stephen adly guirgis | begging god for an ounce of daylight

Fear has cost me years of my life, it has been at the root of my depression, and it has inflicted a lot of real pain on me and, by association, on others. I have found that – for me – the only thing that truly relieves that fear, that allows me the liberation to try to live and to work and to be the person that I want to be – the person that I am – is to have some kind of connection and relationship with “God”, or, as I often rebelliously address Him – “fuckin’ God.”

I don’t want God in my life. At all. Ever. Trust me. And I don’t know what God is. But, what I grudgingly – very grudgingly – admit, is that I need Him. You may read this play and love it. Or maybe you’ll hate it. Maybe you’ll skip over it entirely, or skim it and get bored. I don’t know. But I need to say that, in the end, in the pathetic, sad hours, after all the cigarettes have been smoked and every tool of procrastination exploited, what got this play written was me getting on my knees on the linoleum floor of my kitchen and begging God for an ounce of daylight. And those ounces came despite my best efforts to ignore them. Maybe this only proves that God can help you write a shitty play, I don’t know. I’m not here to sell God. I’m the kid who stole money out of the church collection plate to buy nickel bags and play pinball – and I wouldn’t put it past me to try it again. But, this God stuff is true. For me.


Stephen Adly Guirgis
author of Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot

photo: Rob Olguin in Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train

dec 22 | christmas presence | set lists

CHRISTMAS PRESENCE

Saturday matinee, Dec 22 2012

ACT ONE

JOY TO THE WORLD | Nelson Boschman

The Butterfingers Angel, by William Gibson

THE ANGEL GABRIEL | Michael Hart

Man of Duty, by Tim Anderson

CAVE | Sheree Plett & Jeremy Eisenhauer

God In The Doorway, by Annie Dillard

OPEN UP | Nelson Boschman & Bekka Birkner

Pretty Well Picked Over, by Mike Royko

MAYBE THIS CHRISTMAS | Jonathan Anderson

Christmas Carol: Scrooge's Nephew & "No prisons?" by Charles Dickens

I HEARD THE BELLS | Jonathan Anderson

Snow Angel, by Tom Carson

CLOAK ROOM  | Sheree Plett & Jeremy Eisenhauer

Christ Climbed Down, by Lawrence Ferlinghetti

BEAUTIFUL STAR OF BETHLEHEM | Michael Hart

ACT TWO

ALL HAIL AND WELCOME | Michael Hart

The Seven Principles of a Successful Christmas, by Garrison Keillor

CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE | Nelson Boschman

I WONDER AS I WANDER  | Sheree Plett & Jeremy Eisenhauer

Every Man Heart Lay Down, by Lorenz Graham

COME THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS | Jonathan Anderson

A Christmas Carol, "Early The Next Morning," by Charles Dickens

ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH | Michael Hart

No Safe Place, by Sheila Rosen

LIGHT AT THE STABLE | Sheree Plett & Jeremy Eisenhauer

*

Saturday evening, Dec 22 2012

ACT ONE

JOY TO THE WORLD | Nelson Boschman

The Butterfingers Angel

THE ANGEL GABRIEL | Michael Hart

?

MAYBE THIS CHRISTMAS | Jonathan Anderson

?

LIGHTS USED TO SHINE | Sheree Plett & Jeremy Eisenhauer

Thaddeus Bristol, by David Sedaris

CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE | Nelson Boschman

Father Christmas, by C.S. Lewis

COME THOU LONG-EXPECTED JESUS | Jonathan Anderson

Snow Angel, by Tom Carson

CLOAK ROOM  | Sheree Plett & Jeremy Eisenhauer

ALL HAIL AND WELCOME | Michael Hart

ACT TWO

WASSAILING

BEAUTIFUL STAR OF BETHLEHEM | Michael Hart

Cotton Patch Gospel, by Tom Key

WE THREE KINGS | Jonathan Anderson

LET ALL MORTAL FLESH KEEP SILENT | Spencer Capier

Herod, by W.H. Auden

I HEARD THE BELLS | Jonathan Anderson

I WONDER AS I WANDER  | Sheree Plett & Jeremy Eisenhauer

Seth, by David Kossoff

ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH | Michael Hart

Creche, by Nicola Colhoun

LIGHT AT THE STABLE | Sheree Plett & Jeremy Eisenhauer

Links to several of these texts can be found here

dec 20 | set list | christmas presence

ACT ONE
Christmas Is Coming | Nelson Boschman, Bekka Birkner, Kenton Wiens
Charlie & Linus, by Charles Schultz
Christmas Time Is Here | Nelson Boschman, Bekka Birkner, Kenton Wiens
*
O Come All Ye Faithful | Lance Odegard
Innkeeper, by Frederick Buechner
Best Of Me | Sheree Plett & Jeremy Eisenhauer
Journey of the Magi, T.S. Eliot
The Magi's Page | Zoe Thiessen
Wise Fools, by Mike Mason
Impossible Dream | Lance Odegard
Christmas At The Turlingtons, by Stuart McLean
Cloak Room | Sheree Plett & Jeremy Eisenhauer

