welcome

DECEMBER 2023 | VOLUME 234

 

DEC 4-17

In the Home Stretch of 2023; Norman and Duncan, RIP.

Entering the final month of the year, our theatres buzzing with (mostly) seasonal shows, the community suffered two big losses in the past couple of weeks with the passing of Duncan Low, Executive Director of The Cultch from 1996-2006, and Norman Armour, co-founder of both Rumble Theatre and the PuSh Festival. Heather Redfern, The Cultch’s current Executive Director, offers this tribute to and memory of Duncan: https://thecultch.com/remembering-duncan-low/. Norman was a major force in Vancouver’s arts community and beyond. For a detailed biography/obituary, see Janet Smith’s article, https://www.createastir.ca/articles/norman-armour-obituary. Vancouverplays sends our condolences to both men’s families and friends. Both will be sorely missed.

Check out our On Now page for everything running through December. Be sure to look for the BUY TICKETS buttons. Scope out the first of the new year’s offerings on our Coming Soon page.

Theatre lovers, theatre students, theatre historians—amateur or pro—and casual readers are invited to browse our ARCHIVES pages. Read 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.

Western Gold Theatre is holding an Online Auction fundraiser until Dec. 9. Items for auction: https://www.32auctions.com/WGT?mc_cid=b18fd6ffae&mc_eid=0eb331483b

Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre invites you to three MSG Lab play readings: Year of the Frog by Garvin Chan, Dec. 11; Hiraeth by Christian Ching, Dec. 12; and The Golden Dragon Café by Jiejun Wu, Dec. 13. Roundhouse Community Centre, 7 pm. Free admission. RSVP at https://vact.ca/msg-lab-readings-december/.

North Van’s Presentation House Theatre invites you to a Holiday Singalong, Dec. 13 & 17, 7:30 pm. $17-$24. www.phtheatre.org

Ruby Slippers Theatre is accepting 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 by Ruby Slippers and Shadbolt Centre for the Arts. Playwrights should send play synopsis, brief bio, and maximum ten-page script excerpt to info@rubyslippers.ca. Deadline: May 30.

Congrats to Barbara Tomasic, officiallyappointed Executive Artistic Director of Richmond’s Gateway Theatre, which she has been running informally for a couple of years. Vancouverplays wishes her the best.

The Improv Centre is offering classes in improv at all levels this winter. For info and registration, go to HERE.
Carousel Theatre for Young People offers winter classes 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

Stay dry and get your shots!

Take care,
Jerry