Friday, May 31, 2013
jun 15+16 | ben hur with live piano score
Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ
1925 silent film with live piano score by Sara Davis Buechner
Pacific Cinematheque Special Event
June 15 @ 7:30
June 16 @ 4:00
On Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, June 16, The Cinematheque is very pleased to present the renowned pianist Sara Davis Buechner, who will provide live musical accompaniment to director Fred Niblo’s 1925 blockbuster Ben-Hur, one of the silent era’s most spectacular and celebrated epics.
MGM’s 1925 version of Ben-Hur (remade by William Wyler in 1959 with Charlton Heston) was the most expensive film of the silent era, and still astonishes with its amazing set pieces and action sequences and truly colossal scale. Matinee idols Ramon Novarro and Francis X. Bushman have the leads. Novarro is Judah Ben-Hur, the Jewish prince-turned-slave who crosses paths with Christ while on a quest for revenge. Bushman is Messala, the old childhood friend, now a Roman official, who betrays Ben-Hur and his family. The film’s thrilling sea-battle and chariot-race sequences are justifiably legendary; the lavishness on display throughout is breathtaking. “It was a remake even then [there was a 1907 film version], but MGM put $5 million into it, and so much Amazing, Gargantuan, Stupendous, and Mighty Biblical Pageantry that vast numbers of viewers were swept off their feet. There’s a galley manned by a thousand slaves, the sea battle between Romans and ancient pirates, the Valley of the Lepers, and the chariot race staged in a mammoth stadium” (Pauline Kael).
B&W with Colour sequences, silent. 142 mins.
Dr. Sara Buechner, an Associate Professor of Piano at the University of British Columbia, is an accomplished classical concert musician whose performances and recordings have won acclaim and awards around the world. She has appeared as a soloist with many internationally prominent orchestras, won prizes at some of the world’s most prestigious piano competitions, and has an active repertoire of more than 100 piano concertos. Dr. Buechner has been the subject of profiles in the New York Times,Maclean’s, Paris Match, and other major media. She has a great passion for film music and is one of the very few concert pianists today performing originals scores to silent movies. Dr. Buechner will also provide an introduction to the performance/screening and conduct a short Q&A afterwards.
june 12-29 | you are very star | craig erickson
Craig Erickson (LEAVE OF ABSENCE) has co-created a wild new play with The Electric Company Theatre - YOU ARE VERY STAR. A roving show at the Planetarium, there's a lot of cool here. Check out the trailer and info below.
YOU ARE VERY STAR is an immersive, transmedia experience from Vancouver’s legendary ELECTRIC COMPANY THEATRE that will transport you back to 1968 and ahead to 2048, from the height of the Space Race to the dawn of a new augmented humanity, as characters in each story look forward or back to 2013 as a mysterious time of wonder.
June 12 – 29, 2013
H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
1100 Chestnut Street, in Vanier Park
8:00pm Tues – Sun
2:00pm Sun
12:00pm Thurs June 20
Tickets at Brown Paper Tickets
YOU ARE VERY STAR is an immersive, transmedia experience from Vancouver’s legendary ELECTRIC COMPANY THEATRE that will transport you back to 1968 and ahead to 2048, from the height of the Space Race to the dawn of a new augmented humanity, as characters in each story look forward or back to 2013 as a mysterious time of wonder.
June 12 – 29, 2013
H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
1100 Chestnut Street, in Vanier Park
8:00pm Tues – Sun
2:00pm Sun
12:00pm Thurs June 20
Tickets at Brown Paper Tickets
july 26-28 | screening jesus | regent college
Quite extraordinary, really. SON OF MAN is my favourite Jesus film. It played VIFF a few years ago, and I attended both screenings, and searched for years before coming up with a DVD copy. I'm also a big fan of THE MIRACLE MAKER, which is - believe it or not - a claymation life of Christ that is anything but cheesy. Screenplay by Murray Watts, a co-founder of Riding Lights Theatre, a model for Pacific Theatre. SON OF MAN director Mark Dornford-May is also a man of the theatre in England and South Africa, with a filmed treatment of NOYE'S FLUDDE currently in post-production. Both Watts and Dornford-May will be in attendance! with screenings of their respective Jesus movies at the Hollywood. Such a well-conceived event - standing ovation, Regent College! I'll be there. (RR)
Screening Jesus: Cinema’s Abiding Fascination with the Character of Christ
Regent College
July 26 - 28
Adele Reinhartz (Scripture On The Silver Screen, Jesus of Hollywood), Murray Watts (screenwriter: The Miracle Maker), Mark Dornford-May (director, Son Of Man), William Romanowski (Eyes Wide Open, Reforming Hollywood) and Diane Stinton (Jesus Of Africa). Hosted by Iwan Russell-Jones.