ACT TWO
I Saw Three Ships | Nelson Boschman, Bekka Birkner, Kenton Wiens
Politically Correct Christmas
Cold Gray Winter | Sheree Plett & Jeremy Eisenhauer
Screed, by Ron Reed
When The Ship Comes In | Lance Odegard
Your King Has Arrived | Zoe Thiessen
Foursquare, by Roderick Jelema
Joseph's Night Watch, by Karl Petersen
Cave | Sheree Plett & Jeremy Eisenhauer
Joseph's Suspicion, by Rainer Maria Rilke
O Sapientia, by Madeleine L'Engle
Light at the Stable | Sheree Plett & Jeremy Eisenhauer
No Safe Place, by Sheila Rosen
Alleluia Christ Is Born | Lance Odegard

Links to several of these texts can be found here

dec 19 | christmas presence | set list

ACT ONE

Christmas Is Coming (Nelson Boschman)

Charlie & Linus, by Charles Schultz

Blue Christmas (Kathleen Nisbett)

Hungry Man, by Ron Reed

O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Laurel)

Emmanuel, by Frederick Buechner & Madeleine L'Engle

Impossible Dream  (Lance Odegard)

Santa Claus: An Engineer's Perspective, author unknown

White Christmas (Garth Bowen)

A Keen Sense of Occasion, by John Lekich

All Wrapped Up In You (Laurel)

Presents, by Luci Shaw

Open Up (Nelson Boschman)

ACT TWO

Light House (Laurel)

Breaking Up Christmas  (Kathleen Nisbett)

The Seven Principles of a Successful Christmas, by Garrison Keillor

Jingle Bells (Laurel)

Macy's Christmas Elf, by David Sedaris

God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen  (Garth Bowen)

The Little Towns of Bethlehem, by John Terpstra

Huron Carol (Garth Bowen)

Joseph & Mary, by various poets

Golden Slumbers  (Lance Odegard)

Every Humble Knee (Kathleen Nisbett)

Feast Days, by Annie Dillard

Alleluia, Christ is Born (Lance Odegard)

Christmas Prayer, by Robert Louis Stevenson

wardrobe | artistic director notes

Here are Ron's AD notes on THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, now running in Coquitlam at The Evergreen Cultural Centre until December 22.

The Chronicles of Narnia captivate us not simply because they create a world we want to live in, but – as with all great literature – because they invite us to create that world ourselves, co-creators with the author. The world C.S. Lewis describes is vivid enough – a lamp post in a snowy clearing, fauns and dryads and dwarves and and icy queen, a secretive supper in a cosy beaver lodge – but it depends on you, the reader, to bring it to life. Lewis is a master of suggesting a world both exotic and familiar, providing just enough specific details to make us want to fill in the rest. With our imaginations.

When Pacific Theatre first began to devise our staging of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, we knew we didn't want to reduce the mighty, untamed Aslan to an actor in a lion suit. We knew we couldn't replicate the mob of horrible creatures at the Stone Table, or build onstage any sort of realistic forest or ice castle, or fill the stage with snow that would fall and freeze and thaw.

We weren't making a movie: we were creating theatre. We couldn't hand you depictions of all the products of the author's mind: it simply can't be done on a stage. Even if we had the budget for a massive cast and a theatre full of special effects, we knew it wouldn't be worth the effort.

Because the best we could build for you wouldn't measure up to the Narnia you can create in your mind. The fact is, that's how fantasy works: the story gets told, but you do the fantasizing. It's only magic because you bring the magic: Narnia gets a hold on your heart because you help build it, bringing all your senses to bear as you build the images, imagine the smells and textures, as you work with the creator to make a world.

And that's exactly how live theatre works: we depend on you to create a world with us. Without our audience, we're just a bunch of ordinary people putting on somebody else's clothes and talking weird. If you don't bring imagination to the theatre, if you don't show up willing to suspend your disbelief and pretend right along with us, you won't get your money's worth.

So we bring you the simplest possible Narnia: two grown children in an empty room where, once upon a time, years before, magic happened. If only it could happen again....

job notice | canadian badlands passion play

Three job notices from our friends at the Canadian Badlands Passion Play, running throughout the entire summer.

Crowd Director:
The Canadian Badlands Passion Play is currently accepting applications for a Crowd Director for the summer of 2013. The contract would run from May 14th to July 21st, with a 4-day pre-rehearsal directors’ retreat Friday, March 29th to Monday, April 1st . There is also a mandatory post mortem meeting on Tuesday, July 23. The Passion Play work week runs Thursday through Monday.

