september 10-19 | eurydice | eleanor felton

Another Fringe show featuring some PT talent! EURYDICE is directed by Eleanor Felton- recent apprentice and director of this years Artistic Director's Series A GOOD MOTHER. PT's Technical Director Kougar Basi is designing lights, and past apprentice Ryan Scramstad is on sound design! The cast features Julie Casselman who will be playing Nurse Susie in this years production of WIT, as well as Brandon Bate, a recent PT apprentice who is producing the show alongside Eleanor. 

EURYDICE 

Sept 10-19

Tickets available at the Fringe Festival Box Office

Sarah Ruhl, one of America’s most respected living playwrights, adapts the Greek myth “Orpheus and the Underworld” from the perspective of his wife Eurydice - the woman who dies twice. In this quirky, playful retelling, Eurydice tumbles down into the Underworld where she meets three Stones, The Lord of the Underworld, and is reunited with her Father. Her husband braves the barriers of hell to retrieve her, forcing Eurydice to face a horrible choice between the two men she loves most.

The Artistic Team: 

Director: Eleanor Felton

SM: Caitlin Darcy

Set: Mikaela Fuqua

Costumes: Audrey Herold

Lights: Kougar Basi

Sound: Ryan Scramstad

Cast: 

Julie Casselman, Brandon Bate, Joel Butler, Mark Fleming, Sharra Ganzeveld, Julie Disher, Tiffany Stoecker

WHERE:

Pacific Theatre (as a Fringe venue- tickets must still be purchased through the Fringe Festival Box Office)

WHEN:

Thursday Sept. 10 5:00pm

Friday Sept. 11 10:30pm

Saturday Sept. 12 1:55pm

Sunday Sept 13 6:45pm

Thursday Sept 17 5:00pm

Friday Sept 18 7:00pm

Saturday Sept 19 8:45pm

15-16 artwork spotlight | wit

The final show of the season, and of our artwork spotlight series, is WIT.

The story might revolve around a woman and her cancer diagnosis, but WIT is much more than that.  Just as Vivian, the central character, is an expert in the poetry of John Donne, so the play feels like a poem in its own right.  The writing is elegant and concise, and the imagery is powerful, so we needed an image that would reflect this.  What a stunning piece of art Emily returned to us!  It has the quality of a painting, while tying in Donne's poetry.  The perfect end to our season.

audience survey - still on!

Don't forget about our audience survey!  It will take no more than 4-6 minutes to fill in and will go far.

To participate, just click the image above, or HERE.
Thank you!

15-16 artwork spotlight | a good mother

The next show for our artwork spotlight series is A GOOD MOTHER by Kathy Parsons.

As the second in our series of staged readings to come out of our Working With play development group, we asked Emily to keep the tradition of using pages from the actual script in the poster.  Here, they wound up as the sidewalk.  The poster needed to reflect motherhood and contain an element of poverty.  We love the way this came together with the sepia-toned alley and coloured stroller.

15-16 artwork spotlight | gruesome playground injuries

The next image in our artwork spotlights series, unpacking the stunning images Emily Cooper created for our season, is GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES.

With a title like this, you need to know what you're getting into - the story follows a pair of friends through a lifetime of injuries, accidents, and damaging choices.  It also shows the power of companionship to get you through it all.  We wanted to reflect that danger and injury, as well as something of the relationship between the two with the image, and here's what we got!  Every detail, down to the uneven aging around the edge of the image reflects the look and feel of the show.

15-16 artwork spotlight | common grace

Today's artwork spotlight is COMMON GRACE.  We couldn't be more excited about this play: not only is it the first fully-produced mainstage production to come out of our Working With playwriting program, but playwright Shauna Johannesen is a newly-minted Leo Award winner for her film BED BUGS: A MUSICAL LOVE STORY.  Plus, check out this artwork by Emily Cooper!

For this one we gave Emily a lot to deal with: we wanted the image to clearly reflect a kitchen, family, and a traditional aesthetic while hinting at secrets, rebellion, and a bit of sass.  She came at us with a whole host of options and the last one she showed was this concept of items on the shelves.  We loved it!  It is clean, sharp, contemporary, and sophisticated, while clearly communicating the family kitchen feel.

audience survey

We want to get to know you! A little information goes a long way - just a few facts about you and your interests can help us with everything from marketing to season selection to sponsorships. Plus, we just like to know who is coming through our doors. This survey will take no more than 4-6 minutes to fill in and will go far.

