welcome

APRIL 2024 | VOLUME 238

 

April 22-MAY 5

Springtime for Theatre and Hockey

As a long-time rabid Canucks fan (talk about self-abuse!), I can’t help being excited about the playoffs, the first round taking place these next two weeks. Prepared to have my heart broken again, but looking forward to great things from the boys. I’m also excited about local theatre this spring: big-cast musicals, lots of comedy, some great-looking kids’ shows, and enough brain food—This Is How We Got Here, You Used to Call Me Marie, Fat Joke, Homecoming, The Lifespan of a Fact, The Freedom of the City—to satisfy the dramatic appetite. Sidebar observation: remember not so long ago when everyone lamented the absence of Canadian plays in Canadian theatres, how little of what we staged was homegrown? What a turnaround! Of the six plays I just mentioned, four are Canadian plays, two of them premieres. And that’s pretty typical throughout the season. So I say GO, Canada!! GO, Canucks!!! And GO see a play!!!!

See our On Now page for everything running through mid-April. Be sure to look for the BUY TICKETS buttons. Plot out your theatregoing through mid-May with the offerings on our Coming Soon page.

Theatre lovers, theatre students, theatre historians and casual readers are invited to browse our ARCHIVES pages. Read 1000+ reviews of what you may have seen or missed over the past two decades of Vancouver-area theatre.

Important Note: The BUY TICKETS button on our PREVIEW and REVIEW pages is strictly a convenience for theatregoers. Click on the button and get direct access to the company’s box office for that show. Vancouverplays gets no cut or commission from your ticket purchase. 100% of the money goes directly to the theatre company.

United Players is holding auditions for Lucia Frangione’s musical, Chickens, directed by Chris King, on May 6 & 8, 6-10 pm, at Jericho Arts Centre. Rehearsals begin mid-July and the production plays Thurs-Sat, Sept. 5-29. Application deadline: May 2. For details go to https://unitedplayers.com/opportunities/.

Realwheels Theatre presents staged readings of new plays at the Roundhouse: Vascular Necrosis by Jordyn Wood, May 9; Faye’s Room by Alex Masse, May10; Saturday Night at Axle’s by Adam Grant Warren, May 11. All readings 7 pm. Tickets $10 each at https://bit.ly/4cshJcN. “Zombies, Mannequins and Talking Heads” panel where the playwrights discuss their work, free,May 11, 12:30 pm. www.realwheels.ca

Carousel Theatre for Young People invites you to a fundraiser: Sissy That Brush! May 10,7 pm at Carousel Theatre on Granville Island. www.carouseltheatre.ca

Kay Meek Arts Centre invites you to its annual Sneakers Ball fundraiser, May 11, 7:30. Tickets HERE. They’re also holding a fundraising raffle with luxury prizes. Tickets HERE. 

The Arts Club celebrates its 60th anniversary witha gala fundraiser, A Diamond Celebration: Shining Bright for 60 Years. Dinner and show at Performance Works, Granville Island, May 24, 6 pm. $450; Show only (8 pm): $150. Tickets and info at https://artsclub.com/events/a-diamond-celebration.

Ruby Slippers Theatre invites applications for its Advance Theatre Festival 24/25 from female-identifying and gender non-conforming playwrights and directors who also identify as IBPOC. Chosen plays will have costs of rehearsals, tech, promotion, venue and artists’ fees covered. Playwrights should send play synopsis, brief bio, and maximum ten-page script excerpt to info@rubyslippers.ca. Deadline: May 30.

Green Thumb Theatre has announced that Anita Rochon will be the company’s next Artistic Director, succeeding Rachel Aberle. Congrats to them both.

Given the dire economics of the Vancouver Fringe, they are having to cut back the 2024 festival by 1/3 because of funding issues – and are asking for the community’s financial support. You can donate at https://www.vancouverfringe.com/campaign/

The Arts Club has announced its 2024-25 season, skewed towards musicals, old chestnuts and new work. https://artsclub.com/season-tickets/packages

United Players’ five-play 2024/25 season includes Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband plus a musical from Lucia Frangione and a Québécoise play in translation with Ruby Slippers Theatre. https://unitedplayers.com/product/2024-2025-season-tickets/

Theatre Replacement’s summer camps for kids, PantoLand + PantoTown,are available for registration. https://www.theatrereplacement.org/panto-pantoland-and-pantotown

The Improv Centre is offering classes in improv at all levels. For info and registration, go HERE.

Carousel Theatre for Young People offers summer drama camps for kids, pre-teens and teens ages 3-17. https://www.carouseltheatre.ca/dramaschool

Richmond’s Gateway Theatre Academy is offering acting and musical theatre classes for kids ages 6-7. https://gatewaytheatre.com/academy

Perry Ehrlich’s Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! musical theatre camps for kids ages 9-19 are available in monthly sessions, July and Aug., at the Jewish Community Centre. Info and applications at https://www.jccgv.com/perry-ehrlichs-gotta-sing-gotta-dance/.

Go, Canucks!!

Jerry