Bard on the Beach reopens with a fanciful A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A Midsummer Night’s Dream, one of Shakespeare’s most often adapted shows, is a fitting choice for the reopening of Vancouver’s Bard on the Beach. After two years away from in-person shows due to COVID, the 33rd season shows a return to what we have all missed.

Bard on the Beach returns with A Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival’s 33^rd Season returns to Sen̓ákw/Vanier Park, and begins with the all-time favourite, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs on the BMO Mainstage from June 8 to September 24, 2022, along with two plays on the Howard Family Stage. Full details on all the productions and events are at bardonthebeach.org

“It’s thrilling to open our festival with A Midsummer Night’s Dream as we return to the Park,” said Christopher Gaze, Bard on the Beach Founding Artistic Director. “Dream was the very first production for the Festival, back in 1990, and it seems fitting to have it be our signature production as we return to our beloved Bard tents after two dark summers. This joyful story is perfect for all ages; it’s full of imagination, love and laughter and I believe it will lift the spirits of everyone who sees it. And we’re creating some unusual production elements to surprise and delight our audiences!”

Shakespeare’s comic masterpiece, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, follows four young lovers and a troupe of stumbling actors into an enchanted wood, on a journey of discovery to find out who they are, whom they love, and why it matters. They enter an alternate world where the natural and supernatural have merged and elves, goblins, and talking trees guide the way. Dream is directed by veteran Bard director and actor Scott Bellis (director – The Two Gentlemen of Verona, 2017; Bottom – A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2014).

Oberon, King of the Fairies (Billy Marchenski) is upset with his Queen Titania (Kate Besworth) and commands the mischievous fairy Puck (Sarah Roa) to charm her with a nectar that causes love-at-first sight. Puck arranges for Titania to become beguiled by a simple worker named Bottom (Carly Street). Meanwhile at court, Hermia (Heidi Damayo) loves Lysander (Olivia Hutt) but her father, Egeus (Joey Lespérance), insists she marry Demetrius (Christopher Allen), who in turn is loved by Hermia’s friend Helena (Emily Dallas)! – and the stage is set for confusion and chaos. The young lovers run away to the forest where Puck further entangles their affections by using the magic potion. Adding to the play’s humour are a group of hapless tradespeople – Peter Quince (Richard Newman), Starveling (Joey Lespérance), Snout (Isaac George-Hotchkiss), Flute (Munish Sharma) and Snug (Advah Soudack) – who are rehearsing a play they hope to present during the celebrations for the wedding of Duke Theseus (Ian Butcher) and the Amazon Queen, Hippolyta (Melissa Oei). Queen Titania’s fairies include Emily Bosak, Emma Mieback, Polina Olshevska, Elyza Samson, Shäolin Temrick-Young, and Anna Wang-Albini. Supporting characters are played by Genevieve Fleming, Karthik Kadam and Ashley O’Connell.

Scenery Designer Amir Ofek has created an extra-large open stage area to support the play’s dance and movement elements, with an abandoned warehouse that transforms into the magical forest – all set as usual against Vancouver’s stunning backdrop of English Bay.  Christine Reimer’s costume designs range from early-1900s industrial to the fantastical. Lighting DesignerGerald King will reinforce the magic of the forest in combination with Mishelle Cutler’s sound design. Choreographer Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg and Fight Director Jonathan Hawley Purvis add movement to support the magical world. Prop Designer Heidi Wilkinson, Creative Consultant Tasha Faye Evans and Intimacy Director Lisa Goebel round out the production team. Production Stage Manager Joanne P.B. Smith is assisted by Zoe Bellis (Assistant Stage Manager) and Sharon Wu (Apprentice Stage Manager). The Directing Apprentice for Dream is Laura McLean.

Performance details and Special Events for A Midsummer Night’s Dream are:

·        A Midsummer Night’s Dream runs Tuesdays through Sundays from June 8 to September 24 on the BMO Mainstage. Previews: June 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15; OPENS: June 16

·        Bard-B-Q & Fireworks – July 23, July 27 & July 30 – See A Midsummer Night’s Dream, then enjoy a delicious barbecue with all the fixings from Emelle’s Catering, plus pre-Fireworks entertainment. End the night with a private view of the spectacular Celebration of Light fireworks; this all-inclusive package offers outstanding Fireworks-event value.