To participate, just click the image above, or HERE.
Thank you!

15-16 artwork spotlight | a christmas carol: on the air

Another wonderful piece of artwork to share with you in our artwork spotlight, featuring the beautiful work Emily Cooper creates for us every year!  Here is A CHRISTMAS CAROL: ON THE AIR.

We were thrilled with the production Peter Church and Sarah Rodgers put together for IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE RADIO SHOW last year, and decided we absolutely needed to jump into the world of radio once again this year.  We asked Emily to keep some touches from the last show - the microphone, snowy sky, and old fashioned radio (can you find it?), and then of course we needed to add Scrooge into the mix!

Emily's first draft looked almost exactly like the final image you see here - we made a few tiny tweaks after the fact and that's it.

15-16 artwork spotlight | the amish project

Continuing our spotlight on Emily Cooper's artwork for our coming season, we'll take a look at the piece for THE AMISH PROJECT.

Going into the meetings, we had no idea what would come for the artwork for THE AMISH PROJECT.  The play tells the story of astonishing real-life forgiveness, when an Amish community suffered a terrible school shooting and responded with instant forgiveness for the shooter, and compassion and support for his family.  The poster needed to reflect this danger and darkness, as well as the hope and strength of forgiveness and the Amish people.

We made very few changes to this image after Emily presented it to us.  She integrated all the elements of the story so perfectly, even incorporating real news coverage from the event.

15-16 artwork spotlight | smoke on the mountain

Now begins one of our favourite summer blog features - a spotlight on each productions' artwork!  We love working with artist Emily Cooper on these pieces - her work is always imaginative, creative, and the collage gives a touch of whimsy that we just love.  Take a look at the SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN image.

SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN is a bluegrass musical set at a depression-era church's first-ever hymn sing.  It's spirited, funny, and full of good ol' fashioned foot-stompin' fun.  The characters are well-intentioned and hilariously imperfect.  That is what we told Emily we wanted to convey in the artwork, and look at what she brought us!  Slam dunk.

sept 10-20 | hunger games: the musical | frank nickel, alison chisholm, andrea loewen, jennifer pielak

Another Fringe show featuring some PT talent!  HUNGER GAMES: THE MUSICAL comes to you from our administrative staff - a team who not only run the theatre, but are artists and producers as well.  Co-General Manager Frank Nickel is directing and producing, Co-General Manager Alison Chisholm performs, Director of Marketing and Publicity Andrea Loewen has done the choreography, and you may recognize Jennifer Pielak from SIDESHOW this past year - she'll be playing Katniss!

HUNGER GAMES: THE MUSICAL
Sept 10-20
Tickets available at the Fringe Festival Box Office

A priceless pop culture parody of Suzanne Collin’s hit novel and its inevitable film. Watch as Katniss Everdeen takes a stand against the Capitol, while belting out twisted Taylor Swift, Maroon 5, and Lorde tunes (to name a few). Experience a ridiculous ride through teenage angst. It’s all the fun of a dystopian death match, now with kicky pop tunes!

Artistic Team:
Directed by Frank Nickel and Mark Vandenberg
Musical Direction by Rick Colhoun and Oker Chen
Choreography by Andrea Loewen
Costume Design by Audrey Herold
Stage Management by Julia Lank

Cast:
Jennifer Pielak, Riley Qualtieri, Richard Meen, Aaron Lau, Matthew Simmons, Morgan Churla, Rebecca Piplica, Ryan Scramstad, Cecilia Rahoerason, Alison Chisholm, Lisa Penz, Amy Dauer, Chris Lam, Kathleen Munro and Oken Chen.

