Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Feb 17: Pacific Rim String Quartet at Pacific Theatre
A note from Brian Mix
Hello friends,
This is a reminder that the next Music at Pacific concert is on Sunday, February 17, at 3:00 pm. The Pacific Rim String Quartet will perform Haydn’s “Emperor” Quartet, Arvo Pärt’s Summa, and Shostakovich’s powerful and moving Quartet No. 8. The intimate 124-seat Pacific Theatre, located at West 12th Avenue and Hemlock, is perfect for experiencing chamber music.
Tickets are available at 604-731-5518 or www.pacifictheatre.org. For more information go to www.pacificrimstringquartet.com. Only 21 seats were vacant at the last concert, so order your tickets soon!
Brian.
Hello friends,
This is a reminder that the next Music at Pacific concert is on Sunday, February 17, at 3:00 pm. The Pacific Rim String Quartet will perform Haydn’s “Emperor” Quartet, Arvo Pärt’s Summa, and Shostakovich’s powerful and moving Quartet No. 8. The intimate 124-seat Pacific Theatre, located at West 12th Avenue and Hemlock, is perfect for experiencing chamber music.
Tickets are available at 604-731-5518 or www.pacifictheatre.org. For more information go to www.pacificrimstringquartet.com. Only 21 seats were vacant at the last concert, so order your tickets soon!
Brian.
Feb 3 & 10: Reflections on Thomas More
I'll be preaching at Holy Trinity Anglican Church this coming Sunday, February 3, reflecting on the experience of playing Thomas More in A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS. That's in the church sanctuary, just upstairs from Pacific Theatre, at 1440 West 12th, Vancouver. There are two services, a contemporary service at 10am and a traditional service at 11:30. (The latter uses the Book Of Common Prayer, which was originally written by Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop who presided over Thomas More's execution and the founding of the Anglican church which Thomas so vehemently opposed - intriguing ironies.)
The following Sunday, February 10, I'll be preaching at my own home church, Fraserview Mennonite Brethren (11295 Mellis Drive, Richmond). Again, talking about what's been stirred up in me by the story of Thomas More, though (to keep things interesting for myself, if no one else) I intend to talk about different things than in the Holy Trinity sermons. That service begins at 10am, and there are driving directions a the Fraserview website.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Jan 24 - Feb 23: A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS
Don't Miss A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS at Pacific Theatre
Chris (C.C.) Humphreys is the best-selling author of five historical fiction novels – including one on Henry VIII’s second wife, Anne Boleyn, and an international actor seen on stages as wide-ranging as London’s West End and Hollywood’s Twentieth Century Fox. Midnight Theatre Collective and Pacific Theatre are honoured and privileged to welcome him to the cast of A Man for All Seasons, in the roles of the dread King Henry VIII and the relentless and calculating Thomas Cromwell.
When Henry VIII sets out to divorce his wife he seeks the support of Sir Thomas More – revered scholar, lawyer, and churchman - the Lord Chancellor’s quiet defiance ignites a ferocious battle as he struggles to avoid the dreadful inevitable choice, between King and conscience, loyalty, and martyrdom. A play for all time, Sir Thomas More is A Man for All Seasons. Midnight Theatre Collective’s version is set in post-World-War II era, a period steeped in suspicion, dangerous politics, and cold war.
This production of the award-winning masterpiece features Ron Reed (Shadowlands, God’s Man in Texas) in the role of Sir Thomas More and Chris Humphreys (The Rivals, Hamlet) as the formidable, unforgettable King Henry VIII. Also starring Trish Pattenden (Lettuce & Lovage), Evangela Dueck (Halo, Terrible Things), William Samples (The Birthday Party), Adam Bergquist (Last Train To Nibroc, Chickens, Portia My Love, The Odyssey), Damon Calderwood (The Elephant Man), and Julius Chapple (richardthesecond: a nightmare), and directed by Jeremy Tow (Agnes of God, A Streetcar Named Desire), Midnight Theatre Collective’s production of A Man for All Seasons is for all people whose conscience has ever stood up against the way they may be forced to live.
A MAN FOR ALL SEASONS by Robert Bolt
Jan. 24 – Feb. 23 (Opens Jan. 25), Wed–Sat at 8pm, Sat at 2pm ($10 Preview Jan.24)
Pacific Theatre, 1420 West 12th Ave (at Hemlock St), Vancouver, BC
Tickets: 604.731.5518, or online, or in person at the Box Office (1420 West 12th).
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Jan 15-19, 22-26: HAMLET by Shadows & Dreams
The folks who brought you A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM in the park in New Westminster last summer are at it again, including Kerri Norris, Frank Nickel and Stephen Elcheshen, all familiar from the PT stage.
Betrayal, Madness and Revenge, in Ninety Minutes
Shadows and Dreams Theatre Company Presents:
Hamlet
by
William Shakespeare
"How these things came about: so shall they hear
Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts
Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters
Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,
And, in this upshot, purposes mistook
Fall'n on the inventors' heads: all this can I truly
deliver."
The King of Denmark has been dead a month, but his
spirit does not rest easy. Hamlet, the young Prince
of Denmark, should have succeeded his father, but
instead the King's brother Claudius has seized the
throne. (Not to mention Hamlet's mother, the widowed
Queen.) Yet Hamlet's sorrow at this betrayal turns
quickly to anger when he learns that Claudius may not
have just profited from the late King's death, but
caused it. His father's restless ghost sets Hamlet on
a dangerous path to discover the truth of the King's
death, weave a trap for Claudius, avoid the snares
that lay in wait for him and ultimately exact a grim
revenge that destroys far more than he intended.
