soul food vancouver: 2018

Sunday, December 23, 2018

dec 22 | christmas presence in the valley | set list

Wednesday, December 19, 2018

dec 18 | christmas presence | set list

Tuesday, December 18, 2018

dec 17 | christmas presence | set list

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

dec 10 | christmas presence | set list

Sunday, December 09, 2018

dec 9 | christmas presence | set lists

Thursday, December 06, 2018

the lion, the witch and the wardrobe | responses

"Simple magic. This production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe creates a wonderful confection from humble ingredients.”
- Kathleen Oliver, The Georgia Straight

"Theatre is a magical playground, but some shows remember that magic better than others. Ron Reed’s The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe runs on magic.”
- Chelsey Stuyt, Vancouver Presents

“A spare but sparkling adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s tale.”
- The Georgia Straight

“A remarkable evening of enchantment. Take the whole family, and all your friends. They will thank you for it.”
- Monika Forberger, Entertainment Vancouver

“Those of us who grew up with Narnia are remembering a story we’ve known since childhood while imagining the world suggested by the stage. The line between memory and imagination blurs, each serving as a doorway to the other as surely as a wardrobe is a doorway to a snowy wood.”
- Steven Gomez, CSG Stories

"Strikingly physical […] images of Narnia are evoked through skillful storytelling and, with the help of an assortment of fur coats, accomplished stagecraft.
- John Jane, reviewvancouver

Thursday, November 29, 2018

the lion, the witch, and the wardrobe | meet the crew

We are just about ready for tonight's preview performance of THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE! Here are the artists working behind the scenes, busy putting on the final touches before an audience makes its way into the show.

Sarah Rodgers (Director): A long-time member of the PT family, Sarah last directed THE CHRISTIANS on our stage.

Lauchlin Johnston (Set Designer): This is Lauchlin's third time designing for THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE, previously doing lights for our 2012 tour and then doing sets and lights for the musical version in Rosebud.

Julie Casselman (Sound Designer): Julie works as a sound designer, composer, actor, and writer all over town, and she was nominated for a Jessie Award for her sound design for OUTSIDE MULLINGAR at PT.

Sheila White (Costume Designer): The last time we worked with Sheila was for DRIVING MISS DAISY in the 2007-08 season. Since then she has been busy designing for television as well as theatres all over town.

Dianna Lewis (Props Manager): This is the first time we have worked with Dianna, who manages props for our sister company in Abbotsford, Gallery 7 Theatre.

Linnea Perry (Stage Manager): Linnea is one of this season's apprentices, who has already worked on KIM'S CONVENIENCE and is co-producing the upcoming HARK! A STONE'S THROW CHRISTMAS SHOW.

Shelby Wyminga (Assistant Director): Another of our season apprentices, Shelby has been soaking in whatever she can learn as assistant director. You may have already seen her first apprentice project, a reading of her script A HERO FOR NOW.

John Webber (Lighting Designer): John has been a PT regular for years, and we are always thrilled to have him on board. Last time around, he designed lights for TOLKIEN.

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

dec 10 | breaking borders | mariam barry

One of last season's apprentices, Mariam Barry (THE CHRISTIANS), is producing and co-hosting BREAKING BORDERS: IMMIGRANTS TAKE THE MIC! More info below.

BREAKING BORDERS
Dec 10 at 7pm at Cottage Bistro
Entry By Donation
Event Info Here

Breaking Borders is a story driven performance event where immigrants take the mic!

Newcomers to Canada, working professionally as artists, will step to the stage to showcase their talents and share stories.

A night of rap, music, storytelling, and slam poetry, Breaking Borders is a celebration of our fearless visa holders, immigrants, and refugee theatre artists.

Co-hosted by Mariam Barry and Alexandra Lainfiesta, this gathering comes on the heels of an exciting new initiative - a brand new trust account created to support young theatre artists in our community who are immigrating to Canada.

Both Alexandra Lainfiesta and Mariam Barry have walked through this experience alone, and know intimately how immigration can be a very isolating, arduous and expensive process for young newcomers. The trust account they are creating will therefore provide financial support to any young theatre artists seeking help with covering their lawyer consultation fees, PR application fees, and language exams.

With this Alexandra Lainfiesta and Mariam Barry will foster a new network of support and guidance, connecting those who have walked through the process with the ones about to start on that road.

Performers include Isidro Isi, Ghazal Azarbad, Tunji Taylor-Lewis, Kurai Mubaiwa, Yoro Noukoussi, Jacky Essombé, a surprise rapper from Rwanda and more!