WHERE:
Pacific Theatre (as a Fringe venue)

WHEN:
Thursday Sept. 10 6:55pm
Friday Sept. 11 8:40pm
Saturday Sept. 12 3:50pm
Sunday Sept. 13 1:00pm
Thursday Sept. 17 7:00pm
Friday Sept. 18 10:30pm
Saturday Sept. 19 4:45pm
Sunday Sept. 20 3:00pm

sept 11-19 | shake the sheets | kaitlin williams, mack gordon

We have a ton of PT artists producing shows in the Fringe Festival this year! Here's SHAKE THE SHEETS!, a new play by Mack Gordon (THE FOREIGNER), starring Mack and Kailtin Williams (THE FOREIGNER) featuring PETER CARLONE (THE FOREIGNER) and others, with an original score by Jordan Klassen (CHRISTMAS PRESENCE).

SHAKE THE SHEETS!
A Level-Headed Friends production at The Vancouver Fringe Festival 
Sept 11-19 

Tickets available from the Fringe Festival Box Office

A couple find themselves in a strange in-between world where the power of words can take them anywhere. The only question is: how do they get out? Featuring a score by Vancouver musician Jordan Klassen and a cameo appearance by a different Fringe celebrity every night, Shake the Sheets! is a verbal and auditory trip.

Featuring Mack Gordon, Kaitlin Williams and a different Fringe superstar each night, including: TJ Dawe, Peter Carlone, Chris Wilson, Martin Dockery, Tara Travis, Wonderheads, Sam S. Mullins and Jayson Macdonald.  

Directed by Katrina Darychuk
Original Score Composed by Jordan Klassen
Stage Managed by Geoff Jones

WHERE:
Carousel Theatre, 1411 Cartwright St
Granville Island

Sept 11th@7:00pm (1/2 price show!)
Saturday Sept 12th @6:00pm
Sunday Sept 13th @2:00pm
Monday Sept 14th @10:45pm
Wednesday Sept 16th @8:00pm
Thursday Sept 17th @6:00pm
Friday Sept 18th @9:45pm
Saturday Sept 19th @1:00pm

TICKETS:
$14 (+ $5 one time Fringe Membership if you don't already have one)

sept 10-20 | the fighting season | evan frayne, julie mcisaac, tom pickett

We have a ton of PT artists producing shows in the Fringe Festival this year!  Here's THE FIGHTING SEASON, a new play by Sean Harris Oliver with Evan Frayne (FREUD'S LAST SESSION) directing, Julie McIsaac (MEASURE FOR MEASURE) and Tom Pickett (THE WHIPPING MAN) performing, and Shelby Bushell (IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE RADIO SHOW) stage managing and designing.

THE FIGHTING SEASON
September 10-20
A workshop production by Bleeding Heart Theatre at the Vancouver Fringe Festival

Tickets available from the Fringe Festival Box Office

Based on his father's real life experiences as a doctor in Afghanistan, Sean Harris Oliver's new play The Fighting Season investigates Canada's involvement in Afghanistan through the eyes of the medical personnel who served for our country abroad.

The Fighting Season featuring:
Julie McIsaac
Tom Pickett
Kyle Jespersen

Written by Sean Harris Oliver
Directed by Evan Frayne
Stage Management and Design by Shelby Bushell
Sound Design by Matthew MacDonald-Bain

Show times:
Thursday Sept 10 at 10:45pm- Opening
Saturday Sept 12 at 8:45pm
Sunday Sept 13 at 4:00pm
Tuesday Sept 15 at 8:00pm
Thursday Sept 17 at 10:45pm
Friday Sept 18 at 5:00pm
Saturday Sept 19 at 7:45pm
Sunday Sept 20 at 2:00pm- Closing

meet the apprentice | julia siedlanowska

Last, but not least, we have our final apprentice to introduce you to.  Our apprentices are all graduates from theatre training programs, on the verge of launching their professional careers. The apprenticeship program is part mentorship, part creative residency, allowing these fledgling artists a place to grow their craft, experiment, create, and try new roles in a professional environment, all while making valuable industry connections.  Now, meet Julia Siedlanowska.

Julia Siedlanowska is a Vancouver born actor/director, and a recipient of the Laura C. Muir Performing Arts Award of Distinction. She graduated with a BA in Acting from the University of Wales and returned home to act in and direct multiple productions. Currently she is touring "A Tale About Happiness" (originally presented at the BC Children's Hospital) which she directed, as well as translated and adapted from a popular Polish children's theatre script. She is interested in travelling the world in combination with a life in the theatre in many varying capacities.