Presented by just seven actors in an uninterrupted
hour and a half this production strips Shakespeare's
longest play down to its dark heart of sorrow, anger
and sudden tragic violence.
Tickets: Pay What You Can
Performances: January 15 – 19th Glenbrook Middle
School (701 Park Cres, New Westminster)
January 22 - 26th The
Beaumont Studios (316 W. 5th Ave, Vancouver)
Show times: 8pm, 2pm matinées on Saturday
Information: 604-515-0704 or
www.shadowsanddreams.org
Directed by Nigel Brooke (Burnaby)
Featuring: Patricia Johnson (Burnaby), Stephen
Elcheshen (New Westminster), Dana MacInnis (New
Westminster),
Frank Nickel (Richmond), Kerri Norris (New
Westminster), Marni Westerman (New Westminster),
Glynis Knowlden (Coquitlam), James Knowlden
(Coquitlam), Allen Pike (Burnaby)
Betrayal, Madness and Revenge, in Ninety Minutes
Shadows and Dreams Theatre Company Presents:
Hamlet
by
William Shakespeare
"How these things came about: so shall they hear
Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts
Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters
Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,
And, in this upshot, purposes mistook
Fall'n on the inventors' heads: all this can I truly
deliver."
The King of Denmark has been dead a month, but his
spirit does not rest easy. Hamlet, the young Prince
of Denmark, should have succeeded his father, but
instead the King's brother Claudius has seized the
throne. (Not to mention Hamlet's mother, the widowed
Queen.) Yet Hamlet's sorrow at this betrayal turns
quickly to anger when he learns that Claudius may not
have just profited from the late King's death, but
caused it. His father's restless ghost sets Hamlet on
a dangerous path to discover the truth of the King's
death, weave a trap for Claudius, avoid the snares
that lay in wait for him and ultimately exact a grim
revenge that destroys far more than he intended.
Presented by just seven actors in an uninterrupted
hour and a half this production strips Shakespeare's
longest play down to its dark heart of sorrow, anger
and sudden tragic violence.
Tickets: Pay What You Can
Performances: January 15 – 19th Glenbrook Middle
School (701 Park Cres, New Westminster)
January 22 - 26th The
Beaumont Studios (316 W. 5th Ave, Vancouver)
Show times: 8pm, 2pm matinées on Saturday
Information: 604-515-0704 or
www.shadowsanddreams.org
Directed by Nigel Brooke (Burnaby)
Featuring: Patricia Johnson (Burnaby), Stephen
Elcheshen (New Westminster), Dana MacInnis (New
Westminster),
Frank Nickel (Richmond), Kerri Norris (New
Westminster), Marni Westerman (New Westminster),
Glynis Knowlden (Coquitlam), James Knowlden
(Coquitlam), Allen Pike (Burnaby)
Sunday, January 06, 2008
A Man For All Seasons
First rehearsal tomorrow, which is good news. Bad news just a couple days ago: my buddy Dirk Van Stralen can't do the show after all. Followed by wonderful news today: director Jeremy Tow has cast C. C. Humphreys to take over the roles of Cromwell and King Henry VIII. Jer's excited, Chris is excited (judging from his blog), and I'm excited - I've not met the fellow, but in addition to exciting acting credits he's done a batch of novels, including two about Ann Boleyn! And now he'll be playing Ann's hubby-to-be. Swell.
Just so you know, we preview Jan 24, open Jan 25. All the details at the Pacific Theatre website.
Just so you know, we preview Jan 24, open Jan 25. All the details at the Pacific Theatre website.
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Sep 12-28: REFUGE OF LIES Off-Broadway!
Just got word from director Steven Day in New York that the theatre is secured and the dates set for the Off-Broadway run of my play REFUGE OF LIES. The show will open September 12 2008 at The Lion Theatre, which is part of Theatre Row on 42nd Street (two blocks from Times Square), closing September 28. Here are a couple shots of the lobby wall, listing a heap of shows that have played in the Theatre Row spaces. (Can you believe it? DRIVING MISS DAISY, FOOL FOR LOVE, ALL IN THE TIMING, KRAPP'S LAST TAPE, THE HEIDI CHRONICLES, THE DINING ROOM, THE SUBSTANCE OF FIRE...)
And my gosh, look what opens there January 15? Mike Leigh's latest...
TWO THOUSAND YEARS
by Mike Leigh; directed by Scott Elliott
Presented by The New Group
The Acorn Theatre
Jan 15 - Mar 8
Hot off their recent smash hit Abigail's Party, Artistic Director Scott Elliott re-teams with longtime collaborator Mike Leigh on his latest play, which had a sold-out, run at London's National Theatre. Leigh's play tells how an assimilated Jewish family's quiet life in suburban London is upset when their son becomes seriously devout.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Rudi Krause, Thoughts on THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
To Dan:
Just home from watching "This Wonderful Life". In watching you, Dan, I could always see two faces, hear two voices: the character you were portraying at the time, and your own. Sometimes the former was stronger, clearer; sometimes the latter. I know you could have made the characters (pre)dominate. But the interplay between the characters in the story and the story-teller himself was fascinating to watch; it drew me in and engaged me so that I was able to see my own face as well. I was able to identify with George more and better than when watching the movie. A fabulous, riveting, endearing, moving performance; it added depth and substance to a story which is pretty darn great in itself. Well done.
