christmas presence | line ups

It's time again for our CHRISTMAS PRESENCE line ups to begin to take shape. We've got some old favourites and new voices joining us this year and we can't wait to share another round of songs and stories to launch you into Christmas.

Dec 17:
Jon Ochsendorf, The Kwerks, Jamison Isaak, Rachel Button, Nelson Boschman, Chris Hawley, Becca Birkner, Rick Colhoun

Dec 19:
Michael Hart, Zaac Pick, Corey Janz, The Kwerks, Becca Birkner, Peter Abando, Rick Colhoun

Dec 20:
Corey Janz, Jon Ochsendorf, Karen and Katie, John Voth, Mark Bender, Peter Abando, Rick Colhoun

Dec 21:
Garth Bowen, Bre McDaniel, Jon Ochsendorf, John Voth, Nelson Boschman, Chris Hawley, Mark Bender, Rick Colhoun

Dec 22:
Garth Bowen, Bre McDaniel, Jon Ochsendorf, Corey Janz, The Kwerks, John Voth, Nelson Boschman, Chad Galpin, Rick Colhoun

Dec 23 Matinee and Evening:
Michael Hart, Garth Bowen, Corey Janz, Jon Ochsendorf, Rachel Button, John Voth, Nelson Boschman, Chad Galpin, Kenton Wiens

NOTE: If you are looking for line ups for Christmas Presence in 2018, please CLICK HERE. The link to this post was sent out by accident, but it's old!
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almost, maine | song list

Jay Clift's sound design for ALMOST, MAINE is right on the money! If you'd like to make your own playlist, here is the list of songs used.

Regina Spektor - On The Radio
3 Dog Night - One
The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun
Beyonce - XO
Regina Spektor - Us
Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Florence and the Machine - Dog Days Are Over
Bon Iver - Skinny Love
Elle King - I Told You I Was Mean
Jesse Ahmann - Fall Asleep Happy

#givingtuesday is tomorrow!

Giving Tuesday is coming up tomorrow! Giving Tuesday is a time to give back to the communities where we live and work, to give back to our friends and neighbours who have given us so much, and to give back to the local charities and nonprofits who work tirelessly to realize their mission and vision of bettering our communities.

This year, for #givingtuesday we are sharing stories that matter, stories from the community of Pacific Theatre.  — Anecdotes from audience members, staff members, emerging artists, and all the people who come together to create the PT community.

It was at PT that we learned what it meant to have art and community intersect in a powerful way, to have faith inform art and have art inform faith, and to believe in our own talents and gifts. We will always have so much love and affection for Pacific Theatre for giving us room and space to grow and find ourselves and for providing an adventure that would impact us for the rest of our lives!
- Ryan Hoke

How can you get involved?

Share you PT story! Tell us about a memorable moment at Pacific Theatre - what do you think of when you think of PT? Post it with a selfie and the hashtag #givingtuesday

Donate! We believe that every gift has an impact. You can donate online through this link

Then, when you donate, don’t forget to share your PT story with #givingtuesday

You can also donate over the phone at 604.731.5483 or in person at our office from 10:00am - 5:00pm on Tuesday.  If you come into the office, we’ll take a picture of you next to our Giving Tree. Watch it fill up with gifts and stories throughout the day!

Thank-you all for being a part of the community that has made up Pacific Theatre for the past 36 years. Help us continue create more stories that matter for the years to come.

almost, maine | responses

"Like life and love itself, Almost, Maine is quirky, sweet and sometimes delightfully messy. And despite its disappointing lack of snowflakes, you should definitely make this trip to New England." | Mark Robins, Vancouver Presents

"Not only was the play full of emotion, it was hilarious. Due to the characters sincerity, genuineness, and impeccable comedic timing the play seemed to constantly bring the audience to rigorous laughter." | Connor Riopel, Merely Players