Job Description:

Part of a directing team consisting of: Lead Directors (2 Co-Directors), Assistant/Fight Director

Due to the large number of volunteer performers involved in populating the world of the Passion Play, a Crowd Director is hired to deal specifically with the body of performers without lines that are imperative to many scenes. Experience in large scale story telling (i.e. Greek theatre, opera, etc.), corporate movement, and physical theatre is essential. The role of the Crowd Director is very similar to that of the 3rd AD in Film productions. Their job is to work as a liaison between the Directors and the large group of performers of the play to execute the vision of the Director/s for the play. They are responsible for:

• Assigning crowd performers into small groups and large villages to provide the right amount of Men, Women, Children, Singers and Musicians into each crowd scene in the script.
• Designing, creating, and implementing crowd movement that fulfills the story ideas and vision of the Lead Director/s, Musical Directors, Fight Directors and Choreographers.
• Notating details of crowd blocking for the directors as needed.
• Assisting Stage Management to keep track of the overall blocking of the crowd performers during all scenes.
• Acting as a liaison between the individual performers of the crowd and the Lead Director/s, Musical Directors, Fight Directors and Choreographers by answering queries and questions or passing the questions on to the Directors at appropriate times to bring back the correct answers to the performers.
• Assisting with performer moral by ensuring each individual performer feels they are important within the world of the play and the production as a whole.

The Canadian Badlands Passion Play is one of Canada's largest outdoor theatrical events. Now in its 20th season, the company annually depicts the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in dramatic form. An epic story told on an epic scale, this year's production features a creative retelling of the Gospel of John by a mixed professional/volunteer cast of approximately 200 actors in a 2700-seat outdoor amphitheatre.

Any interested applicants are encouraged to email a resume and cover letter to Ms. Ailsa Birnie at pplayproduction@me.com no later than December 5, 2012. Short listed candidates will be contacted for interviews in the first two weeks of December with a hiring decision by Christmas, 2012.

Assistant Director/Fight Director:
The Canadian Badlands Passion Play is currently accepting applications for an Assistant/Fight Director for the summer of 2013. The contract would run from May 14th to July 21st, with a 3-day pre-rehearsal directors’ retreat Friday, March 29th to Monday, April 1st. There is also a mandatory post mortem meeting on Tuesday, July 23. The Passion Play work week runs Thursday through Monday.

Job Description:

Part of a directing team consisting of: Lead Directors (2 Co-Directors), Crowd Director

The Assistant/Fight Director’s responsibilities include the following:

• Assisting the director with background research for the show.
• Taking notes during rehearsal - usually on such elements as specific problem areas, character and relationship problems, actor-related blocking and acting problems, line notes, and so on.
• Working with leads and principles on their blocking, scene work or character development as approved or designated by the Lead Director/s.
• Directing specific scenes or components of scenes as designated by the Lead Director/s.
• Ensuring the safety of the cast, crew, and audience in any sequences requiring aggressive physical contact.
• Recommending to the Director the number and type of fighters needed for casting, conducting fight auditions and advising the director on casting of fighters.
• Designing, creating, and implementing fight/action sequences that fulfill the story ideas and vision of the Lead Director/s, Musical Directors, and Choreographers
• Rehearsing everyone who fights and assisting in additional combat/movement staging at the director's discretion.

The Canadian Badlands Passion Play is one of Canada's largest outdoor theatrical events. Now in its 20th season, the company annually depicts the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in dramatic form. An epic story told on an epic scale, this year's production features a creative retelling of the Gospel of John by a mixed professional/volunteer cast of approximately 200 actors in a 2700-seat outdoor amphitheatre.

Any interested applicants are encouraged to email a resume and cover letter to Ms. Ailsa Birnie at pplayproduction@me.com no later than December 5, 2012. Short listed candidates will be contacted for interviews in the first two weeks of December with a hiring decision by Christmas, 2012.

Design Coordinator

The Canadian Badlands Passion Play is currently accepting applications for the Design Coordinator for the summer of 2013. To facilitate Production deadlines for the project, the contract will be a flat rate fee for meeting dates and deadlines between Jan 1st/2013 through to July 15th/2013. The initial Design meetings and Drawing Deadlines would be in Early January 2013 and onsite production dates would be from early may to mid July.

Job Description:

The Design Coordinator is a person hired to function as a intermediary between the Directors and the production team during the final years of a production script where the goal is no longer creating new looks and pieces but maintaining and completing the look and idea of what was designed in the initial two years of a script. Once major design is done in year one and two the Design Coordinator assumes the responsibility for maintaining and or completing the original design concepts with repairs and additions that arise in the following three years. They function as a Fight or Dance captain would to the Fight Director or Choreographer but with more freedom to bring their own ideas into production.