Further reflections:
The movie ends and so does the play; but not George Bailey's wonderful life. The money in the basket is used up. Another baby is born (a colicky one at that). Mr. Potter doesn't die for some time. The kids grow up and get into trouble of one kind or another. Mary gets sick, seriously ill. Does that mean that George's life was only wonderful on that one memorable Christmas?
No, as Dan reminds us in the play: it's not about Christmas; it's about all the other days. And all those other days (past and future) make up George's wonderful life. Of course, he doesn't it think it's wonderful all the time. He may have learned an important lesson under Clarence's lovely tutelage. But there will be days when that lesson will have faded, will be forgotten.
Our lives are wonderful not when and because we think they are wonderful. They are wonderful. Period. And it's not because we are stupid or fallen that we don't usually acknowledge that fundamental, mysterious truth. It's simply because we are human and limited. The weather changes; the sun doesn't always shine; time cycles through the seasons. To everything there is a season - including the recognition and the celebration that life is wonderful and beautiful.
Rudi Krause is a Pacific Theatre subscriber and a poet. I've read a couple of his pieces at Christmas Presence, unforeseen and one way
Just home from watching "This Wonderful Life". In watching you, Dan, I could always see two faces, hear two voices: the character you were portraying at the time, and your own. Sometimes the former was stronger, clearer; sometimes the latter. I know you could have made the characters (pre)dominate. But the interplay between the characters in the story and the story-teller himself was fascinating to watch; it drew me in and engaged me so that I was able to see my own face as well. I was able to identify with George more and better than when watching the movie. A fabulous, riveting, endearing, moving performance; it added depth and substance to a story which is pretty darn great in itself. Well done.
Further reflections:
The movie ends and so does the play; but not George Bailey's wonderful life. The money in the basket is used up. Another baby is born (a colicky one at that). Mr. Potter doesn't die for some time. The kids grow up and get into trouble of one kind or another. Mary gets sick, seriously ill. Does that mean that George's life was only wonderful on that one memorable Christmas?
No, as Dan reminds us in the play: it's not about Christmas; it's about all the other days. And all those other days (past and future) make up George's wonderful life. Of course, he doesn't it think it's wonderful all the time. He may have learned an important lesson under Clarence's lovely tutelage. But there will be days when that lesson will have faded, will be forgotten.
Our lives are wonderful not when and because we think they are wonderful. They are wonderful. Period. And it's not because we are stupid or fallen that we don't usually acknowledge that fundamental, mysterious truth. It's simply because we are human and limited. The weather changes; the sun doesn't always shine; time cycles through the seasons. To everything there is a season - including the recognition and the celebration that life is wonderful and beautiful.
Rudi Krause is a Pacific Theatre subscriber and a poet. I've read a couple of his pieces at Christmas Presence, unforeseen and one way
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Dec 19: Sutherland Christmas Presence credits
ACT ONE
Nelson Boschman Trio – O Tannenbaum
Ron Reed - Robert Farrar Capon: Advent
Michael Hart - All Hail And Welcome
Ron Reed – Dina Donohue: No Room At The Inn
Garth Bowen - Go Tell It on The Mountain
Ron Reed - Garrison Keillor: The Seven Principles of a Successful Christmas
Garth Bowen - God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Ron Reed – Frederic Buechner: The Face In The Sky
sheree plett & eisenhauer – what child is this
Michael Hart - Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Ron Reed - Sufjan Stevens: Christmas Tube Socks
Nelson Boschman - Star Of Wonder (Sufjan Stevens)
Ron Reed – Tom Carson: Snow Angel
sheree plett & eisenhauer – time of year
ACT TWO
Nelson Boschman Trio – Joy To The World
Ron Reed – Luci Shaw: Presents
Ben Goheen - Ave Maria
Garth Bowen - White Christmas
Ron Reed - David Sedaris: Santa's Little Helper
Michael Hart - Light Of The Stable
sheree plett & eisenhauer – oh emmanuel
Ron Reed – Ron Reed: It's A Wonderful Life
Nelson Boschman - O Come O Come Emmanuel
Ron Reed - Frederic Buechner: excerpt from Emmanuel
sheree plett & Eisenhauer - Silent Night
Some of these readings and several others are posted at Oblations
Nelson Boschman Trio – O Tannenbaum
Ron Reed - Robert Farrar Capon: Advent
Michael Hart - All Hail And Welcome
Ron Reed – Dina Donohue: No Room At The Inn
Garth Bowen - Go Tell It on The Mountain
Ron Reed - Garrison Keillor: The Seven Principles of a Successful Christmas
Garth Bowen - God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Ron Reed – Frederic Buechner: The Face In The Sky
sheree plett & eisenhauer – what child is this
Michael Hart - Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
Ron Reed - Sufjan Stevens: Christmas Tube Socks
Nelson Boschman - Star Of Wonder (Sufjan Stevens)
Ron Reed – Tom Carson: Snow Angel
sheree plett & eisenhauer – time of year
ACT TWO
Nelson Boschman Trio – Joy To The World
Ron Reed – Luci Shaw: Presents
Ben Goheen - Ave Maria
Garth Bowen - White Christmas
Ron Reed - David Sedaris: Santa's Little Helper
Michael Hart - Light Of The Stable
sheree plett & eisenhauer – oh emmanuel
Ron Reed – Ron Reed: It's A Wonderful Life
Nelson Boschman - O Come O Come Emmanuel
Ron Reed - Frederic Buechner: excerpt from Emmanuel
sheree plett & Eisenhauer - Silent Night
Some of these readings and several others are posted at Oblations
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Dec 15: Valley Christmas Presence credits
ACT ONE
Nelson Boschman Trio – I Saw Three Ships
Ron Reed - Robert Farrar Capon: Advent
Michael Hart - Si Nous Marchons
Ron Reed / band – Blue Xmas / Blue Train
Ron Reed – Luci Shaw: Presents
Carolyn Arends - Christmas Must Be Tonight
Ron Reed – Frederic Buechner: The Face In The Sky
sheree plett & eisenhauer – what child is this
Carolyn Arends - It Was A Holy Night
Arnica Skulstad-Brown - Mike Mason: Christmas In July
Nelson Boschman - Star Of Wonder (Sufjan Stevens)
Ron Reed – Tom Carson: Snow Angel
sheree plett & eisenhauer – time of year
ACT TWO
Michael Hart - O Holy Night
Ron Reed - Lawrence Ferlinghetti: Christ Climbed Down
sheree plett & eisenhauer - I Will Not Let Go
Arnica Skulstad-Brown - Annie Dillard: God In The Doorway
Carolyn Arends -
sheree plett & eisenhauer – oh emmanuel
Ron Reed – Ron Reed: It's A Wonderful Life
Nelson Boschman - O Come O Come Emmanuel
Ron Reed - Frederic Buechner: excerpt from Emmanuel
Carolyn Arends - Is Bethlehem Too Far Away?
