A SECTION OF ®
vancouver
ARTS GUIDE
SEPT OCT 2018
BALLET BC’S EMILY MOLNAR LADIES LEADING
WEEKEND SCRIPT
THE A LIST
SEEN ON THE SCENE
Photo by Rob Trendiak.
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STAYING CONNECTED #artslandiawashere
Follow recent happenings in Artslandia.
7 CONNIE HACKETT Weekend Script
Have you ever wanted to follow Connie Hackett around for a weekend? Now you can!
8 EMILY MOLNAR Ladies Leading
Ballet BC’s Artistic Director, Emily Molnar, is a fearless trailblazer for dance in the nation and abroad.
CALENDAR 12 SEPTEMBER Vancouver Arts Guide Ready? Set? Go! Artslandia celebrates our inaugural Arts Guide issue and the return of fall’s bounty of arts! We can barely stand the wait for Kamloopa at The Cultch.
17 OCTOBER CALENDAR Vancouver Arts Guide
This month’s featured shows include Touchstone Theatre’s Kill Me Now, Quartetti hosted by Vancouver New Music, soprano Julia Bullock presented by the Vancouver Recital Society, Ruthie Foster at the Kay Meek Arts Centre, Vancouver Opera’s Merry Widow, and Company Wang Ramirez’s new work presented by Dancehouse.
28 JESSIE RICHARDSON THEATRE AWARDS Seen on the Scene
Catch a glimpse of some of the beaming smiles and open arms captured at Vancouver’s 36th annual Jessie Awards.
Pacifica Quartet, Friends of Chamber Music.
30 TOP 10 HAPPY HOURS NEAR VANCOUVER CIVIC THEATRES The A List
Word on the street is that the new happiest place on Earth is at any of these happy hours.
FIND YOUR ART: Anvil Centre Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arts Umbrella . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Contemporary Art Gallery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Cultch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12, 15, 23, The Dance Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 20, DanceHouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20, 23, Douglas College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elektra Women’s Choir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Evergreen Cultural Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 18, 20,
24 26 16 24 23 25 31 13 23
Friends of Chamber Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18, Gateway Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kay Meek Arts Centre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, 18, 20, 22, Laudate Singers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Massey Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 14, Music on Main. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pacific Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14, Presentation House Theatre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, Shadbolt Centre for the Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 20,
20 15 24 20 23 13 24 24 24
Théâtre la Seizième. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Touchstone Theatre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24, Vancouver Art Gallery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4, 15, 16, Vancouver New Music. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 17, Vancouver Opera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19, Vancouver Recital Society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 18, 20, Vancouver Symphony Orchestra . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 18, Vancouver TheatreSports™ League. . . . . . . . 14, 15, 24,
24 27 26 18 20 21 20 26
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WAS HERE ARTSLANDIA.COM INSTAGRAM
PODCAST
SUSANNAH
@thecultch’s new 2018–19 season announcement was at the Historic Theatre—and we must say, their 45th anniversary season is filled to the max with gems.
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ARTSLANDIA’S PERFORMING ARTS PODCAST
Artslandia podcast host Susannah Mars chats with theatre artist and administrator CORY PHILLEY about the Shadbolt Centre’s upcoming women-centred season. Do you have an Adventure in Artslandia? Email smars@artslandia.com.
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Artistic Director ERICK LICHTE sent us a collection of video postcards from Chor Leoni’s summer tour in Asia. The lions sang in the Signapore International Choral Festival and the Bali International Choir Festival, taking home championship prizes and a special excellence award for choreography.
CONNECT Follow us on social for more highlights and giveaways.
@artslandiayvr @artslandiayvr /artslandiayvr
We took in the fabulous Takashi Murakami exhibit at @vanartgallery, The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg. LOVED IT. #VAGxMURAKAMI
Artslandia Magazine ONES TO WATCH: THE THEATRE EDITION with Pippa Mackie
Snap a great picture at the show? TAG US!
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SEPT / / O C T 2018
Dove Allouche
September 28 to December 30, 2018
Kameelah Janan Rasheed
®
VANCOUVER ARTS GUIDE
September 28, 2018 to March 17, 2019 PUBLISHER + FOUNDER
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Katrina Ketchum MEDIA DIRECTOR
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Artslandia Arts Guide is published by Rampant Creative, Inc. ©2018 Rampant Creative, Inc. All rights reserved. This magazine or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher. Rampant Creative, Inc./Artslandia Magazine 6637 SE Milwaukie Ave. #207 | Portland, OR 97202
w eekend s cript
a vancouver itinerary
FOR THE SENSES
CONNIE HACKETT is a gallery girl, social media enthusiast, and explorer of artsy places. She works at The Reach Gallery Museum in Abbotsford and has a passion for art, both local and beyond. Follow her @constancelh.
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Photos by Connie Hackett.
MOUNT PLEASANT REVOLVER
KAISERECK DELI
I love to wander through historically rich Gastown. My first stop is always a hot chocolate from this little gem that’s known to inspire worship of its coffee.
I like to start by eating a delicious lunch to ensure I’m not hangry when I’m shopping around Granville Island’s Public Market. A massive selection of fresh produce makes for midday-meal perfection.
ARTIST DANA MOONEY’S STUDIO As a big fan of local artists, I always try to schedule a visit to the studio space of one of my favourite local creators who welcomes guests by appointment.
The annual Vancouver Mural Festival leaves this neighbourhood awash in incredible murals by amazing local, national, and international artists. I love checking out all the new additions and usually happen upon a fun arts event in the process!
OUR LITTLE FLOWER COMPANY My post-lunch stroll through the market always includes a stop at this enchanting spot to peruse their gorgeous selection of flowers and pots.
Do your weekends make for the perfect arts itinerary? Do you always know the coolest spots? Visit artslandia.com / YVR /weekend to submit your fabulous directions for the perfect weekend.