Name:

Julia Siedlanowska

What were you doing last year?

Created a dance-theatre company called "Shakespeare Unchained," was performing in and directing various shows, spent a month in Vietnam, Bejing and Hong Kong.

What are your favourite shows you've worked on so far?

"Mary's Wedding," (Peninsula Productions), "The Winter's Tale" (Classic Chic), "Party Princess Rule No. 5" (IGNITE! Youth Festival), "Tango" (Vancouver Polish Theatre)...honestly each show I've ever worked on has some fantastic memories to offer. Most recently I co-created a site-specific, two-woman adaptation of Don Quixote which was a fascinating process- challenging and rewarding.

What is your non-theatrical specialty?

Travelling, bellydancing, aerial silks.

What is the number one thing you are excited about doing during your apprenticeship?

Knowing what the heck is going on in my life for a full year. Meeting and working with all the fantastic people that run PT. Being around amazing artists that create outstanding work I deeply admire.

Where did you train in theatre? 

University of Wales Trinity Saint David and Douglas College.

What was your favourite part of your training? 

Movement classes with David MacMurray Smith, playing Lady Macbeth in an 11th century castle and touring South-west Wales as a Dodo bird.

Is there anything coming up in the apprenticeship that will be totally new to you?

I'm sure there is, I guess we'll find out!

What would your top three categories in Trivial Pursuit be? (Invented or real)

I don't play games...*insert serious face*

meet the apprentice | kim larson

Next in our series of apprentice introductions: Kim Larson!  Our apprentices are all graduates from theatre training programs, on the verge of launching their professional careers. The apprenticeship program is part mentorship, part creative residency, allowing these fledgling artists a place to grow their craft, experiment, create, and try new roles in a professional environment, all while making valuable industry connections.

Kim is a Studio 58 alumna with a passion for acting, writing, and good storytelling in general. She also gets pretty excited about knitting and Lush bubble bars. Kim’s roots are in Mission, BC, where her parents still live on the farm she was brought home to when she was born. Her Auntie Janet used to take her to Pacific Theatre shows as a kid/teenager, and it was always a special treat to spend the drive home hashing out what they had seen on stage. She is thrilled to have come full circle and now get to be a part of those shows.

Name:

Kim Larson

What were you doing last year?

Attending Studio 58

What are your favourite shows that you've worked on so far?

“All My Sons” (Arthur Miller) and “Grease”. They are opposite ends of the spectrum acting wise, but I loved them both dearly. I did “All My Sons” in high school and fell in love with acting. I did “Grease” at Studio and got to sing/dance/pretend fall in love every night. It was the most fun part of my day every day for 30 some shows.

What is your non-theatrical specialty?

Knitting! Seriously, I’m ballin’ at it. Get it? Ballin…

What is the number one thing you are excited about doing during your apprenticeship?

Being on stage! And becoming a part of the PT community.

Where did you train in theatre?

Studio 58

What was your favourite part of your training?

Graduating. Haha! Just kidding. Studio has an amazing creative atmosphere and it was such a gift to be able to get up every day and know that I would see work that was inspiring and pushed me to be a better artist from my peers and instructors. The “hive mind” of excitement and support was like nothing I had experienced before.

Is there anything coming up in the apprenticeship that will be totally new to you? 

All the administrative stuff. I’ve done plenty on stage and back stage, but never in the office!

What would be your top three categories in Trivial Pursuit?  (Invented or real)

Confession: I have never played Trivial Pursuit.

15-16 staff picks | andrea loewen

Another round of staff picks for the 2015-2016 Pacific Theatre season!  Here are the shows our Director of Marketing and Publicity, Andrea Loewen, is looking forward to the most.

A GOOD MOTHER

Our staged readings are hand down one of my favourite things that happen at Pacific Theatre, and this is one of the best scripts I've read in a long time.  The story is compelling and the questions it asks are both troubling and satisfying.

