This summer, the 2023 Early Music Vancouver Summer Festival (previously named the Vancouver Bach Festival), will showcase the achievement of women composers, librettists, and performers of the past and present. Running July 27 to August 5 at various venues including SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts and The Orpheum Annex, the theme for this year’s festival is WOMENinSIGHT. The festival will kick off with the world premiere of The Queen of Carthage, co-produced by Early Music Vancouver (EMV) and re:Naissance Opera. I recently interviewed Marisa about her involvement with this show and what audiences can expect.
Read moreCats still rules the night
The company of Cats. Photo credit: Matthew Murphy, Murphymade
Thank goodness cats have nine lives, because the iconic Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats is still kicking it 41 years after it first premiered in London’s West End. The current national tour, which is currently playing in Vancouver, is a re-creation of the 2016 Broadway revival—the second major version in North America. This production maintains the authenticity of the original London/Broadway production, with exciting freshness thanks to the young, talented cast members, many of whom probably were not born yet when the original Broadway production closed in 2000.
Read moreOz has magical moments, but not enough sparkle to shine to the end
Megan Zong as Dot and Stephen Thakkar as L. Frank Baum. Photo credit: Sarah Race
Carousel Theatre for Young People (CTYP)’s production of Oz, written by Patrick Shanahan, is a play that offers a backstory in how L. Frank Baum completed the writing of his book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It features wonderful theatrical magic, innovation, and intrigue, along with fine performances and production values; however, the cast and artistic team can only do so much with a script that runs too long for a children’s one-act play, lags in places (especially in the last quarter), and doesn’t quite land as well as anticipated.
Read moreFun, stylish musical production of The 3 Little Pigs lights up the holiday season
From left to right: Angela Chu, Steffanie Davis, Tanner Zerr, and Frankie Cottrell. Photo credit: Tina Krueger Kulic
There’s a real sense of mystery and fairytale magic from the get-go when you walk into the Waterfront Theatre for Carousel Theatre for Young People’s holiday offering this year, Stiles & Drewe’s The 3 Little Pigs. The opening set is of a foreboding, dark, ominous woods with giant trees and eerie lighting—the kind made from fairytale magic. Once the show begins, we see the cast light up the stage with their fun energy and Nicole Rose Bond’s terrific choreography, and the next 45 minutes are a real pleasure to watch. Audiences of all ages will be happily transfixed by this fabulous one-act musical, which is slick, sassy, creative, and features some incredibly fine voices.
Read moreRaincity Theatre’s Cabaret seduces, mesmerizes, and chills
Kit Kat Klub dancers Vicente Sandoval, Cassandra Consiglio, and Joaquin Little in Cabaret. Photo credit: Nicol Spinola
The theatre world is obsessed with Cabaret. But even after seeing numerous productions and performing in one myself, it wasn’t until seeing Raincity Theatre’s version that I finally really understood the show. This production hits in all the right ways, getting to the heart of what Cabaret is all about. It’s an up-close-and-personal experience that provokes thought, rips at your emotions, and completely captivates you.
Read moreThe Café is a fun, choose-your-own adventure theatrical experience
*Photo credit: Chelsey-Stuyt
The Café, an immersive new theatrical work is a creative, clever, and fun experience. Presented by ITSAZOO Productions and Aphotic Theatre, in partnership with PuSh, the show is performed at one of the Kafka’s (a Vancouver coffee shop) location. Seven different scenes happen throughout the coffee shop and audiences choose-their-own adventure, roaming around and sitting in on whichever conversations they want. Overall, the production is well-acted and polished, and there are few nuggets in the scripts that are meaningful and provide great takeaways. Above all else, this is a really enjoyable experience as an audience member.
Read moreCultural differences in friendship are examined and celebrated in Frozen River nîkwatin sîpiy
Carousel Theatre for Young People (CTFYP) has opened its 2022/23 season with a play that’s timely, educational, entertaining, and very suited for children. Frozen River nîkwatin sîpiy’s kid-friendly story is brought to life with skilled acting and creative puppetry and visuals to inform on Indigenous experience, while teaching what it means to truly listen to others.
Read moreHot Brown Honey sweetly fights oppression
“We have been told that our silence will save us, but it won’t. So, we will make noise,” proclaims Busty Beatz during Hot Brown Honey – The Remix. This one-act presentation of hip hop-infused dance, singing, circus variety, and political commentary is a timely, important, and fun artistic work that celebrates feminism.
Read morePeter Pan Goes Wrong in all the right ways
The only thing as enjoyable as watching perfection is watching a complete train wreck. Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of Peter Pan Goes Wrong is as wacky and chaotic, as it is intelligent and polished. Only a production this thought out and meticulously put together can produce such an uproarious, “disaster” of a show. The two-act play is a hilarious delight, and includes a couple of emotionally uplifting subplots as well. And on top of all that, this show is as visually pleasing as it is funny.
