Meet Cody Berkeley, a renowned dance teacher and choreographer in the ballet and competition studio world. Originally from Dallas, Cody excelled on the competition circuit while growing up, and in his senior year was awarded a full scholarship to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia courtesy of the NYCDA College Scholarship Foundation. Since graduating with a BFA in Dance Performance, Cody has danced for Clairobscur Dance Company in LA, Dark Circles Contemporary Dance USA in Dallas, and toured with Step One Dance Company. Since focusing on teaching/choreographing, Cody has taught at Ellison Ballet School and currently leads Greenwich Ballet Academy’s contemporary program. He has received awards from Youth America Grand Prix and the University Ballet Competition for his choreography and coaching. Follow Cody @codyberkeleydance.
Read moreBlack Box Theatre Co.'s The Play That Goes Wrong gets the chaos right →
What’s just as entertaining as a play that’s impeccably polished? One that’s impeccably polished to fall apart. The-play-that-goes-wrongBlack Box Theatre Co.’s production of the international hit The Play That Goes Wrong, now at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island, is a wildly fun ride. Similar in concept to Noises Off, it gleefully lampoons a hapless theatre company staging a play, stumbling through forgotten lines, misplaced props, full-on set collapses, and more.
Read moreBoys Dance Too podcast: Ashton Roxander
Meet Ashton Roxander, principal dancer with the Philadelphia Ballet. Originally from California, Ashton comes from a dance family—both his parents were dancers, and his brother currently dances with American Ballet Theater. Hear about Ashton’s journey, from being taught by his parents, to training with Boston Ballet before joining Philadelphia Ballet. Follow Ashton @ashtonroxander.
Read moreBoys Dance Too podcast: Jason Yang-Westland
Meet Jason Yang-Westland—dancer and musical theatre performer living in London. Originally from New Zealand, Jason has danced with Melbourne City Ballet, Royal Caribbean Productions, and Paris Disneyland, as well as in the West End productions of The King and I and Your Line April. He was a dancer in the Wonka film and has also appeared in major productions worldwide of Mary Poppins, The Phantom of the Opera, Memphis, West Side Story, and Grease. Having grown up in the competitive dance scene, Jason is now also an adjudicator, teacher, and choreographer. Follow @jyangwestland.
Read moreFresh take on Legally Blonde uplifts and empowers at Theatre Under the Stars →
Trends may come and go, but as Elle Woods wisely reminds us, “being true to yourself never goes out of style.” This enduring mantra is a key reason why Legally Blonde—the story of Elle’s unexpected journey to Harvard Law School—continues to strike a chord with audiences.
Read moreTheatre Under the Stars brings its own darkly inventive comedy to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory →
Theatre Under The Stars has long delighted Vancouver audiences with summer productions that transform beloved children’s stories into live musicals under the open sky. This year, the company brings Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to life in a production bursting with heart and standout talent.
Read moreBoys Dance Too podcast: Tymin Keown
Meet Tymin Keown—dancer with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. Tymin is from Victoria, BC, and started dancing at the relatively late age of 16, first in musical theatre before focusing on dance. Hear about how Tymin was able to catch up, thanks to his intense drive, passion, and family support. Follow Tymin @tyminkeown and Royal Winnipeg Ballet @rwballet.
Read moreArts Club cooks up a creative hit with a Waitress that's moving yet whimsical →
With Waitress, the Arts Club Theatre Company has whipped up something truly special as its season-closing musical. This production isn’t simply a replica of the acclaimed Broadway version; instead, under the direction of Ashlie Corcoran, it soars with its own voice, thanks to imaginative work from the creative team and a poignant performance by its star Rachel Drance.
Read moreBoys Dance Too podcast: Taylor Roper
Meet Taylor Roper—owner of House of Dance, a top competitive studio in Ontario, Canada. Taylor is a former dancer with Tokyo Disney Sea and Royal Caribbean, and in his youth, he was an elite competitive dancer. In our conversation, Taylor unpacks his experience growing up a boy dancer in the suburbs, his professional dance career, and what his life looks like now as a studio owner, including the challenges and wins. Follow Taylor on IG @taylor_roper and his studio @houseofdanceca.
Read moreLegendary songs move from screen to stage to create A Whole New World →
The merging of the iconic phrases “Once upon a time” and “Lights, camera, action!” embodies the concept of A Whole New World: A Concert of Movie Musicals’ Greatest Songs. Under the creative direction of Alan Corbishley, A Whole New World is a uniquely conceived concert of songs from beloved Disney films in the first act and Hollywood musicals in the second. The production kicked off its 17-city B.C. tour on May 17 and will continue to June 20.
Read moreBoys Dance Too podcast: E. Clayton Cornelious
Meet E. Clayton Cornelious—otherwise known as E. Clay! He’s been in 10 Broadway shows including A Chorus Line, The Music Man, The Lion King, Ain’t Too Proud, and Beautiful: The Carol King Musical. He was also in the televised Jersey Boys Live with Nick Jonas; in Rat Pack in London’s West End; and in national tours of Kinky Boots, Hairspray, and more; on TV in The Marvelous Mrs. Mazel; and he’s a 2-time Tony Award-nominated producer! Hear about his career journey doing some of the most iconic Broadway shows. Follow him on IG @eclaycorn and visit his website www.eclaycorn.com.
