Premiering on Broadway just before the Covid pandemic hit is this jukebox musical about the life of Tina Turner! And now, it's here in our fair city of Vancouver! I've been wanting to see this and will be heading to it this weekend.
Come by this evening 6-9pm for the opening night reception of the latest art exhibit at the Queer Arts Festival's Sum Gallery in Chinatown!
Register here for your free ticket!
"Mirrors presents a series of watercolour nudes created by Michael Morris during his Berlin residency in the 1980s. Unique in Morris’ predominantly abstract oeuvre, these paintings depict hustlers, artists, and friends, many of them posing in front of a mirror, so that their form could be captured from different angles. Some three dozen nudes, none of which have ever been exhibited publicly, are presented alongside six newly commissioned paintings — “reflections” on Morris’ work — by West Moberly First Nations artist Dion Smith-Dokkie."
Mirrors is on until April 4 at the Sum Gallery.
Well, if you don't already have a ticket for Ronnie Burkett's Wonderful Joe at the Cultch by now, then you are out of luck, as the show has completely sold out its run!
Dear Diary, quelle surprise! Studio 58's production of Heathers The Musical at Langara is just so... VERY.
I was fortunate enough to catch the premiere of this show in NewYork on Broadway where they had electric blue Liquid Drano shots for sale at the bar. Alas, Langara does not serve booze, otherwise that would've been a fun addition to what is already a fully entertaining night out!
If you're not familiar with the cult 80s classic, this is the original Mean Girls but darker - I'm talking guns, suicide, and school bombings. A standout for me was Evan Andersen Sterns as the moody bad boy, J.D. He is charming and cute in Act One, and spirals into psychopath manic territory by the end, while dragging along Saidi Mader's Veronica with him.
Normally with musicals, I find Act One to be the stronger half. But with this show and production, it's actually Act Two that has some serious stand out moments. When Carol Chu as Heather McNamara gets a shot in the limelight, she takes it and runs away with it. Her mini solo was a delightful surprise. But then with the 11 O'Clock number is Stella Jack-Rennie, who in true 80s fashion removes her dumpy eyeglasses to reveal a beautiful soul underneath as her Martha Dunnstock character takes flight in a touching and sombre suicide song, that left the audience gasping as the lights went out.
Apparently this is the 5th time that Heathers The Musical has been done in our fair city! I had no idea. If you too had no clue, and wanted to see this show, then there's no better spot to go than Studio 58!
Heathers The Musical runs until February 16.
There is a gem of a show playing right now at a gem of a theatre over on the West side.
I have been a fan of Florian Zeller's writing for awhile now, having read several of his novels translated from the French. When I heard that United Players of Vancouver had secured the rights and were going to mount a production of his play The Height of the Storm, I was definitely intrigued.
It's been a while since I've seen anything at the Jericho Theatre, so what a great welcome back this was! Wonderfully directed by Adam Henderson, the show nails it on every detail, from the set design to the lighting to the sound. All the actors are just fantastic as well.
The story is slightly murky, making the audience work for the viewing. It blends memory with the present, dementia with reality. At 80 minutes with no intermission, the show is a welcome addition to Vancouver's theatrical landscape.
How lucky are we that the opportunity to see a wonderful production of a Florian Zeller play is right at our doorstep?
The Height of the Storm is on now until February 9.
I don't even know how to review this year's East Van Panto: Robin Hood, because it was SO GOOD.
I was lucky enough to attend last week and brought along the perfect person to watch it with me, cause we both work in a library. Basically, libraries were one of the main things under attack in this year's show, thanks to the evil villain "Prince Ken" which I'm pretty sure everyone in Vancouver knows who that is referring to!
It's not just libraries he wants to privatize, but also Trout Lake park. A timely jab about the dismantling of the Parks Board hit a little too close to home but was well-placed. With only three weeks to tech and rehearse the show, this production is a bonafide good time from start to finish.
Steffanie Davis downright steals the entire show as Toni the Pony. Last year she was impressive as Belle, but as one of this year's villain, she downright shines. Or as the kids these days might say, she ate!!
Mark Chavez also returns in multiple roles, and delighting in every single one of them. My favourite was his turn as a Robobrarian.
Finally, Munish Sharma as Little Jaan seems relatively reliable and safe for most of the show, until we reach Act 2 and its eleven o'clock number, when he gets a turn to solo. People of Vancouver, when this man opens his mouth to sing.... the most beautiful sound in the world will be gifted upon your ears. Why were they hiding this the entire time??? Our jaws dropped. What a gorgeous sublime voice! Sing on maestro, sing ON!
And the songs this year are fun and current! Of COURSE they had to do some Chappell Roan. Perhaps a song from BRAT would've been just that one more cherry on top but kudos to Veda Hille for reimagining popular hits to fit this homegrown story.
Go catch these superstars and the rest of the stellar cast of East Van Panto: Robin Hood, on now at the York Theatre until January 5!!
(all photos by Emily Cooper)
I was lucky enough to observe Remembrance Day weekend last week with the premiere of Billy Bishop Goes to War, on now at the Metro Theatre.
