jan 24-26 jan 31st- feb 2 | human library | maki yi, rudi krause

Associated Artist Maki Yi and dear PT friend Rudi Krause are involved in THE HUMAN LIBRARY as part of the PuSh Festival. Take out a human book and have an interactive experience where you can learn about someone very different from you. Borrow a book, discover a person. 

Enter the Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch and head up to the third floor where a special PuSh Festival circulation desk will register you with your own human library card and offer to lend you one of thirty possible human books. Choose from a variety of titles. Sign one out and be connected to the person behind that title. A 20-minute one-on-one conversation will begin and the rest is up to you.

THE HUMAN LIBRARY initiative is an international phenomenon, started in Copenhagen as a project to fight hate in communities. It is designed to promote dialogue, reduce prejudices and encourage understanding. By connecting people who under normal circumstances might not have had a chance to just sit down and talk, the library enables groups to break stereotypes by challenging common prejudices in a positive and humorous manner.

Presented by the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival and grunt gallery.

Jan.  24-26, 31, Feb. 1-2
Noon – 5 p.m.
Level 3
Central Library, 350 West Georgia Street

http://pushfestival.ca/2014/shows/human-library/

measure for measure | theatre club tomorrow

Tomorrow is our next Theatre Club. A great way to dig a little deeper on our plays, already known for creating discussion (and maybe the occasional debate). Come get Shakespearean with us!

THEATRE CLUB
Saturday Jan 25th at 4:45pm - following the matinee

Discussion guide available to download here.

measure for measure | preparing the script

Director Kevin Bennett spends a lot of time researching and preparing the script for all his Shakespeare productions, and MEASURE FOR MEASURE is no different.  Here's some shots of his workspace in the months leading up to the show.  Just a few different versions of the script, a few commentary texts… or a desk full.

missions fest | we make stuff | artists panel

Vancouver's Missions Fest is taking place this weekend, Jan 24th-26th. On Saturday, Kaitlin (our community engagement manager), will be at the We Make Stuff booth chatting about Pacific Theatre. She'll also be on a panel of artists later in the day. If you're at Missions Fest this weekend, pop by and say hi! Details below:

Panel Discussion: Artists Unnoticed - How can the church engage the arts community in Vancouver?
When: Saturday Jan 25th at 12:30pm - 1:30pm
Where: Missions Fest, 999 Canada Place Vancouver, Rm 19
Hosted by: We Make Stuff

More info: www.missionsfestvancouver.ca

one little accident | jeff gladstone

Jeff Gladstone is performing in MEASURE FOR MEASURE (opening this Friday!), but this fellah has been busy putting together a music career.  He'll be releasing his full-length album Hell of a Girl on April 19 at the Rio Theatre, but in the meantime, you want to check out the music video for his single "One Little Accident Away".

measure for measure | 6 unexpected canadian laws

In MEASURE FOR MEASURE the trouble arises when Angelo enforces a law that, while technically on the books, had not been enforced for a long while.  This made me think - what laws are hiding in Canada's Criminal Code that have been forgotten, or perhaps ignored?  Turns out there are a host of laws in our country that would surprise everyone if they were suddenly enforced (although perhaps not quite as dramatically as in MEASURE FOR MEASURE).

1. Comic books that depict illegal acts are banned by the criminal code.

This law came into effect after WWII with a rash of "crime comics" that were somewhat graphic in their depictions of crimes and were feared to increase juvenile delinquency.  However, technically most (if not all) super hero comics would actually fall under this law, as well as an educational graphic novel about Louis Riel.

2. In Nova Scotia, it is against the law to water your lawn in the rain.

Not sure why you would, but don't.

3. In Ottawa, it is illegal to eat ice cream on Bank Street on a Sunday.

There are actually a lot of laws restricting activities on Sundays - this one is the funniest though.  Who wouldn't want an ice cream?

4. In Petrolia, Ontario "yelling, shouting, hooting, whistling, or singing is prohibited at all times."

The law was actually put in place to keep people quiet from 12am-7am, but for some reason those stipulations were left out of the law in favour of the all-encompassing "at all times."  Sounds like you need to keep a lid on the fun in Petrolia.

5. In Souris, PEI it is illegal to build a snowman taller than 30 inches.

Apparently there were problems with giant snowmen running amok.

6. In BC it's illegal to kill a Sasquatch.

Perhaps actually intended to protect other large animals that might be mistaken for Sasquatch by an over-eager monster hunter.  Or maybe our fabled Sasquatch is an endangered species - there is allegedly just one of him, after all.

measure for measure | production photos

Here are some production photos from MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

measure for measure | opening night

We had a great time at opening of MEASURE FOR MEASURE on Friday night!  Here's some shots from the post-show reception.