LIBERTY BAKERY Not only is it Insta-worthy, but their drinks and treats are a must after spending the day wandering around Mount Pleasant’s incredible public and local art scene. (And fans of director Hayao Miyazaki will especially enjoy Totoro in cookie form!)
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Ladies Leading:
EMILY MOLNAR
Photo by Rob Trendiak.
Artslandia pulls back the curtain on the leadership philosophy that’s fueled a groundbreaking, triumphant decade at the helm of Ballet BC and nearly half a decade with Banff Centre.
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E m i l y Mol n a r l a d i es leading
By Ariane Fleischmann. Photos by Rob Trendiak. Her natural state is one in which she E considers her actions, the creative process, mily Molnar asks a lot of questions.
those of her collaborators. It’s not a means of applying pressure to her roles at Ballet BC and Banff Centre; rather, it’s the reason she’s a visionary leader, a trusted mentor, and an eloquent cultural commentator. Flying between Banff Centre in Alberta and Ballet BC in Vancouver throughout the summer of 2018, Molnar is in her element. This year, at a four-week performance program that Molnar oversees, 12 dancers and four actors worked with choreographer Alan Lucien Øyen and Program Head Stephen Laks, as well as a team of set, costume, sound, and light designers from winter guests to reimagine The Hamlet Complex. The Artistic Director of Dance at Banff Centre since 2014, Molnar curates its year-round programming. In parallel to the performance program, The Creative Gesture residency offers two-week courses in dramaturgy and designing for dance, as well as a composition lab for composers, choreographers, and dancers. And these are just the summer offerings.
AN OFFER SHE COULDN’T REFUSE. When first approached for the Banff Centre position, Molnar actually wanted to decline. Not for lack of interest but for lack of time. Her work with Ballet BC brought two world premieres to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre to close their 2014–15 season, including a work of her own creation as well as one by Gustavo Ramirez Sansano. “When I was hired,” says Molnar, “there was a very big shift going on in Banff Centre about making it more accessible and more transparent to all professional artists of different disciplines. Some of the things I was asked to focus on were multidisciplinary platforms and a contemporary point of view.” The offer gave Molnar a new platform from which to explore ideas she was curious about: “supporting a diversity of artists and creating environments where they can develop.” In the end, she couldn’t resist.
She started an advisory committee that asked what artists in Canada need. “One of the things I heard was more shared platforms,” she says. “Sharing is part of how artists want to develop new forms—by listening and knowing what other people are doing, by going into other disciplines and finding out how other people are making work, and considering how that informs the work they’re doing in their own discipline.”
DRAWN TO DIRECTING. “I didn’t feel like I was going to be the first person in line to take over Ballet BC or any existing company,” Molnar confides. Yet being a director was something she felt she had always been working toward. At just 12, a student at the National Ballet School, Molnar felt a desire to direct, and it confused her. “I could see ideas starting, but it took me many years and many dark
I try to create a space where people feel like they can show up [ and ] trust it’s safe to take risks.
SHAPING BALLET BC. At Ballet BC since 2009, Molnar has fostered a community of collaborators. “I try to create a space where people feel like they can show up [and] trust it’s safe to take risks,” she says. “I tend to work with the person as much as the thing that we’re working on. I try to help guide versus telling people what to do.” The horizontal environment gives dancers and choreographers agency; it blurs the line between dancer-choreographer-performer. Molnar says her dancers want more responsibility, and creators enjoy the depth of conversation that emerges when more variations on a theme are in the room. “The work we make is enhanced by being part of this collaborative approach,” Molnar explains. “It helps and supports the creative act and allows us to make work that is more meaningful to us and, in turn (hopefully), more meaningful for our audience. When people feel that they belong; when they feel that they’re heard; when they feel that they’re part of something, the experience is unique.”
nights asking ‘what exactly is at work here.’ I almost left the profession.” Of course, she didn’t leave. At 16, Molnar joined the National Ballet of Canada as an apprentice and quickly earned a promotion to the corps at the request of guest choreographer William Forsythe. She later joined Forsythe at the Ballett Frankfurt as a soloist before dancing with Ballet BC under John Alleyne. Throughout her career and travels—as a company member Molnar graced stages in Europe, Asia, Mexico, and the United States—she held on to what she had realized as a student in Toronto: “At heart, I wanted to lead a situation in order to create an environment for other people. I wasn’t interested in just my own practice; I was interested in helping others. I needed a container. I needed a platform.” Indeed, Ballet BC would become that platform, but Molnar wasn’t confident in her chances to land the leadership role. “Maybe because I’m a woman, maybe for other reasons,” she wondered. But Molnar had personal doubts about the position
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as well: “The pressures of leadership can cause a person to change,” she explains. “As much as I was concerned I would not be the person receiving it, I was also concerned that if I were given a position of more authority, I would become a person I couldn’t look at in the mirror.”
ASKING QUESTIONS. When she did get the job, Molnar returned to what she had always done: She asked questions. “How do you change a culture? How do you create a new model? How do you attend to new perspectives, new ways of collaborating?” Entering the company at a time that it was struggling financially, she also had to ask: What defined growth? What defined success? In 2009, growth was a dismantling; It was eliminating what no longer worked. While Ballet BC is not the only contemporary company that focuses on collaboration, community, accessibility, and diversity, Molnar acknowledges that it is one of many making waves around the world. “Small organizations are leading the way—if I can be that bold,” she says. “For good reason. It requires flexibility and agreement. Put a larger group of people together, and it’s harder.”