"A clever, quirky romantic comic anthology made up of 10 two-character vignettes ... first-time director Kaitlin Williams and her five attractive young actors handle the material with aplomb. Nearly everyone leaves the theatre smiling." | Jerry Wasserman, The Vancouver Sun

almost, maine | opening night photos

We had a spectacular opening night for ALMOST, MAINE on Friday! These guys had so much fun, we could barely get them to stand still for a photo - so when you see blurriness, know that there is joy behind it.

nov 26 | christmas presence | set list

Christmas Presence is different every night. Different musicians, different readings. Join us December 17 in Clearbrook, or December 19-23 at home in Pacific Theatre, for more of the same different! Here's a link for tickets - but don't delay, some shows are already sold out!

ACT ONE
Peter Abando, Rick Colhoun, Mark Bender | Christmastime Is Here
Charles Schultz | Charlie & Linus
Zaac Pick | Maybe This Christmas
Robert Farrar Capon | Advent
Carolyn Arends | It Was A Holy Night
John Lekich | A Keen Sense Of Occasion
Carolyn Arends | Christmas Magic
Mike Mason | Gabriel's Annunciation
Jalen Saip | You're Here
Madeleine L'Engle | The Irrational Season
Carolyn Arends | My First Christmas
Zaac Pick | O What Night

ACT TWO
Spencer Capier | The Merry Blacksmith
Garrison Keillor | The Seven Principles of Christmas
Carolyn Arends | Is Bethlehem Too Far Away
Zaac Pick | Finding Christmas
Lucia Frangione | Taste Of Winter
Spencer Capier | Lover's Waltz
Annie Dillard | God In The Doorway
Carolyn Arends | Do Not Be Afraid
Sheila Rosen | No Safe Place
Zaac Pick | Christmas Song
Robert Louis Stevenson | Christmas Prayer
Carolyn Arends | A Christmas Blessing

*

Readers: Ron Reed, Matthew Simmons, Jalen Saip
Hammond B3: Chris Hawley

We've posted some of these readings, and plenty of others, online - here's a link to an index.

almost, maine | meet the crew

We're finishing 2017 off with a big fluffy snowball of a show - John Cariani's beautiful wintry anthology ALMOST, MAINE. And director Kaitlin Williams has assembled a team of Pacific Theatre stalwarts to bring this magical journey to life.

Kaitlin Williams | Director

Lauchlin Johnston | Lighting and Set Design

Jay Clift | Sound Design

Amy McDougall | Costume Design

Maria Zarrillo | Stage Management

almost, maine | why this matters | kaitlin williams

Almost, Maine is a play filled with complicated emotional journeys that also strive for universality. We sat down with director Kaitlin Williams and she shared her thoughts on these 'love parables'.

almost, maine | photos

We've got the advance photos for our final show of 2017: John Cariani's ALMOST, MAINE! All photos by Emily Cooper.

almost, maine | meet the cast

We're finishing 2017 off with a big fluffy snowball of a show - John Cariani's beautiful wintry anthology ALMOST, MAINE. And director Kaitlin Williams has assembled a dream team of Pacific Theatre stalwarts to bring this magical journey to life.

Kim Larson is a former Pacific Theatre acting apprentice - you may have seen her in SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN, THE WOLVES, or THE DROWNING GIRLS on the PT stage, or at various productions at Studio 58. She's putting on lots of different hats to return to our stage for Almost, Maine!

Giovanni Mocibob returns to our stage after stirring turns in THE WHIPPING MAN and DOUBT - having recently spent time in the world of film and television, we are proud to have him back in the theatre. He's getting to show off his comedy chops after some heavy lifting in past PT shows.

You may have seen Jalen Saip around the theatre or box office this fall as one of our company apprentices, and now you have the chance to watch her weave her magic on stage. Jalen has previously joined Stone's Throw Productions for PROBLEM CHILD and THE WOLVES, as well as THE WINTER'S TALE with our friends at Classic Chic! Jalen is also a performer with Vancouver TheatreSports League on Granville Island.