Read moreFiery grace: “Tango, to the Pointe” is an artistic achievement
Erin Scott-Kafadar and Alexander Richardson in Tango, to the Pointe. Photo credit: Mark Ruddick
“Style is the answer to everything,” poet Charles Bukowski once wrote in his poem Style, which included the line, “To do a dangerous thing with style is what I call art.” And by that definition Tango, to the Pointe, presented by PointeTango is the epitome of art. I recently had the pleasure of watching dancers Erin Scott-Kafadar and Alexander Richardson perform their work at the 2022 Vancouver Fringe Festival. Tango, to the Pointe is not only an impressive fusion of Argentine tango and classical ballet, but also a breathtakingly beautiful celebration of art.
Read moreGrand delusions: The most beautiful type of delusions
In Delusions and Grandeur, Karen Hall says that people forget up to 80% of what they hear within 24 hours. But 24 hours after seeing her fascinating and brilliantly creative one-person show at the Vancouver Fringe Festival, I can’t stop thinking about what I heard, saw, and experienced. An accomplished cellist, and tremendous actress as well, Hall brings audiences into her world, sharing her head space, emotions, and exquisite musical talent.
Read moreGerald Williams honours his mother’s life with grace
In this touching and insightful one-man show, written and performed by Gerald Williams, he discusses how he had to “murder” (essentially forget) the version of his mom that was affected by Alzheimer’s, so he could focus on loving the real version of his mom in her final days.
Read moreJuliet is sweet as revenge!
Why did Juliet have to die at the end of Romeo and Juliet? After all, she only knew Romeo for two days and she was only 13-years-old. Instead, what if Juliet defied her fate as a tragic female heroine and lived? In Monster Theatre’s Juliet: A Revenge Comedy, currently playing at the 2022 Vancouver Fringe Festival, we get to see Juliet defy the odds. And it isn’t easy, if the Bard has his way.
Read moreWe Will Rock You is a fun, thrilling adventure with heart
The company of TUTS’ We Will Rock You. Photo credit: Emily Cooper
Theatre Under The Stars’ (TUTS) production of We Will Rock You certainly had its work cut out for it recently when it premiered the evening after TUTS’ other show this season, Something Rotten!, which opened to excellent reviews. Fortunately, not only was We Will Rock You up to the challenge, it was ready to slay. This production of We Will Rock You is absolutely electrifying!
Read moreSomething Rotten!: A hilarious, uplifting celebration of musical theatre
The company of TUTS’ Something Rotten! Splitting centre is Katie-Rose Connors (left) and Kamyar Pazandeh (right), with Jyla Robinson (far right). Photo credit: Emily Cooper
After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, Vancouver’s iconic Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) recently reopened with a radiant production of the Tony Award-winning musical Something Rotten! at the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. And there is certainly nothing rotten about this hilarious and wonderfully polished production under the direction of Rachel Peake, with choreography by Nicol Spinola and musical direction by Brent Hughes.
Read moreWolves Are Coming for You: Enjoyably mysterious, with no bells and whistles needed
Fear has a way of stripping us down to our true selves, and it’s not always pretty. And while our ugly sides can surface, so too can virtues such as bravery, empathy, and teamwork. In short – the worst and best of us can come to light; and this message sang through in Stone’s Throw Production’s recent staging of Wolves Are Coming For You, a play written by Joel Horwood.
Read moreKinky Boots joyfully struts its stuff, celebrating inclusion and authenticity
The cast of Arts Club Theatre’s Kinky Boots. Photo credit: Moonrider Productions.
Broadway sensation Kinky Boots has kicked its way into the Stanley Theatre and my opinion of this production is: Shantay, you stay! (as RuPaul would say). Presented by Arts Club Theatre and under the wise direction of Barbara Tomasic, this staging of the Tony Award-winning musical offers high-energy, wit, poignancy, and above all else, an uplifting and inspirational message.
Read moreEmotional narrative and heartfelt music delivered in Once
Once, the 2012 Tony Award-winning musical, is a gem of a show, and thanks to Renegade Arts Co, Vancouver audiences are being treated to a taste of this work. This production is a bare bones production, but the hard-working and talented company and creative team have tried their best to deliver every ounce of quality from this show. Despite its limited resources, this production succeeds in embodying the emotions and spirit of Once.
Read moreMen Express Their Feelings: Fun and insightful play examines what can get in the way
Photo credit: Tina Krueger Kulic
Men Express Their Feelings is a one-act play that examines pre-conceived expectations of male behaviour and emotional expression – or lack thereof. At the heart of this clever and insightful play is the generational divide between Gen Z and their Gen X parents, especially when it comes to sexuality and gender norms.
Read moreAlice in Wonderland gets an East Van makeover in entertaining pantomime
Photo credit: Tim Matheson
You know it’s the holiday season again when The Cultch and Theatre Replacement light up the York Theatre with its annual pantomime. This year, the show is East Van Panto: Alice in Wonderland, and we get to watch Lewis Carroll’s famous heroine adventure through East Vancouver – as seen through a Wonderland filter.
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