Sunday, November 25, 2018

nov 25 | christmas presence | set list

ACT ONE
charles dickens | scrooge's nephew (from 'a christmas carol')
the kwerks | god rest ye / star of wonder
ron reed | edict (from 'first christmas')
carolyn arends | long way to go
frederick buechner | the innkeeper (from 'the magnificent defeat')
carolyn arends | vacancy
madeleine l'engle | the irrational season
william nicholson | christmas drinks party (from 'shadowlands')
spencer capier | ashokan farewell
c.s. lewis | mr tumnus (from 'the lion, the witch and the wardrobe')
steven garber | always winter
jon ochsendorf | rescue me
c.s. lewis | father christmas (from 'the lion, the witch and the wardrobe')
the kwerks | carry me
carolyn arends | do not be afraid

ACT TWO
carolyn arends | christmas must be tonight
mike mason | three fools (from 'twenty-one candles')
jon ochsendorf | long time coming
anon | southern magi
dowie | three wise men (from 'jesus, my boy')
carolyn arends | my first christmas
tim anderson | ivory in the desert
the kwerks | all that I want
madeleine l'engle | o sapientia
carolyn arends | nothing but the love / o come all ye faithful

FEATURED ARTISTS

Musicians
jon ochsendorf, carolyn arends, the kwerks
stringed things, spencer capier
bass, becca birkner
drums, rick colhoun
hammond organ, chris hawley

Readers
ron reed

links to some of these readings can be found here

Friday, November 23, 2018

the lion, the witch and the wardrobe | meet the cast

The cast of THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE is made up of two faces who should be very familiar to regular PT audiences: Rebecca deBoer (OUTSIDE MULLINGAR) and John Voth (THE LONESOME WEST, THE FOREIGNER). We asked them what their personal connection was to this magical story.

The cast of Pacific Theatre's production of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, on Christmas 2019!

Rebecca deBoer: I am excited about this show because of the new challenge it presents me as an actor (8 characters!), because of who I get to do it with (Sarah Rodgers! John Voth!), because I get to join the long line of fabulous actors who have done this show before me, and (perhaps most?) because this will be the first show that my daughters can come see me in!

John Voth: I grew up reading Narnia! The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe was also one of the first plays I acted in high school. It was a musical and I had face paint on.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

christmas presence | the line ups

Our favourite Christmas tradition is back again - CHRISTMAS PRESENCE is always a beautiful and festive evening of songs and stories about the holidays. We have gathered the musicians and the line ups for each night are below.

This season's Christmas Presence line ups! Michael Hart, Corey Janz, The Kwerks, Nelson Boschman, Karen and Katie, Zaac Pick, and more!

December 9 (matinee):
Michael Hart, Corey Janz, Jon Ochsendorf, Karen and Katie, Spencer Capier, Chris Hawley, Becca Birkner, Rick Colhoun, Peter Abando.

December 9 (evening):
Michael Hart, Corey Janz, Jon Ochsendorf, Karen and Katie, Karen and the Carolers, Spencer Capier, Chris Hawley, Becca Birkner, Rick Colhoun, Peter Abando.

December 10:
Garth Bowen, Corey Janz, The Kwerks, Ron Marshal, Mark Bender, Rick Colhoun, Brett Ziegler.

December 16:
Garth Bowen, John Ochsendorf, Karen and Katie, Spencer Capier, Nelson Boschman, Becca Birkner, Kenton Wiens, Rick Colhoun, Brett Ziegler.

December 17:
Zaac Pick, Jon Ochsendorf, The Kwerks, Karen and Katie, Spencer Capier, Nelson Boschman, Mark Bender, Rick Colhoun, Brett Ziegler.

December 18:
Zaac Pick, Jon Ochsendorf, The Kwerks, Karen and Katie, Spencer Capier, Nelson Boschman, Becca Birkner, Rick Colhoun.

December 22 (Valley):
Michael Hart, Jon Ochsendorf, The Kwerks, Nelson Boschman, Chris Hawley, Mark Bender, Rick Colhoun.

Friday, November 16, 2018

pt is hiring | associate manager

As you may have heard, our Associate Manager Andrea is departing after ten wonderful years to pursue a great theatre opportunity. We will miss her, but that means we have the opportunity to find a wonderful new addition to the PT family!

ASSOCIATE MANAGER - Job Description

Interested parties can send resumes and cover letters to Executive Director Alison Chisholm at alison@pacifictheatre.org.