Deliberately set up as a conversation between academics and practitioners, this conference brings together leading experts on film and popular culture, filmmakers, theologians, and three intriguing films from the last thirty years. Over three days, participants will enter into this conversation, considering with the host of speakers such topics as the Jewishness of Jesus in the movies, the challenge of dramatizing Jesus for film, the interpretation of Jesus in a non-Western context, and the public controversies that have sometimes surrounded cinematic portrayals of Christ.
Are you interested in film and intrigued by film depictions of Jesus? Are you keen to discuss the social and ethical issues often raised by them? Do you desire to take a deeper look at the ways in which Jesus has been thought about and interpreted in popular culture? If you answer yes to any of these, plan to join us July 26–28.
Cost: $280 (Discounts available for Seniors, Students and Early Registrations before June 14)
Register By: July 24, 2013
Screening Jesus: Cinema’s Abiding Fascination with the Character of Christ
Regent College
July 26 - 28
Adele Reinhartz (Scripture On The Silver Screen, Jesus of Hollywood), Murray Watts (screenwriter: The Miracle Maker), Mark Dornford-May (director, Son Of Man), William Romanowski (Eyes Wide Open, Reforming Hollywood) and Diane Stinton (Jesus Of Africa). Hosted by Iwan Russell-Jones.
Deliberately set up as a conversation between academics and practitioners, this conference brings together leading experts on film and popular culture, filmmakers, theologians, and three intriguing films from the last thirty years. Over three days, participants will enter into this conversation, considering with the host of speakers such topics as the Jewishness of Jesus in the movies, the challenge of dramatizing Jesus for film, the interpretation of Jesus in a non-Western context, and the public controversies that have sometimes surrounded cinematic portrayals of Christ.
Are you interested in film and intrigued by film depictions of Jesus? Are you keen to discuss the social and ethical issues often raised by them? Do you desire to take a deeper look at the ways in which Jesus has been thought about and interpreted in popular culture? If you answer yes to any of these, plan to join us July 26–28.
Cost: $280 (Discounts available for Seniors, Students and Early Registrations before June 14)
Register By: July 24, 2013
Thursday, May 30, 2013
2013 jessies | the pt family
We've already celebrated our nominations with you, but how about all our family of artists who got nominated for their work? Here is your PT-Friendly Guide to the Jessies Nominations!
First, some of the faces you'll recognize from our stage: Andrew McNee was in JESUS HOPPED THE 'A' TRAIN, and will be in THE SEAFARER next season, and was nominated for his role in BOEING-BOEING. You'll remember Andrew Wheeler from RE:UNION (which he was nominated for last year), and this year he is nominated for CLYBOURNE PARK. Gina Chiarelli was in THE BUSY WORLD IS HUSHED, and, some time ago, THE FEVER, PRODIGAL SON, and AGNES OF GOD (Jessie award winner for that one), and her nomination this year is for her tour-de-force role in MASTER CLASS. Kayvon Kelly received a nomination for his role here in MOTHER TERESA IS DEAD, but has also been nominated for THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. A few years Benjamin Elliott made us all laugh in CHRISTMAS ON THE AIR, and he has received two nominations this year for musical direcion of THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, and for his role in BROKEN SEX DOLL. Then Mack Gordon, who you saw this season in WITTENBERG and our touring production of THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, was nominated with his ensemble cast for CAT IN THE HAT. On stage in WITTENBERG with Mack was Marcus Youssef, who has been nominated for his new script HOW HAS MY LOVE AFFECTED YOU. Lauren Bowler is one who you haven't seen on our stage (she did choreography for GODSPELL), but she performs all over the place and was nominated for her role in HIGH SOCIETY. Finally, you haven't seen him on our stage yet either, but John Emmet Tracy will be in THE SEAFARER next season (alongside fellow nominee Andrew McNee), and he was nominated for his role in TERMINUS.
