sept 6-16 | the best, man | john voth, mack gordon

Featuring John Voth (GODSPELL, SIDESHOW) and Mack Gordon (YOU STILL CAN'T), directed by Delinquent Theatre's Christine Quintana. Another Fringe sure-to-be Hit!

"Love is patient, love is kind", but love is under pressure when the Best Man is drunk and the Groom has cold feet. A bromantic look at friendship, commitment, and giving someone your best. The Best, Man is a new comedy by Arlen Kristian Tom featuring the talents of Mack Gordon and John Voth, and directed by Delinquent Theatre's Christine Quintana.

THE BEST, MAN
Sept 6-16 at Carousel Theatre
Vancouver Fringe
For showtimes and tickets visit the Fringe site.

sept 7-15 | she has a name | carl kennedy

Directed by Stephen Walschmidt (former PT publicist), featuring Carl Kennedy (JESUS HOPPED THE 'A' TRAIN, LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT), this is a Fringe Festival must-see!

SHE HAS A NAME Canadian Tour comes to Vancouver Fringe September 7-15 - beautifully gripping play exposes human trafficking

Haunted by anguished voices, a lawyer poses as a 'john' to build a legal case against a brothel trafficking girls into Bangkok. Can Jason win the trust of a young prostitute known only as Number 18 and convince her to risk her life and testify for the sake of justice? Burnt Thicket Theatre in partnership with Raise Their Voice presents the critically-acclaimed SHE HAS A NAME by Andrew Kooman, playing May 23 - October 6 in fifteen cities across Canada, including at the Firehall Arts Centre in Vancouver's Fringe Festival, Sept 7-15 (280 E Cordova St).

“Provocative. Poignant. This is a MUST SEE!” —Jamie McIntosh, IJM Canada.

Talk back panels immediately following shows on Sept 10 & Sept 14 with special guests Brian McConaghy (Founding Director of Ratanak International), Trisha Baptie (EVE), Naomi Krueger (Deborah’s Gate), Jassy Bindra (RCMP), and Mark Wollenberg (IJM Canada).

Tickets, video trailers and details at www.shehasaname.net. Tickets also available at the Fringe Box Office on Granville Island.

(Audience Advisory: Not suitable for children. Mature subject matter and strong language.)

second stage season preview

They may be "second stage" but they sure aren't second rate!  (Sorry, couldn't resist.) Here's a preview of what to expect from this season's second stage events, and why we love them.

SIDESHOW COMEDY IMPROV

featuring Peter 'n Chris

Nov 22-24

THE SHOW: A comedy improv show that features the latest Fringe Festival hit by Peter 'n Chris followed by some comedy improv with our usual gang.

WHY WE LOVE IT: It's hard not to love a show that makes you laugh your face off every time. Last year we brought Peter 'n Chris on board for the first time, and their sketch comedy show was gold! Combine that with our favourite improv comedians, and it's always a fun night. Plus, this one is safe for the whole family!

CHRISTMAS PRESENCE

Dec 19-22 at PT

Dec 9 on the North Shore

Dec 15 in the Valley

THE SHOW: Anyone who's been around PT for a year or two knows about this one. Every year the PT performances sell out with subscribers alone, so we're adding two more nights. A smorgasbord of music and readings, featuring the likes of Sheree Plett, Jeremy Eisenhauer, Lance Odegard, Nelson Boschman, and Laurel, among others.

WHY WE LOVE IT: We're not lying when we say it's our favourite Christmas tradition. All the staff here look forward to Christmas Presence every year. Something in that mix of music and readings brings a magical night to our holiday traditions.

FUNNY STUFF

April 3-6

THE SHOW: A collection of scenes, songs, dances, stories, and monologues that have one thing in common: comedy. It's our send-up to funny, featuring staff, apprentices, and other PT family artists.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Again, who couldn't love a night of funny? A few years back we did a similar event called I WAS MEANT FOR THE STAGE that wound up selling out the run. All of our staff and apprentices are performers, so it's a great opportunity for everyone to shine a little!

mainstage season preview

Instead of thinking of this time of year as "back-to-school", we like to think of it as "back-to-the-stage." Instead of stocking up on pencils and binders, we're contracting designers, cleaning up the theatre, and scheduling rehearsals. You've already had some time to check out the season, but now I thought it would be nice to give you a bit of insight into why we at PT are excited about our mainstage season. (And yes, that does mean that a second stage season preview is coming later this week.)