BUILDING COMMUNITY. Now celebrating her 10th year at Ballet BC, Molnar continues to challenge her perspective and that of the people around her. “At the heart of it, we’re asking people to examine who they are and what their responsibility is to living and being human. Through that, we’re trying to exercise ideas and what it means to make work: How do we compose, and who are we composing for? With? About?” Cambie Location 493 W 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC 604.558.3118 Fraser Location 3588 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC 778.379.5667
Photographer: Rob Trendiak @trendiakphoto Makeup: Carly Martin @glaminvan Hair: Artel Salon @artelsalon
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Molnar encourages the entire company to examine its virtuosity because it can be seen everywhere: “in how we go into a community and teach a workshop, the way we perform onstage, the way we listen to each other in a room. Those are all things we try to excel at. One of those actions is not greater than the other.” In recent years, Ballet BC has expanded their programming beyond the stage. They’ve collaborated with other artists to reach new audiences, brought their classes to underprivileged youth, opened a dialogue with the professional commu-
nity, and created more equitable access to dance through sponsored tickets and free livestreaming.
I tend to work with the person as much as the thing that we’re working on. I try to help guide versus telling people what to do.
“It’s important that we’re always having a conversation with our community,” says Molnar. “We need to know what people are curious about. We’re always trying to find a point of introduction and know how we can develop and deepen that relationship.”
TEN YEARS AHEAD. As Molnar looks forward—at Ballet BC and at Banff Centre—she continues to prod the fabric that envelops those organizations. She asks more questions: “What is our responsibility in art-making? What is our responsibility to our art form and our audience and ourselves as artists, to ourselves as an organization?” Molnar struggles to say where she sees Ballet BC in 10 years. “If I’ve done my job well and if what I’m doing is sound, we’ve created a foundation that won’t be easily erased,” she says. “We’re not trying to be a company that exists already. For the artists here today, they’re helping us understand what dance can be. If we keep responding to that, we’ll live into exciting possibilities for Ballet BC in the future.” .
See Program 1 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver, November 1–3.
by the
SINCE 2009
NUMBERS 10
Seasons
8
Choreographed works
25
Productions at the QET
74
Performance nights at the QET
55
Cities/venues toured
45+
New works presented
30+
Canadian collaborators
20+
Works by female choreographers
Photo by Rob Trendiak.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ariane Fleischmann is the Content and Communications Specialist at Arts Umbrella, a non-profit arts education centre based on Granville Island with paid and free programming at facilities across Metro Vancouver. When she’s not writing and editing, you can find her curled up with her reluctant cat, reading a book, enjoying an adult beverage somewhere in East Van, or playing D&D with her husband and friends. She’s also the cofounder of Paper Rabbit Publishing. Ariane writes about theatre, dance, and the visual arts for Artslandia. ARTSLANDIA.COM
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SEPTEMBER 25–OCTOBER 6
KAMLOOPA THE CULTCH
FEATURED SHOW: KAMLOOPA Western Canada Theatre (Kamloops), Persephone Theatre and Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre (Saskatoon)
Come along for the ride to Kamloopa, the largest powwow on the West Coast. This high energy Indigenous matriarchal story, written and directed by Kim Senklip Harvey, follows two urban Indigenous sisters and a lawless trickster who face the world head-on as they come to terms with what it means to honour who they are and where they come from. The Cultch, Historic Theatre thecultch.com
Kaitlyn Yott as Mikaya. Photo by Emily Cooper. ARTSLANDIA.COM
M U SI C
vancouver M US IC
SEPTEMBER 20
RENÉE FLEMING WITH THE VSO Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre One of the most beloved and celebrated singers of our time, the great Renée Fleming graces the Orpheum stage to perform with the VSO for the first time in nearly a decade. Fleming performs the extraordinary and profound song cycle of Richard Strauss, Four Last Songs, in a fitting kickoff to the VSO’s 100 th anniversary season. vancouversymphony.ca SEPTEMBER 21
LIVE AT THE ‘BOLT: ELEKTRA WOMEN’S CHOIR Shadbolt Centre for the Arts Under the artistic direction of Morna Edmundson, Elektra’s 45 auditioned members come from all reaches of the Lower Mainland. The program includes works
D AN C E
TH EATR E
VI SUAL ART S
ARTS GUIDE
recently performed by invitation at Podium, a conference presented by Choral Canada, held in St. John’s, NFLD. Works by Canadian composers Kathleen Allan, Alexina Louie, Don Macdonald, and Stephen Smith round out an evocative and lovely program, crafted to bring delight to listeners of all ages. tickets.shadboltcentre.com
SEPTEMBER 21 & 22
100TH SEASON OPENER Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre Maestro Otto Tausk makes his series debut as VSO Music Director in a high-energy concert that features many Dutch connections: superstar pianist brothers Arthur and Lucas Jussen, Dutch Canadian composer Edward Top, and Maestro Tausk himself. Not to mention one of the most exciting and captivating pieces of music ever written, the rarely performed complete version of Stravinsky’s Firebird. vancouversymphony.ca
SEPTEMBER 23
CASTALIAN STRING QUARTET Vancouver Recital Society, Vancouver Playhouse The Castalian String Quartet is rapidly emerging as an exciting voice on the international chamber music scene. In 2018, the Quartet received the prestigious inaugural Merito String Quartet Award/Valentin Erben Prize and a prestigious Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship Award. Previous awards include the third prize at the 2016 Banff International String Quartet Competition and the first prize at the 2015 Lyon Chamber Music Competition. vanrecital.com SEPTEMBER 23 & 30
FALL SOUNDWALK
SEPTEMBER 27
MARTHA WAINWRIGHT Shadbolt Centre for the Arts With an undeniable voice and an arsenal of powerful songs, Martha Wainwright is a beguiling performer and a refreshingly different force in music. Martha continues to tour her music around the world to soldout audiences and has spent time on the silver screen playing characters in Martin Scorsese’s Aviator and the HBO special Olive Kitteridge alongside Frances McDormand.