·        Family Days / Relaxed Performances – July 17 & August 14 at 2pm – Family Day and Relaxed Performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream offer an open attitude towards audience members moving, making noise, and exiting/entering the auditorium freely. Age restrictions are also relaxed.

·        Accessible Performances: VocalEye – August 20 at 7:30 pm & August 28 at 2pm – A Midsummer Night’s Dream on both dates.

Play ticket prices (Regular Adult) include all fees & taxes and start at $27. Prices for special events, group bookings and multi-play ticket packages can be found online at bardonthebeach.org or by calling the Bard Box Office at 604-739-0559. All tickets are now on sale. Early booking is recommended for best seat selection (all seats are reserved) and because many performances sell out in advance.

Hannah Moscovitch’s Bunny heats up the Vancity Culture Lab this Spring!

The Cultch is pleased to present The Search Party’s Bunny, in the Vancity Culture Lab, March 17-27, 2022. Bunny is part of The Cultch’s fifth annual Femme Festival.

Honest emotion and raw carnality make Bunny a smash

Toronto Star

In Bunny we see Sorrel—a young woman raised by unconventional parents—try to reconcile her love of Victorian literature, her intellectual Marxist-feminist upbringing, and her burgeoning sexuality. From highschool, through college and into adulthood, Sorrel’s story reveals a woman who feels the weight of societal expectations, wants to make the “good” and “right” choice, while similtaneously embracing her own sexual nature. From one of Canada’s leading playwrights, Hannah Moscovitch, comes the story of a woman embracing the power of her desire, as she moves from object towards agent. 

Bunny premiered in 2016 at the Stratford Festival, and quickly garnered rave reviews for its bold and honest portrayal of female sexuality. Vancouver theatre company The Search Party presents it for the very first time in Western Canada. A relatively new theatre company, they quickly found recognition for their 2019 production of Florian Zeller’s The Father, which won 6 Jessie Awards. Mindy Parfitt, Artistic Director of The Search Party, directs this Vancouver premiere, which features a cast of some of Vancouver’s best actors—Emma Slipp, Ghazal Azarbad, Kayvon Khoshkam, Jay Hindle, Nathan Kay, Pamela Carolina Martinez, and Liam Stewart-Kanigan. “As we emerge from a period of isolation, Bunny is a welcome tonic,” says Parfitt. “Through intimacy, laughter, friendship and sex, Bunny allows us all to imagine a life in which we embolden ourselves to live with a little less fear.”

Get Tickets Here

Christine Quintana’s bilingual Clean/Espejos has its world premiere on The Cultch’s Historic Theatre stage

The Cultch and Neworld Theatre are thrilled to present the world premiere of Clean/Espejos, a bilingual play—in Spanish and English—with subtitles in both languages, March 10-19, 2022, at the Historic Theatre.

The lives of two women from very different worlds intertwine in the illusionary paradise of a Mexican resort. Adriana, a hotel floor manager reeling from a family loss, has a chance encounter with Sarah, a Canadian wedding guest with a long-held traumatic secret—when their worlds collide on a fateful rainy night, both women are forced to face their past and all that they’ve tried to keep hidden.

Clean/Espejos is a new work from celebrated playwright Christine Quintana with translation and adaptation by Paula Zelaya Cervantes that intimately explores different perspectives of female solidarity, secrets, and survival across two languages. 

Las vidas de dos mujeres de mundos muy diferentes se mezclan en el falso paraíso de un resort mexicano. Adriana es una supervisora de piso de hotel y está procesando una pérdida familiar. Sarah es invitada en una boda y es atormentada por su pasado. Cuando sus caminos se cruzan por accidente, ambas mujeres deben enfrentar los ecos del pasado.

Clean/Espejos es una nueva obra de la célebre dramaturga Christine Quintana, con traducción y adaptación de Paula Zelaya que explora diferentes perspectivas de solidaridad femenina, secretos y sobrevivencia, de manera sorprendente y cómica.

