2015-2016 season brochure

We've been handing out brochures for the 2015-2016 season left, right, and centre, but let's face it: sometimes it's just nice to look at something online.  After all, everyone should see the wonderful artwork created for us by our favourite local artist, Emily Cooper.  Here is the brochure, in all its digital glory!  (And if it inspires you to spend more time with us, you might want to subscribe.)

celebrazione | meet the hostess

CELEBRAZIONE is coming up and so we figure it's about time for you to meet our host: Lucia Frangione!  If you've been around PT for more than a couple years, Lucia is a familiar face.  She has been one of our core artists for years, she was our first-ever apprentice and since has written and performed in (nearly) countless productions on our stage!  Since she'll be performing a bit of entertainment inspired by her most popular show, ESPRESSO, here are some shots from last spring's production with Robert Salvador (who will also be performing at CELEBRAZIONE).

freud's last session | historical context

FREUD'S LAST SESSION is a fictional story firmly set in a historical time.  Here's some of the background.

Freud’s Last Session is set on September 3, 1939, the day that England entered World War II, two days after Germany’s invasion of Poland.

Immediately people began to leave London and other major cities for the country side, especially those with children. Citizens were provided with gas masks and instructed to go underground when air raid sirens sounded. Those who did not have bunkers or basements available would go to the Underground or neighbours’ homes.

A year previous, in 1938, Sigmund Freud fled growing anti-Semitism in Austria for London. He had his Vienna office replicated in London.

At this time, CS Lewis was working as a professor at Oxford University, just outside London. He had recently published his first book, The Pilgrim’s Regress, which satirized Freud.

celebrazione | teaser video

As happenstance would have it, one of our apprentices was in Italy last month, right before our Italian-style benefit, CELEBRAZIONE!  We couldn't resist this golden opportunity to get some genuine Italian images.  Here's the little teaser video she put together for us.

celebrazione | auction catalogue

We are thrilled about the extensive catalogue of items for our silent AND live auctions for CELEBRAZIONE.  Here's a peek at the catalogue.

Writers Package
David Downing Book:
The Most Reluctant Convert
Mike Mason Books:
The Mystery of Marriage
The Blue Umbrella
The Violet Flash
Twenty-one Candles
Champagne for the Soul
Practicing the Presence of People
The Gospel According to Job
Diane Tucker Books (Autographed):
His Sweet Favour
Sandgrain Leaf
Bonsai Love
Bright Scarves of Hours
Vancouver Writers Fest Tickets
Andrea Warner Book:
We Oughta Know

Granville Package
Tickets to the Arts Club Theatre Company's Production of Godspell
Dinner at Ouisi Bistro
JJ Bean Gift Card

Fluevog Package
$350 Gift Certificate to Fluevog Shoes

Downtown Package
A night at the Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel
Tickets to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra

Songbird Package
Vancouver Chamber Choir Tickets
Vancouver Opera Tickets

Fringe Package
6 Tickets and Memberships to the Vancouver Fringe Festival
Reserved Seating at Hunger Games: The Musical
Signed Hunger Games: The Musical Poster
JJ Bean Gift Card

Bowen Island Lodge
Bowen Island Lodge Two Night Stay

Island Package
Belfry Theatre Tickets
Cherry Point Estate Wines Tasting

Seattle Package
Taproot Theatre Tickets

Kid’s Adventure Package
Charlee Dee Items
Family Pack to Splashdown Park

Kid’s Theatre Package
Vancouver International Children’s Festival Family Pack
Carousel Theatre for Young People Tickets
Pacific Theatre Kid’s Camp Registration

Home Design Package
Keven Stephens Design Consult
Rossington Renovations

Pacific Theatre Package
Two Everything Passes for 2015/2016
Signed Freud’s Last Session Poster
Dinner at Siena

Relaxation Package
Body Shop Gift Basket
Groggy Frog Thai Massage
Kimberley Dawn Esthetics Manicure

Indie Theatre Package
Dinner at Eight ½ Restaurant
Tickets to The Cultch
Tickets to 20 Something Theatre

Progress Lab Package
Electric Company Theatre Gift Basket:
The Score DVD
Tear the Curtain Script
Studies in Motion Script
Two Electric Company T-Shirts
Rumble Theatre Tickets

Outdoor Theatre Package
Tickets to Theatre Under the Stars
Tickets to Bard on the Beach on Fireworks Night
Dinner at Whitespot

Sports Package
Signed Photo of Kirk Mclean and Trevor Linden
4 Tickets to the July 4th BC Lions Game

Health and Body Package
Yoga with Andrea Loewen
Vega Nutrition Package
Consult with the Kitchen Dietitian

Andrea Armstrong Art Package
Custom Portrait

Artisan Package
Artisan Gift Basket
Gift Basket from Neverland Tea Salon

freud's last session | the question of god

The play FREUD'S LAST SESSION is inspired by a book called The Question of God.