Vancouver New Music, Various locations
tickets.shadboltcentre.com
Join members of the Vancouver Soundwalk Collective for these free, guided listening tours. A Soundwalk invites you to listen actively, opening ears and consciousness to the complex orchestration that the environment is composing at all times. It is a musical-sonic adventure that reveals the banal to be extraordinary! newmusic.org
7TH ANNUAL MUSHTARI BEGUM FESTIVAL
SEPTEMBER 25
LARA ST. JOHN, VIOLIN & MATT HERSKOWITZ, PIANO Music on Main, Annex
Elektra Women’s Choir. Photo by David Cooper.
all over the world, Lara has left her mark on classical music, while giving it her own twist. Taking to the stage with pianist, composer, and arranger Matt Herskowitz creates an unstoppable musical dream team. musiconmain.ca
Violinist Lara St. John has been described as “something of a phenomenon” (The Strad) and a “high-powered soloist” (The New York Times). Playing with orchestras in major concert halls
SEPTEMBER 29
Massey Theatre Founded by two globally recognized New Westminster artists—Cassius Khan and Amika Kushwaha—the annual iteration is Canada’s premier celebration of Indian classical music and dance. It immerses audiences in timeless and ancient forms of music and dance in an experience like no other. Headlining the 2018 show are Western Canadian Music Award nominees Cassius Khan and Amika Kushwaha. masseytheatre.com Download the Artslandia App to have all these listings in the palm of your hand.
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c a l e n d a r s e p t e m b er SEPTEMBER 30
SEPTEMBER 20
MACAN BAND AND PUZZLE BAND LIVE IN CONCERT
THAI DANCE COMPANY — DISCOVER DANCE! SERIES
Massey Theatre
The Dance Centre
Sabet Music presents Macan Band and Puzzle Band live in concert at the historic Massey Theatre! masseytheatre.com
Discover the elegance, beauty, and precision of Thai dance. Originating in the Royal Court of Old Siam, this exquisitely detailed form has a strong sacred element. Artistic Director Megara Solloway teams up with renowned Ottawa -based Thai classical dancer and choreographer Kai Whitcomb to present a selection of dances, in homage to their spiritual and cultural traditions. thedancecentre.ca
SEPTEMBER 30
VIVALDI L’ESTRO ARMONICO Kay Meek Arts Centre Italy’s renowned baroque violinist, Enrico Onofri, makes his Kay Meek debut performing Antonio Vivaldi’s L’Estro Armonico with Vancouver’s Pacific Baroque Orchestra. kaymeek.com D A NC E
SEPTEMBER 15
17TH ANNUAL SCOTIABANK DANCE CENTRE OPEN HOUSE The Dance Centre A day of free open classes, workshops, studio showings, and events featuring a host of different dance styles at Canada’s flagship dance facility. Full schedule of events to be announced. thedancecentre.ca
SEPTEMBER 28
KATIE DUCK: CAGE The Dance Centre A pioneer in the international improvisation scene, Katie Duck has inspired generations of performers through her innovative work with dance, text, and sound. CAGE is a trenchant feminist analysis of the human condition and the oppression of modern life, which Duck stages in different locations around the world in collaboration with local musicians and performers. thedancecentre.ca
vancouver, bc | 845 burrard st. | (604) 642-2900 boulevardvancouver.ca | @blvdyvr 14
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T H E AT R E
SEPTEMBER 3–OCTOBER 6
BACK TO SCHOOL THEATRESPORTS™ Vancouver TheatreSports™ League, The Improv Centre Back to School TheatreSports takes classic TheatreSports short form improv games and adapts them to parody classroom clichés and cliques. The players improvise using school-themed suggestions to create the scenarios—awkward first dates, trying out for the team, and cramming for exams. Regardless of whether you are/were a jock, a nerd, or one of the cool kids at school, everyone will be able to relate and find something to laugh about. vtsl.com SEPTEMBER 3–OCTOBER 5
CLASSIC THEATRESPORTS™ Vancouver TheatreSports™ League, The Improv Centre Relying on razor-sharp wit and lightning-fast reflexes, two teams of performers are pitted against each other in competitive improv matches. The teams use
audience suggestions to fuel scenes and must create totally improvised situations on the spot. More than just a whimsical host, the ref will slap the improvisers with penalties and jabs or reward them with bonuses as he/she sees fit. vtsl.com SEPTEMBER 6–20
MARION BRIDGE Kay Meek Arts Centre When three estranged sisters return home to Cape Breton to care for their dying mother, old conflicts and secrets resurface. Each woman, in their own way, attempts to reconcile their loneliness and what they thought they wanted from life with what they thought their parents wanted for them. This humorous and touching story by Daniel MacIvor is directed by Roy Surette and stars Nicola Cavendish, Lynda Boyd, and Beatrice Zeilinger. kaymeek.com
SEPTEMBER 7–OCTOBER 6
KIM’S CONVENIENCE Pacific Theatre Mr. Kim is proud of his convenience store. After 30 years
sep t em b er calendar
Lara St. John. Photo by Adrienne Lloyd.