Wednesday, November 14, 2018

the lion, the witch and the wardrobe | first rehearsal

On Monday morning, we all gathered around the table for the first table read of THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE! We had a lot of laughs and a few tears as we journeyed back to Narnia for the first time in many years.

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

announcements | andrea

We are proud to announce that our Associate Manager, Andrea Loewen, has accepted a position as the Managing Director at Presentation House Theatre.

Friends and patrons of PT already know what a gift it has been to have Andrea as a coworker, leader, artist, and friend for the past ten years. She, like many of our staff members, began as an apprentice in our 2008-2009 season and has been a pillar of the office ever since.

Alison Chisholm: “It has been a complete privilege to have had Andrea on our staff for the past decade. Her dedication, hard-work, unabashed hunger for learning and betterment combined with her joyous and compassionate spirit helped define our culture and who we are as an organization.”

We know better than anyone how lucky Presentation House is to have Andrea and how truly missed she will be. If you see her during our Christmas shows, congratulate her! We are all doing the same.

Saturday, November 10, 2018

nov 13 | solitary refinement | dennis hassell

Forty years ago, when I had left theatre for good, I saw Dennis Hassell in a Lamb's Players touring show at, I believe, West Van Baptist. Performing the most un-stageable Tolstoi story imaginable, How Much Land Does A Man Need? ("Pahom can have all the land that he can walk around in a day for one thousand rubles....") We've all learned a great deal since then.

Anyhow, Dennis is still in the game, and his latest show - undoubtedly much more stageworthy - plays at Tenth Church this Tuesday. Directed by Tom Carson, who memorably helmed THE NERD at Pacific Theatre so many years ago. But not so many as forty...

Thursday, November 08, 2018

the wolves | more photos

A final round of photos before THE WOLVES closes up shop this weekend! We are so grateful to have shared this powerful story with you and to have had the opportunity to work with With a Spoon Theatre and Rumble Theatre.

Photos by Ron Reed. Featuring Georgia Beaty, Paige Loiter, Montserrat Videla, Shona Struthers, Danielle Klaudt, Jalen Saip, Amanda Sum, Kim Larson, and Ali Watson. Not pictured: Anjela Magpantay and Tanja Dixon-Warren. Costumes by Chantal Short. Lighting by Nicole Weismiller. Sound by Matthew Macdonald-Bain.

Friday, November 02, 2018

the wolves | director's notes

Jamie King wrote some beautiful director's notes for THE WOLVES and, sadly, we had to ask her to truncate them to fit into the program for printing. So here they are, in all their glory!

Once in a while you find a piece of art that speaks directly to your heart
(as if it has always been inside of you, noodling away in the back of your brain)
then
POW!
It has shape and words, completely tangible before you.
That’s what finding Delappe’s The Wolves was like.
From the first page alone the room I read in was filled with nine teenage girls:
sweating, swearing, chatting about politics and periods and so alive. They leaned over my shoulders while I read.

How could I resist this play?
Its haunting nostalgia, its humour, its life…
These girls are an extension of myself at seventeen. All the beautiful quirks and traits that time is pulling away from me.
Afternoons of lying on sun-washed porches after school, wondering who I would be… who I could be… who I wanted to be...

Coming back to this show after a year and a half away was a profoundly joyful experience.
A bit like going on a long trip and opening the door to your home: the still air, the sun shining through the windows, and clean sheets on the bed waiting for you.

So much has changed in the world (and in us) over this last year, while so much has stayed the same.
To quote Naomi Wadler:
"People have said I am a tool of some nameless adult. It's not true. My friends and I might still be 11, and we might still be in elementary school, but we know. We know life isn't equal for everyone and we know what is right and wrong."

As we move together into the stages of "What Next?" All I can think is to ask for more like this.
More plays about girls being intelligent and petty and oblivious and overachieving and shy and funny and rude and caring.
More art that shows our flaws and our triumphs.
More art that just shows us.
A glimpse of a future that we are just beginning to explore.

Thank you for being here.

we
are
the wolves
we are all The Wolves.