Then for the folks who make it all happen behind the scenes - you might not recognize their faces, but they are vital to the work: Itai Erdal has done quite a lot of design for us, including lights for GODSPELL and lights and set for JESUS HOPPED THE 'A' TRAIN, and now is nominated for his lighting designs for SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER and BROKEN SEX DOLL. John Webber did the set design for RE:UNION, and is nominated for both the lighting and set design for MASTER CLASS, as well as the lighting design for DON JUAN. Drew Facey did the set design for LEAVE OF ABSENCE and PLAYLAND, and he has been nominated for his costume designs for MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, BROKEN SEX DOLL, and CAT IN THE HAT. This season Lauchlin Johnston did set design for HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE and lighting design for LEAVE OF ABSENCE and the touring production of THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, and his nomination came in for his set design for GOD AND THE INDIAN. Naomi Sider was our costume designer on HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE, and was nominated for another play with another very long title: HOW HAS MY LOVE AFFECTED YOU. Sydney Cavanagh was at PT this season designing costumes for LEAVE OF ABSENCE, and was nominated for SANTALAND DIARIES. And finally, Jeff Tymoschuk, who provided the epic sound design and composition for THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, was nominated for his design in ARTHUR, BOY KING.
Whew! That's a lot of artists! Congratulations, everyone, your nominations are so well deserved and we are proud to have worked with you all.
First, some of the faces you'll recognize from our stage: Andrew McNee was in JESUS HOPPED THE 'A' TRAIN, and will be in THE SEAFARER next season, and was nominated for his role in BOEING-BOEING. You'll remember Andrew Wheeler from RE:UNION (which he was nominated for last year), and this year he is nominated for CLYBOURNE PARK. Gina Chiarelli was in THE BUSY WORLD IS HUSHED, and, some time ago, THE FEVER, PRODIGAL SON, and AGNES OF GOD (Jessie award winner for that one), and her nomination this year is for her tour-de-force role in MASTER CLASS. Kayvon Kelly received a nomination for his role here in MOTHER TERESA IS DEAD, but has also been nominated for THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. A few years Benjamin Elliott made us all laugh in CHRISTMAS ON THE AIR, and he has received two nominations this year for musical direcion of THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, and for his role in BROKEN SEX DOLL. Then Mack Gordon, who you saw this season in WITTENBERG and our touring production of THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, was nominated with his ensemble cast for CAT IN THE HAT. On stage in WITTENBERG with Mack was Marcus Youssef, who has been nominated for his new script HOW HAS MY LOVE AFFECTED YOU. Lauren Bowler is one who you haven't seen on our stage (she did choreography for GODSPELL), but she performs all over the place and was nominated for her role in HIGH SOCIETY. Finally, you haven't seen him on our stage yet either, but John Emmet Tracy will be in THE SEAFARER next season (alongside fellow nominee Andrew McNee), and he was nominated for his role in TERMINUS.
Then for the folks who make it all happen behind the scenes - you might not recognize their faces, but they are vital to the work: Itai Erdal has done quite a lot of design for us, including lights for GODSPELL and lights and set for JESUS HOPPED THE 'A' TRAIN, and now is nominated for his lighting designs for SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER and BROKEN SEX DOLL. John Webber did the set design for RE:UNION, and is nominated for both the lighting and set design for MASTER CLASS, as well as the lighting design for DON JUAN. Drew Facey did the set design for LEAVE OF ABSENCE and PLAYLAND, and he has been nominated for his costume designs for MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, BROKEN SEX DOLL, and CAT IN THE HAT. This season Lauchlin Johnston did set design for HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE and lighting design for LEAVE OF ABSENCE and the touring production of THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, and his nomination came in for his set design for GOD AND THE INDIAN. Naomi Sider was our costume designer on HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE, and was nominated for another play with another very long title: HOW HAS MY LOVE AFFECTED YOU. Sydney Cavanagh was at PT this season designing costumes for LEAVE OF ABSENCE, and was nominated for SANTALAND DIARIES. And finally, Jeff Tymoschuk, who provided the epic sound design and composition for THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, was nominated for his design in ARTHUR, BOY KING.