Written by Dr. Armand Nicholi who taught a Harvard class for years based on the opposing arguments of CS Lewis and Sigmund Freud.  He found that the two men both dealt with the same questions (pain, suffering, love, sex, and the meaning of life and death) and both had examined their views as well as alternate options in great detail, and yet both had come to conclusions that couldn't be more opposite.

The course inspired Dr. Nicholi to write the book, which became a PBS miniseries before being adapted into a play by Mark St. Germain.

celebrazione | meet the musician

One thing we can't wait for at CELEBRAZIONE is James Coomber's roving accordion music.  Sadly, we don't have any footage of this to share with you in advance, but James has composed and designed the sound for several PT show.  Most recently, you might remember the amazing, award-nominated music in THE FOREIGNER, that was all thanks to him!

freud's last session | production photos

Some production shots from FREUD'S LAST SESSION!

sideshow | words of wisdom from off key improv

For our final SIDESHOW of the season, Off Key Improv will be performing an improvised musical inspired by FREUD'S LAST SESSION.  To warm up for this intellectual endeavour, they have been posting words of wisdom from the cast on their Facebook page.  Check them out (and then visit them on Facebook for more fun)!

freud's last session | have your session with freud!

After performances of FREUD'S LAST SESSION, we're doing something we've never done before: inviting our audiences onto the stage to take photos on our set, with the actors!  That's right, you can have your very own session with Freud and then brag about it online.  Here's what people have been sharing so far:

My session with Freud! I feel so much better. Check out Freud's Last Session at Pacific Theatre #ptFreud pic.twitter.com/bnyqUIwwsN

— Susie Coodin (@SusieCoodin) April 25, 2015

Opening night of Freuds Last Session @PacificTheatre Well done gentlemen! #CSLewis #ptFreud #theatre #vancitybuzz pic.twitter.com/vu9ly85pvQ

— Giovanni Mocibob (@giomocibob) April 25, 2015

My session with Dr. Freud at @PacificTheatre on the weekend. ("Freud's Last Session") @RonReedPT #ptFreud pic.twitter.com/loznVgjZUz

— Peter Schuler (@CaptiveThunder) April 30, 2015

Just had a session with Freud! #ptFreud happy opening night last Friday! pic.twitter.com/LkIMKIUUJv

— Frank Nickel (@Frankless7) April 29, 2015

Just getting a bit of psychoanalysis. #ptFreud pic.twitter.com/hx4tAe0hen

— Zoe (@nurse_zoe) April 26, 2015

A selfie with Freud. A Freudie. Wonderful session tonight! #PTFreud #analyzethis @PacificTheatre pic.twitter.com/aWMPezpwgI

— Michael Yang (@myang604) April 26, 2015

Last night, I had a session with Freud at @pacifictheatre! #ptFreud #whatsyourneurosis

A photo posted by Andrea Loewen (@andreaxuaxua) on Apr 25, 2015 at 11:42am PDT

#ptFreud

A photo posted by @philm33 on Apr 24, 2015 at 9:35pm PDT

Freud does marital sessions now. #ptfreud

A photo posted by @alimaywhirlwind on Apr 24, 2015 at 9:33pm PDT

frank nickel wins john hobday award

Big news!  Our Co-General Manager Frank Nickel has won the John Hobday Award in Arts Management.  Frank won for a mentorship he will be launching with Nathan Medd, managing director of the National Art Centre’s English Theatre.  The other winner is Natasha Bood of Toronto Summer Music. Congratulations, Frank!

freud's last session | opening night photos

Friday's opening of FREUD'S LAST SESSION went splendidly!  It was the perfect way to launch the last show of our season.  Here's some shots from the post-show reception, with some of the patrons and artists behind the show.

sideshow | may 5th

The last SIDESHOW of the season is on its way!