THE SPITFIRE GRILL | Sept 21-Oct 27

music and lyrics by James Valq, book and lyrics by Fred Alley

a guest production by the Midnight Theatre Collective

THE STORY: A young woman leaves prison, only to learn that a second chance isn’t easy to come by. From the beloved film comes a powerful, uplifting musical about starting over.

WHY WE LOVE IT: It's a homey, down-to-earth bluegrass musical about starting over. The themes are right on the nose for PT, and it embodies a lovely simplicity and hopefulness. The producing team at the Midnight Theatre Collective are also some of our favourite people to work with.

WITTENBERG | Oct 31-Nov 10

by David Davalos

THE STORY: Dr. Faustus, Hamlet, and Martin Luther walk into a bar… and the rest is history. Sort of. An extended staged reading in the tradition of THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT.

WHY WE LOVE IT: This is a play full of ideas and witty humour (plus the occasional potty joke). The last "extended staged reading" we did was JUDAS with Marcus Youssef and Michael Kopsa facing off as a lawyer defending heaven and the Prince of Darkness himself. How cool will it be to have the two of them duke it out again, this time as Faust and Martin Luther?

THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE | Dec 5-15

adapted from the novel by C.S. Lewis

THE STORY: It's our signature take on this C.S. Lewis classic and, like Aslan, it’s on the move! Touring to the Kay Meek Centre, Presentation House, and the Evergreen Cultural Centre.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Honestly, this is just one of our favourite plays of all time - the story and the two-person adaptation are so full of magic, we can't resist it. And this year we're taking it on tour for the first time ever.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE |  Jan 25-Feb 16

by Lucia Frangione

THE STORY: One girl’s coming of age results in a terrible crime in this searing drama of bigotry and transcendence in a small prairie town. A complex look at sexuality, violence, religion, and a community’s responsibility to its youth.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A casual observer could probably see that Lucia is one of our favourite playwrights. We've been working with her to get this play on our stage for years now, and so it's been a long time coming. It's classic Lucia: lots of humour, smart dialogue, and a nail that pierces right into the darkest places of your heart.

MOTHER TERESA IS DEAD Mar 1-23

by Helen Edmundson

a guest production by Compassionate Bone Theatre

THE STORY: A conscience-stricken mother abandons husband, son and comfortable London home – resurfacing among the street children of India’s slums. A gripping examination of privilege, spiritual sickness and uneasy sacrifice.

WHY WE LOVE IT: This play has been on the "Shows We NEED to Produce" shelf at PT for a long long time, but for various reasons it never quite got in. Helen Edmundson is a brilliant playwright: she takes the incredibly complex issue of international aid and brings it right into one family's story. Plus, this is the first major production for Compassionate Bone Theatre - a company made up of Angela Konrad, Evan Frayne, and Lois Dawson. Not bad at all.

HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE April 26-May 25

By Bill Cain

THE STORY: Heartfelt and hilarious, the story of an aging mother’s peculiarities and a son’s flawed devotion. A celebration of what holds a family together, suffused with subtle theatrical magic.

WHY WE LOVE IT: This one came to PT after a few people (including our Production and Business Manager Frank Nickel) saw it in Seattle and came back saying "Ron, this play NEEDS to be on our stage." He read the script and agreed, simple as that.

sept 6-oct 7 | clybourne park

Andrew Wheeler was in RE:UNION, Marci T. House was in THE LAST DAYS OF JUDAS ISCARIOT. Now they're on stage together at The Arts Club.

CLYBOURNE PARK
One house, two histories. In Chicago, 1959, an African-American family moves into a house in Clybourne Park, to the mortification of its all-white residents. Fast-forward 50 years, and the house is again changing hands, this time to a young, white couple with plans for demolition. Inspired by the American theatre classic, A Raisin in the Sun, provocateur Bruce Norris skewers the conventions of political correctness with humour and insight. Lightning-quick repartee will leave the audience laughing, perhaps even shocked, and definitely reconsidering what it means to call a place home.

THE SHARP-WITTED, PROVOCATIVE AWARD-WINNING COMEDY
This wickedly funny and fiercely provocative play about race, real estate, gender, and the volatile values of each has won nearly every honour the theatre has to give, including the 2011 Pulitzer Prize and 2012 Tony Award for Best Play.

Running Sept. 7-Oct. 7 at The Stanley
Buy tickets here.