Whew! That's a lot of artists! Congratulations, everyone, your nominations are so well deserved and we are proud to have worked with you all.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
12-13 season retrospective
With HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE closing last Saturday night, we've put a cap on our 29th season of making theatre that matters. Here's a quick retrospective on what we experienced together this year - thanks for joining us!
Thursday, May 23, 2013
may 31-june 15 | ramifications of a particular crash | lori triolo
Remember Lori Triolo's knockout performance in DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA? She's got another show coming up, RAMIFICATIONS OF A PARTICULAR CRASH by Kris Elgstrand, and it sounds like this one might pack a similar punch.
A Hollywood starlet in free fall.
A family in turmoil.
Ramifications of a Particular Crash tells the hilariously harrowing story of what happens when "America's Sweetheart" Aimee Scott pays a surprise visit to the family of the teenaged girl she killed in a car accident three years earlier.
Starring:
Maxine Chadburn
Brad Dryborough
Lara Gilchrist
Lori Triolo
Written by Kris Elgstrand
Directed by Martin Kinch
Tickets at: http://ramifications.brownpapertickets.com/
$25 general admission / Tuesdays Two-for-one
A Hollywood starlet in free fall.
A family in turmoil.
Ramifications of a Particular Crash tells the hilariously harrowing story of what happens when "America's Sweetheart" Aimee Scott pays a surprise visit to the family of the teenaged girl she killed in a car accident three years earlier.
Starring:
Maxine Chadburn
Brad Dryborough
Lara Gilchrist
Lori Triolo
Written by Kris Elgstrand
Directed by Martin Kinch
Tickets at: http://ramifications.brownpapertickets.com/
$25 general admission / Tuesdays Two-for-one
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
2013 jessie nominations
Last night the Jessie Richardson Theatre Award nominations were announced! It was another good year for Pacific Theatre - our season received 5 nominations, and our family of artists received even more! And, for the first time EVER you can see a Jessie Award-nominated actress, in the role she's been nominated for, after the nominations are announced! HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE runs until Saturday and Erla Faye Forsyth received a nomination for her work. Here's all the nominees:
Erla Faye Forsyth, Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role in HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE. (Get tickets now to see her playing her nominated role until Saturday!)
Julie McIsaac, Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role in MOTHER TERESA IS DEAD.
Kayvon Kelly, Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in MOTHER TERESA IS DEAD
James Coomber, Outstanding Sound Design in MOTHER TERESA IS DEAD.
Chris Lam, Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, 100 SAINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW.
Erla Faye Forsyth, Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role in HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE. (Get tickets now to see her playing her nominated role until Saturday!)
Julie McIsaac, Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role in MOTHER TERESA IS DEAD.
Kayvon Kelly, Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in MOTHER TERESA IS DEAD
James Coomber, Outstanding Sound Design in MOTHER TERESA IS DEAD.
Chris Lam, Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, 100 SAINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW.
how to write | responses
"I must say I was very touched by ‘How to Write a New Book for the Bible” The script gave me so much to think about (which is typical for most PT productions). And Erla Faye Forsythe has once again given an award deserving performance! Thank you so much for providing such a wonderful live theatre experience." | Barbie, email
"I loved this play - for its heart and its bite. Erla and Anthony were so spot on in their mother & son roles that I almost felt like I was peeking in on real lives. Just when I when they were becoming familiar, there was another surprise - no one dimensional characters need show up on this stage! The struggles seemed so real and believable and very uncomfortable. I laughed, I held my breath, I cried. Another fabulous PT trip into being part of the human family." | Lorri Romhanyi, email
"Don’t let its title scare you away, How to Write a New Book for the Bible is first and foremost a beautiful story of love and family. ... There are some terrific performances here from this cast although it is the dynamic between mother Mary (Erla Faye Forsyth) and her caregiver son Bill (Anthony F Ingram) that feels most real. Forsyth is particularly good in balancing the surprising amount of comedy with the inevitable drama. There is real pain in Daniel Arnold’s portrayal of the prodigal son Paul... Byron Noble provides a suitably ethereal quality to his portrayal of the father, written almost as a distant memory." | Mark Robins, GayVancouver.Net