Michael Hart - O Come All Ye Faithful
*
Some of these Christmas readings and others can be found at Oblations
Nelson Boschman Trio – I Saw Three Ships
Ron Reed - Robert Farrar Capon: Advent
Michael Hart - Si Nous Marchons
Ron Reed / band – Blue Xmas / Blue Train
Ron Reed – Luci Shaw: Presents
Carolyn Arends - Christmas Must Be Tonight
Ron Reed – Frederic Buechner: The Face In The Sky
sheree plett & eisenhauer – what child is this
Carolyn Arends - It Was A Holy Night
Arnica Skulstad-Brown - Mike Mason: Christmas In July
Nelson Boschman - Star Of Wonder (Sufjan Stevens)
Ron Reed – Tom Carson: Snow Angel
sheree plett & eisenhauer – time of year
ACT TWO
Michael Hart - O Holy Night
Ron Reed - Lawrence Ferlinghetti: Christ Climbed Down
sheree plett & eisenhauer - I Will Not Let Go
Arnica Skulstad-Brown - Annie Dillard: God In The Doorway
Carolyn Arends -
sheree plett & eisenhauer – oh emmanuel
Ron Reed – Ron Reed: It's A Wonderful Life
Nelson Boschman - O Come O Come Emmanuel
Ron Reed - Frederic Buechner: excerpt from Emmanuel
Carolyn Arends - Is Bethlehem Too Far Away?
Michael Hart - O Come All Ye Faithful
*
Some of these Christmas readings and others can be found at Oblations
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Dec 11: Christmas Presence at Holy Trinity credits
Featuring The Gallery Singers, Sara Ciantar (organ), Trish Pattenden and Ron Reed
ACT ONE
Ron & Trish - Charles Dickens: Scrooge & His Nephew
Gallery Singers- Es nacido
Trish - Scripture: The Annunciation
ALL - Joy To The World
Ron - Scripture: The Birth
Gallery Singers - O Magnum / Nino Dios
Trish - Hans Christian Andersen: The Little Match Girl
ALL - The First Noel
Ron - Scripture: The Magi
ALL - O Come All Ye Faithful
Gallery Singers - Convidando esta la noche
ACT TWO
Gallery Singers - I Saw Three Ships
Trish - Scripture: The Shepherds
ALL - Away In A Manger
Ron - Charles Dickens: Seven Poor Travelers
Gallery Singers - Guastavino / Medina / Pereira
Ron - David Kossoff: Seth
ALL: Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Trish - Robert Louis Stevenson: Christmas Prayer
Gallery Singers - We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Ron - Dylan Thomas: A Child's Christmas In Wales
ALL: Silent Night
ACT ONE
Ron & Trish - Charles Dickens: Scrooge & His Nephew
Gallery Singers- Es nacido
Trish - Scripture: The Annunciation
ALL - Joy To The World
Ron - Scripture: The Birth
Gallery Singers - O Magnum / Nino Dios
Trish - Hans Christian Andersen: The Little Match Girl
ALL - The First Noel
Ron - Scripture: The Magi
ALL - O Come All Ye Faithful
Gallery Singers - Convidando esta la noche
ACT TWO
Gallery Singers - I Saw Three Ships
Trish - Scripture: The Shepherds
ALL - Away In A Manger
Ron - Charles Dickens: Seven Poor Travelers
Gallery Singers - Guastavino / Medina / Pereira
Ron - David Kossoff: Seth
ALL: Hark The Herald Angels Sing
Trish - Robert Louis Stevenson: Christmas Prayer
Gallery Singers - We Wish You A Merry Christmas
Ron - Dylan Thomas: A Child's Christmas In Wales
ALL: Silent Night
Monday, December 10, 2007
Dec 10: Christmas Presence credits
ACT ONE
Nelson Boschman Trio – I Saw Three Ships
Verve Collective – Rudolph / Frosty Medley
Ron Reed / band – Blue Xmas / Blue Train
Ron Reed – Luci Shaw: Presents
Verve Collective – The Christmas Song
Ron Reed – Frederic Buechner: The Face In The Sky
sheree plett & eisenhauer – what child is this
Ron Reed - Wayne Harrel: The Camels Of Ancient Yore
Nelson Boschman Trio – Angels We Have Heard On High
Becky Branscom – Annie Dillard: God In The Doorway
Verve Collective – Let It Snow!