Peter Carlone is back on the Pacific Theatre stage, and we are thrilled! After his award-winning turn in THE FOREIGNER and his stellar work with comedy duo PETER N' CHRIS, we have no doubt that Peter will have us rolling in the aisles - and in the snow - once again.

Baraka Rahmani last joined us for WIT, and we're so pleased to have her back for our 2017-2018 season. This spring she will head to Ontario for a production of A THOUSAND SPLENDID SUNS.

nov 16 | the kingdom of what is | author reading

Karl Petersen is a long-time part of the Pacific Theatre world.  He acted in our production of Dorothy Sayers' THE ZEAL OF THY HOUSE way back in 1985(!), and I've often read his poetry at Christmas Presence.  Well, he's written a young adult novel, and there'll be a reading next Thursday at noon.  And if you can't make it to the reading, the book is available on Amazon.

THE KINGDOM OF WHAT IS
A Reading

November 16, 12 noon

Regent College Atrium
5800 University Blvd, Vancouver

Petersen Reads, Q&A, and book signing

Free Admission
Books - $15 (cash or check)

almost, maine | first read

Today was the first read of ALMOST, MAINE! This charming romantic comedy is going to be the perfect introduction to the holidays. Here's some shots from the hilarious reading.

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the lonesome west | responses

"Your best bet on stage right now continues to be the fecking grand production of Martin McDonagh’s The Lonesome West. As funny as it is dark, this trip to Leenane is worth it, and marks an auspicious start for one of our city’s newest indie theatre groups.... As Valene and Coleman, John Voth and Kenton Klassen are absolutely terrific. Matching each other note-for-note, there is a naturalness to their delivery leaving little doubt the two come from the same blood. One can’t help but wonder if the two actors, who are roommates, are giving some life to their characters from experience in the real-world." | Mark Robins, Vancouver Presents

"John Voth is doing an excellent job of playing the rhythms as Valene while staying responsive and giving his character an active inner life... And I unreservedly admire Paige Louter’s work as Girleen. Not only does she get the rough humour right, she also finds the delicacy." | Colin Thomas

"These are four excellent performers. John Voth is big and burly and yet there is something decidedly boyish about Valene, especially in his collection of figurines of the saints which he believes will get him into heaven... Coleman, on the other hand, played by Kenton Klassen is nasty, cunning and sly. He knows exactly how to get Valene riled up and takes wicked pleasure in doing it... As Girleen, Paige Louter is saucy and pert... Against all odds, Sebastien Archibald makes Father Welsh a pitiable character in spite of his drinking and self-loathing." | Jo Ledingham

"The play, by Irish/British bad boy Martin McDonagh, is tons of fun. The writing vibrates with lethal verve... You wouldn’t expect patricide and Catholicism to be this much fun." | Darren Barefoot, The Georgia Straight

"Brilliant show - dark, funny, hard and hopeful. Like a Pogues song turned into a play." Nicola Colhoun

nov 3 | graham ord | bez arts hub

Graham Ord has played a couple CHRISTMAS PRESENCES - there'd have been more, but he lives far away now - and when he performs this Friday at Bez Arts Hub he'll have Brett Ziegler on keys, who has played bazillions of Christmas Presences, and was our band leader for GODSPELL.

GRAHAM ORD IN CONCERT
Nov 3
Bez Arts Hub, Langley
Doors at 7:00 Join us for bevies
Show at 8:00
tickets + info

The man, the legend, Graham Ord at Bez Arts Hub! His band, featuring monster barefooted bassist Peter Davyduck, the massively talented Brett Ziegler on keybaords, percussion and wind instruments, and powerhouse drummer Dan Oldfield. Graham's discography spans decades and continents from blues to rock to folk to gospel you wont want to miss the amazing evening in the perfect Bez performance space!

Presented in partnership with Mirror Arts Program and Creative BC