personal misunderstandings, jealousies, and romantic affairs gone wrong. And in keeping with the rule of three that says a trio of events can achieve ideal comedic effect, the action in Noises Off happens in three acts—a three-part free fall into divinely satisfying chaos.
Read moreGirlfriend brings tenderness and sensitivity to the rock musical
Julien Galipeau and Scott McGowan in Girlfriend. Photo credit: Javier R. Sotres
Amid the abundance of glittery holiday entertainment right now, Fighting Change Productions has staged an intimate coming-of-age story with its production of Girlfriend. Set to American pop-rocker Matthew Sweet’s songs, this musical tells the story of a romantic relationship between two boys during the summer following their high-school graduation. Through their relationship, the teenagers gain a sense of identity and contemplate how they fit into their worlds.
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Vancouver TheatreSports' Merry Kissmas: A Royal Romance takes audience on an improvised tour of romantic Provdovia
The cast of Merry Kissmas. Photo credit: Vancouver TheatreSports
In recent years, enjoying a romantic comedy about a prince or princess falling in love with a “commoner” during Christmas has become a holiday guilty pleasure for many people. One can argue that Netflix’s A Christmas Prince is responsible for this trend. And now Vancouver TheatreSports has jumped in on the fun with its own version. Merry Kissmas: A Royal Romance is the improv troupe’s holiday-themed show and it’s packed full of cheeky humour that will keep audiences roaring with laughter.
Read moreArts Club's The Sound of Music offers more to revel in than just the famous songs →
Synthia Yusuf climbs every mountain in The Sound of Music. Photo credit: Emily Cooper
The Arts Club Theatre Company has unveiled an inspirational retelling of the classic musical The Sound of Music. This production certainly does what audiences will expect—serve justice to the famous score by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. But above and beyond that, director Ashlie Corcoran has brought to life a stunning reworking of the show whose messages will resonate with contemporary audiences, and sparkles with exciting performances and production values.
Read moreGreen Day-fuelled American Idiot channels high-energy, early-2000s angst →
From left to right: Tanner Ford, Colin Sheen, and Nick Heffelfinger in URP’s production of Green Day’s American Idiot. Photo credit: Robert Sondergaard
URP’s production of American Idiot is a spectacular celebration of punk-rock band Green Day’s music, told through a high-energy, theatrical experience. Soaring vocals and band accompaniment, visually stimulating staging, and rock-concert lighting make this a fun experience. And while the show’s story is flat and the directorial concept is a bit illogical, there’s much to enjoy in this electrifying, nostalgic ride.
Read moreSongs and puppets help outcast kids cope in Tomson Highway's The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito →
Photo credit: Lauren Garbutt
Feeling like an outsider is a universal hardship that many people experience throughout life, but that sense of otherness is usually felt most acutely in childhood.The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito is a one-act musical that offers some important messages on how to deal with feeling like an outcast, told through an engaging story and fun songs.
Read moreDance at the 2019 Chutzpah! Festival
ProArteDanza
The 19th annual Chutzpah! Festival is in full swing and continues until November 24, celebrating culturally rich works in comedy, music, theatre and dance. Here are three exciting dance works playing at this year’s festival.
Read more#BoysDanceToo: An interview with Roberto Campanella
Life is all about creating your own path and Roberto Campanella knows about that. Originally from Rome, Roberto had a successful dance career joining his first company, Compagnia Italiana di Danza Contemporanea, at the age of 17. He eventually leaped to Toronto to dance for The National Ballet of Canada, where he began choreographing. Since then, Roberto has had a stellar career in teaching, choreographing, and directing. One of his most notable credits was choreographing the Academy Award-winning film The Shape of Water.
Read moreDancing Lessons' quirky take on the rom-com has mixed results at Jericho Arts Centre →
When two seemingly opposite people end up having to spend time together in an unusual situation, you have the basis for a romantic comedy. Dancing Lessons intends to give this genre quirky flair. But while this production has some sweet moments, the affection between the two characters isn’t quite believable and there a few too many loose ends in the story to make it truly satisfying.