Vancouver performers Genevieve Fleming and Alexandra Lainfiesta play the roles of Sarah and Adrianna, the two women whose worlds collide at a Mexican resort in Christina Quintana’s brand new play. Daniela Atiencia co-directs with Chelsea Haberlin, artistic director of Neworld Theatre, a company with a reputation of always striving to create shows from perspectives that are underrepresented on stage in ways that are supportive and welcoming for all people. In advance of presenting Clean/Espejos, Neworld Theatre brought on a team of five Spanish-speaking Latin American cultural ambassadors (Ruth Suarez, Paula Lara, Luz de Maria Vasquez, Ana Lorena Perez, and Dulce Maria Zamudio) to help them in all aspects of creating and presenting this bilingual show. Having this team on board from the very beginning means that the bilingual and cultural aspects of this play have been a vital part of production at every step. 

The in-person run of Clean/Espejos will be followed by an online run—part of RE/PLAY, The Cultch’s Digital Playground—on demand April 5-10, 2022.

Get Tickets Here

Kevin Loring’s satirical comedy Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer fills the York Theatre with laughter this spring!

The Cultch is thrilled to present Savage Society’s Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer, March 3-13, 2022, at the York Theatre, on the unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and səl̓ílwətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

In Trickster Stories, no one walks away unscathed.

Kevin Loring, Director & Writer

Beautiful Man flips the script and makes men the objects

Governor General’s Award-winning playwright Erin Shields has created a world where women get the meaty, strong, narrative-defining roles and men are there to be viewed.

Tracy Jennissen, Ivy Charles, and Melissa Oei play the three women dissecting movies (within a movie, within a movie), with Richard Meen as the Beautiful Man. The women create an amiable environment to discuss their favourite movie, welcoming the audience into their circle immediately. The friendship was warm, the women’s excitement over the characters real, and the lust over the nameless men mocking.

East Van Panto returns with Alice in Wonderland

“A holiday tradition that joyously skewers convention.” 

— Kathleen Oliver, the Georgia Straight

The Cultch and Theatre Replacement are thrilled to present East Van Panto: Alice in Wonderland, at the York Theatre and online, November 24, 2021 – Jan 2, 2022.

Chan Centre Announces 2019/20 Concert Series Featuring Music Legends and Powerful Emerging Talents

The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia (UBC) announces its 2019/20 series, featuring empowering narratives from marginalized communities, vibrant exaltations of multiculturalism, and breathtaking musicality in the Chan Shun Concert Hall. Over the course of nine concerts, extraordinary talent from around the world will converge in Vancouver, including an icon of Americana, the height of jazz royalty, and a compelling Norwegian songstress. Also just announced is the 2019/20 Beyond Words series, featuring four heartrending interdisciplinary performances that affirm the importance of diversity in storytelling.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of my role as curator for the Chan Centre Presents series is the sheer delight of discovery.” says Joyce Hinton, Co-Managing Director and curator of the Chan Centre Presents series. “This season brings Vancouver debuts, fresh new sounds, and time-honoured art forms from around the world to the Chan Centre stage. Encounter the ethereal harmonies of an extraordinary Sámi artist from Norway, the impactful gospel-inspired songs of the civil rights movement, and the romance of Cuba’s golden era revived for a new generation. Each of the brilliant artists we welcome will be taking us on an exploratory journey — so bring your sense of adventure!”

The 2019/20 Chan Centre Presents series includes:

ROSANNE CASH
Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 8pm
A true icon of roots music, Rosanne Cash’s first album in five years, She Remembers Everything, showcases “uniquely textured stories from a feminine perspective” (Rolling Stone). This lush, soulful collection of songs offers a poetic reckoning with feminist rage, trauma, love, and mortality. The four-time Grammy Award-winner and best-selling memoirist presents an unflinching perspective in her most personal musical project yet.