"This production embodies the beauty of life and clarity of death, and leaves the audience with a desire to continue to see the story unfold in their own situations. As Mary says, “Don’t make me look foolish, Bill,” we are reminded that the little things don’t make us foolish, they show who we truly are. Bill has not made her foolish, he has shown her heart and her love in all its infuriating detail – and we are left remembering “this [the everyday] matters,” and we need to make life matter every day." | Renee Evashkevich, The MB Herald
"New Book...is a memory play of sorts that is crackling with humour and insight into a particularly “normal” family. I found the simplicity in Ingram and Forsyth’s scenes to be very moving. The handsome set and clever lighting reinforces the story’s take on death, family, and love." | Chris Lam, audience email
"Playwright Cain combines humour and heartache very successfully in his play, and all four actors bring Cain’s characters to life in an incredibly poignant and talented performance. Bill Cain’s affection for his family and well-written dialogue combines with director Morris Ertman’s vision and affinity for this story to create a great night of theatre." | Erin Jane, Review Vancouver
"It is a great pleasure to see Ingram and Forsyth working together. The story moves back and forth in time so we see Mary as a young, energetic mother of two bickering boys and later, an aging Mary gripped with pain. Forsyth is the mistress of dry, withering sarcasm: “You don’t have a job,” Mary says to Bill. “You’re a writer.” There’s plenty of this kind of acidic repartee and Forsyth and Ingram do it so well." | Jo Ledingham
"My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed How to Write a New Book for the Bible. The well crafted script was both hilarious and touching with moving, genuine performances from all the cast. I’ve recommended it highly to several friends already." | audience email
"WOW! I never knew that a full dialogue can carry through without any breaks while still sustaining the drama, the edginess and the captivation of the audience’s attention. BRAVO! Please send my many thank yous to the cast and crew!" | audience email
"Erla Faye Forsyth, unapologetically inhabits Mary’s toughness, which, of course makes Mary’s playfulness more charming and her vulnerability more touching. For his part, Anthony F. Ingram... brings an active intelligence to the stage that’s always a pleasure to watch." | Colin Thomas, The Georgia Straight
"This engaging production was enjoyable, entertaining, approachable and very humanistic. I found the story to be both realistic and easy for the audience to connect with, especially if you have experienced the decline of older family members. It overcomes the challenge of focusing on a time in people’s lives which isn’t always happy or easy by managing to stay upbeat and even sneak in a little humour. A good choice by Pacific Theatre and well played by a strong cast." | Trevor Martin, Vancouver Vantage
"That title alone made me curious, and I imagine it would to you as well. After all, a play with that title can go either the theological route, making for a long evening of Bible recitations, or come off as a primer on writing, well, literally a holy book. Luckily for the audience, this is a combination of the two, with a great amount of humour thrown in to confront the gentle subject of aging parents close to death. Mother Mary (Erla Faye Forsyth) is a witty 82 year-young gal who gets the best lines in the play. Erla is fabulous in this role." | Ariane Colebrander | Ariane C Designs
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
may 25 | early bird deadline ends
This is your last week to get your subscription order in before the Early Bird Deadline! Early Birds get a loyalty card for a free beverage at every show they attend, and will be entered into a draw for a local vacation package, including a stay at the Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel and dinner at Siena Restaurant!
Subscriptions start as low as $76, by far the best deal on professional theatre in Vancouver!
Need to know more? Check out the full season here. Then review the subscription packages, subscriber benefits, and finally, subscribe online! Or if you'd rather, give us a call at 604.731.5518 and we'll take your order for you.
Subscriptions start as low as $76, by far the best deal on professional theatre in Vancouver!
Need to know more? Check out the full season here. Then review the subscription packages, subscriber benefits, and finally, subscribe online! Or if you'd rather, give us a call at 604.731.5518 and we'll take your order for you.
announcing the playground series
If you've been around PT for any length of time, you've heard a lot about our stellar crew of emerging artists. There's a lot of young talent in our community, and we're always looking for ways to support them. The latest iteration of that goal is the PLAYGROUND SERIES. Every summer we'll open up our space to these artists and let them play - new plays, staged readings, mini-festivals, this is their time to try out material and grow as artists. This summer will launch with four brand-new plays, and we can't wait to see where this goes!