Read moreHenry VIII's queens bring down history and the house in defiantly catchy SIX →
Royalty has arrived in Vancouver and the Queen Elizabeth Theatre is an appropriately named venue to host some divine monarchs this week. The smash Broadway musical SIX is in town, care of Broadway Across Canada, and on opening night, the queens ate and left no crumbs. Directed by Lucy Moss and Jamie Armitage, SIX is a pop concert–style retelling of the stories of the six wives of Henry VIII. Each queen performs a song detailing her doomed relationship with Henry to get the audience on their side and be crowned the leader of the group. There’s plenty of tea to spill, from messy divorces to messy deaths that include beheading.
Read moreCTORA shows off triple-threat chops in gripping West Side Story →
From the whistles in the “Prologue” to the haunting final visual, CTORA’s West Side Story is a stunning production of the iconic Broadway musical. Telling a story about young love set amid an ethnically divisive street-gang war between the “American” Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks in 1950s New York, West Side Story continues to be relevant. Despite that, pulling it off is a huge challenge given the triple-threat skills, culturally appropriate casting, and expertise needed to fit all the pieces together.
Read moreSeventies-era touches bring high-spirited glam to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat →
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, one of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s best-known rock musicals, is back in Vancouver—and Metro Theatre’s version has some fresh hues. Director Christopher King has enacted a creative 1970s TV variety-show framing device, and through this, the unapologetically quirky, over-the-top production looks and sounds fantastic, with all the silliness that the musical is beloved for.
Read moreEvery Day She Rose poses unsettling, unanswered questions about privilege
In Every Day She Rose, a play by Andrea Scott and Nick Green, has some very important things to say, and chances are, these messages may seem foreign to some theatregoers. That’s likely the point. The dynamic between a gay male and straight female who are best friends isn’t new territory in storytelling. But what’s far less common is a version that isn’t idealized—one shaped by the imbalance of privilege between the two, and the quiet tensions that can arise from it.
Read moreBosy Dance Too podcast: Fredric Odgaard
Meet Fredric Odgaard—Broadway, commercial, and concert dancer. Fred has performed on Broadway in Moulin Rouge, Kinky Boots, and Finding Neverland; in Celine Dion’s A New Day, Cirque du Soleil’s Viva Elvis, and on TV in Glee, Fosse/Verdon, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and more. He’s also a well-known teacher, choreographer, and adjudicator. From starting his commercial career as a child, to dancing on a cruise ship and at Tokyo Disney, to eventually dancing for Celine Dion and on Broadway, you won’t want to miss Fred’s exciting story. Follow him on IG @fodg and TikTok @foddyg.
Read moreCTORA searches out enduring truths in West Side Story →
What’s the key to good storytelling? For CTORA, authenticity seems to be the driving force in its version of West Side Story. Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the musical tells the tale of star-crossed young lovers Tony and Maria, against the backdrop of an ethnically divisive street-gang war between the “American” Jets and the Puerto Rican Sharks in 1950s New York. The roles of Tony and Maria are as iconic as the show itself, immortalized in many Broadway stage and film versions. But CTORA’s stars Sayer Roberts and Cassandra Consiglio aren’t fazed. They’re leaning into authenticity.
Read morePowerhouse performances give fresh currency to 9 to 5: The Musical →
Royal City Musical Theatre has a great new look: instead of presenting its usual annual offering of a beloved classic Broadway musical, the company has tackled a contemporary show—9 to 5: The Musical. Under the choreography of the revered Valerie Easton and her codirection with Chris Adams, RCMT demonstrates its versatility and ample ability to stay relevant. 9 to 5 is a fun musical-theatre extravaganza with bold messages of female empowerment, workplace equality, and following one’s heart at any stage in life, set to a score by Dolly Parton herself.
Read moreBoys Dance Too podcast: Jeremy Villas
Meet Jeremy Villas, a former child Broadway performer and contemporary ballet dancer. Jeremy was on Broadway in Kinky Boots when he was 11 and trained for most of his life at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance. He graduated from the Professional Performing Arts High School in New York and recently graduated from the dance program at The Juilliard School. In our podcast, Jeremy reflects on his time on Broadway, growing up as a dancer, and his exciting post-graduation plans. Hint—it involves dancing professionally! Hear Jeremy’s story and follow him on IG @jeremytvillas.
Read moreBoys Dance Too podcast: Sterling Baca
Meet Sterling Baca, principal dancer with the Philadelphia Ballet, and former dancer with American Ballet Theater. Originally from Colorado, Sterling moved to New York at age 15 to train at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School on a full scholarship. In 2016, he was on the cover of Dance Magazine as one of their “25 to Watch”. Hear Sterling open up about growing up, achieving his dreams, and the mindset needed to excel at the highest level. Follow Sterling on IG @SterlingBaca
Read more