2012/13 Subscriptions | Early Bird Discount

Subscriptions for our 2012/13 season are on sale now, and our most popular dates and seats are selling fast! The early bird deadline is approaching - get your orders in by September 4th to be eligible for the discount. Still not sure what a Pacific Theatre subscription gets you? Read on below:

Why Subscribe?

*Be the first in line: Subscribers get first choice of the best available dates and seats.

* Total flexibility: We know life gets busy and things come up. Subscribers get free, unlimited ticket exchanges!
* Subscriber Appreciation Saturdays: This popular event is back this year and better than ever. As a subscriber you are invited to join us after the first Saturday matinee of every show to spend an hour delving deeper into the play, meeting the artists behind the scenes and connecting with other audience members. Read more here.
* Special invites: Subscribers get free tickets to stones throw productions and apprentice shows.

+ Subscribers get access to our theatre club meetings, open rehearsals and the knowledge that they are an integral part of helping make our season such a success. Come join our family!

Subscriptions are now being accepted by phone (604-731-5518), by mail or in person (1440 West 12th ave, Vancouver BC, V5H 1M8) or online (www.pacifictheatre.org).

Want to learn more? Read all about our season and subscription packages here.

We can't wait to see you at the theatre!

sep 2 | josh garrels

Mike Wipf is bringing Josh Garrels to Vancouver. Says he's even better than sliced bread.



JOSH GARRELS
sep 2

Join Josh Garrels and Mason Jar Music for a premiere screening of the documentary The Sea In Between followed by a live concert with Josh and the Mason Jar ensemble.

rio theatre | 1660 e broadway @ commercial
7:30 doors | 8:00 show
$12 advance | $15 door
pre-order tickets

fringe | alpha | evan frayne

written and performed by Evan Frayne
directed by Angela Konrad

Rick was born to play hockey. But it's his final year in the minors, and he still hasn't been drafted. With the end of high school and the pressure to win a Provincial Championship looming, Rick struggles to hold his dream in focus. Armed with only a sense of humour and a big stick, is Rick ready to face off against his fears? A semi-autobiographical slapshot to the solar-plexis.

Friday, Sept. 7 - 10:40pm - $5
Saturday, Sept. 8 - 4:30pm - $12
Sunday, Sept. 9 - 12:45pm - $12
Monday, Sept. 10 - 6:15pm - $10
Thursday, Sept. 13 - 8:30pm - $10
Saturday, Sept. 15 - 8:00pm - $12

tickets

howard buys a motorhome | edmonton fringe

2012-2013 | new order fee

We are busy undergoing preparations for the 2012-2013 season, and one of the changes we've got coming is an upgrade of our order fee structure. It's important to us to keep you in the loop on any changes that will impact you, so here's the story.

As of July 1, 2012, all single tickets are subject to a $1 per ticket fee.

Order fees are an important part of maintaining our ticketing system, covering everything from our ticketing software to banking fees to the cost of processing credit cards.

Previously, our order fee was a flat $4 per order on all online sales. This new fee structure will reduce the overall fee charge for most patrons.

The fee will not be applied to any tickets purchased as a part of a subscription package or to any additional single tickets added a subscription package at the time of purchase.

So, for example, many of our patrons will purchase a Sampler Pass for our mainstage shows and then add on tickets to CHRISTMAS PRESENCE. So long as you add those tickets on when you place your subscription order, you will not be charged the fee.

Those of you who have already subscribed will have the opportunity to add single tickets to their subscription order without the additional $1 charge up until August 31st. Existing subscribers should expect a letter or email this week explaining the change, if they have not already received one.

Once the box office opens on September 4th all single tickets will be subject to the $1 per ticket order fee.

PT and Creative World Festival

PT Staffers Andrea and Kaitlin, as well as PT actor Mack Gordon, had a great weekend representing Pacific Theatre at the CREATIVE WORLD FESTIVAL. The weekend was full of great speakers and local cultural leaders, and it was a treat to have PT be a part of it. We performed a scene from THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE on the main stage, led a workshop on faith and theatre and held a roundtable discussion about what PT does. Here's some photos of the fun:

Lucy and Peter discovering Narnia on the main stage!

The awesome crowd of CW festival goers taking in the show.

Kaitlin and Mack chatting Pacific Theatre with some new friends.

A big thank you to all who came out to the festival and all the organizers who made it such a success. We can't wait to go again next summer! For more information about the festival, or if you're interested in having a LWW scene performed at your church, contact Kaitlin at kaitlin@pacifictheatre.org.

meet the apprentice | shayna jones

Our final apprentice for this season is Shayna Jones. Alright everyone, time to meet Shayna!