COMMON GRACE

Another new play!  The characters are so real and relatable in this script as it reveals all the mess that lies just below the surface of a family that could have been mine.  There are no easy answers, and a lot of humour - I laughed out loud more than once reading this one.

GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES

Gruesome is one of those plays that sometimes makes you cringe, but you can't stop watching.  Kenton and Pippa are former apprentices who gave phenomenal performances when they did this as their year-end project two years ago.  Can't wait to see their work again.

Check out the entire season and subscribe!

15-16 staff picks | frank nickel

Up next in our series of staff picks for the 2015-2016 season is Frank Nickel, Co-General Manager.

THE AMISH PROJECT

The strength of the narrative, the brutality of the story, and the amazing capacity of forgiveness, told through a single actor playing a myriad of characters. I’ve seen bits of the play and read small sections of the script and I can’t wait to see it come to life on the PT stage.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: ON THE AIR

I simply love Peter Church and his ability to take almost any classic story and make it into a modern day recreation set in the height of the radio drama era. With Sarah Rodgers directing and Rick Colhoun directing our live foley sound effects its a new Christmas tradition I’m looking forward to bringing the family to.

WIT

It's an all star Pacific Theatre cast, grappling with true Pacific Theatre material. I’m looking forward to some of Vancouver’s top actors wrestle with a truly mesmerizing text.

Check out the entire season and subscribe!

season announcement | gallery 7 theatre

Our friends at Gallery 7 Theatre in Abbotsford have announced their season!  We're excited to see them celebrating their 25th anniversary.

Jules Verne's
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS*
A Comedy/Adventure by Mark Brown

November 6 & 7, 11 – 14, 2015 @ 7:30 PM
Matinees: Nov 7 & 14 @ 2:00 PM

On a whim, wealthy adventurer Phileas Fogg makes a bet with his friends that he can travel around the world in a mere eighty days. The problem? It's 1872 and the airplane hasn't been invented yet! Accompanied by his trusty servant, Passpartout, Fogg embarks on a journey unlike any other, dodging a pesky, ill-informed detective at every turn. Join us for this mad-cap adventure comedy featuring raging typhoons, runaway trains and stampeding elephants!

Lois Lowry's
THE GIVER*
Adapted by Eric Coble

January 29 & 30, February 3 - 6, 2016 @ 7:30 PM
Matinees: January 30 & Feb. 6 @ 2:00 PM

In a futuristic, utopian society where there is no war or misery, and each citizen is assigned their role in the community by the elders, young Jonas is surprised to learn that he has been chosen to receive special training from The Giver, the keeper of all memories of true joy and pain. As Jonas begins his education, the darker hypocrisies of his perfect world are brought to light, and he is faced with a decision that could risk all he has, including his own life. This moving adaption of the award-winning novel for young adults explores what it means to grow up and to be human in an imperfect world.

SCHOOLHOUSE**
By Leanna Brodie

April 8 & 9, 13 – 16, 2016 @ 7:30PM
Matinees: April 9 & 16 @ 2:00 PM

Set in 1838 in a one-room schoolhouse in the fictional town of Baker's Creek in rural Canada, a young but precocious Melinda Linton is appointed teacher of an endearing yet rambunctious group of children. Quickly gaining the respect of her young charges, Linton is challenged by the arrival of a new student, a juvenile delinquent named Ewart who was sent to the community after doing time in Battenville Training School. Linton attempts to reach out to the young boy and struggles to help both the town and the student move beyond their fears and insecurities. Full of poignancy, humour and warmth, this play celebrates those incredible teachers who impacted us most, and tenderly explores ageless themes of rejection, compassion and redemption.

FREUD'S LAST SESSION***
by Mark St. Germain

May 20 & 21, 25 – 28, 2016 @ 7:30 PM
Matinees: May 21 & 28 @ 2:00 PM

On the day England enters World War II, famous psychiatrist, Sigmund Freud and young novelist and Oxford fellow, C.S. Lewis engage in an intellectual and emotionally charged debate about some of life's biggest questions: love, God, relationships and the meaning of life. As the discussion ensues, the two discover a respect for the other, despite the significant differences of opinion that separate them. A fictional story brimming with humour and insight, this play celebrates friendship and respect as two of the greatest minds from the 20th century tackle the biggest questions of all time.