This is the first year we will be using a Design Coordinator so this position may evolve as needed. The individual should be quick on their feet and amiable to suggestion and changing circumstance. Any experience with Landscape Design & Architecture and/or practical Construction Design & Architecture will be a strong asset as the Passion Play set and stage are a large exterior playing space housing a large cast made up of well over 150 performers and animals. The ideal candidate will be familiar with both standard theatre design concepts and film production design, as this production world lives a little in both.

The Canadian Badlands Passion Play is one of Canada's largest outdoor theatrical events. Now in its 20th season, the company annually depicts the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in dramatic form. An epic story told on an epic scale, this year's production features a creative retelling of the Gospel of John. The script will be originated by a mixed professional/volunteer cast of approximately 200 actors in a 2600- seat outdoor amphitheatre.

Any interested applicants are encouraged to email a resume and cover letter to Ms. Ailsa Birnie at pplayproduction@me.com no later than December 10, 2012

christmas presence | north shore photos

Here's some shots from the set up and rehearsal for CHRISTMAS PRESENCE ON THE NORTH SHORE last weekend.  Abbotsford, we're coming to you next!

dec 9 | christmas presence north shore | set list

At Sutherland Church

ACT ONE
O TANNENBAUM (Nelson Boschman)
Charlie & Linus | Charles Schultz
I CELEBRATE THE DAY (Andy Frew)
Christmas Dream | Eugene Peterson
GO TELL IT ON THE MOUNTAIN (Garth Bowen)
Screed | Ron Reed
WWJB (Allen Desnoyers)
Macy's Christmas Elf | David Sedaris
OPEN UP (Nelson Boschman)
A Child's Christmas In Scarborough | Howard Engel
WHITE CHRISTMAS (Garth Bowen)
Every Man Heart Lie Down | Lorenz Graham
ON THIS HOLY NIGHT (Anna Vandas)

ACT TWO
WASSAILING (Spencer Capier)
Holiday Greeting | George Carlin
GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN (Garth Bowen)
A Christmas Carol | Charles Dickens
ONCE IN ROYAL DAVID'S CITY (Anna Vandas)
For The Time Being | W.H. Auden
THE KING (Andy Frew)
GIFTS OF THE MAGI (Allen Desnoyers)
Shepherds | Gospel of Luke
ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH (Allen Desnoyers)
Christmas Dream: Angels | Ron Reed
FIRST NOEL (Anna Vandas)
A Child's Christmas In Wales | Dylan Thomas

Songs in boldface, with singers bracketed
Sources for readings listed with author's name: all the reading was done by Ron

Our other musicians;
Becca Birkner
Rick Colhoun
Kenton Wiens
Brett Ziegler

wardrobe | responses

What people are saying about THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE.

"Director Kerri Norris and her two young actors, Mack Gordon and Kaitlin Williams, resourcefully recreate the magic of Narnia as a theatre of the imagination." | Jerry Wasserman, The Province

"In a month where stages are awash in spectacle, there is something lovely and heartwarming about being told a fantastic tale in an intimate setting. With The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Pacific Theatre offers just this; a timeless and familiar story relayed in a fresh and meaningful way." | Brian Paterson, Laura Murray PR

"Whether you've seen this production before or not, go, find out for yourself the wonders that await you beyond the wardrobe for there is plenty of magic still to be found in Pacific Theatre’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe." | Mark Robins, GayVancouver.Net

"It was a lot of fun! The two person interpretation works perfectly for the stage because it plays on the real magic of theatre: make believe. Watching the actors quickly shift from one character to another was funny, shocking and powerful. Very well done!" | Ryan Scramstad, audience email

"Kudos to the two actors!" | Alan Woo, Fun Fun Vancouver.

"My friend and I left inspired, and I have to say I felt years younger than when I walked in just a few hours before. So this holiday season, take a cue from your childhood and leave the real world behind – at least for a few hours. Because really, there’s a little bit of magic everywhere. All you have to do is look for it." | Melissa Cornwell, Vancouver Vantage

"I was impressed on so many levels... The storytelling blew me away. Switching characters and roles, even Santa Clause being played by your female actor... I've been telling everyone about it. Wow! Thank you." | Jonathan Derouchie, audience email


"Even if Lucy and Peter were not able to rediscover the wardrobe’s magic, Kaitlin Williams and Mack Gordon allowed the audience to create their own magic through the power of imagination." | John Jane, Review Vancouver

"A wooden floor, a cozy chair, an antique lamp, an old chest…and a wooden wardrobe. This simply lit, cozy stage is the setting for Pacific Theatre’s The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Rather than mount a large production with all four children from the original story, plus the rest of the menagerie, the roles are taken over by two talented young actors, Mack Gordon (Peter) and Kaitlin Williams (Lucy). Each of the two transform into characters with the donning of a coat from the wardrobe, and/or contortion of their faces and bodies." | Ariane Colenbrander, Ariane C Designs

wardrobe | more photos

More photos for THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE - opening tonight!

christmas presence | performers

Here's the roster of performers for this year's CHRISTMAS PRESENCE performances!