The directing team! Kevin Bennett (Director) and Katrina Darychuk (Assistant Director).

PT Staffers Cara Cunningham and Alison Chisholm with their partners.

Season Apprentice and Actor Pippa Johnstone with a group of friends.

Actor Michael Fera with Tanja Dixon-Warren.

Actor Simon Webb with our Artistic Director Ron Reed.

 

Actor Ted Cole with Costume Designer Christopher David Gauthier.

Kevin Bennett and Katrina Darychuk with Set Designer Shizuka Kai and Actor Julie McIsaac.

measure for measure | weekday matinee

Need to add a little Elizabethan flair to your work week?  Stop by PT for a weekday matinee of MEASURE FOR MEASURE!

MEASURE FOR MEASURE
Weekday Matinee: Thursday, January 23 at 2pm
To book: www.pacifictheatre.org

jan 15 | jonny lang concert

Blues-rocker prodigy Jonny Lang is coming to town! He will be playing at the Hard Rock Casino in Coquitlam on Saturday January 18th. Jonny Lang is regarded as one of the best live performers and guitar players of his generation! Find more information at the Church for Vancouver blog following a segment on thePT/Honest Fishmonger's Measure for Measure publicity protest march. 

measure for measure | an interview with ron reed

A brief interview with Artistic Director Ron Reed about MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

Pacific Theatre is not exactly known for working with the classics or Shakespeare. Why this play?

This is a play that I wanted to produce when I first thought about having a theatre company with a faith mandate. I was at CalArts thirty years ago and I did some scene work from it and went ‘if I ever had a theatre company, we would do that play!’ It’s such a complex, in-your-face challenge about moral quandaries.

How does MEASURE FOR MEASURE connect with Pacific Theatre’s faith mandate?

I believe that Isabella is one of the great characters of faith in all literature.  She chooses a life of faith, but when her own devotion, her own commitment to her faith jeopardizes her brother’s life, the stakes couldn’t be higher.

When I studied the play at theatre school, I read an essay by G. Wilson Knight called "Measure for Measure and the Gospels."  The title of the play itself is a quote from Jesus about forgiveness – the measure you give is the measure you’ll receive.

This is one of Shakespeare’s most explicitly spiritual plays. It's explicitly about the life of faith colliding with a different set of values and expectations.

How does this play connect with our contemporary culture?

The situation Isabella finds herself in couldn’t be more contemporary - that toxic blend of sex and power is constantly in front of us.

There is a problem that arises when people in power use that power to force people into difficult situations – specifically, men in positions of power using that power with a sexual expectation. This is a very real problem today; it simply has not been fixed yet.

I’m also a believer that some things are an issue in human lives all the time, and these questions are an issue in human lives all the time. So it does have a particular contemporary edge, but even without that, it is a deeply human story.

jan 14 | word becomes flesh: thoughts on theatre and faith |ron reed & regent college

Have you ever wondered where the roots of  Pacific Theatre's mandate lie? In this candid interview with Artistic Director Ron Reed you'll learn about a relationship between faith and art that lies at the core of what we do. Regent College's Tim Bratton brings Ron back to the beginning; to his decision to pursue theatre while studying New Testament Greek at Regent College. Ron talks about the relevance of theatre in our culture today, his personal experience being a Christian and an artist, and the correlation between faith and storytelling. 

"It’s not a coincidence that in theatre, you take the words of a script and you enflesh them—you live them out. If that doesn’t sound familiar to people, they haven’t read their New Testament lately. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” [John 1:14] God wouldn’t have done that if it wasn’t the best way, and there’s an echo of that in my craft." 

The full interview is found at the Regent World website  

measure for measure | pay-what-you-can preview

There are TWO pay-what-you-can previews for MEASURE FOR MEASURE - tonight and tomorrow.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE
Pay-What-You-Can Preview
Thursday, January 15 & 16th at 8pm
(reserve in advance for $13.99 or pay-what-you-can at the door)

When Vienna’s ruthless morality laws are revived during the Duke’s absence, a young nun is confronted with a terrible ultimatum: her soul for her brother’s life. A surprisingly contemporary tale of scandal, abuse of power, and the balance of justice with grace.

Directed by Kevin Bennett
Featuring Simon Webb, Julie McIsaac, Peter Anderson, Katharine Venour, Ted Cole, Alison Kelly, Michael Fera, Jeff Gladstone, Emmelia Gordon, and Pippa Johnstone.

