An Adaptation of The Wizard of Oz

Strap on your ruby red slippers and get ready for a Wizard of Oz like no other! Adult dance studio Passion and Performance is bringing this beloved classic to the stage at the historic Cultch Theatre on August 8. 

Picture it: the Tin Man, a stud with moves that could melt your heart; the Lion, strutting their stuff on Davie Street with a mane that won’t quit; and the Scarecrow, a laid-back stoner who’s always one step ahead of munchkin curfew. Dorothy? Oh, she’s a shy yet wild child at heart from Squamish, ready to take on the Emerald City. And watch out for the Wicked Witch of West Van – she’s got style for days and a laugh that could curdle almond milk. But that’s not all – Glinda the Good Witch floats in with glamor and grace, spreading glitter and wisdom wherever she goes. A vision in sequins and pleasers, she’s the guiding light through this Oz adventure.

Tickets are almost sold out, get them now! 

Theatre Under the Stars: SCHOOL OF ROCK

Full disclosure: I am not a huge fan of watching children sing in musicals. Does that make me a terrible person? Probably. It's just not my cup of tea, so sue me. 

With that being said however, I was wowed by the kids in Theatre Under the Stars' School of Rock musical and I will tell you why and how I got there. 

The people I attended the show with LOVE the movie School of Rock, on which the musical adaptation is based. I had no idea this too was an Andrew Lloyd Webber vehicle until last night. When the show began, I found the pacing of things to be a bit off. This could just also be my bias against musicals based on movies. Not a fan of those. 

TUTS 2024. Colin Sheen, with members of the youth cast in School of Rock. Photo by Emily Cooper

Colin Sheen holds down the fort as the main character Dewey Finn, portrayed memorably on screen by Jack Black. Colin can sing, dance, play instruments, and literally anchors the whole show as he is in almost every scene. Also he has to work with children? I pity the fool. But stay with me here, as I stayed with Colin and the kids and went on this journey that warmed my heart and had me in tears by the end of the evening...

Closer to the second half of Act 1 and definitely all of Act 2, I was engaged and invested. If you're not familiar with the storyline, Dewey Finn is an out-of-luck musician who winds up "teaching" at a prestigious private school - except he's faking his identity and pretending to be his best friend, who is an acclaimed teacher while Dewey has no business in front of a classroom. He leads the kids into learning about rock music and hopes to enter them into a local Battle of the Bands. 

 

TUTS 2024. Colin Sheen, with members of the youth cast in School of Rock. Photo by Emily Cooper

The audience at opening night was feisty, and I hope that continues for this production throughout the summer. The energy of the crowd really helps feed what's going on up on the stage. From the start of the program when the emcee shouted out Kiss lyrics: "I wanna rock and roll all night...!" 

To which the crowd promptly called back: "... and party every day!" 

 TUTS 2024. Colin Sheen, with members of the youth cast in School of Rock. Photo by Emily Cooper

The audience participation did not stop there, and I am not even counting all the cheers and applause that the performers got whenever they played their instruments. Yes, that's right. These CHILDREN are playing live instruments right there on the stage in front of you! There's no air guitar! That's real guitar!  Those are real drums and keyboards and bass! COME ON. 

Near the end when they are announcing the winner of the Battle of the Bands, the entire audience was up in arms chanting out SCHOOL OF ROCK! SCHOOL OF ROCK! 

TUTS 2024. Colin Sheen, with members of the youth cast in School of Rock. Photo by Emily Cooper

If you want a rockin' night out that will have you laughing and crying and cheering on the underdog, then go see SCHOOL OF ROCK at Theatre Under The Stars, alternating nightly with CATS all summer until August 24. 

Theatre Under the Stars: CATS

TUTS 2024. Left to right_October Penningroth, Owen CB Scott, Jaren Guerreiro, Colton Bamber, Anna Smith. Photo by Emily Cooper

I'm a cat person. I'm also a musicals guy. I kinda low-key hate the CATS musical. I saw it when I was in my teens and had no idea what was happening. I do love the song Memory, however. 

Over the years, CATS has grown on me. Perhaps, like a cat, I just needed to warm up to it. The score is familiar. I sang Mr Mistoffelees with my Grade 7 class in elementary school. And of course, there's the movie version. I saw it in the theatre and was still slightly confused, even though I knew what the plot was supposed to be now. I am excited about the "ballroom" themed vogueing CATS remount happening in New York right now, aptly subtitled The Jellicle Ball. 

So when Theatre Under the Stars announced they were doing CATS as one of their shows this year, I was a bit unenthusiastic. But then I attended on opening night... 

 TUTS 2024. The cast of CATS. Photo by Emily Cooper

Maybe it's age and I've been around long enough, but this production was the most I've ever understood the plot in the times that I've seen the show. I knew exactly what was going on! So kudos to the direction on this for being able to successfully translate to the stage a show that can be quite polarizing. 

CATS is a dance show, and TUTS has done a superb job in delivering a purr-fect evening of entertainment for the whole family. For any newbies who may go to the show not knowing what to expect, all you need to know is that on this special night, one cat gets chosen to be "reborn" and they are all vying for that spot. 

 TUTS 2024. Sarah Lane as Grizabella. Photo by Emily Cooper

And then the moment that everyone was waiting for: Memory. When Grizabella takes the stage, to deliver this iconic number, she does not disappoint. With the stars in the evening sky sparkling above you, the smoke machine and dimmed lights on the stage, the performance of Memory is literally everything. Go see CATS for that alone. But don't forget about the tap dancing cockroaches, the comedy relief of Bustopher Jones, the earworm of "Macavity's not there!" and the sensuality of Rum Tum Tugger. 

 TUTS 2024. The cast of CATS. Photo by Emily Cooper

All of these ingredients come together to create a purr-fect production! CATS is on tonight at Theatre Under the Stars and alternates with School of Rock until August 23. 

Create! East Side Arts Festival

"Eastside Arts Society (EAS) presents the 4th edition of its newly expanded, immersive summer arts event, CREATE! Eastside Arts Festival, at various Eastside Arts District (EAD) studios, breweries, and performance venues, in addition to its traditional all-day outdoor festivities at Strathcona Park from July 22-28, 2024. Celebrating the diversity of performing and visual arts in Vancouver’s Eastside, CREATE! offers arts workshops, live music and dance performances, a beer garden, public art activations, an art shop, and countless opportunities for art lovers of all ages and abilities to explore and discover.

 

From Monday, July 22 to Sunday, July 28, the festival will offer affordable ticketed art workshops and performances at pop-up locations, such as breweries, studios, and performance venues. Community highlights include CREATE! pop-up art workshops at Off the Rail Brewing, Luppolo Brewing, and Strange Fellows Brewing from July 22-26 and studio art workshops at 1000 Parker Street, The Mergatroid Building, and The Arts Factory on July 28; Canadian musical artist Paul Pigat at the Firehall Arts Centre on July 25; legendary Canadian singer songwriter Art Bergmann at the Rickshaw Theatre on July 26; a roving piano and dance performance from Mascall Dance on July 26; live mural painting by Eastside Culture Crawl co-founder Richard Tetrault at E. 4th Ave and Ontario St. from July 22-26; and so much more."

Visit the website for more information!