DEC 9 (NORTH SHORE)
Garth Bowen
Anna Vandas
Andy Frew
Allen DesNoyers
Spencer Capier
Kenton Wiens
Brett Ziegler
Becca Birkner
Rick Colhoun
Nelson Boschman

DEC 15 (ABBY)
Lance Odegard
Anna Vandas
Jonathan Andreson
Becca Birkner
Rick Colhoun
Nelson Boschman

DEC 19 (PT)
Garth Bowen
Laurell
Lance Odegard
Kathleen Nisbet
Becca Birkner
Rick Colhoun
Nelson Boschman

DEC 20 (PT)
Laurell
Sheree Plett
Jeremy Eisenhauer
Zoe Thiessen
Kenton Wiens
Becca Birkner
Rick Colhoun
Nelson Boschman

DEC 21 (PT)
Peter LaGrand
Carolyn Arends
Lance Odegard
Anna Vandas
Spencer Capier
Becca Birkner
Kenton Wiens
Rick Colhoun
Nelson Boschman

DEC 22 (PT matinee)
Michael Hart
Sheree Plett
Jeremy Eisenhauer
Jonathan Anderson
Spencer Capier
Kenton Wiens
Becca Birkner
Rick Colhoun
Nelson Boschman

DEC 22 (PT evening)
Michael Hart
Sheree Plett
Jeremy Eisenhauer
Jonathan Anderson
Spencer Capier
Kenton Wiens
Becca Birkner
Rick Colhoun
Nelson Boschman

wardrobe | video trailer

Check out our video trailer for THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, care of the talented Peter Carlone!

dec 6+7 | race | craig erickson

Longtime friend of PT Craig Erickson just sent this email, about the abrupt closing and brief, coming resurrection of the Mamet show he's in...

Last Saturday night, there was a fire next door to Studio 16 where we were hoping to finish our successful run of RACE by David Mamet. 100 shivering people on the sidewalk (some having travelled great distances) in hopes of seeing this explosive take on race and the justice system - Mamet style!

It seemed like we were allowed to go back in, but no - the sprinkler system meant a very wet stage. Cancellation. What a disappointment. A very incomplete feeling.

But Mitch and Murray Productions (as well as the cast and crew) have decided that that closing night can't be the end. Thanks to a lot of compromise and effort from many parties, we are offering 2 more nights -

Thursday December 6th and Friday December 7th
8pm
Discount 20$ tickets at the door with 15% of the gate going to help a family on the North Shore
Or buy tickets online

If you've got a night free (80 minutes), check out this play, and participate in some Christmas redemption!

Here's a blog post about it all from director Aaron Craven.

dec 22 | voc gospel choir

Another soul-activating concert from Operations Manager Alison Chisholm's choir the VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir! Below is an email from choir director Chico.

Aloha and Mele Kalikimaka Alison

Please ask your friends and family to celebrate the Joy of the Season with the VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir.

Our feature holiday concert will be Sweet Soul Gospel Christmas where we will celebrate by performing spiritual and inspirational songs of the season with a little Motown thrown in to mix things up!

Sweet Soul Gospel Christmas
Saturday, December 22nd, 2012 - 7:30 pm
Massey Theatre
735 Eighth Avenue,
New Westminster

Admission by minimum donation:
Adults $20
Seniors & Students $15
Youth 10-15 $10
Kids under 9 FREE
Tickets Available at the Door (tickets are not sold in advance)
Doors open at 6:45 pm

For additional information email us at info@VOCSoulGospelChoir.com or call 604.876.3363

The VOC Sweet Soul Gospel Choir was founded by music director, Checo Tohomaso, with the goal of uniting people of different cultures and beliefs to deliver a message of love, joy, peace, hope and healing through their common passion: singing.

We sing six-part harmony and our 130 members include men and women of all ages, ethnicities and religions. Delivering a high-energy, positive vibe, our dynamic choir mixes together the sounds of Soul, Gospel, R&B, Jazz, Hawaiian, Calypso, and Reggae. Our animated delivery results in an audience that can’t resist joining in by toe tapping, foot stomping, jumping, singing, dancing and hand clapping!


Thank you and God Bless from the

VOC SWEET SOUL GOSPEL CHOIR
We'll Activate Your Soul!
email: info@VOCSoulGospelChoir.com
www.VOCSoulGospelChoir.com

wardrobe | the vancouver sun

Below is an excerpt from a fantastic article in The Vancouver Sun interviewing Kaitlin Williams and Mack Gordon on THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE. Get the full article in context here.

For Kaitlin Williams, performing in the Pacific Theatre Production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe practically qualifies as a Christmas miracle.

When she was 12, Williams saw Pacific Theatre produce the stage adaptation of the C.S. Lewis classic — one of her all-time favourite books — and was so dazzled by the idea of just two actors being able to create the imaginary world of Narnia that the production inspired her to become an actor.