of selling lottery tickets, catching petty thieves, and reporting illegally parked cars, he tries desperately—and hilariously— to convince his artist daughter Janet to take over the store. The play by Ins Choi inspired the hit TV show. pacifictheatre.org SEPTEMBER 18–22
MORE THAN A PRESIDENT’S MOTHER: THE LILLIAN CARTER STORY Evergreen Cultural Centre Lillian Carter was much more than President Jimmy Carter’s mother—she was a social activist, great humanitarian, nurse, Peace Corps volunteer, peanut farmer, and fisherman. The play introduces us to this woman who was undaunted by Southern social mores or peer pressure, who nurtured the best human qualities in all with whom she interacted. evergreenculturalcentre.ca SEPTEMBER 19–30
TALES OF AN URBAN INDIAN
SEPTEMBER 22
NCHEMUS DAY Presentation House Theatre Everyone is welcome to this free event! Join in the world’s largest Slahal (also known as “Bone Game”) for a day of fun, learning, and celebration. No experience? No problem! Instructors teach you how to play this ancient traditional game. phtheatre.org SEPTEMBER 25–OCTOBER 6
KAMLOOPA The Cultch, Historic Theatre Come along for the ride to Kamloopa, the largest powwow on the West Coast. This high energy Indigenous matriarchal story, written and directed by Kim Senklip Harvey, follows two urban Indigenous sisters and a lawless trickster who face the world head-on as they come to terms with what it means to honour who they are and where they come from. thecultch.com SEPTEMBER 27–OCTOBER 6
Presentation House Theatre
LES BELLES-SOEURS
A deeply personal and darkly comic telling of the life of Simon Douglas, an Indigenous man born on a reserve in British Columbia in the 1970s and raised both on the reserve and in the city of Vancouver. Told entirely from a personal perspective, Tales of an Urban Indian conjures an array of characters that come in and out of Simon’s life as seen through Simon’s eyes. Sold out across Canada, this show is staged entirely on a moving transit bus—one ride you don’t want to miss! phtheatre.org
It’s 1960s Montreal, and working-class housewife Germaine Lauzon has won 1 million customer loyalty stamps. She needs to place the stamps in booklets in order to redeem them and invites her jealous family members and neighbours to come over for a stamp-pasting party. Within seconds, chaos ensues—the 15 women air old grievances aggressively, overshare shamelessly, and fantasize freely while secretly coveting Germaine’s precious
Gateway Theatre
Melissa Oei, France Perras, and Agnes Tong. Les Belles-Soeurs. Photo by David Cooper.
stamps. By Michel Tremblay and produced by Ruby Slippers Theatre. gatewaytheatre.com THROUGH OCTOBER 5
WTF–WHAT THE FUN! Vancouver TheatreSports League, The Improv Centre ™
With the aid of audience suggestions, WTF takes its inspiration from the quirky stories found in the weekly news and turns them into edgy comedy. We can all attest to seeing weird stories pop up in our news feeds. Who hasn’t felt the compulsion to open one to see if the headline is really true? The stories never turn out the way you expect them to, and that is part of their fascination. vtsl.com THROUGH OCTOBER 10
OK TINDER Vancouver TheatreSports™ League, The Improv Centre Join VTSL Wednesday nights as improvisers match up to turn the good, the bad, and the ludicrous of Vancouver’s dating scene into 60 minutes of sidesplitting laughter based on suggestions given by the audience. This show is NC17+. vtsl.com
THROUGH OCTOBER 11
MIXED IMPROV ARTS Vancouver TheatreSports™ League, The Improv Centre Are you ready to rumble? The gloves come off Thursday evenings as Vancouver TheatreSports turns The Improv Centre’s stage into a cage. In MIA, two improv directors go head-to-head as they put a team of improvisers through a set of grueling and hilarious improv formats. vtsl.com ONGOING
ROOKIE NIGHT Vancouver TheatreSports™ League, The Improv Centre Rookie Night puts young improvisers (all graduates of VTSL’s theatre school) to the test in front of a live audience. These are the improv stars of tomorrow. vtsl.com V IS U A L A RT S
THROUGH SEPTEMBER 30
CABIN FEVER Vancouver Art Gallery Cabin Fever offers a historical and cultural survey of the cabin in North America. The title of the exhibition draws from the
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c a l e n d a r sep t em b er idiomatic term for an anxious state of mind resulting from a prolonged stay in a remote or confined place. But it also plays upon the more benign definition of “fever”: a contagious, usually transient enthusiasm. The exhibition explores three main themes—shelter, utopia, and porn—each of which speaks to a critical cultural movement within the evolution of the cabin. vanartgallery.bc.ca THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16
JENEEN FREI NJOOTLI: MY AUNTIE BOUGHT ALL HER SKIDOOS WITH BEAD MONEY Contemporary Art Gallery Jeneen Frei Njootli’s solo exhibition, my auntie bought all her skidoos with bead money, speaks to refusals, belongings, loss, and love, through a new and deeply personal body of work. Its propellant is a series of cultural belongings which are not, in fact, on view: hand-sewn beadwork gifted to Frei Njootli by the women of her family. contemporaryartgallery.ca THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16
CHANNA HORWITZ: PROGRESSIONS AND RHYTHMS IN EIGHT Contemporary Art Gallery The Contemporary Art Gallery presents the first exhibition in Canada of work by Channa Horwitz (1932–2013). Comprising an overview of the artist’s practice, the exhibition includes drawings, artist’s books, and archival materials selected from the major bodies of work produced since 1964. contemporaryartgallery.ca THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16
ANDI ICAZA-LARGAESPADA: (UNTITLED) A MOUNTAIN BOUGHT BUT NOT YET NAMED Contemporary Art Gallery Andi Icaza-Largaespada is the winner of the second CAG Prize for an emerging artist selected from the graduating class of the BFA program at the School for the Contemporary Arts at SFU. A new speculative photographic panorama is presented across the gallery’s Nelson Street façade. Raising questions surrounding ethics and ecology, the image grows out of recent research into Nicaragua’s rapidly expanding mining industry and its connection to Vancouver’s own history of resource extraction, occupation, and expansion. contemporaryartgallery.ca
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THROUGH OCTOBER 28
KEVIN SCHMIDT: WE ARE THE ROBOTS Vancouver Art Gallery Kevin Schmidt is a British Columbia– based artist whose multidisciplinary practice embodies the do-it-yourself (DIY) sensibilities of an amateur inventor. The exhibition takes a focus from Schmidt’s DIY Hifi (2014), which presents an audiophile listening room featuring gigantic stereo speakers, a kit tube amp, and furniture built by Schmidt himself, based on plans posted by online audiophile enthusuasts and published in DIY manuals. vanartgallery.bc.ca
THROUGH OCTOBER 28
AYUMI GOTO AND PETER MORIN: HOW DO YOU CARRY THE LAND? Vancouver Art Gallery Ayumi Goto and Peter Morin: how do you carry the land? is a dialogue between two artists and begins with their respective positions as a Japanese diasporic woman and a Tahltan First Nation man, reflecting on the ways in which their bodies and experiences are inscribed by colonialism. Grounded in explorations related to the land, Goto and Morin ask how cultural knowledge and history inform the human experience of place and our perceptions of others. vanartgallery.bc.ca SEPTEMBER 22–MARCH 17
A CURATOR’S VIEW: IAN THOM SELECTS Vancouver Art Gallery A Curator’s View: Ian Thom Selects unites historical and contemporary works as selected by Ian M. Thom. Over his 30-year tenure at the Gallery as Senior Curator, Thom has curated more than 80 exhibitions and stewarded hundreds of acquisitions. Deliberately personal, this exhibition focuses on one curator’s selection of highlights from the more than 12,000 works in the Gallery’s collection, offering an individual take on what is important in the Gallery’s holdings and why. vanartgallery.bc.ca
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FEATURED SHOW: QUARTETTI–A FESTIVAL OF STRING QUARTETS Seven world-class string quartets from Canada, the U.S., and Italy take the stage for Quartetti—Black Dog String Quartet (Vancouver), Quatuor Bozzini (Montreal), JACK Quartet (U.S.), Quartetto Maurice (Italy), Mivos Quartet (U.S.), Quartetto Noûs (Italy), and Penderecki String Quartet (KitchenerWaterloo). Don’t miss this rare opportunity to spend three nights immersed in music performed by these exceptional artists.