SIDESHOW: Musical Improv
inspired by the setting of FREUD'S LAST SESSION
Tuesday, May 5th at 7:30pm
Book: www.pacifictheatre.org • 604.731.5518

may 23 | rip van winkle the musical | kaitlin williams gordan

Come see a reading of RIP VAN WINKLE THE MUSICAL at the Cultch, featuring Kaitlin Williams Gordon (THE FOREIGNER, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE RADIO PLAY, DOUBT, GODSPELL).

In a small village below the Kaatskill mountains, there lives a man named Rip Van Winkle. After years of socializing in town but neglecting his farm and family, he has a fight with his wife. He takes off into the mountains, and after a mysterious encounter, falls asleep. He wakes to find that twenty years have passed. His home - abandoned and falling to pieces. Everyone he knew and loved - gone. Rip Van Winkle travels through time to test the boundaries of relationship. After all, what remains important, twenty years later?


Rip Van Winkle the Musical (reading)
The Cultch, 1895 Venables St, Vancouver
Showtime: Sat May 23: 4PM
PAY WHAT YOU CAN

Book and Lyrics by Alyssa Kostello
Composed by James Coomber
Performed by Kayvon Kelly, Alex Nicoll, Matthew Beairsto, Adam Kozlick, Michael Shewchuk, Kaitlin Williams Gordon, Jess Amy Shead, Erin Aberle-Palm, Rose McNeil, Rahael Yohannes and others
60 minutes

Click here for more information.

freud's last session | pay-what-you-can preview tonight

Tonight is the pay-what-you-can preview of FREUD'S LAST SESSION!  As usual, you can buy tickets in advance for $13.99, or buy at the door and pay whatever you like. 

freud's last session | video trailer

The video trailer for FREUD'S LAST SESSION is live!  Watch this battle of wits between Freud and Lewis play out as a chess match.

freud's last session | subscriber appreciation saturdays

This Saturday is our final Subscriber Appreciation Saturday of the season!  Since FREUD'S LAST SESSION features a man who is no stranger to the PT stage, CS Lewis, we are doing a spotlight session on him, looking at past PT plays featuring him or his stories, as well as his ideas and writing.

FREUD'S LAST SESSION - SUBSCRIBER APPRECIATION SATURDAY
CS Lewis Spotlight
Saturday, April 25th at approx. 3:15pm
(following the matinee performance)
RSVP to shona@pacifictheatre.org.

freud's last session | two lewises on stage

In FREUD'S LAST SESSION, Sigmund Freud calls CS Lewis in for a meeting where they unpack the mysteries (or lack thereof) of the universe.  For our two actors, Evan Frayne and Ron Reed, this isn't their first time exploring the world of CS Lewis!  Both Ron and Evan have played Lewis in past productions - Ron in his Jessie Award-nominated role in SHADOWLANDS and Evan in THE GREAT DIVORCE.  Here's some shots from their past turns as Clive Staples Lewis.

subway station of the cross book | ins choi

Toronto based actor Ins Choi, recently seen in PT's guest production SUBWAY STATIONS OF THE CROSS has released a book based on his acclaimed one-man show. 

Inspired by a real-life encounter with a homeless man, award-winning playwright Ins Choi (Kim’s Convenience) has originated an astounding work of artistry and imagination in these fourteen spoken-word poems and songs that make up Subway Stations of the Cross. Part public disturbance, part performance artist, and part modern-day prophet, Ins Choi embodies the form of a nameless vagabond who is both beggar and seer. He creates a rich tapestry of the profane and the sacred, the humorous and the banal, the contemptuous and the poignant in both poetry and lyric. It is a holy communion for the urban soul. This relevant and challenging show is captured here in book form with illustrations of subway drawings by Guno Park, whose work has been featured internationally.

Click here for more information

freud's last session | photos

Some advance shots for FREUD'S LAST SESSION, taken by Emily Cooper.

apr 7-18 | the duchess a.k.a. wallis simpson | craig erickson

There is one more week left of this brilliant funny and inventive play, written by Linda Griffiths debuting at the Cultch presented by Ruby Slippers Theatre. PT regular Craig Erickson (GRACE, LEAVE OF ABSENSE, and ) stars as King Edward, and Sarah Rodgers (ESPRESSO, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE RADIO PLAY) directs. 