Ron Reed – Tom Carson: Snow Angel
sheree plett & eisenhauer – time of year
ACT TWO
Verve Collective – Angels We Have Heard on High
Ron Reed – Dina Donohue: No Room At The Inn
Tom Pickett: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Richard Osler & Holly Burke – poetry
Verve Collective – Carol of the Bells
Nelson Boschman - Star Of Wonder (Sufjan Stevens)
sheree plett & eisenhauer – oh emmanuel
Ron Reed – Ron Reed: It's A Wonderful Life
Nelson Boschman - O Come O Come Emmanuel
Ron Reed - Frederic Buechner: excerpt from Emmanuel
Verve Collective – Silent Night
Ron Reed - Robert Louis Stevenson: Christmas Prayer
*
THE PLAYERS
Bit of a jazz flavour tonight, especially with Verve Collective as our featured performers. Some PT fans will know this swinging a capella squadron from our 2007 Valentines Gala at the Vancouver Art Gallery. They came our way through friend-of-Pacific-Theatre and Collective member Jennifer Nagel, but alas we won't be hearing from Jennifer tonight: in the spirit of the Nativity season, she's taking time off to raise her new little baby!
Like the fabled MacNamara, jazz pianist Nelson Boschman is the leader of our Christmas Presence house band: his Mennonite Jazz Committee (love that moniker) just released a brand new Christmas CD, "Dawn Of Grace," and The Nelson Boschman Trio put out "Keeping Time: Volume 02" this fall – like Volume 01 (which includes my great favourites "Song For Ordinary Time" and "Jerusalem Hymn") the recordings are structured around the liturgical calendar, and the new one features quite a few Advent / Christmas / Epiphany numbers. You can order either of the Keeping Time cds or buy downloads of specific songs at the CSCSS website. I'm not sure where you can buy the MJC recordings (apart from the PT lobby at Christmas Presence), but if I find out from NeBo, I'll be sure to let you know. Also in the band we had Brett Ziegler on keyboards, Kenton Wiens and Rick Colhoun on drums and percussion, and Becca Robertson on bass.
sheree plett and Eisenhauer (that's her husband Jeremy) have just put out a brand new Christmas cd called "Lights Used To Shine" – and hey, there's even a dedication "to everyone at christmas presence – without them this album would probably not exist." My. That feels good. sher and jer (along with the band) are pretty much our "artists in residence" this Christmas: they'll be playing with us again Dec 10 at PT, Dec 15 in the valley and Dec 19 on the North Shore.
Musically, we'll also be joined by Pacific Theatre regular Tom Pickett, who you've seen onstage in memorable shows like DRIVING MISS DAISY, TENT MEETING, MASTER HAROLD & THE BOYS and plenty of others.
And Richard Osler is back with us again following his Christmas Presence debut last year, and this time he's joined by musician Holy Burke. We love to feature poets on our stage – doing what we can to preserve endangered species – and if you haven't read it, and have a heart for Africa, you may want to check out his book "Again, No More: Poems Of Africa." Carolyn Arends has posted several of Richard's Africa poems and stories in her online journal. For copies of his book (which includes a cd of the poet reading his own work), contact Richard directly at osler@shaw.ca
For other Christmas readings, check out Oblations
Nelson Boschman Trio – I Saw Three Ships
Verve Collective – Rudolph / Frosty Medley
Ron Reed / band – Blue Xmas / Blue Train
Ron Reed – Luci Shaw: Presents
Verve Collective – The Christmas Song
Ron Reed – Frederic Buechner: The Face In The Sky
sheree plett & eisenhauer – what child is this
Ron Reed - Wayne Harrel: The Camels Of Ancient Yore
Nelson Boschman Trio – Angels We Have Heard On High
Becky Branscom – Annie Dillard: God In The Doorway
Verve Collective – Let It Snow!
Ron Reed – Tom Carson: Snow Angel
sheree plett & eisenhauer – time of year
ACT TWO
Verve Collective – Angels We Have Heard on High
Ron Reed – Dina Donohue: No Room At The Inn
Tom Pickett: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Richard Osler & Holly Burke – poetry
Verve Collective – Carol of the Bells
Nelson Boschman - Star Of Wonder (Sufjan Stevens)
sheree plett & eisenhauer – oh emmanuel
Ron Reed – Ron Reed: It's A Wonderful Life
Nelson Boschman - O Come O Come Emmanuel
Ron Reed - Frederic Buechner: excerpt from Emmanuel
Verve Collective – Silent Night
Ron Reed - Robert Louis Stevenson: Christmas Prayer
*
THE PLAYERS
Bit of a jazz flavour tonight, especially with Verve Collective as our featured performers. Some PT fans will know this swinging a capella squadron from our 2007 Valentines Gala at the Vancouver Art Gallery. They came our way through friend-of-Pacific-Theatre and Collective member Jennifer Nagel, but alas we won't be hearing from Jennifer tonight: in the spirit of the Nativity season, she's taking time off to raise her new little baby!