“Kevin Bennett proves once again that he is one of the most interesting and innovative young talents in town.” Colin Thomas, The Georgia Straight

ovation awards | connected the musical | alison chisholm

Congratulations to our Operations Manager and Producer Alison Chisholm!  Her musical CONNECTED, THE MUSICAL, has been nominated for three Ovation Awards: Best Direction (Chris Lam), Best Set Design (Lauchlin Johnston), and Best Original Creation.  Plus, they'll be performing the song "Am I Really" at the awards on January 26th.  Go team!

measure for measure | protest march video

Last week the team from MEASURE FOR MEASURE took to the streets to promote the show through a mock protest of Angelo's oppressive regime.  Here's the video they made of the event, plus a few more pictures.

measure for measure | subscriber appreciation saturday

Our first Subscriber Appreciation Saturday of 2014!  For MEASURE FOR MEASURE we'll have director Kevin Bennett and Artistic Director Ron Reed discussing all things Shakespeare, including the many interpretations of the Bard's work, as well as the theological connections in MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

MEASURE FOR MEASURE
Subscriber Appreciation Saturday
Saturday, January 18th at approx. 4:45pm
(following the matinee performance)
RSVP: kaitlin@pacifictheatre.org

january 23 - february 20 | square foot prayer | regent college

Have you ever been to an artistic prayer labyrinth? A number of artists from Regent College are putting together an art and prayer combination that you don't want to miss. Pacific Theatre has many ties to the artistic community at Regent College and we are excited about this unique exhibit. 

The Lookout Gallery's next exhibit is SQUARE FOOT PRAYER: A Regent Community Art Project open from January 23rd - February 20th.

The SQUARE FOOT PRAYER project is an artistic prayer labyrinth hosting a compilation of artwork done by members of the Regent community. Each artist has created a square foot prayer window—a visual and symbolic representation of the artist’s prayer. The hope is that it will prompt onlookers to pray as they gaze. To participate, please come and give yourself time to pray through this exhibit. We encourage you to bring a non-perishable food item that will go to support Jacob’s Well on the Downtown Eastside. 

Lookout Gallery 
5800 University Blvd

January 23 - Feb 20
Mon - Fri  8:30am - 5pm
Sat  12pm - 4pm 

http://www.regent-college.edu/about-us/events/event-details?event_id=257 

measure for measure | costume preview

Christopher David Gauthier is the man behind the costumes for MEASURE FOR MEASURE, and he stepped up to a big challenge: to somehow combine Elizabethan and contemporary style.  Here's a sneak peek at some of the inspirations he drew on and the design drawings he came up with.

vancouver sketch fest | peter carlone | jan 23-25

Pacific Theatre audiences will remember Peter Carlone from his many hilarious roles on our stage. He has joined us at SIDESHOW the past two seasons as one half of the comedy duo Peter 'n Chris, he was featured in FUNNY STUFF last year, and who could forget his turn as Ellard in this year's THE FOREIGNER?

Now Peter is donning a new hat as Artistic Director of Vancouver's Sketch Comedy Festival coming up January 23rd-25th. More info about the festival below:

This January our city will be overrun with Canadian funny folks as Vancouver Sketch Comedy Festival offers professional workshops for aspiring comics and a full weekend of laughs!

The Vancouver Sketch Comedy Festival (Sketch Fest) is returning to Granville Island this month with a host of hilarious characters guaranteed to tickle your funny bone. Over three days and ten show-times, 27 hilarious groups of comedians perform some of the best comedy you’ll see this year from all across the country.

Sketch Fest’s line-up is curated by Artistic Director, and Canadian Sketch Comedy Award Winner, Peter Carlone. Artists include Canadian Comedy Award nominees Hip. Bang!, Hot Thespian, Action, Morgan Brayton and Mark and Kyle and, of course, Peter n’ Chris. Acts will be coming to Vancouver to perform from all over Canada and the USA. From across the pond England’s critically acclaimed comedy duo James and Jamesey will also be making an appearance.

Tickets are on sale now for Sketch Fest’s workshops as well as each of the ten show times on Granville Island. Early bird tickets are amazingly priced at $8 while lollygaggers will have to pay a mere $15 for each performance. Scheduling, sketch group biographies, workshop details and more can all be found at www.vancouversketchfest.com. 

measure for measure | words of the day

The team from MEASURE FOR MEASURE have taken over our green room!  Every day they post a new "Word of the Day" on the board, as well as any questions people have about the referenced scene. Take a peek at some of the words of the day and get some insight into what themes and traits are key to this production.