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With the fall season just about upon us, BC’s theatre and dance companies are struggling with the most severe funding cuts in decades. Every company has had its BC Arts Council funding slashed, and gaming funds have entirely disappeared. At exactly the moment the province institutes online gambling, it has eliminated the use of gambling profits to fund culture—their original rationale for increasing government-sponsored gambling in the first place! Meanwhile, the BC Liberals find money to fund “festivals” celebrating the 2010 Olympics—the very reason why they’re cutting budgets now, unless the real reason is that their true ideological agenda is being revealed (cf. federal Tories). The latest casualty of the cuts is See Seven, the brilliant initiative that for the past thirteen years has seen small independent theatre companies pool resources to create advertising and marketing efficiencies, and allow audiences to see seven shows from seven different companies at bargain prices. Ruby Slippers Artistic Director Diane Brown announced the temporary suspension of See Seven last week, pointing out that so many of the smaller companies have been devastated by the cuts that a See Seven season is simply not viable in 2010-11. Thus one of the region’s most dynamic cultural institutions goes down in flames while Minister Kevin Krueger, Premier Gordon Campbell and their BC Liberal colleagues continue to offer nonsensical explanations—or none at all—for the shifts in cultural policy. THE ARTS ARE NOT SOMEHOW APART Meanwhile, Bard on the Beach’s four fine shows are nearly sold out for the final month of their season--Much Ado About Nothing, Antony and Cleopatra, Falstaff, and Henry V under the tents at Vanier Park; Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza carries on under the tent across from BC Place; Brighton Beach Memoirs continues at Metro Theatre, and Blue Surge at Studio 16. New this week: David Hare’s The Power of Yes at Jericho Arts Centre and David Mamet’s A Life in the Theatre at the Playhouse Recital Hall, New York monologist Mike Daisey’s The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs for one show only at the Vancity Theatre, the Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival all over the city and, at Whistler, the Blank Slate Theatre Festival. The 26th Vancouver International Fringe Festival is just around the corner. Have a look at our Coming Soon page for details. Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival presents Puccini’s opera La Bohème, performed by UBC Opera Ensemble and members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. Christopher Gaze directs, Leslie Dala conducts, and Nancy Hermiston leads UBC Opera. Shows are Mondays Aug. 30 and Sept. 6 at 1:00 & 7:00 pm in Bard’s Mainstage tent in Vanier Park. (Aug. 30 at 7 pm is sold out.) Tickets: $38/$35 at 604-739-0559 or www.bardonthebeach.org. The Firehall presents The Soap Show, a live improvised soap opera, for the final time, Monday Aug. 30 at 8 pm. Tickets $10 advance at 604-689-0926, $12 at the door. The 26th annual Vancouver International Fringe Festival kicks off its Sept. 9-19 fandango with an evening of Appi-Teasers, excerpts from 9 of its shows plus food and a silent auction, hosted by David C. Jones, Sept. 7, 7 pm, at Performance Works. Tickets are $40 at www.vancouverfringe.com or at the door. The Fringe program is available at www.vancouverfringe.com/2010-program-guide. David C. Jones’s queer comedy troupe The Bobbers will be performing late-night every Monday at J Lounge, 1216 Bute St. CALLBOARD The Shakespeare Centre presents Voice at the Beach, Sept. 1-22, four Wed. nights, 6-8 pm in Volunteer Park. $112 including HST. For info and registration, contact Donald at 604-727-6091 or iamisaid2001@yahoo.com The Vancouver Fringe Festival (Sept. 9-19 on Granville Island) is recruiting volunteers. To apply, go to www.vancouverfringe.com/volunteer. The Studio on the Drive is offering a Two Week Fall Acting Intensive with Coach Ingrid Torrance and industry guests: Casting Director Candace Elzinga, Agent Dorothy Szymanska, and Voice and Improv coach Alan Marriot. Oct. 4-15, Monday–Friday 10 am–4 pm. $750 plus HST. 20% discount for Equity members. Maximum 12 spots. 604-872-0075 to register. www.studioonthedrive.com Jerry & Linda
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