OCTOBER 18–20
QUARTETTI– A FESTIVAL OF STRING QUARTETS VANCOUVER NEW MUSIC
Vancouver New Music, Annex newmusic.org JACK Quartet. Photo by Shervin Lainez.
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M U SI C
D AN C E
TH EATR E
VISUAL ART S
vancouver ARTS GUIDE OCTOBER 6
OCTOBER 12 & 13
80s REWIND
OKTOBERFEST
SWING DANCE NIGHT WITH THE BRUCE JAMES ORCHESTRA
Evergreen Cultural Centre
Evergreen Cultural Centre
Trumpet player extraordinaire and recipient of the Order of Canada, Jens Lindemann teams up with the Bergmanns in this special celebration Oktoberfest concert featuring works by Strauss, Bach, Weill, Gershwin, Brubeck, and much more. evergreenculturalcentre.ca
The Bruce James Orchestra has a long history of providing exceptional big band, jazz, and dance band music in the area and has been performing all over the Lower Mainland since 1999. This evening features big-band music and includes a dance lesson before the show. What a great night out!
M US IC
OCTOBER 3
OCTOBER 3
HERB ALPERT AND LANI HALL Kay Meek Arts Centre Kay Meek Arts Centre’s Amplify Series kicks off with none other than the legendary trumpet player Herb Alpert and his wife Lani Hall. “Herb Alpert is a cocktail party of a canon, what with the trumpet and horns of Tijuana Taxi, the peppy joy of Taste of Honey” (The Seattle Times). kaymeek.com OCTOBER 5
RUSSIAN GAMES Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre A celebration of Russian art and artists kicks off the Inside the Symphony series. This all-Russian concert features great conductor Rossen Milanov, celebrated cellist Yegor Dyachkov, and the passionate music of Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and Shchedrin, including Tchaikovsky’s beautiful Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra. vancouversymphony.ca
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evergreenculturalcentre.ca
OCTOBER 9
EVGENY KISSIN, PIANO Vancouver Recital Society, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts Evgeny Kissin’s genius was discovered in his first solo debut in Moscow at the age of 12. He is still in constant demand, selling out major concert halls around the world. His musicality and extraordinary virtuosity have earned him the kind of veneration and admiration reserved for only the most gifted classical pianists. Vancouver Recital Society is thrilled to present Kissin on one of his infrequent visits to the West Coast. vanrecital.com OCTOBER 11
A BRITISH SERENADE Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre VSO Concertmaster Nicholas Wright takes a solo turn with The Lark Ascending, in a concert that features the proud British classical music traditions of Elgar, Vaughan Williams, and Gustav Holst. vancouversymphony.ca
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go! It’s time to go Back to the Future and rediscover The Power of Love in this totally awesome tribute to the ‘80s. Dig out your acid wash jeans and join the VSO to hear amazing arrangements of music by Robert Palmer, Michael Jackson, George Michael, Huey Lewis and the News, Tears for Fears, and even a couple of famous John Williams soundtracks. vancouversymphony.ca OCTOBER 14
50 YEARS OF AL SIMMONS Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Orpheum Theatre Beloved children’s entertainer and master of all things wacky, Al Simmons celebrates his 50 years of musical misadventures! vancouversymphony.ca
OCTOBER 14
JERUSALEM QUARTET WITH PINCHAS ZUKERMAN, VIOLA AND AMANDA FORSYTH, CELLO Vancouver Recital Society, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts Three celebrated string sextets plus six incredible musicians equal a wondrous afternoon of music and music-making! The Jerusalem Quartet is regarded as one of the foremost ensembles in the world today. Pinchas Zukerman is equally respected as a violinist, violist, conductor, pedagogue, and chamber musician. Amanda Forsyth was principal cellist of the NAC
Orchestra, which she left in 2015 to pursue her solo and chamber music career. vanrecital.com OCTOBER 14
PACIFICA QUARTET Friends of Chamber Music, Vancouver Playhouse Recognized for its virtuosity, exuberant performance style, and adventurous repertory choices, the Pacifica Quartet has received international recognition as one of the finest chamber ensembles performing today. The group is acclaimed for its stamina in performing and recording string quartet cycles, including the Shostakovich and Carter cycles. In this concert, the ensemble plays music by 20 th-century master György Ligeti along with Beethoven and Mendelssohn selections. friendsofchambermusic.ca
OCTOBER 18–20
QUARTETTI–A FESTIVAL OF STRING QUARTETS Vancouver New Music, Annex Seven world-class string quartets from Canada, the U.S., and Italy take the stage for Quartetti— Black Dog String Quartet (Vancouver), Quatuor Bozzini (Montreal), JACK Quartet (U.S.), Quartetto Maurice (Italy), Mivos Quartet (U.S.), Quartetto Noûs (Italy), and Penderecki String Quartet (Kitchener-Waterloo). Don’t miss this rare opportunity to spend three nights immersed in music performed by these exceptional artists. newmusic.org Download the Artslandia App
OCTOBER 20, 25, 27 & 28
THE MERRY WIDOW VANCOUVER OPERA
FEATURED SHOW: THE MERRY WIDOW Get ready to indulge in the Viennese torte known as Franz Lehár’s comedic operetta The Merry Widow (Die Lustige Witwe) in this wonderfully lavish art nouveau production directed by Canadian Kelly Robinson. The story unfolds on a stage packed with elegant ladies, eligible bachelors, and Maxim’s famous can-can dancers. Franz Lehár’s charming score, last performed at VO in 1990, is filled with lush waltzes and ballads. Vancouver Opera, Queen Elizabeth Theatre vancouveropera.ca The Merry Widow (Michigan, 2015). Photo by John Grigaitis.
