It’s incredible how a stage production can sometimes transport you to another time and place so convincingly that you forget you’re watching a show. Such is the case with Vancouver Opera’s (VO) Dead Man Walking, a 21st century American opera. Dead Man Walking is both a fascinating and moving look into the capital punishment debate. VO’s production is absolutely magnificent – a collaboration of incredible vocal and acting talent combined with astonishing brilliance in musical direction, staging, sets, lighting and costume design. But above all else – it tells a compelling story that will likely stay in many people’s minds long after the curtain falls.
Read moreMy CTV Morning Live visit
This past Friday, I had the amazing experience of visiting the CTV Morning Live set in Vancouver. These are the super talented people that I wake up to every morning and it was fascinating to see what goes on behind the scenes.
Read moreCurtain Up: First-ever Vancouver Opera Festival opens today
Begin the overture on a history-making event in Vancouver. It’s opening night for the Vancouver Opera (VO) – not just for a new production, but for a radical and ambitious new endeavour. Instead of presenting a standard season of mainstage productions throughout the year, VO has elected to instead present the first-ever Vancouver Opera Festival. Starting today and running until May 13, three mainstage productions will be performed: Otello, Dead Man Walking and The Marriage of Figaro.
Read more#YVRSocial takes a #NoFilter look at social media across industries
Vancouver is a social media hub – the home of many legit Instagram celebs and Snapchat addicts. Likewise, YVR is also where various industries use strategic and creative social media content on the daily. And while Vancouverites may have a reputation by some for being a little hard to approach, some of us actually do like to share. And that’s why #YVRSocial was created – as way for industry leaders to share their social media best practices with anyone and everyone who can grab a spot to this highly popular event.
Read moreVertical Influences: Spellbinding contemporary dance and skating spun together
Vancouver’s stand-out contemporary theatre, The Cultch, has added another exciting art form to its theatre season…contemporary ice-skating. Presented by Montreal’s Le Patin Libre, Vertical Influences is a spellbinding two-act show currently heating up the ice at Britannia Ice Rink in East Vancouver.
Read morePutting some spring in our swagger at Guys' Night Out
To mark the start of spring, Hudson’s Bay recently hosted its ever-popular Guys' Night Out. Taking over the men’s department on the 6th floor of Vancouver’s downtown store, this stylish party always comes with some epic swagger.
Read moreCelebrating diversity at Pride At Work’s Vancouver event
After an exceptionally snowy winter, spring was in the air last month when Pride at Work hosted its Vancouver LGBT Networking Social Presented by TD. This lively networking event was a sophisticated affair held at the Shangri-la Hotel Vancouver.
Read moreCinderella will sweep you away →
Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella is Broadway magic at its finest. This musical production of the classic story is an impressive display of artistry in all aspects. Its production values such as the costume, set, and lighting designs shine just as brightly as the cast of triple threat performers who gloriously sing and dance to Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s timeless score.
Read moreFabulist Theatre’s Songs for a New World never takes flight
Fabulist Theatre has taken on a difficult challenge by presenting Jason Robert Brown’s renowned musical theatre piece, Songs for a New World. This entirely sung-through show centres on the theme of people making life-altering decisions. Unfortunately, not only does Fabulist Theatre’s production fall flat, it never even gets off the ground.
Read moreOne day pre-sale for The Phantom of the Opera is tomorrow
Since its West End opening in 1986, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera has thrilled millions worldwide. This seven-time Tony Award-winning musical has been re-imagined into a spectacular new production that will play Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre, July 12-23. And tomorrow, you can beat the ticket line with a special pre-sale ticket offer by Broadway Across Canada.
Read moreElbow Room Cafe: The Musical captures spirit of iconic Vancouver hub
It’s not every day you experience a musical that takes place in a local setting, and Elbow Room Café: The Musical is exactly that. Zee Zee Theatre and The Cultch’s musical takes a peek into the relationship of real-life restaurant owners Patrice and Bryan, set of course against the backdrop of their beloved establishment, Vancouver's iconic Elbow Room Cafe.
Read moreAlign Entertainment’s The Little Mermaid sails with talent and polish
There’s something magical about Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and Align Entertainment has done a fine job in delivering this magic to local audiences. Led by the show’s talented star Elyse Maloway as Ariel, this production of The Little Mermaid truly encompasses the heart and soul of the story.
Read moreKinky Boots celebrates diversity and is one fierce party!
The Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots has fabulously kicked its way into Vancouver’s Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Based on the British film of the same name, this sensational stage musical is the winning combination of a fantastic score by Cyndi Lauper, a clever book by Harvey Fierstein, superb cast performances, and brilliant direction and choreography by Broadway legend Jerry Mitchell.
Read moreDon’t miss the ball – presale to Broadway Across Canada’s Cinderella begins this Friday
Who doesn’t love a classic fairy tale? As millennials, anytime anyone mentions a beloved fairy tale, we all seem to get super excited and exclaim, “I love <fill in name of story>!” This is probably because fairy tale memories take us back to our childhood days. A time period when life was simpler, a world of possibilities lay ahead, and no matter what kind of challenges we faced, we could dream.
Read moreTheatre Preview: Mess provides insight into overcoming anorexia →
Anorexia is the topic of Mess, a 75-minute play presented by The Vancouver International Children’s Festival and PuSh International Performing Arts Festival.This critically-acclaimed show from England is unique because it’s not the dark play many people might expect. Instead, it’s been described as an experience that infuses humour, creativity and fun songs while offering a poignant look into the power anorexia holds over individuals and their loved ones.
Read more"The Phantom of the Opera" leads Broadway Across Canada's exciting 2017/2018 season
Broadway Across Canada (BAC) recently announced it's spectacular 2017/2018 season lineup, headlined by one of my personal favourite musicals, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. This will be a fresh new staging of the show, featuring a new set and choreography. This production has sparked a lot of buzz and we'll get to see it right here at Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Read moreClub PuSh sizzles up the Vancouver arts scene this January →
While Old Man winter may be continuing his tyranny over Vancouver, local arts fans will soon be able to escape to the sizzling atmosphere of Club PuSh. Held at the Fox Cabaret, this social hub of the 13th annual PuSh International Performing Arts Festival promises to provide exciting theatre in a casual, fun setting.
Read moreKayla James takes over Mary Poppins umbrella in style →
Stepping into the role of Mary Poppins is never an easy task. There’s the expectation to match or at least come close to reaching the standards of Julie Andrews. But in the Arts Club’s current remount of Disney’s Mary Poppins, actress Kayla James also had the challenge of living up to Sara-Jeanne Hosie’s acclaimed performances from previous seasons. Fortunately for audiences this holiday season, James is phenomenal as the iconic English nanny who flies through the sky with her umbrella and changes lives one household at a time.
Read moreRoyal Winnipeg Ballet's "Nutcracker" celebrates Christmas and being Canadian
Attending Nutcracker is one of my favourite holiday traditions, and this year for the first time I had the pleasure of watching Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s (RWB) version. I was intrigued when I heard that they did their own unique Canadian version of the show. So how is RWB’s Canadian-themed version? It's the ballet equivalent of enjoying a classy maple and bacon donut, or a gourmet poutine, or a Caesar made with Grey Goose vodka...you get the idea.
Read moreExciting presale offer to Kinky Boots, December 2 – 4 only!
Kinky Boots, the Tony Award-winning musical with songs by Cyndi Lauper, is kicking its way into Vancouver, February 7-12, 2016. And for this weekend only, you can snag your tickets before the rest of Vancouver does. How is this possible? Great question!
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