Don’t miss this scandalous play from Linda Griffiths! The fabulous, epic, and true tale of Wallis Simpson: the notorious, convention-smashing American divorcee for whom Edward VIII gave up the throne. Featuring 10 of Vancouver’s finest actors playing 36 roles, take a trip with Simpson through her tumultuous adult life stopping for visits with historical figures such as Noel Coward, King George V, Hitler, and Queen Mary.

The Duchess A.K.A. Wallis Simpson by Linda Griffiths
Presented by Ruby Slippers Theatre
Dates: April 7-18 @ 8pm
Where: The Cultch @ 1895 Venables St, Vancouver

Starring Diane Brown and Craig Erickson as the Duchess and King, respectively. 

Click here for more info or to purchase tickets.

may 12 | celebrazione

Outside our window the cherry blossoms are blooming and we're hard at work.  Not only are FREUD'S LAST SESSION rehearsals in full swing and subscriptions rolling in for next season, but we're putting on a big party!  CELEBRAZIONE is an Italian-style celebration of music, food, and theatre to benefit Pacific Theatre.

CELEBRAZIONE

An Italian celebration of theatre, food, and music to benefit Pacific Theatre, including a silent auction and a raffle. Hosted by Lucia Frangione, featuring performances by Lucia Frangione, Robert Salvador, and accordion by James Coomber.

May 12th - La Piazza Dario at Italian Cultural Centre - 3075 Slocan St
6:30 Doors, 7:30 Dinner

Tickets are $135 (including dinner, entertainment, and a $75 tax receipt).

You can purchase tickets online here or call our box office at 604.731.5483.

announcing the 2015-2016 season!

Announcing our 2015-2016 season!  This year's line up is primarily composed of world premieres and long-held "dream shows" that we can't WAIT to share with you!  Get your subscription in now to reserve your spot: subscribe online here or call 604-731-5518.

Smoke on the Mountain by Alan Bailey and Connie Ray
October 9-November 1

In an attempt to bring his backwater congregation into modern times – it is 1938, after all – Pastor Ogelthorpe stages a gospel sing-along, inviting the Sanders Family Singers to bring their new bluegrass sound. A hilarious musical full of songs and stories that will set your toes tapping and your heart soaring.
guest production by Midnight Theatre Collective

The Amish Project by Sarah Dickey
November 6-21

In 2006, the Amish of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania forgave the man who walked into their schoolhouse and shot ten girls. A brilliant meditation on radical kindness, The Amish Project is a stunning exploration of the strength of community and the power of forgiveness in the face of tragedy.
a Bleeding Heart Theatre production presented in association with Pacific Theatre

A Christmas Carol: On the Air by Peter Church
December 5-January 2

Ebenezer Scrooge is a miserable, bitter old miser who hates irrational things like happiness, generosity, and Christmas, until a trio of ghosts shows him the error of his ways. Pacific Theatre goes back on the air, giving this beloved holiday tale new life through the charm and magic of a 1940’s-style live radio show.

Christmas Presence
PT: December 13-15, 20 & 21
Valley: December 19

Join our eclectic gathering of musicians and actors for a night of music, stories, poems, and readings for the holiday season. Our favourite Christmas tradition.

Common Grace by Shauna Johannesen
January 29-February 13

After spending six months running from her past, Colleen is forced to return home for her father’s funeral. Between the flowered cards, casseroles, over-priced caskets, and hidden bottles of wine, she must decide if she can fit into the world she left behind. A provocative and relatable family drama.
Advisory: Some strong language and adult content.

Gruesome Playground Injuries by Rajiv Joseph
April 1-16

Over the course of 30 years, a series of unsettling injuries brings Kayleen and Doug together as they spar, spat, and haltingly try to rescue one another. A fascinating and surprisingly tender story tracing the ricocheting dynamics between a corrosive masochist and an accident-prone daredevil.
Advisory: Extremely strong language and adult content.

A Good Mother by Kathy Parsons
April 20-23

A child is left alone in a parked car outside a grocery store. One good mother’s sacrifice sets everyone’s lives on a new course, bringing into question what is right, what is good, and what is allowed.
A Script-in-Hand presentation.


Wit by Margaret Edson
May 20-June 11

Brilliant and exacting, renowned Professor Vivian Bearing approaches her cancer therapy with the same academic rigor she applied to her studies. As her treatments progress, however, her intellectual armour gives way to her need for human kindness. A poignant and exquisitely-written story of unwitting redemption.

Sideshow
April 29 & 30

Another night of who-knows-where-it-will-end-up improv comedy! Fun for the whole family.