SOUL FOOD: Dove closing soon, Advent webcast, PT actors everywhere!

Just nine MOURNING DOVE performances remaining, and I want to encourage you to take this one in. The thought-provoking and emotionally affecting subject matter - the play is inspired by the Robert Latimer case - is balanced by genuine warmth and humanity, as well as a surprising amount of humour.  It's always easy to draw an audience to our comedies and plays with familiar titles,  but it's shows like MOURNING DOVE, ESPRESSO, PRODIGAL SON and many other substantial pieces of theatre that are at the heart of what Pacific Theatre is about.  Closes November 15. Tickets: 731-5518 or www.pacifictheatre.org. Pick Of The Week by The Province, CBC Radio and The Georgia Straight.

And if you come see MOURNING DOVE this week, Nov 6-8, you can stay after and take in our Apprentice Showcase, STICKS & BONES!

With Advent approaching, I've been thinking back a year, to a season when God used the weeks leading up to Christmas - and Greg Pennoyer's book God With Us: Rediscovering The Meaning Of Christmas to restore my soul in a dry and weary time. I'm eager to enter into that season, and that inspiring book, once again this year, and in anticipation of that, I want to point you to a live webcast with Kathleen Norris and Gregory Wolfe coming up on November 20.

Lots of Pacific Theatre actors in shows around town these days. Julia Mackey's wonderful one-woman-show JAKE'S GIFT (Nov 11-22) features the character she created for PT's MERCY WILD. Damon Calderwood's BILLY BISHOP runs Nov 5-22 in Deep Cove (not to be confused with the UBC production helmed by Sarah Rodgers, director of ELEPHANT MAN, DRIVING MISS DAISY and JESUS MY BOY at PT). Arnica Skulstad-Brown will likely be amazing in LOVE LETTERS in Port Moody. Tom Pickett and Craig Erickson are in CYRANO at the Arts Club to Nov 23. Glen Pinchin opens Somerset Maugham's THE CIRCLE Nov 14 with United Players. Adam Bergquist opens tonight in HAVING HOPE AT HOME, Chemainus's Christmas offering, and Erla Faye Forsyth and Kyle Jespersen remind us that IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE at the Arts Club.

Gina Chiarelli is a beloved Pacific Theatre actress, though it's been a few seasons since we had her on our stage. Her painter husband Timothy Clayton is opening his studio this Sunday for a special pre-Christmas art sale. The Nelson Boschman Trio (Christmas Presence regulars) play the Blenz in Yaletown Nov 12 and 26, and Kathleen Nisbett's VIPER CENTRAL has started a regular Saturday morning bluegrass brunch gig at Aurora.

And the Solo Collective show TRUE BELIEVERS ends Nov 9.