Like the fabled MacNamara, jazz pianist Nelson Boschman is the leader of our Christmas Presence house band: his Mennonite Jazz Committee (love that moniker) just released a brand new Christmas CD, "Dawn Of Grace," and The Nelson Boschman Trio put out "Keeping Time: Volume 02" this fall – like Volume 01 (which includes my great favourites "Song For Ordinary Time" and "Jerusalem Hymn") the recordings are structured around the liturgical calendar, and the new one features quite a few Advent / Christmas / Epiphany numbers. You can order either of the Keeping Time cds or buy downloads of specific songs at the CSCSS website. I'm not sure where you can buy the MJC recordings (apart from the PT lobby at Christmas Presence), but if I find out from NeBo, I'll be sure to let you know. Also in the band we had Brett Ziegler on keyboards, Kenton Wiens and Rick Colhoun on drums and percussion, and Becca Robertson on bass.
sheree plett and Eisenhauer (that's her husband Jeremy) have just put out a brand new Christmas cd called "Lights Used To Shine" – and hey, there's even a dedication "to everyone at christmas presence – without them this album would probably not exist." My. That feels good. sher and jer (along with the band) are pretty much our "artists in residence" this Christmas: they'll be playing with us again Dec 10 at PT, Dec 15 in the valley and Dec 19 on the North Shore.
Musically, we'll also be joined by Pacific Theatre regular Tom Pickett, who you've seen onstage in memorable shows like DRIVING MISS DAISY, TENT MEETING, MASTER HAROLD & THE BOYS and plenty of others.
And Richard Osler is back with us again following his Christmas Presence debut last year, and this time he's joined by musician Holy Burke. We love to feature poets on our stage – doing what we can to preserve endangered species – and if you haven't read it, and have a heart for Africa, you may want to check out his book "Again, No More: Poems Of Africa." Carolyn Arends has posted several of Richard's Africa poems and stories in her online journal. For copies of his book (which includes a cd of the poet reading his own work), contact Richard directly at osler@shaw.ca
For other Christmas readings, check out Oblations
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Dec 9: Christmas Presence credits
ACT ONE
Nelson Boschman & the band - I Saw Three Ships
Garth Bowen – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Ron Reed – William Nicholson: Christmas Drinks Party
Sara Ciantar – How Long
Ron Reed – Charles Dickens: Seven Poor Travellers
sheree plett & eisenhauer – lights used to shine
Luci Shaw – The Overshadow, Virgin, Madonna and Child with Saints
Karly Warkentin – a new song for Christmas Presence
Ron Reed – Frederic Buechner: The Face In The Sky
sheree plett & eisenhauer – what child is this
Ron Reed - Wayne Harrel: The Camels Of Ancient Yore (as told by a forgetful Grandmother, c1600)
Garth Bowen – Go Tell It On The Mountain
ACT TWO
Nelson Boschman & the band – Christmas Time Is Here
sheree plett & eisenhauer – cloak room
Luci Shaw - Madeleine L'Engle: The Tree
Luci Shaw – Mary's Song
Garth Bowen – White Christmas
Ron Reed – David Sedaris: Santa's Little Helper
sheree plett & eisenhauer – oh emmanuel
Ron Reed – Ron Reed: It's A Wonderful Life
James Lamb – O Come O Come Emmanuel
Ron Reed - Frederic Buechner: excerpt from Emmanuel
Garth Bowen – Alleluia
Ron Reed - David Kossoff: excerpt from Seth
*
THE PLAYERS
Luci Shaw was our special guest last night, driving in all the way from that o so little town of Bellingham just to read us her poems, and one by her dear friend Madeleine L'Engle. Her brand new collection of Christmas and other incarnational poems, Accompanied by Angels, is available at the Regent Bookstore, as is her classic anthology of Christmas pieces by various poets A Widening Light, which includes the L'Engle poem Luci read for us.
Like the fabled MacNamara, jazz pianist Nelson Boschman is the leader of our Christmas Presence house band: his Mennonite Jazz Committee (love that moniker) just released a brand new Christmas CD, "Dawn Of Grace," and The Nelson Boschman Trio put out "Keeping Time: Volume 02" this fall – like Volume 01 (which includes my great favourites "Song For Ordinary Time" and "Jerusalem Hymn") the recordings are structured around the liturgical calendar, and the new one features quite a few Advent / Christmas / Epiphany numbers. You can order either of the Keeping Time cds or buy downloads of specific songs at the CSCSS website. I'm not sure where you can buy the MJC recordings (apart from the PT lobby at Christmas Presence), but if I find out from NeBo, I'll be sure to let you know. Also in the band we had Brett Ziegler on keyboards, Kenton Wiens and Rick Colhoun on drums and percussion, and Becca Robertson on bass.
sheree plett and Eisenhauer (that's her husband Jeremy) have just put out a brand new Christmas cd called "Lights Used To Shine" – and hey, there's even a dedication "to everyone at christmas presence – without them this album would probably not exist." My. That feels good. sher and jer (along with the band) are pretty much our "artists in residence" this Christmas: they'll be playing with us again Dec 10 at PT, Dec 15 in the valley and Dec 19 on the North Shore.
New to the line-up were three members of baroque folk ensemble Wicker Robot; Karly Warkentin, Sara Ciantar and James Lamb. Karly even wrote a new song for (and sort of about) Christmas Presence. Wow. Wish we'd been recording! The amazing Sara Ciantar not only has a cd ("How Long") produced by one of our two little drummer boys, Rick Colhoun, but she'll be playing the pipe organ at our Traditional Christmas Presence in the Holy Trinity sanctuary Tuesday December 11. Crazy talented.