Read moreMatilda celebrates the wonder of childhood innocence and imagination
The cast of Matilda The Musical. Photo credit: David Cooper
Roald Dahl’s classic children’s tale, Matilda, has been brought to life in a dazzling production at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Presented by the Arts Club Theatre Company, the Tony Award-winning Matilda The Musical tells the story of a brave and hyper-intelligent young girl who dares to stand up for what’s right, including facing off against her villainous school principal. Arts Club’s version is a slick display of masterful storytelling, thanks to tremendous creativity and talent from the show’s artistic team and cast.
Read moreLa Bohème soars with poignancy and heartbreaking beauty
France Bellemare and Ji-Min Park star in Vancouver Opera’s La Bohème . Photo credit: Tim Matheson
La Bohème is the one of the world’s most enduring love stories and operas of all time. And love is definitely in the air in Vancouver Opera’s (VO) beautiful staging. This production is a larger-than-life vintage postcard of Paris, set for the most part in the 1920’s. André Barbe’s Parisian set of cafes and shops lining a bustling city street, is complemented by his period costumes and Guy Simard’s luminous lighting, altogether painting a superb vision. And the first-rate cast performances, accompanied by VO’s exquisite orchestra under the direction of conductor Judith Yan, make this telling of La Bohème an excellent artistic work.
Read moreAnnie offers great ensemble performances and visuals, but lacks magic overall
Camryn Macdonald (centre) with the company of Annie. Photo credit: Emily Cooper
As the snow continues to fall in Vancouver, it seems fitting that Align Entertainment’s current offering is the Tony Award-winning musical, Annie, which not only beckons the sun to come out tomorrow, but also takes place at Christmas. And while a lot of effort has gone into putting on this ambitious musical, which involves a sizeable cast, gorgeous sets and costumes, a full orchestra, and two dogs (who alternate in the role of Sandy), this production doesn’t quite hit the mark. The issues lie mainly with comic timing and dialogue delivery, and a lack of vibrancy from some of the leads.
Read moreYoga Play has clever concept, but needs more refined storytelling
From left to right: Derek Chan, Christine Quintana, and Lois Anderson in Yoga Play. Photo credit: Tim Matheson
Gateway Theatre’s Canadian premiere of the comedy, Yoga Play, is a fun, satirical look at the yoga apparel industry. While the play has a clever main concept – exploring the disconnect between the spirit of yoga and the competitive retail world – the show takes on a few too many plotlines for it to handle and isn’t able to adequately follow-through with its storytelling.
Read moreThe Full Light of Day is a delicious visual treat, but the story is bland
Jillian Fargey and Dean Paul Gibson in The Full Light of Day - photo by Don Lee
Electric Company Theatre’ latest work, The Full Light of Day, stretches the possibilities of theatrical storytelling, skillfully incorporating videography. The two-act play uses both live streaming, as well as pre-recorded video footage, to tell its story. Combined with stunning set, lighting, and costume designs, The Full Light of Day is quite a visual treat. With the use of Brian Lind’s movie-like sound design, the show indeed verges on creating a new art form – a theatre/film hybrid. Unfortunately, the show lacks a strong enough story to support its tremendous production values.
Read moreA Charlie Brown Holiday Double Bill brings beloved Peanuts characters to life, complete with "ice skating" and a Christmas pageant →
Andrew Cownden (Charlie Brown), Arielle Ballance (Violet), and Emilie Leclerc (Lucy). Photo credit: Tim Matheson
Charlie Brown and his Peanuts gang are looking fabulous these days. Carousel Theatre for Young People’s A Charlie Brown Holiday Double Bill has brought Charlie and his crew to the stage of the Waterfront Theatre in a larger-than-life theatrical experience that kids and parents alike will enjoy.
Read moreSeven Tyrants Theatre’s Doubt – a psychological drama that keeps you in suspense
Sometimes we have instinctual feelings, even though we don’t have solid evidence to prove our suspicions. If we stay true to our instincts, we’re showing strength by sticking to our conviction. The flipside is, that in order to do this we need to ignore doubt. What’s the wiser thing to do? Sticking to your conviction or acknowledging doubt? That’s the premise of John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning play, Doubt: A Parable, which Seven Tyrants Theatre has skillfully mounted.
Read moreBeautiful: The Carole King Musical glows with inspirational storytelling
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical gets to the heart of what I love the most about musical theatre – it takes you on a character’s journey and combines acting, music, dance, and theatrical magic to tell a captivating story. It tells a simple story – but it’s a moving story nonetheless and the show’s star – the incredible Sarah Bockel – is dynamite.
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