Shayna Jones is an emerging performing artist in Vancouver. She’s performed in the past and hopes to do so in the future. But here and now, she is with Pacific Theatre and she’s ready for the adventure.

APPRENTICE INTERVIEW

Your name: Shayna Jones

What were you doing last year?: Getting involved in whatever performance art I could get my hands on, working at a non-profit agency out in Langley, and even acting in a show written by fellow apprentice Cara Lowdermilk (BRIDE ON CREDIT).

What's your specialty in theatre?: Acting

What are your favourite shows that you've worked on so far?: DE PROFUNDIS (a self-written, self-directed piece I showcased during the Tremors Festival)

What is your non-theatrical specialty?: Community Work/Administration

What's the number one thing you're excited about doing during your apprenticeship?: Slowly figuring out what type of art I will create, and what type of artist I’ll become.

Where have you trained in theatre?: SAMC Theatre at Trinity Western University, Act 2 (with Nadine Wright), and Human Theatre Collective (a physical theatre company)

What was your favourite part of your training?: Voice and Movement exploration. There’s something about the challenge of simply being in neutral that really floats my boat.

Is there anything coming up next year in your apprenticeship that will be a brand new experience for you?: The technical side of theatre. This is my time to learn as much as I can.

Your top three categories in Trivial Pursuit? (Invented or real): Peanut Butter & _____________ combinations; Spice Girl Lyrics; Michael Jackson Lyrics

Favourite 90's hit: Drops of Jupiter Train

meet the apprentice | cara cunningham

The next apprentice for you to get to know is Cara Cunningham.

Cara is a graduate of Trinity Western University where she received her BA in Theatre. Most recently Cara took a playwriting class through Langara College under the direction of Lucia Frangione. Cara is very excited to be a playwriting apprentice at Pacific Theatre and looks forward to what this next year will bring. Playwriting credits include BRIDE ON CREDIT (TWU) and AUGUST IN THE SPRING (TWU). Cara also dabbles in acting and was last seen in BRIDE ON CREDIT and THE SKIN OF OUR TEETH at TWU.

APPRENTICE INTERVIEW

Your name: Cara Cunningham


What were you doing last year?: I was in my final year at Trinity Western University getting my Theatre Degree

What's your specialty in theatre?: Playwriting but I want to do some acting and directing too.

What are your favourite shows that you've worked on so far?: BRIDE ON CREDIT at Trinity. The whole process was such a good learning experience for me, I grew as an artist and a person.

What is your non-theatrical specialty?: I'm a pop culture junkie.

What's the number one thing you're excited about doing during your apprenticeship?: Working with the wonderful people of PT.

Where have you trained in theatre?: Trinity Western University, University of Victoria and Langley Fine Arts School (if that matters) and Langara College (Intro to Playwriting with Lucia).

What was your favourite part of your training?: Angela Konrad's guidance and patience.

Is there anything coming up next year in your apprenticeship that will be a brand new experience for you?: We shall see :)

Your top three categories in Trivial Pursuit? (Invented or real): I have never actually played Trivial Pursuit... but I googled it and I think I would like Entertainment, History and Arts. I should really play this game.

Favourite 90's hit: "Just a Girl" No Doubt

aug 10-12 | pt at the creative world festival

The Creative World Festival is coming up this weekend, and PT will be there on Saturday!  We'll be doing a preview performance of THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE, and running a workshop on Faith, Theatre, and Creativity.  There is tons of amazing stuff to check out all weekend, though, including a lot of PT-family artists.  

The Creative World Festival
August 10-12
St Mary's, Mission, BC

THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE performance
Saturday morning

Faith, Theatre, and Creativity Workshop
Saturday, 1pm

For tickets and schedule information visit the Creative World Festival website.

meet the apprentice | karyn guenther

It's time to meet our new apprentices! While they enjoy the last few moments of summer before they jump into training and a busy season with Pacific Theatre, you can get to know what they're all about right here. First up: Karyn Guenther.

Karyn Guenther is an emerging actor in Vancouver, BC. She has recently graduated from Trinity Western University with a BFA in Acting and is so pleased to be putting her degree to good use. Some favourite credits include Ingrid in Cara Lowdermilk’s BRIDE ON CREDIT (TWU), Rosalind in AS YOU LIKE IT (TWU), and an Ensemble actor in the national tour of the devised piece, ROOTS AMONG THE ROCKS. When Karyn is absent from the theatre she can be found snowboarding, reading, or finding her center in the yoga studio. She looks forward to the many new adventures she will assuredly experience while apprenticing this year.

