From the sweeping cityscape of London, to the jazzy glitz of the roaring ’20s, Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is bringing Broadway sizzle to Vancouver this summer.Considered a favourite annual tradition by many, TUTS presents full-scale Broadway musicals every summer in the majestic setting of Stanley Park. This year, TUTS is presenting the Disney classic, Mary Poppins, as well as the five-time Tony Award-winning show The Drowsy Chaperone.
Read moreBard on the Beach adds sexy Italian style to Shakespeare →
Get out the sunscreen, sunglasses and your fave summer attire, because Bard on the Beach is starting to heat things up. Celebrating its 28th season, this beloved Shakespeare festival, known for its fresh takes on the Bard’s classics, will be transporting audiences to Italy all summer long. All four of its headliner shows have been set in the land renowned for wine, art and romance. Much Ado About Nothing, The Winter’s Tale, The Merchant of Venice and The Two Gentlemen of Verona will captivate audiences with passionate Italian flair.
Read moreTheatre Review: Hand to God is a sinisterly hilarious experience →
There’s always been something creepy about the puppet and puppet master relationship. For example, the concept of the ventriloquist dummy who gains a mind of its own has always been disturbing. But the idea of a boy whose hand puppet becomes possessed by the devil in a Texas church is next level creepy. Combine that frightening theme with outrageously sexual and contemporary humour and you have yourself a winning show.
Read moreDance Review: Coastal City Ballet’s Giselle is an authentic gem
Giselle is one of the world’s most beloved classical ballets. But since Vancouver is such a contemporary-focused city, it’s rare to see a live production of Giselle. Thankfully, Coastal City Ballet has brought this iconic ballet to life and has done a fine job. Showcasing some outstanding young talent, Coastal City Ballet’s Giselle is also very polished and well-packaged with attractive set, lighting and costume designs.
Read moreFormer 'The Hills' star chainsaws his way to success at Art! Vancouver →
Artists from around the world are getting ready to showcase some unique and innovative pieces at Art! Vancouver. This annual celebration of art will grace the Vancouver Convention Centre from May 25-28. One of the featured artists will be local BC boy, Ryan Cook, who uses chainsaws and a variety of hand tools to turn raw wood into unreal sculptures.
Read moreDance Review: Ballet BC offers engaging and unique contemporary with Program 3
Ballet BC concludes its 2016/2017 season with Program 3, a triple bill of two pieces choreographed by Israeli artists and one original piece by artistic director, Emily Molnar.Overall, all three pieces were both entertaining and intriguing. Ballet BC’s stature as a top contemporary company is clearly evident. Program 3 demonstrates creativity and various styles of contemporary, while also being very engaging for the audience – a feat that isn’t always achieved with ambitious contemporary.
Read moreBallet BC concludes 31st season with Program 3
Ballet BC will conclude its 31st season with Program 3, which opens tomorrow night at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. This much anticipated finale to the contemporary ballet troupe's trilogy of montage works this season will feature creations by Israeli choreographers Emanuel Gat and Ohad Naharin, as well as Ballet BC’s Artistic Director Emily Molnar.
Read moreOpera Review: Vancouver Opera gives The Marriage of Figaro a gorgeous makeover
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro is one of the most beloved operas in the world. The delightful tale of mistaken identities, twists of fate and quests for love is a charming celebration of music and fun storytelling. Vancouver Opera (VO) offers a fresh new take on this classic opera while still maintaining its wit and charming spirit.
Read moreOpera Review: Otello: A chillingly dark operatic treat from Vancouver Opera
A true test of an opera company’s strength is its versatility in presenting both contemporary and classical work. Vancouver Opera’s (VO) production of Otello truly demonstrates VO’s outstanding strength in this area. After seeing VO’s emotionally compelling Dead Man Walking, a contemporary opera set in 1980s Louisiana, it was impressive to see the company switch gears to Otello, which is set in late 16th century Cyprus.
Read moreOpera Review: Vancouver Opera’s Dead Man Walking is a riveting journey driven by artistic brilliance
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.
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