“It was the first play that I ever saw where the actors played more than one part and I was just blown away by it,” Williams told The Sun. She can’t recall the name of the performer who played the role she’s now taken on, but she’s never forgotten the performance. “She was Lucy and then she was the White Witch and then she was a wolf and I was sitting there and I thought, ‘That looks like a lot of fun. I would like to do that.’ So it’s a pretty cool full-circle moment for me for sure. I love that it’s told with two actors. There’s nothing more powerful than the imagination when we’re trying to create these epic worlds on stage.”

Read the rest on the Vancouver Sun website!

wardrobe | director's notes

The notes from director Kerri Norris about THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE.

I remember reading the Chronicles of Narnia as a child and loving the books but The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in particular. There is something about that story, contained on its own outside of the rest of the series that resonated and stayed with me. The idea of a commonplace wardrobe being a portal to a world that at first seems to be a dream but becomes all too real. The battle between dark and light, redemption and betrayal, and a world trapped in a blanket of winter. (I did live in Saskatchewan however so my dislike of the cold and snow was probably heavily influenced by the weather outside.) But it was a story of my childhood and as with other childhood things it was set on my shelf, a memory I could revisit when nostalgic.

Now, my daughters love stories. They love to hear stories we make up when we are in the dark of our tent curled up in our sleeping bags or cuddled all together at home with pillows piled all around. And books. Any book, short, long, with pictures or without. So my husband and I started when they were very young pulling out our favourite books from the shelf and reading aloud to them. I’d loved these stories as a child and wanted to share the feelings they inspired within me. Then we introduced them to the world of Narnia. There is something about seeing that world again through the eyes of a child. Magic is always the word that comes to mind. And wonder. And acceptance. That doesn’t mean there weren’t a lot of “Why?” and “How?” throughout but they never questioned that the magic was real or that miracles happen.

So you can imagine the excitement when they found out that I was Directing. First they wanted to know if they could attend rehearsals (No!) and if they could come see the show (Yes!). And then they took turns being Lucy, Edmond, the Witch and Aslan. They fought the darkness, were brought back to life and helped their mother believe again with unbounded enthusiasm that there is magic to be found anywhere one chooses to find it.

-Kerri Norris, Director

nov 30 | kelly joe phelps

Ridiculously short notice about this, but I only just heard. Steve Dawson produced his last record. If you know about KJP, you'll know that you don't want to miss this. 

North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts presents Kelly Joe Phelps

• November 29 - November 29
• North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts
• 2055 Purcell Way
  North Vancouver, BC V7J 3H5
• Venue: North Shore Credit Union Centre for the Performing Arts

Kelly Joe Phelps is an uncommonly original artist. While there are shades of many formative folk and blues artists, such as Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt and Jim Fahey in his music, his singular guitar style and vocals are uniquely and unmistakably his own. His music has plenty of gristle and bone, also glory, salvation and grace. His latest recording, Brother Sinner and the Whale (2012), hearkens back to his earlier recordings featuring Phelps on bottleneck slide guitar. With all his talents ablaze, Kelly Joe Phelps is set to tear it up and bring it all back home.

dec 7 | sheree plett + eisenhauer + zaac pick

These guys are some of our favourite musicians over at PT.  They have been a part of CHRISTMAS PRESENCE for years, were featured in JESUS MY BOY, and their Christmas album always sells like hotcakes.  Well, now there will be some new hotcakes.

"Our second christmas album! Available for purchase Dec 1st..."

Vancouver CD release show
December 7

Anchor Studios
103 - 339 Railway St

Doors 7:30
$12 or $20 w/ purchase of new album

Special Guest - Zaac Pick

PS  Zaac Pick also happens to be a personal favourite of our taste-trustworthy artistic director...

wardrobe | advance photos

Here are some shots from our advance photo shoot for THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE. Playing Dec 5-15 at PT, Dec 18-22 at Evergreen! All photos by Michael Julian Berz.

dec 12-22 | hotel bethlehem | ruby slippers

PT's wonderful friends and sponsors John Fluevog Shoes are great patrons of the arts - including support of Ruby Slippers Theatre, who have a Christmas offering that looks like a lot of fun. And keep your ears open: the two companies have been scheming a co-production of another show for a couple seasons now. But meanwhile....

Ruby Slippers Theatre
Hotel Bethlehem
by Drew McCreadie

Back by popular demand! Hotel Bethlehem dares to deconstruct the Nativity Story through satire and insightful humanity. It's back this Christmas! It is probably the one and only existential Christmas comedy that will have you belly-laughing for two hours. Directed by Diane Brown.