calendar october OCTOBER 18 & 19
OCTOBER 21
OCTOBER 27
MARC ATKINSON TRIO WITH CAMERON WILSON
JULIA BULLOCK, SOPRANO & JOHN ARIDA, PIANO
QUEEN OF THE NIGHT GALA
Kay Meek Arts Centre
Vancouver Recital Society, Vancouver Playhouse
Melodically captivating, sensually charged, and ferociously, technically awe-inspiring—the music of the Marc Atkinson Trio welcomes audiences to enjoy an intriguing, exhilarating, and unforgettable ride. kaymeek.com OCTOBER 19 & 20
BRAHMS VIOLIN CONCERTO Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Chan Centre for the Performing Arts A favourite of Vancouver audiences, renowned violinist Karen Gomyo performs the rich, grand, and lyrical Violin Concerto by Johannes Brahms, Schumann’s beautiful Spring Symphony, and the gossamer music of Mendelssohn’s fairy tale The Fair Melusina round out this brilliant classical opening to the Classical Traditions series at the Chan Centre. vancouversymphony.ca OCTOBER 20, 25, 27 & 28
THE MERRY WIDOW Vancouver Opera, Queen Elizabeth Theatre Get ready to indulge in the Viennese torte known as Franz Lehár’s comedic operetta The Merry Widow (Die Lustige Witwe) in this wonderfully lavish art nouveau production directed by Canadian Kelly Robinson. The story unfolds on a stage packed with elegant ladies, eligible bachelors, and Maxim’s famous can-can dancers. Franz Lehár’s charming score, last performed at VO in 1990, is filled with lush waltzes and ballads. vancouveropera.ca
OCTOBER 21
CANADIAN GUITAR QUARTET Evergreen Cultural Centre Since its debut in 1999, the Canadian Guitar Quartet has toured extensively in North and South America, from one standing ovation to the next, establishing a reputation as one of the finest guitar ensembles in the world. The CGQ has appeared with orchestras across Canada. evergreenculturalcentre.ca
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American soprano Julia Bullock has been hailed as an “impressive fast-rising soprano poised for a significant career” (The New York Times). Equally at home in recital and concert repertoire, she captivates audiences with her versatile artistry and commanding stage presence. vanrecital.com OCTOBER 23
HAN FINCKEL SETZER TRIO Friends of Chamber Music, Vancouver Playhouse This returning ‘supergroup’ includes both artistic directors of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center (Han and Finckel) and current and former members of the Emerson String Quartet (Setzer and Finckel). The trio plays early music by Beethoven, Schubert’s sunny work, and the dark, passionate, and ironic music of Shostakovich. friendsofchambermusic.ca
OCTOBER 25
KRYSTLE DOS SANTOS Shadbolt Centre for the Arts Krystle Dos Santos is an accomplished singer/songwriter and performer. From singing onstage with Stevie Wonder to performances in Dreamgirls the musical and her original productions, Dos Santos brings her eclectic style, powerful vocal prowess, and magnetic charm to every performance she delivers.
Laudate Singers, Seymour Golf & Country Club Join Laudate Singers for their annual gala evening of music, dinner, and silent auction at North Vancouver’s beautiful Seymour Golf & Country Club. Come as you are, wear a full costume, or dress for a night at the opera. There will be prizes for best costume! Each ticket includes Champagne (or your favourite non-Champagne drink option) to sip on as the evening’s drama unfolds. laudatesingers.com
OCTOBER 28
IAN PARKER: SOLO VARIATIONS Kay Meek Arts Centre Concluding his fall tour at the Kay Meek Arts Centre, acclaimed pianist Ian Parker explores variations on melodic themes and conventions of the times. Featuring works by Haydn, Brahms, Lizst, Gershwin, and Beethoven’s incredibly popular Moonlight Sonata. kaymeek.com D A NC E
OCTOBER 3–6
AM A Shadbolt Centre for the Arts How do we change our brains? And if we change, how far can we go? Amber Funk Barton and Mindy Parfitt examine identity through the lens of neuroplasticity. Using personal text, scientific writing, song, and dance, they
move beyond confessional narrative into personal experiment by performing in mediums new to them. The production is a celebration of being human, of daring to succeed, of daring to fail. Come for the show—stay for the party! tickets.shadboltcentre.com OCTOBER 4
COMPANY 605 — DISCOVER DANCE! SERIES The Dance Centre Company 605 fuses contemporary and urban styles to make athletic, physically demanding works that test the limits of their virtuosic performers. This presentation offers a sneak peek at their hotly anticipated new ensemble work, plus an excerpt from Albatross, a powerful duet created in collaboration with Brussels-based choreographer German Jauregui. thedancecentre.ca OCTOBER 16
BALLET KELOWNA: A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE Kay Meek Arts Centre In celebration of Ballet Kelowna’s 15th anniversary season, the company presents its first full-length ballet, A Streetcar Named Desire, by renowned Canadian choreographer John Alleyne. kaymeek.com OCTOBER 26 & 27
COMPANY WANG RAMIREZ (FRANCE): BORDERLINE DanceHouse, Vancouver Playhouse Gravity turns elastic in Wang Ramirez’s sensational new work >>> Continued on page 23
tickets.shadboltcentre.com
OCTOBER 26
RUTHIE FOSTER Kay Meek Arts Centre Ruthie Foster brings her vocal talent to the Kay Meek stage. Drawing influences from legendary acts like Mavis Staples and Aretha Franklin, Foster has a unique sound that is undefined by a single genre. That uniqueness echoes a common theme in Foster’s life and career—marching to the beat of her own drum. kaymeek.com
Herb Alpert. Photo by Dewey Nicks.