HE ROARS by Kirsty Provan
a staged reading
May 31 & June 1 at 8pm
Tickets $10 - book at Brown Paper Tickets or cash at door
A GOOD WAY OUT by Cara Cunningham
an apprentice production
June 11-15
Tickets $10 - book through the Pacific Theatre box office
CONNECTED: THE MUSICAL by Peter Abando, Alison Chisholm, and Jennifer Pielak
July 19-27
WOLF AT THE DOOR by Tina Teeninga
August 7-17
Information and tickets: http://otherwiseproductions.ca
All shows are produced individually by the artistic teams, and some are apprentice projects that have been put under the PLAYGROUND SERIES banner, so tickets and additional show information is available from a variety of sources. Check individual shows for more information, where available.
HE ROARS by Kirsty Provan
a staged reading
May 31 & June 1 at 8pm
Tickets $10 - book at Brown Paper Tickets or cash at door
A GOOD WAY OUT by Cara Cunningham
an apprentice production
June 11-15
Tickets $10 - book through the Pacific Theatre box office
CONNECTED: THE MUSICAL by Peter Abando, Alison Chisholm, and Jennifer Pielak
July 19-27
WOLF AT THE DOOR by Tina Teeninga
August 7-17
Information and tickets: http://otherwiseproductions.ca
All shows are produced individually by the artistic teams, and some are apprentice projects that have been put under the PLAYGROUND SERIES banner, so tickets and additional show information is available from a variety of sources. Check individual shows for more information, where available.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
how to write | ctv theatre thursdays
This morning HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE was featured on CTV Morning Live's Theatre Thursdays segment! Watch the clip online here.
Theatre Thursdays is a new segment on CTV Morning Live with Local Drama Queen Katie Bennet. We think it's incredible that CTV is featuring Vancouver's theatre scene on a regular basis, and even better that Katie included our show this week! Thank you to everyone at CTV Morning Live for this one!
Theatre Thursdays is a new segment on CTV Morning Live with Local Drama Queen Katie Bennet. We think it's incredible that CTV is featuring Vancouver's theatre scene on a regular basis, and even better that Katie included our show this week! Thank you to everyone at CTV Morning Live for this one!
june 12-29 | you are very star
Craig Erickson was last seen in LEAVE OF ABSENCE but has been on our stage many times over the years and now he has written a show for The Electric Company!
Be Transported: You Are Very Star
VANCOUVER, BC: The Electric Company, known for their innovative, spectacle-infused and thought-provoking work, is pleased to present You Are Very Star, an immersive, transmedia event. Part live theatre, part site-specific, interactive experience, You Are Very Star will take place at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, Vancouver’s beloved Planetarium, June 12-29, 2013.
Part One: Orbiting the Cusp of Greatness (written by Craig Erickson with story development with Kevin Kerr), takes place in 1968, and will be experienced in the auditorium of the basement of the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. The Interlude (by Georgina Beaty, Kevin Kerr, Naomi Sider and Veronique West), takes place in the Cosmic Courtyard and Lobby. Part Two: Transcendence (written by Kevin Kerr; story development with Sarah Sharkey), takes place in the Star Theatre in 2048, a world where we live inside technology, and are able to create conscious copies of ourselves. You Are Very Star struggles with centuries-old questions a large as the universe: Why are we here? What is our purpose? And can we transcend this earth—physically or mentally?
“The journey of the piece is an exploration of our relationship to dream and memory and how we negotiate the world we inhabit in relation to our expectations of the future and our memories of the past,” says writer Kevin Kerr. “Some believe that accelerating advancements in technology are destined to bring about an ultimate transformation of human consciousness and the birth of a new species that can design its future evolution. It sounds crazy, and it probably is, but there’s something in us that believes we can “beat the system”, to cheat death, to ultimately solve the riddle, why are we here? I love that we quest for that answer, but I wonder about the costs incurred as we do.”
You Are Very Star features Patti Allan, Dalal Badr, Kathleen Duborg, Chirag Naik, Marsha Regis and Michael Rinaldi. Direction by David Hudgins, Set and Costumes by Naomi Sider, Lighting by Adrian Muir, Video by Parjad Sharifi, Sound by Troy Slocum, and Transmedia Direction by Blake William Turner.