Garth Bowen is a seasoned Christmas Presence veteran, and goes back even further, to a time before there even was a Christmas Presence – Garth and I were both in the cast of PT's very first production of COTTON PATCH GOSPEL at the Richmond Gateway. He's currently working on a Christmas cd, but in the meantime you can hear his marvelous "Alleluia" on the Pacific Theatre "Christmas Presence" cd.
For other Christmas readings, check out Oblations
Nelson Boschman & the band - I Saw Three Ships
Garth Bowen – God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Ron Reed – William Nicholson: Christmas Drinks Party
Sara Ciantar – How Long
Ron Reed – Charles Dickens: Seven Poor Travellers
sheree plett & eisenhauer – lights used to shine
Luci Shaw – The Overshadow, Virgin, Madonna and Child with Saints
Karly Warkentin – a new song for Christmas Presence
Ron Reed – Frederic Buechner: The Face In The Sky
sheree plett & eisenhauer – what child is this
Ron Reed - Wayne Harrel: The Camels Of Ancient Yore (as told by a forgetful Grandmother, c1600)
Garth Bowen – Go Tell It On The Mountain
ACT TWO
Nelson Boschman & the band – Christmas Time Is Here
sheree plett & eisenhauer – cloak room
Luci Shaw - Madeleine L'Engle: The Tree
Luci Shaw – Mary's Song
Garth Bowen – White Christmas
Ron Reed – David Sedaris: Santa's Little Helper
sheree plett & eisenhauer – oh emmanuel
Ron Reed – Ron Reed: It's A Wonderful Life
James Lamb – O Come O Come Emmanuel
Ron Reed - Frederic Buechner: excerpt from Emmanuel
Garth Bowen – Alleluia
Ron Reed - David Kossoff: excerpt from Seth
*
THE PLAYERS
Luci Shaw was our special guest last night, driving in all the way from that o so little town of Bellingham just to read us her poems, and one by her dear friend Madeleine L'Engle. Her brand new collection of Christmas and other incarnational poems, Accompanied by Angels, is available at the Regent Bookstore, as is her classic anthology of Christmas pieces by various poets A Widening Light, which includes the L'Engle poem Luci read for us.
Like the fabled MacNamara, jazz pianist Nelson Boschman is the leader of our Christmas Presence house band: his Mennonite Jazz Committee (love that moniker) just released a brand new Christmas CD, "Dawn Of Grace," and The Nelson Boschman Trio put out "Keeping Time: Volume 02" this fall – like Volume 01 (which includes my great favourites "Song For Ordinary Time" and "Jerusalem Hymn") the recordings are structured around the liturgical calendar, and the new one features quite a few Advent / Christmas / Epiphany numbers. You can order either of the Keeping Time cds or buy downloads of specific songs at the CSCSS website. I'm not sure where you can buy the MJC recordings (apart from the PT lobby at Christmas Presence), but if I find out from NeBo, I'll be sure to let you know. Also in the band we had Brett Ziegler on keyboards, Kenton Wiens and Rick Colhoun on drums and percussion, and Becca Robertson on bass.
sheree plett and Eisenhauer (that's her husband Jeremy) have just put out a brand new Christmas cd called "Lights Used To Shine" – and hey, there's even a dedication "to everyone at christmas presence – without them this album would probably not exist." My. That feels good. sher and jer (along with the band) are pretty much our "artists in residence" this Christmas: they'll be playing with us again Dec 10 at PT, Dec 15 in the valley and Dec 19 on the North Shore.
New to the line-up were three members of baroque folk ensemble Wicker Robot; Karly Warkentin, Sara Ciantar and James Lamb. Karly even wrote a new song for (and sort of about) Christmas Presence. Wow. Wish we'd been recording! The amazing Sara Ciantar not only has a cd ("How Long") produced by one of our two little drummer boys, Rick Colhoun, but she'll be playing the pipe organ at our Traditional Christmas Presence in the Holy Trinity sanctuary Tuesday December 11. Crazy talented.
Garth Bowen is a seasoned Christmas Presence veteran, and goes back even further, to a time before there even was a Christmas Presence – Garth and I were both in the cast of PT's very first production of COTTON PATCH GOSPEL at the Richmond Gateway. He's currently working on a Christmas cd, but in the meantime you can hear his marvelous "Alleluia" on the Pacific Theatre "Christmas Presence" cd.
For other Christmas readings, check out Oblations
Friday, December 07, 2007
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Dec 4: Stage & Screen, THIS WONDERFUL LIFE!
DON'T MISS THE 2nd STAGE & SCREEN SERIES DECEMBER 4, 8pm!
PAY WHAT YOU CAN** and FREE to subscribers
TICKETS: 604.731.5518
pacifictheatre.org
Don't miss the second of our Stage & Screen Series at Pacific Theatre on Dec. 4 at 8pm, an exciting and interactive evening about THIS WONDERFUL LIFE!
The second evening of this series features Artistic Director Ron Reed, and Dan Amos, the star of THIS WONDERFUL LIFE, discussing the relationship between the unique story-telling mediums of stage and screen.
THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO JOIN IN THEIR DISCUSSION!
*Subscribers - if you are not going to use your tickets, please inform the Box Office so we can release them for others to use! Thank you for your consideration.
** Pay-what-you-can on Dec. 4 in person at the box office, or $10 in advance.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Dec 19 - Jan 6: Betty Spackman, Fort Gallery
Notes from the artist
“...The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.”
Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
Robert Frost
I have decided not to title this exhibition, although if I did it would be called something like, “’Oh Christmas Tree’: A Seasonal Lament”, or “Whose woods these are”, after Robert Frost’s well know poem, Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening….as the work is somehow about trees. But it is really more about stopping long enough to see and to ‘hear’ - the trees and everything else around me.