Have you ever wondered why The Inn was full? Who was the cad that would turn away a VERY pregnant woman? What kind of characters and shenanigans were they up to that this could happen? Surprisingly, no one has asked these questions until now. Hotel Bethlehem offers a fresh and hilarious take on this traditional tale, one that features shepherds contemplating sheep lotteries, Three Kings evading taxation, virgins, ridiculous Roman soldiers and a blind census-taker. Oh yea, and a couple of births.

Farce meets satire meets holiday fare in this entertaining and fun Christmas comedy starring eleven of Vancouver's finest performers: Stephen Beaver, Scott Bellis, Tim Carlson, Alex Diakun, Dustin Freeland, Jennifer Mawhinney, Sean McQuillan, John Murphy, Byron Noble, Kris Novak and Alvin Sanders.

"Joseph and his wife Mary arrive at an inn, where a couple of old Jewish shepherds are trying to deliver a lamb in the stable using a silent water birth. After that, things get wacky. John Murphy plays the innkeeper like a prototypical Basil Fawlty." Colin Thomas

December 12–15: Shadbolt Centre for the Arts in Burnaby
December 18–22: Firehall Arts Centre in Vancouver
Tickets and info

dec 16-18 | the christmas carol project

Last year we were facing off with these guys (and how many others?) with A CHRISTMAS CAROL - turns out we weren't the only ones who heard of that obscure old chestnut of a story. They're back!

THE CHRISTMAS CAROL PROJECT - An enchanting, musical version of Dickens’ tale, The Christmas Carol Project is a unique and captivating blend of classic literature and contemporary folk music, perfect for the whole family. Brass Monkey Productions’ Juno-nominated folk musicians return for a third year in what is becoming a holiday tradition for Vancouver! Historic Theatre at The Cultch, December 16-18, 8pm. Tickets 604.251.1363, http://tickets.thecultch.com

dec 13-15 | a cottage community christmas | mark dumez

We'll be traveling to the Kay Meek Centre in West Van in April for the second leg of our WARDROBE tour, but until then, they have a lovely Christmas show coming up written by Mark Dumez, Chemainus Theatre Festival AD and former PT actor (MERCY WILD)!

A COTTAGE COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS
by Mark DuMez and Nicolle Nattrass
with the generous support of Chemainus Theatre Festival

Meet everyone's favourite West Vancouver family, the Cornwalls, in their ancestral fixer-upper Horseshoe Bay cottage on Christmas eve 1983, as they share their hilarious family, holiday cheer, hi-jinks, dysfunction, bad hair, silly clothes and music. This retro Christmas celebration written by Jesse award-winners, Nicole Nattrass and Mark Dumez, will have you humming away with classic Christmas songs, as well as hits from James Taylor, John Denver, Karen Carpenter and many, many more!

Tickets and info: http://www.kaymeekcentre.com/on_stage/events_calendar

nov 30-dec 8 | a christmas story | anita wittenberg tow

PT actor Anita Wittenberg (MOURNING DOVE) is performing in A CHRISTMAS STORY at Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops. Playing alongside Anita is her son Sebastian!

Based on the much-loved film, A Christmas Story is the tale of 9-year-old Ralphie Parker and his quest to get a Red Ryder BB Gun under the tree for Christmas. Ralphie pleads his case before his mother, his teacher and even Santa Claus. But everyone tells him, “You’ll shoot your eye out, kid.” A fantastic holiday production for the whole family.

November 29 to December 8, 2012
SAGEBRUSH THEATRE

Tickets and info here.

Monday & Tuesday (7:30pm)
Wednesday to Saturday (8:00pm)
Pay-What-You-Can Saturday Matinee (2:00pm, December 1)
Saturday Matinee (2:00pm, December 8)

dec 1-2 | angels and ladders | eastside story guild

A contemporary retelling of the Esau and Jacob story by the Eastside Story Guild, featuring lyrics by Juno award winning rapper SHAD and a live performance by hip hop artist Robin Tjay.  Also featuring long-time friend of PT Rudi Krause as Isaac!

ANGELS AND LADDERS: THE STORY OF JACOB & ESAU AS TOLD BY THE EASTSIDE STORY GUILD (Approx. 7:00 - 7:50 p.m.)
Another great Eastside Story Guild presentation is coming your way in 2-weeks time. On Saturday, Dec. 1, 35 children and youth together with special guest performers will be telling the story of Jacob and Esau in a stand-alone evening performance. Entrance in by donation and seating is first-come first served.
(The performances will also run as part of the regularly scheduled services of worship at Grandview Calvary Baptist Church the next day at 10:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.)

AN OPTIONAL EVENT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE PERFORMANCE (Approx.8:00 - 8:45 p.m.)
For those of you who are free to make a fuller evening of it, plan to join us in the lower hall immediately following the performance for a dessert and a brief overview of the vision of Eastside Story Guild. Double-click to enlarge the poster below which will give you details of this opportunity. (Note that childcare is provided for children 6 and over during the dessert presentation.) This is a great opportunity to invite new friends and family to share your enthusiasm for the work of Eastside Story Guild.