You Are Very Star
SCHEDULE: Tuesdays – Sundays June 12-29, 8pm | Matinees: Sundays, 2pm | Thursdays (June 13 & 20), 12pm | Previews: June 12-14, 8pm, June 13, 12pm | Opening: June 15, 8pm | Industry Matinee:June 20, 12pm |
TICKETS: $30 regular performances, $15 for previews, $20 for Industry Matinee | Tix: Brown Paper Tickets |
VENUE: All performances take place at the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, 1100 Chestnut Street, in Vanier Park.
kids camp | east side story guild workshop
Last Friday Kaitlin, our community engagement manager and resident kids camp enthusiast, had a treat as she got to visit the kids from the East Side Story Guild and teach an acting workshop with them. Over 30 kids from the community attended, and it was a fantastic afternoon of exploring theatre games and exercises. Big thanks to ESG for hosting Pacific Theatre in their space!
This afternoon was a sneak peek into some of the games and fun that will be had this summer at our PT KiDS Summer Theatre School that Kaitlin will also be leading. The camp is already starting to fill up, and we encourage any parents considering registering their child to download the online form here or call the office (604-731-5483) and register over the phone. Looking forward to the summer!
This afternoon was a sneak peek into some of the games and fun that will be had this summer at our PT KiDS Summer Theatre School that Kaitlin will also be leading. The camp is already starting to fill up, and we encourage any parents considering registering their child to download the online form here or call the office (604-731-5483) and register over the phone. Looking forward to the summer!
Monday, May 13, 2013
Friday, May 10, 2013
june 14-16 | habeas corpus
Anthony F. Ingram is in HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE, Mack Gordon was in WITTENBERG, Susan Coodin was in THE VERONA PROJECT and ANNA HAGAN was in REFUGE OF LIES. Now they're all a part of Western Gold Theatre's staged reading at the PAL.
Running June 14-16 at The PAL Studio Theatre. 581 Cardero Street in Coal Harbour.
For tickets call 604-363-5734 or purchase them at the door.
Thursday, May 09, 2013
rule of thirds
Many of you are already familiar with the Rule of Thirds - a campaign that we began with MOTHER TERESA IS DEAD. The good news is that we have secured another matching donor and will continue this campaign through the end of HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE! The other good news is that we've got this great video explaining the concept of the Rule of Thirds.
The Rule of Thirds from Pacific Theatre on Vimeo.
The Rule of Thirds from Pacific Theatre on Vimeo.
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
how to write | director's notes 2
I've already shared with you director Morris Ertman's pre-rehearsal notes on HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE. Here are his thoughts after spending some time working on the show.
It’s been quite a journey unpacking this play. I was drawn to it because it resonates with a belief I have had for some time - that the mystical experiences of characters in scripture were real happenings that then were mythologized in stories so remarkable that everyone had to know about them. And because people understood that they were finite, they wanted the stories to outlive their telling of them, so wrote them down. The stories all had something in common - an understanding of our humanity in relation to a God who was engaged in the day to day life of humankind.
Well, if such a relationship truly exists, why wouldn’t there be more stories that become myths that inspire us to understand that relationship? Why would it end at the Council of Nacaea where a group of religious leaders and scholars determined what books would be in the Bible around 300 AD?
That’s why this play intrigues me. It’s the journey of a writer wrestling with an understanding of his family and himself within the context of a greater myth - a myth that reaches for an understanding of our place in the sea of humanity that has come before and will come after us. It’s a journey of self-revelation contextualized by Biblical story. It’s a “why does this matter” story set in the ridiculous, goofy, undignified, petty, pretend, rarely sublime, give and take of ordinary family life. (And yes, if truth be told, we’ve all been defined by the ridiculous more often than the sublime.) Bill Cain, the priest who became the writer of a play called How To Write A New Book For The Bible - a title so long that it can’t fit on the header of a page - wonders if maybe the sublime is revealed in part by the ridiculous. Maybe the best place to find grace is in the places we think it cannot live. If that’s true, there’s hope for a little divinity to show up in all our lives, and if it does, our stories are a continuation of a grand tradition of myth where the Kingdom of Heaven is evidenced on earth.