“If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
I think that popular philosophical question should perhaps be, “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, where is everyone !?” I don’t want to ignore ‘the fallen’ anymore. I want to be present and listening and I want to understand how I am implicated in the fall. I want to have ears to hear and allow myself to be wounded with the wounds of the world around me.
At many levels I am greedy, careless and apathetic. It comes with being human, a self-centered North American human, preoccupied with survival and gratification. But in determining to stop, look and listen a little more closely to the world on the other side of my skin, I have learned my skin does not separate me from anything. Instead, I am implicated, ‘folded in’, ‘entangled’ as the Latin root of implicated suggests. Nature is not outside me; I am inside it. When I move I can push the air enough to jostle a leaf on the tree I pass by. When the leaf falls, when the tree falls I should also be jostled, I should feel the earth shake, feel my body shake…but I seldom do. I am fat and dull of hearing. I have too many “promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep.”
In this show and a new installation work I am producing simultaneously, I attempt to understand my relationship and responsibility for the broken, fragile planet. I do this in the only way I am currently able to do. I celebrate life and lament its loss - through images and objects. If I could sing this would be a Christmas carol sung by a donkey. It would be a sad song about too many pine beetles and too few bees in the forest. It would be about human babies born without shelter and animals without their natural habitat. It would be about open wounds and about the promise of restoration. And it would be about trees.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Nov 25: Mennonite Jazz Committee, House of James
Friends & Family,
This sunday night, November 25th (7:00-9:30pm) we'd love to see you at House of James where the Mennonite Jazz Committee will be playing Christmas jazz ($7 at the door). DAWN OF GRACE is our brand new Christmas CD, hot off the press this week.
DAWN OF GRACE will be on sale that night for only $11.00 – so for $18.00 plus tax you get a concert and a CD!
Hope to see you there!
Nelson Boschman
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Nov 29 - Dec 29: THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
THIS WONDERFUL LIFE
an exhilarating one-man version of the beloved Christmas Classic
November 29 - December 29
It is Christmas Eve in a wartime New England town. Despairing over a life of dreams deferred, George Bailey sets out to throw himself from a bridge – until a dotty angel-in-waiting shows him what might have been had he never lived at all. A single actor stunningly recreates over two dozen memorable characters in this imaginative tour-de-force.
Pacific Theatre is delighted to join you in your Christmas festivities with this quintessential holiday show. The heartwarming drama was first brought to the silver screen in 1946, and has seen multiple incarnations in its 61 years. The Canadian premiere of this one-man revivification stars Dan Amos (The Quarrel, A Bright Particular Star) as the entire cast of over two dozen unforgettable characters.
Ever-faithful to the script, playwright Steve Murray brings us all the show’s beloved or unforgettable characters, including George Bailey, Mister Potter, Clarence, and little Zuzu, who reminds us all that every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.
Directed by Morris Ertman, with scenery and lighting design by Kevin McAllister, and sound design by Paul Moniz de Sá. At turns hilarious, touching, and even dark, This Wonderful Life is a holiday show not to be missed!
8pm Wednesdays to Saturdays, with 2pm matinees on Saturdays
November 29 is a PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN preview -
show up on the day of at the box office to pay what you can,
or book in advance for only $10
December 7 - talk-back night
December 26 - special Christmas matinee, 2pm
Book your tickets with our Box Office at 604.731.5518 or buy tickets online!
MAKE A NIGHT OUT OF IT! Book your stay at the "Rosedale on Robson Suite Hotel" in the heart of Vancouver. Ask for your "Friends of Pacific Theatre" rate and receive an incredible discount!
Call our Box Office for details, or book your stay with Rosedale - their reservation team are standing by to serve you! Call 604.689.8033 or 1.800.661.8870 and ask for your "Friends of Pacific Theatre Rate" today!
Friends of Pacific Theatre Rate | Regular Rate
Standard 1 Bedroom $109 | $127
Deluxe 1 Bedroom $119 | $137
2 Bedroom $159 | $177
All rates are based on single or double occupancy, additional adults are $20 each, and parking is extra (currently $10, going up to $11 in January).
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Nov 28 - Dec 1: HOLY MO at TWU
THEATRE AT TWU PRESENTS
Holy Mo & Spew Boy by Lucia Frangione
Using wacky humour, wonderful music and a wagon full of props, three comic fools tell their unexpected version of the stories of Moses and David. This "post-modern old testament comedy" has delighted audiences in productions at Pacific Theatre and Rosebud and will surely charm us all once again. An interesting twist in the TWU production is that the three clowns have been double cast, with one cast playing Holy Mo and one Spew Boy. And you thought it was crazy enough!
November 28 - December 1 at 8 p.m.
Matinees Friday November 30 at 4
Saturday December 1 at 2
Tickets and info at TWU Theatre website
Holy Mo & Spew Boy by Lucia Frangione
Using wacky humour, wonderful music and a wagon full of props, three comic fools tell their unexpected version of the stories of Moses and David. This "post-modern old testament comedy" has delighted audiences in productions at Pacific Theatre and Rosebud and will surely charm us all once again. An interesting twist in the TWU production is that the three clowns have been double cast, with one cast playing Holy Mo and one Spew Boy. And you thought it was crazy enough!
November 28 - December 1 at 8 p.m.
Matinees Friday November 30 at 4
Saturday December 1 at 2
Tickets and info at TWU Theatre website
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