MARI BOINE
Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 8pm
Bringing to life the rich sound of her native Sámi language, vocalist Mari Boine has cultivated a following with her trailblazing sound that harmonizes shamanic beats with bold expressionism. Influenced by her cultural roots but drawn to the genres of jazz, folk, rock, and world music, she has become an outspoken political activist for the Sámi, while weaving together threads of traditional Norwegian folksong with the sounds of the natural world.

DAKHABRAKHA
Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 8pm
Eastern European quartet DakhaBrakha presents their brand of “ethno chaos,” melding together Ukrainian folk music with Indian, Arabic, African, Russian, and Australian instrumentation. Their concerts have been called experiences in “utter brilliance” (NPR), marked by an avant-garde approach to music that flies from West African rhythms to 20th century minimalism in the style of Philip Glass. This high-octane group is unexpected, fun, and a mesmerizing feast for the senses.

FLAMENCO LEGENDS: THE PACO DE LUCÍA PROJECT
Saturday, November 2, 2019 at 8pm
Paying tribute to their former bandleader, the Flamenco Legends project celebrates the late guitarist Paco de Lucía with an evening of incredible music and dance that delves into his rich legacy. Produced by composer and industry legend Javier Limón, the Paco de Lucía Project features the sextet that helped the artist himself re-define flamenco with jazz and world music influences. The group features de Lucía’s nephew Antonio Sánchez (guitar), Israel Suárez “Piraña” (percussion), Alain Pérez (bass), Antonio Serrano (harmonica), David de Jacoba (vocals), and Antonio Fernández “Farruco” (dance).

ORQUESTA AKOKÁN
Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 8pm
Old Havana comes to life with this 13-piece ensemble that brings together Cuba’s top musicians and the best of New York’s Latin music scene. The golden era of mambo is revived in this deeply soulful collaboration that includes inimitable vocalist José “Pepito” Gómez, channelling the big bands of the 1940s and 1950s. The Yoruba word “Akokán” means “from the heart” which is fitting considering the group’s debut album was released by Daptone Records, the independent label known for introducing the raw emotion of Charles Bradley, Antibalas, and Sharon Jones to the world.

WE SHALL OVERCOME: A CELEBRATION OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 8pm
Pianist, conductor, composer, arranger, and arts educator Damien Sneed commemorates Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy with a vibrant, multi-genre performance. The Sphinx Medal of Excellence-winner weaves a lush tapestry of music and culture with recordings from Dr. King’s speeches and critically acclaimed guests from gospel, classical, jazz, spirituals, and Broadway. Often regarded as an “ambassador for classical and gospel music” (Wynton Marsalis), Sneed presents a moving evening of positivity and hope.

DIANNE REEVES: BELEZA BRAZIL
Sunday, March 8, 2020 at 7pm
Five-time Grammy Award-winner and “one of our generation’s definitive jazz masters” (Huffington Post), Dianne Reeves explores the sounds of South America in her brand new project Beleza Brazil (“the beauty of Brazil”). Accompanied by the talented Romero Lubambo (guitar), John Beasley (piano), Itaiguara Brandão (bass), and Rafael Barata (drums), Reeves lends her timeless voice and commanding presence to a verdant program that explores both Brazilian popular song and the traditional influences of the country’s music legends.

LA SANTA CECILIA
Saturday, April 4, 2020 at 8pm
Inspired by Pan-American influences while drawing on their own Mexican heritage, LA-based band La Santa Cecilia embodies the bicultural nature of life in the US. Named after Saint Cecilia — the patron saint of musicians — the fun-loving quartet got their start on LA’s vibrant Olvera Street and draws on narratives of love, loss, and everyday struggles while weaving together influences from cumbia, bossa nova, rumba, bolero, tango, R&B, jazz, and more.

KALABANTÉ: AFRIQUE EN CIRQUE
Saturday, April 18, 2020 at 8pm
Montreal-based Guinean Yamoussa Bangoura imports the athleticism, agility, and animation of African music and arts by fusing them with European circus traditions in his stunning multidisciplinary performances. With his 12-member troupe, the artistic director imbues a sense of youthful joy in his productions that highlight multiculturalism. Afrique en Cirque combines vibrant acrobatics, costuming, lighting, design, and movement with the electric polyrhythms of West Africa, featuring exceptional musicians on kora, saxophone, bass, and percussion.

