smoke on the mountain | more photos

Here are more shots from Midnight Theatre Collective's guest production of SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN!

life, right? new podcast | andrea loewen

PT staffer Andrea Loewen has launched a new podcast!  The first episode is out as of yesterday.  Called LIFE, RIGHT? -she’ll be talking to people about things that we all experience, but for whatever reason we never really talk about. Links are listed below!

Life, Right? Podcast

A 10-episode series, new episodes every Monday.

Listen/Subscribe: https://itunes.apple.com/ca/podcast/life-right/id1049647009?mt=2

Website: www.liferightpodcast.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/liferightpodcast

smoke on the mountain | theatre club

Did you know that the second Saturday of every run we hold a Theatre Club between the matinee and evening performances? Managed by apprentice Jess Amy Shead, audiences can join for a discussion of the show, its themes and questions, with the special insight of our discussion guide. Here's some shots from the Theatre Club for SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN.

smoke on the mountain | production photos

The first round of production shots for SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN! All photos by Rochelle Elise Photography.

smoke on the mountain | responses

"This musical is an evening of great fun and knee­slapping music set in a small town with bluegrass roots. Director Sarah Rodgers has shown her finely tuned talent in evoking the character of a small community of people of simple faith. Costumes, props and make­up are largely reminiscent of the 1930s setting. ... Smoke on the Mountain is one of the best shows I’ve had the pleasure to review. It’s funny, fresh, authentic toe­tapping enjoyment through and through. Go see it, and God Bless Ya!" | Chris Steckler, Review Vancouver

"From the moment you come into the theater you feel welcomed into the show. Great acting by all – with songs and laughter and clapping to fill the room." | Fila and Tony Testini, audience response

"On opening night many in the audience were clapping, singing and laughing." | Mark Robins, Vancouver Presents

"For a high-spirited evening of music and theatre, Smoke on the Mountain is a great escape from the doldrums of rainy Vancouver nights." | Alan Woo, Fun! Fun! Vancouver

FROM THE TWITTER FEED:

@CaptiveThunder: Had lots of fun at @PacificTheatre's "Smoke on the Mountain", filled with bluegrass, humour, & June bugs. #BestChildrensSermonEver #ptSmoke
@MelanieJean42: Another opening, another show. So proud of my SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN family! Here's to a great run @PacificTheatre this month. #ptSmoke

smoke on the mountain | opening night

We had a great opening for SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN this weekend! Here's some fun at opening night (in front of our brand new logo wall! So fancy).

october 27- november 7 | the diary of anne frank | angela konrad, carolyn rapines, kaitlin williams, julie casselman

Trinity Western University Presents THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK with a bunch of our lovely PT people! The show will be directed by Angela Konrad (MOURNING DOVE, GRACE, JESUS HOPPED THE "A" TRAIN, WIT), with set design is by Carolyn Rapanos (GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES, THE RAINMAKER, FREUD'S LAST SESSION, SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN), costumes by Kailtlin Williams (SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN, THE FOREIGNER, THE LION THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE) and sound design by Julie Casselman who will be acting in this seasons's WIT. 

THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK
October 27- November 7
Tickets $10 | available at www.twu.ca/theatre or call 604.513.2121, extension 3872

The Nazis have control of Amsterdam. Jews have two choices: go into hiding, or go to the concentration camps. When Anne Frank’s life is reduced to a cramped attic shared with seven others, she seeks refuge in the one place where she’s still free to dream–her diary.
Set Designer: Carolyn Rapanos
Lighting Designer: Graham Ockley 
Costume Designer: Kaitlin Williams
Sound Designer & Composer: Julie Casselman (TWU alum)
Assistant Director & Stage Manager: Tiffany Kanda
Assistant Stage Managers: Julianna Towle, Alexis Westlund


Trinity Western University’s SAMC Theatre presents The Diary of Anne Frank, the inspiring true story brought to life in a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett. 

The play follows innocent people in desperate circumstances who must decide who they will become. Adults, children, friends, strangers—how do they divide food fairly? Whose possessions must they sell in order to survive? Is there such thing as privacy for anyone in their new “home”? While fear threatens to defeat them, it’s the young Anne who manages to unlock the redemptive power of hope, grace and even playfulness.

“In the worst of situations, sometimes the best thing you can do is laugh,” says Angela Konrad, the Jessie Award-winning director. “Some people might be surprised at how much humour there is in this play—it shows just how important humour is to our survival.”