Introducing Our 2015 | 2016 Bonus Shows:


PANIC SQUAD AND FRIENDS
September 25, 2015 @ 7:30 PM

Those masters of super-clean, super-funny comedy improv are back! Thrill to side-splitting, tear rolling hilarity as the Squad invents scenes right before your eyes, using only the suggestions you give them. A perfect night out with family and friends!


CHRISTMAS PRESENCE****
December 19, 2015 @ 8:00 PM

A rag-tag gathering of musicians and actors sharing songs and stories for the holiday season, this is the perfect way to get into the Christmas spirit. Once again, we're joining forces with our friends from Pacific Theatre for this festive event and will feature, among others, Ron Reed and Ken Hildebrandt.

meet the apprentices | jess amy shead

Every season we gather a new group of new theatre graduates into our midst as season apprentices - you might know them as the people who process your subscription, answer the box office phone, and run the front of house, but that’s only a tiny portion of what they do! Our apprentices are all graduates from theatre training programs, on the verge of launching their professional careers. The apprenticeship program is part mentorship, part creative residency, allowing these fledgling artists a place to grow their craft, experiment, create, and try new roles in a professional environment, all while making valuable industry connections. Now is your chance to meet them! Up first, Jess Amy Shead.

Jess’ onstage experience includes playing Maria Elena in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, and Becky in Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol at the Chemainus Theatre Festival. She also appeared in FIRE with Blue Bridge Reparatory Theatre, and as Una in Blackbird with Theatre Inconnu. She recently played Sam in Runaway with Theatre SKAM, and took her new solo show The Somewhere Cedar, an adaptation of Jean Anouilh’s Antigone, to Intrepid Theatre’s UNO Festival. She has worked with companies such as Atomic Vaudeville, The Belfry Theatre, starstar theatre, NOW! Theatre, The Only Animal, the PuSh Festival, The Firehall Arts Centre, and many more. www.jessamyshead.com

Name: 
Jess Amy Shead

What were you doing last year:
I was the Artist Services Coordinator for the Vancouver Fringe Festival, and spent the holiday season at the Chemainus Theatre Festival playing a little cockney misfit and the long lost love of the 'high functioning sociopath' Sherlock Holmes.

What are your favourite shows you've worked on so far?

BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY at the Chemainus Theatre Festival is definitely a memorable show for me. It was a thrill to do every single night, right through to the end of the remount run, and was challenging musically and character wise. Also, the cast and crew formed a very special bond, and we still keep in touch through a Facebook group called 'Buddy Love'!

Another one that sticks out for me is Blackbird by David Harrower with Theatre Inconnu. This play is shockingly beautiful, and really challenged me to be a completely open, vulnerable actor, while finding the strength in a character that could so easily be portrayed as a victim. It was also a very difficult process to get the show up and running, and we lost the actor playing opposite me not long after to brain cancer. The Director had to step in to play opposite me on opening night with a headpiece in his ear being fed the lines from backstage! It was eventful to say the least, but I learned that no matter what is going on behind the scenes, the work is the work. I am forever grateful to everyone involved in that show.

What is your non-theatrical specialty?

Healthy living – I put a lot of time and effort into what goes into my body, and how I treat my ‘instrument’.

What is the number one thing you are excited about doing during your apprenticeship? 

This is such a hard question; there are so many viable options! I'll choose small - but impactful: I'm excited to work on creating a solid monologue repertoire!

Where did you train in theatre?

I did my post-secondary training at The Canadian College of Performing Arts.

What was your favourite part of your training? 

Having a place to go to to do what I loved, what felt right, and what I truly wanted to be doing. I’m looking forward to having that place again through this apprenticeship!

Is there anything coming up in the apprenticeship that will be totally new to you?

I'm very excited to work with Cara in the Community Engagement Mentorship. I've always been fascinated by the idea of engaging audience members beyond their roles as audience members, and I cannot wait to delve in to facilitating talkbacks, the Theatre Club, and getting to know the Subscribers!

What would be your top three categories of Trivial Pursuit?  (Invented or real)

Wes Anderson Movies, South Africa, and Nutritional Supplements.