Tickets for the Dessert Theatre are $15 each, $5 for children 6 and over. To reserve tickets simply email or call Eastside Story Guild and leave your name, contact info (either an email address or phone number), and the number of tickets you want us to set aside for you.
TICKETS ARE LIMITED SO RESERVE EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT.

Thank you in advance for your support of Eastside Story Guild and the transformative effect it is having in the lives of young and old alike.

In anticipation of another transformative Story.

nov 27 | brie neilson @ pt

A new musical friend for PT!  The Neilson family have been around our theatre a long time, and Brie has certainly sat in those seats, but this time she'll be onstage.  See you there!

:: Brie Neilson ::
National Album Release Tour of “Picture Show”
with :: David Simard :: David Newberry ::

Tuesday Nov 27th
@ Pacific Theatre
1440 West 12th @ Hemlock
doors @ 7:30

nov 20-dec 1 | picture this! | twu

The students at TWU have created another piece of theatre called PICTURE THIS!  Check out the press release below to see what these young thespians are up to.

“Picture This!” Zooms in on Family Quirks and Ordinary Heroes

Nine strangers, desperately trying to get home for Christmas, are trapped with nothing to do but exchange bizarre family stories and make up songs about them. It’s a brand new play called Picture This!, premiering at Trinity Western University’s School of the Arts, Media + Culture.

Running November 20 through December 1, this heartwarming show brings together twists of fate, original music, embarrassing childhood stories, beloved family traditions, and tales of ordinary heroes. Promising fun whether you love or hate the holidays, the script was written by an ensemble of Theatre students under the leadership of award-winning director Angela Konrad.

“We all wonder what other people’s families are like, especially around the holidays,” Konrad said. “This show gives us an opportunity to be a fly on the wall in others’ homes, and also to see the power that telling our stories can have in the lives of others, often in ways we don’t expect.”

Through vivid flashbacks and original music, Picture This! explores funny adventures and touching moments that come out of the performers’ own experiences. Parent/child dynamics, sibling rivalry, lessons from family history, embarrassing encounters… maybe this is why our parents told us not to talk to strangers!

“The students have cooked up a show for all generations; one that promises to surprise, inspire, and entertain,” said Konrad.

So is it fact or fiction? Konrad said, “This show may contain true stories or absurd fabrications. Or both!”

Picture This! is created by a multi-talented ensemble that includes director Konrad, stage manager Sharra Ganzeveld, and performers Brandon Bate, Tiffany Choi, Megan Couch, Eleanor Felton, Daniele Neve, Bryan Sandberg, Margaret Thorpe, Jane Townsend, and Shelby Wyminga.

Playing November 20 – December 1 at 7:30pm Tues-Sat with 2:00pm Saturday matinees. Special discounts on Tuesdays. For tickets and information, visit www.twu.ca/theatre or email theatre@twu.ca.

siena restaurant

We have a new restaurant partner!  We are pretty excited to be partnering with Siena Restaurant, located right at the corner of 12th and Granville, with a great set menu you can purchase with your tickets!

If you'd like to add a two-course meal to your theatre ticket next time you come out, just ask our box office while booking in your tickets over the phone (604.731.5518).

Make sure to let the staff know you're seeing a show when you head over to the restaurant - they'll make sure you get out in time.

dec 15 | el nino

Got an email today from a PT friend who's in the Vancouver Bach Choir about a very Soul-Foody performance they're doing. Below is a snippet of his letter, explaining the concert in detail.

It's a Christmas-themed oratorio, vaguely on the order of Handel's Messiah, but with a more modern score, and very much a modern sensibility, focusing on Mary's perspective on the nativity, and including non-Biblical sources relating the standard story to modern audiences. (I.e. it includes poetry about colonialism and 20th century civil disobedience and police brutality.)

It's a huge work, with multiple choirs, several soloists, the and the Vancouver Symphony. I could go on, but I'm sure you get the idea: that this concert is not only really interesting and mind-blowingly beautiful, but pretty grand-scale for the local music scene, so I'm going out on a limb and recommending it (highly) to those who don't regularly attend choral concerts or get into Christian-themed events.

You can get tickets at http://vancouverbachchoir.com or by phone at 604.696.4290.

nov 22-24 | side show

SIDESHOW COMEDY NIGHT is already upon us! Always a popular night, we've added a third performance this time around.

This night will feature Peter 'n Chris' hit PETER 'N CHRIS EXPLORE THEIR BODIES, followed by an act of improv comedy. The whole night is a double-helping of family-friedly comedy.

Peter 'n Chris' shows have sold out every Fringe Festival for the past few years, so don't miss this chance to see them again!

wardrobe | first read

Yesterday was the first table read for THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, here are some pics from the morning, including a fun close up of the set maquette!