APPRENTICE INTERVIEW

Name: Karyn Guenther

What were you doing last year?: Last year I was finishing up my BFA in Acting at Trinity Western University.

What's your specialty in theatre?: Acting

What are your favourite shows that you've worked on so far?: A student created work called MYTHIFICATION and the Bard’s AS YOU LIKE IT.

What is your non-theatrical specialty?: Snowboarding!

What's the number one thing you're excited about doing during your apprenticeship?: I am most looking forward to being a part of LEAVE OF ABSENCE, being involved in bringing Lucia Frangione’s new show to life and working with artists I have admired for years. I think it will be special.

Where have you trained in theatre?: I trained at Trinity Western University in Langley, BC.

What was your favourite part of your training?: My favourite part of my training was my voice and movement classes. Movement and different theories of movement enthrall me; I thoroughly enjoy studying the body and its intricacies.

Is there anything coming up next year in your apprenticeship that will be a brand new experience for you?: I’m sure there will be many brand new experiences. I’m looking forward to learning the ins and outs of a theatre company and being able to put up a show of my own. I think both of those things will be challenging and beneficial for me.

Your top three categories in Trivial Pursuit? (Invented or real): Arts and Lit. (perhaps a given), Civil War Army Generals, Wines

Favourite 90's hit: Oooh, I was definitely part of the Spice Girls mania in the 90’s so I’m going with Wannabe by Spice Girls. Classic.

artwork spotlight | how to write a new book for the bible

It seems every year we choose a play with an impossibly long title. This year it's HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE by Bill Cain. Luckily, the title fits in nicely in the artwork Emily Cooper created for this show - here's the artwork spotlight on this image!

This is the story of an aging mother and her son's attempts to care for her as her time comes to an end. Sounds somber, but truly, it's a fun one! Here's how the image breaks down:

• The elderly mother is wearing some funky sunglasses and a halo because she is a little quirkier than your average granny
• Lettermail border and indicia because the mother is known for writing a lot of letters and cards
• The son has crumpled paper for a head because he's a writer
• He is also very clearly being driven a little batty by his beloved mother

aug 10+ 11 | kat gauthier | playing for advantage

Kat Gauthier was a wild child in 100 Saints You Should Know, a betrayed daughter in King Lear, and Goldie Hawn in Godspell. She also directed a pile of PT chicks in un[BOX]ed last month at the Railway Club. She's on her way to the Edmonton Fringe, but you can see her in previews here in town at Studio 16. Says Kat: "It's funny and true and certainly fodder for thought. At times, I see so much of myself in it and other times, it infuriates me. All in all, it's interesting and certainly, charming."

PLAYING FOR ADVANTAGE
fri aug 10 + sat aug 11 | 8:30

by Noah Casey. Starring Noah Casey, Katherine Gauthier
Director Matt Clarke.

Love lessons in tennis! 4.5 stars in Winnipeg (Uptown Magazine) and hold-over performances in Ottawa, a Prix Rideau Nomination for Best Fringe Production, and an all-but-one sold out run in Vancouver, comes a fresh new romantic comedy about mid-20’s relationships in the modern world — if the modern world was a tennis court.

“Sharp, witty, and powerfully true” (Plank Magazine)
“More helpful than all the dating tips you’ll find,” (CBC Winnipeg)
“The sightlines are all good, but if you’re game for people-watching, the seating sweet spot is in the back row, where there’s a clear view of couples exchanging glances in the audience when the material hits close to home.” (Winnipeg Free Press)

Tickets: 10$. Cash Only!
Doors: 7:45pm
Studio 16
1545 W7th

artwork spotlight | mother teresa is dead

The artwork spotlight for MOTHER TERESA IS DEAD, a guest production by new company Compassionate Bone Theatre.

MOTHER TERESA IS DEAD is a play that straddles the worlds of London's middle class and India's slums, through the lens of one mother's dilemma: should she stick with her family in London or save street children in India? Here's what the elements of this image are all about:

• India is represented in the backdrop, woman's dress, flower, and half the map
• London is represented in the Tower of London and the map
• The woman is "blooming" out of the flower, representing new beginnings
• The three bees circling around her are for the three other characters all trying to influence the woman's decision