Morris Ertman, Director
It’s been quite a journey unpacking this play. I was drawn to it because it resonates with a belief I have had for some time - that the mystical experiences of characters in scripture were real happenings that then were mythologized in stories so remarkable that everyone had to know about them. And because people understood that they were finite, they wanted the stories to outlive their telling of them, so wrote them down. The stories all had something in common - an understanding of our humanity in relation to a God who was engaged in the day to day life of humankind.
Well, if such a relationship truly exists, why wouldn’t there be more stories that become myths that inspire us to understand that relationship? Why would it end at the Council of Nacaea where a group of religious leaders and scholars determined what books would be in the Bible around 300 AD?
That’s why this play intrigues me. It’s the journey of a writer wrestling with an understanding of his family and himself within the context of a greater myth - a myth that reaches for an understanding of our place in the sea of humanity that has come before and will come after us. It’s a journey of self-revelation contextualized by Biblical story. It’s a “why does this matter” story set in the ridiculous, goofy, undignified, petty, pretend, rarely sublime, give and take of ordinary family life. (And yes, if truth be told, we’ve all been defined by the ridiculous more often than the sublime.) Bill Cain, the priest who became the writer of a play called How To Write A New Book For The Bible - a title so long that it can’t fit on the header of a page - wonders if maybe the sublime is revealed in part by the ridiculous. Maybe the best place to find grace is in the places we think it cannot live. If that’s true, there’s hope for a little divinity to show up in all our lives, and if it does, our stories are a continuation of a grand tradition of myth where the Kingdom of Heaven is evidenced on earth.
Morris Ertman, Director
Monday, May 06, 2013
how to write | interview with a palliative care physician
We were lucky enough to interview Margaret Cottle, a local palliative care physician and end of life educator, about palliative care in Canada. HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE represents Bill Cain's autobiographical experience of his mother's final months of life, we thought it would be useful to share some expert information about what end of life care looks like here in Canada. Below are a few snippets from the interview, but you can read the whole thing in our discussion guide here.
"While palliative care treats all symptoms, the fear of pain is often paramount. This fear, while completely understandable, should no longer be a major factor for patients at the end of life."
“Pain is what the patient says it is, not what the doctor or nurse thinks it should be.”
"It is important to understand that we do not need to be fearful, that we are not alone. There are numerous resources available and many people are willing and ready to help us in a wide range of capacities."
"Caring for and accepting care from one another are among the most profound and richest experiences in life. Sharing a difficult journey with another person is a tangible expression of mutual love that not only supports the person needing the care, it also nourishes the person providing the care. Yes, these situations involve uncertainty, sadness, loss and grief, but they are also full of laughter, hope and inspiration for everyone involved."
Read more in our discussion guide here.
"While palliative care treats all symptoms, the fear of pain is often paramount. This fear, while completely understandable, should no longer be a major factor for patients at the end of life."
“Pain is what the patient says it is, not what the doctor or nurse thinks it should be.”
"It is important to understand that we do not need to be fearful, that we are not alone. There are numerous resources available and many people are willing and ready to help us in a wide range of capacities."
"Caring for and accepting care from one another are among the most profound and richest experiences in life. Sharing a difficult journey with another person is a tangible expression of mutual love that not only supports the person needing the care, it also nourishes the person providing the care. Yes, these situations involve uncertainty, sadness, loss and grief, but they are also full of laughter, hope and inspiration for everyone involved."
Read more in our discussion guide here.
Friday, May 03, 2013
how to write | theatre club tomorrow
Tomorrow is the theatre club for HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE! If you're coming to the matinee, stick around, otherwise come by at about 4:15pm for a group discussion of the themes and questions raised in the play.
Thursday, May 02, 2013
may 9-july 7 | dream girls
Tom Pickett was in PLAYLAND and Shayna Jones was in FUNNY STUFF and one of our season apprentices this year. Now they're on stage together at The Arts Club.
THE MOTOWN MUSICAL
Full of onstage joy and backstage drama, the musical Dreamgirls tells the rags-to-riches tale of a 1960s girl group, loosely based on The Supremes. Young, black, and with talent to burn, the hopeful divas Effie, Deena, and Lorrell fantasize about playing the Apollo Theater. After getting their big break, The Dreamettes seem unstoppable—until rivalry and betrayal enter the group. Share their elation and tribulations on the road to stardom, told through the unforgettable sounds of Motown.
Running May. 9-July. 7 at The Stanley
Buy tickets here.
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