Thone and Games returns to Granville Island for third year

A lonely Queen sits atop the Iron Throne, but her kingdom is under threat from all sides. The final fight between the Lannisters, Starks, and Targaryens is about to go down and everyone will probably die…laughing. 

Vancouver TheatreSports™ (VTS) is thrilled to present Throne and Games – The Last Laugh at The Improv Centre on Granville Island every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 7:30pm from Friday, April 26 to Saturday, June 15, 2019. This marks the last ‘season’ in VTS’ comedy trilogy, which began in 2015 with Throne and Games – Laughter is Coming and continued with Throne and Games – A Chance of Snow in 2016. Ticket prices start at $10.75 and are on sale now at www.vtsl.com.

The satirical parody, loosely based on HBO’s popular TV series, will feature some familiar characters along with a myriad of unexpected plot twists as suggested by the audience. Because of this key element, no two performances can be the same. As in its TV inspiration, the audience has no idea what to expect next…and neither do the improvisers.

VTS improvisers are master actors – creating the plot line, and developing the characters and dialogue on the spot based on audience involvement and suggestions. It’s this unpredictability that adds to the humour of every performance and has audiences returning to see different performances of the same show again and again.

With a new scenario mapped out by popular ensemble members Graeme Duffy and Denise Jones, a murderous cast of characters, an innovative set by Mo Sherwood and more plot twists than the original TV show, this all-new VTS production comes with a severe hilarity warning: attendance could lead to sore sides from laughing.

Which of the characters will have the last laugh and sit triumphant on the Iron Throne? Who knows? You’ll have to come and see for yourself to find out.

Vancouver Opera announces full festival program, including community & special events and a World Premiere

For the third edition of its annual Festival presented by BMO, Vancouver Opera has curated nine days of voice, music, theatre and visual arts for the curious of all ages.

Exploring the theme of Fairytales & Fables, the celebration officially opens on April 27^th with performances of the mainstage festival operas. Rossini’s much-loved La Cenerentola (Cinderella) kicks off the day with a 2:00 p.m. matinee at the Vancouver Playhouse. Gounod’s masterpiece, Faustwill be at 7:30 p.m. at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. The celebration continues with a dynamic series of programs, panels and performances daily from April 27^th to May 5^th.

Festival highlights include the world premiere of Brian Current’s The River of Lightin co-production with the Vancouver Bach Choir on May 3 for one performance only. One of Canada’s outstanding composers, Brian Current conceived this exciting large-scale oratorio for chorus, soloists and orchestra in a multi-movement composition.

On April 28^th the Vancouver Opera invites audiences of all ages to its Festival Open House; a full day of free community stage performances, workshops and activities. Watch a live circus spectacular from CircusWest at šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn (formerly QET Plaza), take part in a backstage tour of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, enjoy performances by the Roaming Diva, join talks and panel discussions and participate in VOF ArtWalks. These events run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the Patio Bar open all afternoon.

The CBC Chamber Music Series returns to CBC Studio 700. These short, original chamber music concerts performed by members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and Chorus and invited guests feature music inspired by Fairytales and Fables. Artists will include the Bergmann Piano Duo, members of the Yulanda M. Faris Young Artists Program, and members of the Standing Wave Ensemble.

Vancouver Opera presents Opera Off Siteon May 1^st ; pop-up performances at the Main Street Brewing Company and a screening of the 1926 black and white film adaptation of Faust at the Fox Cabaret featuring live accompaniment and a special presentation of Fenlon & Fenlonfeaturing soprano Rachel Fenlon.

“Our Festival is evolving to be an inclusive event showcasing the finest work of Vancouver Opera as well as many of our community partners” says Vancouver Opera General Director, Kim Gaynor. “We hope to make opera more accessible by breaking down the perceived barriers to attending and inviting everyone to take part in the celebration.”

Tickets and Info: Vancouver Opera Ticket Centre 604 683 0222 or vancouveropera.ca