With all of its twists and turns, this coming-of-age journey is inspired by Anne Frank’s diary, found after the end of World War II. Narrations from the diary run through the play.

“Anne and her family embody the resilience of the human spirit,” says Konrad. “Even as everything else is taken away, no one can steal or kill hope. The profound hope and faith in this story is, I think, one of the reasons why its popularity still soars—even after 70 years.”

THE ARTISTIC TEAM:
Director: Angela Konrad 

CAST:
Joel Austin, James Faley, Jenessa Galbraith, Veronica Hargrave, Keenan Marchand, Steven Simpson, William Tippery, Mikayla Wust, Joelle Wyminga, Shelby Wyminga

WHERE:
Trinity Western University
7600 Glover Rd, Langley, BC 

WHEN:
Tuesday to Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. 
(A special talkback with the cast and director will follow the November 3rd performance.)

For more information visit their website: 
http://www.twu.ca/academics/samc/theatre/productions/current-show/

Watch the trailer here!

help us get $10,000 from the aviva community fund

We have a long history of working with new playwrights, developing stories, and including staged readings and world premieres of new scripts in our season.  Plays like ESPRESSO and JAKE'S GIFT have originated at PT, and this season we have not one, but three world premieres!  Developing new work is key to what we do, and we are in the running to get $10,000 from the Aviva Community Fund to help support our playwright development program.

Voting is easy! Just go to our page on the Aviva Community Fund, and click "Vote Now!" You'll need to do a quick registration with the site, and we'll be well on our way to being awarded $10,000 towards new playwrights.

That's not all! You get 18 votes total and can vote once per day. It doesn't take long, and can make all the difference in the world.

VOTE NOW!

smoke on the mountain | preview tonight!

Tonight is the pay-what-you-can preview for SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN!  Tickets can be bought in advance for $13.99, or show up at the door and pay what you can.

smoke on the mountain | bill monroe and the bluegrass boys

SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN opens on Friday.  In the meantime, we are getting right into that sweet bluegrass sound!  Here is a little taste of history: one of the first bluegrass bands ever, Bill Monroe & His Bluegrass Boys.

november 18-28 | the effect of gamma rays on man-in-the-moon marigolds | chris lam, james coomber, phil miguel, jonathan kim

A tonne of our PT family are involved in this upcoming production of The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds. The show is Directed by Chris Lam (100 SAINTS YOU SHOULD KNOW), with Sound Design by James Coomber (MOTHER TERESA IS DEAD, THE FOREIGNER), Technical Direction from Phil Miguel (PT's very own Technical Director), and Lighting Design by Jonathan Kim (DANNY AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA).

THE EFFECT OF GAMMA RAYS MAN-ON-THE-MOON MARIGOLDS
November 18-28
Tickets $20 | available at marigolds.brownpapertickets.com

“We want to represent a multi-racial canvas for which theatre works, new and old, can be interpreted.”

Merciless matriarch, Beatrice and her daughters, Tillie and Ruth live in undesirable conditions, and as Beatrice tries to come up with a quick scheme to bring in more money, she is haunted by her past failures. Tillie is invited to compete in her school’s science fair, presenting the aforementioned title of the play, thus introducing a small beacon of hope in this family’s future.

"Let's start with a single, simple word. Power…I don't know of a better (play) of its genre since The Glass Menagerie…" —NY Post.

“For me aesthetically, seeing a piece of theatre that is culturally diverse is on many levels much more interesting, more artistically stimulating […] to see something that will provide them with aesthetic pleasure and if it reflects the actual diversity of our urban mosaic in a way that’s amusing, sexy, entertaining, that will definitely draw people in a way we wouldn’t otherwise be able to.”—Chris Gatchalian, Artistic Producer of The Frank Theatre (Vancouver)

THE ARTISTIC TEAM:

Director/Designer: Chris Lam

Produced by Lissa Neptuno and Chris Lam

SM: Jasmin Sandhu

Lighting: Jonathan Kim

Incidental Music: James Coomber

CAST:

Laara Ong, Julie Leung, Lissa Neptuno, Lynda Shioya and Anais West

WHERE:

Skylight Gallery 168 E Pender St.

WHEN:

November 18-28 

(Wednesday-Saturdays) 8 pm

Visit their website:

http://phildashil.wix.com/effectofgammarays?_ga=1.78003604.1874521611.1440740184

smoke on the mountain | subscriber appreciation saturday

One of our favourite things we do for our subscribers is Subscriber Appreciation Saturdays.  After the first Saturday matinee of all our mainstage productions we have a special value-added event for our subscribers where we delve into some deeper element of the art of the show.  Coming soon is our first one with SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN.

SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN
Subscriber Appreciation Saturday
Saturday, October 10 - following the matinee performance

Join Ron Reed in conversation with Smoke on the Mountain director Sarah Rodgers where they'll delve into directing.  Refreshments will be provided.

throwback thursday | the spitfire grill

A week away from opening night of the Midnight Theatre Collective's guest production of SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN, we are looking back at the last time this crew took over our stage with THE SPITFIRE GRILL.  Another offbeat musical set in a small American town - perhaps they've found a theme?

smoke on the mountain | the sanders family gospel sing

Look at this amazing poster Carolyn Rapanos designed for the Sanders Family Singers' North Carolina Tour in SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN!

smoke on the mountain | advance photos

Check out the promo shots of the Sanders Family Singers for SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN, provided by the good folks of the Midnight Theatre Collective.

smoke on the mountain | the costumes

Here's a look at the inspirations that went into the costume designs for SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN.

throwback thursday | a sarah rodgers retrospective

Sarah Rodgers is one of our favourite directors to work with.  Her imagination and creative drive makes each show incredibly unique.  Here's a Throwback Thursday retrospective on some of her past productions with us.

Jesus, My Boy

Godspell

Espresso

It's a Wonderful Life Radio Show

smoke on the mountain | the set

Set Designer Carolyn Rapanos has been hard at work on the world of SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN.  Check out some photos below of the set maquette (still in progress - she says she's made some changes since taking the photo), and a sketch of her original concept for the set.

smoke on the mountain | introducing the creative team

The Midnight Theatre Collective has assembled an incredible creative team for SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN!  

Directing: Sarah Rodgers

If you've been around PT (or the Vancouver theatre scene) much, you've probably seen a Sarah Rodgers show!  Just in the past few years, Sarah directed IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE RADIO SHOW, ESPRESSO, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, GODSPELL, and DRIVING MISS DAISY.

Assistant Directing: Ian Harmon

This is Ian's first time working on a show in our season, and we couldn't be more excited to have him!

Stage Manager: Melanie Thompson

It's always a treat to have Melanie stage manage - she joined us for UNDERNEATH THE LINTEL last year, and worked with The Midnight Theatre Collective last time they were here with THE SPITFIRE GRILL.

Costume and Set Designer: Carolyn Rapanos

Carolyn started working her way into the Pacific Theatre circle last year by running props for THE RAINMAKER and designing the majestic set for FREUD'S LAST SESSION.  She'll also be doing set and costumes for THE AMISH PROJECT, up next!

Musician: Stephen Bulat

Stephen Bulat has been floating around our world for quite some time - he worked with The Midnight Theatre Collective last time around in THE SPITFIRE GRILL, and designed for CHRISTMAS ON THE AIR and MASTER HAROLD... AND THE BOYS.

Musical Director: Gordon Roberts

Gordon is a mainstay of The Midnight Theatre Collective, last performing in THE SPITFIRE GRILL, he'll be performing and musical directing this time around!

october 6 | jake's gift | julia mackey | dirk van stralen

Jake's Gift (born at Pacific Theatre in 2002) is coming to Vancouver again for one night only! Last seen at PT in our 2010/2011 season, this is a great chance to see Julia Mackey's award-wining show, directed and stage managed by Dirk Van Stralen, who has also graced the PT stage in CARIBOO MAGI and THE WOODSMAN!

JAKE'S GIFT
October 6th
Tickets $15 • Call 604.713.1800 and press 1

Jake's Gift is a surprisingly funny multi award winning drama about a WW2 veteran's reluctant return to Juno Beach to find the grave of the brother who never came home. While wandering the shores of Juno Beach, Jake encounters Isabelle, a precocious 10-year-old from the local village. Her inquisitive nature and charm challenge the old soldier to confront some long ignored ghosts. Most notably, the war-time death of his eldest brother, a once promising young musician.

At its heart, Jake's Gift is about the legacy of remembrance and makes personal the story behind one soldier's grave.  

Artistic Team:
Written by Julia Mackey
Directed and Stage Managed by Dirk Van Stralen
Lighting Design by Gerald King

Cast:
Julia Mackey

WHERE: 
The Roundhouse, 181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver, BC

WHEN: 
Tuesday, October 6th 7:00pm

RUNNING TIME: 
65 minutes with no intermission.

AUDIENCE: 
Age 10 and up!**

**Jake's Gift is not recommended for children under 10.

www.jakesgift.com