-Jamie King, Director

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

the wolves | responses

"I'm gonna go out on a limb here, and say The Wolves at Pacific Theatre might be the best show I will see this season - and yes I realize it's only October. Directed by Jamie King - perhaps the most mature of young Vancouver directors - this show is OUTSTANDING. I was especially impressed to learn how producers/actors Danielle Klaudt and Paige Louter had the wherewithal to secure the elusive rights for this Pulitzer-shortlisted play by a 27 year old first time playwright, then cast a soccer team's worth of kickass allstar acting talent to light up the stage." Tetsuro Shigematsu

"The script remains a nonet of interlocking character studies with stunning choreography and unusual respect for its audience."
- David Johnston, Colin Thomas' Fresh Sheet

"The Wolves is about family, community, and teamwork. It highlights bullying and acceptance, weaving in the mundane with the serious, and forces the talented cast to go through a roller coaster of emotions that one would with any chosen family."
- Alan Woo, Fun Fun Vancouver

"Director Jamie King and her cast are in perfect sync, nailing both the complex rhythms of the dialogue and the considerable physicality of DeLappe’s script. This show is a literal workout for the actors, who deliver many of their lines while doing running and passing drills on the tiny AstroTurfed stage... There’s not a weak spot on the field in this production. Go, team!"
- Kathleen Oliver, The Georgia Straight

"Like many stories that use sport as a metaphor for basic human endeavour, The wolves (the team, not the play) show us that a team of diverse personalities can move forward in the spirit of togetherness for the collective good."
- John Jane, Review Vancouver

"The Wolves is a smart and satisfying work, and it is easy to see why it is in such demand. Packing a lot into its relatively small container, more importantly, it also packs a punch."
- Mark Robins, Vancouver Presents

"I could say something about every one of these excellent performances, but the real strength of the show is its seamless ensemble. As #25 says, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” That’s as true on the stage as on the pitch, and these Wolves are certainly winners."
- Jerry Wasserman, Vancouver Plays

Monday, October 22, 2018

the wolves | opening night reception

We had a fantastic time opening THE WOLVES last weekend! Thank you to everyone who joined us, and congratulations to the wonderful team of artists who gave this show so much heart. Here are some shots from our opening night reception!

Monday, October 15, 2018

the wolves | meet the cast

There is an incredible cast taking the stage for THE WOLVES! With a handful of former PT apprentices and a number of new-to-us artists, we are so thrilled to introduce you to the cast! Read below to get a little insight into what their personal connection is to the play or why they were excited to be a part of this production.

Kim Larson: "The interactions on stage feel very real to me. The hurricane of nervous energy that is involved in being a teenager (or human) is something I still feel."

Amanda Sum: "I think it is a gift to revisit material. Having set it down for a good year and a half and picking it up again, there's so much more to bring to it. We're all in a different place than we were last year. I know I've grown as an actor and an artist and I think we can add a freshness to the show while still keeping its big heart from our first time."

Danielle Klaudt: "Although I was never on a soccer team, despite my parents' best efforts, these group dynamics are so relatable. I've definitely been in friend groups like this one- whew getting along is complicated!"

Georgia Beaty: "This show is such a gift! The authenticity of the the text, the playful energy, and the complexities of these teenage girls is what I love about this play and these characters.
I am also SO thrilled to be able to work with this group of artists!"

Jalen Saip: "I have played competitive sports for 26 years. This play is like a snapshot of my teenage years in ice hockey and fast pitch."

Ali Watson: "I do feel a lot of connection to my character, #13. She is the weirdo of the group and totally walks to the beat of her own drum. I have always identified as the weird girl in my friend group and I enjoy every second of having that title."

Monsterrat Videla: "I am interested in the gap between where we are and what we are taking in. What are we processing and how? Who are we within our social circle? Simply put, I am invested in these girls for their chaotic, nuanced lives."

Shona Struthers: "I played on a field hockey team at my high school for 4 years and this play is so eerily similar to the conversations we'd have, but I was absolutely never the captain. Our former captain went on to play for HARVARD!"

Paige Louter: "This remount is a dream come true, and I can't wait to take audiences on the journey of this play with us."

Tanja Dixon Warren: "I am jazzed about working with a pack of young up and comers / emerging artists who are full of talent, ideas and passion. I love the poetry and complexity of the script! I love that it has a young voice - which even I can remember having and relating to!!!"

Friday, October 12, 2018

the wolves | flashback

THE WOLVES started as an apprentice project produced by Paige Louter and Danielle Klaudt two seasons ago! Here's a throwback to the original Wolves crew - some of them are back this time around, and some aren't, but they are all wolves! Photos by Catchfall Photography.

Tuesday, October 09, 2018

the wolves | promo photos

It's time for THE WOLVES to move into the theatre! This show is fast, fierce, and powerful, and we cannot wait to bring it to our audience. Here are some promo photos by Riun Garner.

Thursday, October 04, 2018

the wolves | first read

The team for THE WOLVES has already been hard at work, getting ready to follow KIM'S CONVENIENCE (closing this weekend)! Here are some shots from their first read through of the script a couple of weeks ago.