OCTOBER 21
JULIA BULLOCK, SOPRANO
VANCOUVER RECITAL SOCIETY
FEATURED SHOW: JULIA BULLOCK, SOPRANO & JOHN ARIDA, PIANO American soprano Julia Bullock has been hailed as an “impressive fast-rising soprano poised for a significant career” (The New York Times). Equally at home in recital and concert repertoire, she captivates audiences with her versatile artistry and commanding stage presence. Vancouver Recital Society, Vancouver Playhouse vanrecital.com Photo by Christian Steiner. ARTSLANDIA.COM
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OCTOBER 26
RUTHIE FOSTER KAY MEEK ARTS CENTRE
FEATURED SHOW: RUTHIE FOSTER brings her vocal talent to the Kay Meek stage. Drawing influences from legendary acts like Mavis Staples and Aretha Franklin, Foster has a unique sound that is undefined by a single genre. That uniqueness echoes a common theme in Foster’s life and career—marching to the beat of her own drum. Kay Meek Arts Centre kaymeek.com Photo by Riccardo Piccirillo.
oct ob er calendar
Borderline that combines B-boy dance battles with the soaring movement of Wuxia martial arts to trace a line between chaos and control. Fueled by the performers’ stunning technical skill and composer Jean-Philippe Barrios’ (lacrymoboy) score, choreographic duo Sébastien Ramirez and Honji Wang fluidly blend contemporary dance with diasporic identity and blunt social commentary to carve out new territory in the interstitial space between air and ground. dancehouse.ca
OCTOBER 26
SPIRIT OF HUNGARY Massey Theatre The Hungarian National Dance Ensemble, in its original form, was established in 1949 and has been touring the world with significant success. This North American tour is a special engagement to commemorate the 170 th
anniversary of the historic 1848 Hungarian Revolution against the Austrian Habsburg Empire: a presentation of authentic folklore in a dazzling performance. masseytheatre.com
OCTOBER 26 & 27
JULIANNE CHAPPLE: SUFFIX The Dance Centre Presented through the Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award, Julianne Chapple’s strikingly original work interweaves movement, sound, lighting, and film. Her first full-length ensemble work, Suffix is an immersive performance combining dance, sculptures, and video to explore the physical and spiritual effects of our rapidly changing technological landscape and touching on our deep-seated urges toward self-enhancement and immortality. thedancecentre.ca
T H E AT R E
OCTOBER 2–13
TESTOSTERONE The Cultch, York Theatre One year after his first injection of testosterone, trans man Kit is perceived completely as a man. However, with this triumph comes a crisis of masculinity; What kind of man is he? An epic coming-ofage quest for a masculine identity in an environment that affords little space to hide. A Rhum and Clay Theatre Company and Kit Redstone (UK) production. thecultch.com
OCTOBER 2–21
A VANCOUVER GULDASTA The Cultch, Culture Lab A Vancouver Guldasta focuses on the Dhaliwals—a Punjabi family in Vancouver in the early 1980s—as they navigate through the experience of trauma and violence
occurring in Punjab and their daughter’s complicated friendship with Andy, a Vietnamese refugee teen who lives in their basement. A Vancouver Guldasta is an examination of common experience, identifying home, and processing trauma. thecultch.com
OCTOBER 4
MURRAY HATFIELD AND TERESA: UNBELIEVABLE Evergreen Cultural Centre Murray Hatfield and Teresa first worked together in 1992, and the result was…magic! Since then, they have thrilled audiences in numerous countries on four continents with their signature brand of magic, comedy, and stunning, state-of-the-art illusions. Murray is a two-time Magician of the Year, and Teresa is a three-time Assistant of the Year. evergreenculturalcentre.ca
Program 1 Nov 1 2 3 Choreography Medhi Walerski—Petite Cérémonie Emily Molnar—New Work William Forsythe—Enemy in the Figure
Queen Elizabeth Theatre balletbc.com
Pl atinum season sPonsor
Performance SPonSorS
Community BalCony sponsor
Hotel SponSor
Support for Ballet BC haS Been generouSly provided By
dancer emily chessa. photo michael slobodian.
ARTSLANDIA.COM
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calendar october develops a serious medical condition, he becomes the one to rely on the people around him. As Jake’s condition worsens, an ethical dilemma troubles the household, as everyone is forced to consider the possibility of saying goodbye. Directed by Roy Surette. touchstonetheatre.com
discovering their identities as individuals and as a team. Who will come out on top? A guest production by With a Spoon Theatre in association with Rumble Theatre. Written by Sarah DeLappe. pacifictheatre.org
OCTOBER 17–20
The Cultch, Historic Theatre
I CAN’T REMEMBER THE WORD FOR… Shadbolt Centre for the Arts
THROUGH OCTOBER 5
THROUGH OCTOBER 10
WTF–WHAT THE FUN!
OK TINDER
Vancouver TheatreSports™ League, The Improv Centre
Vancouver TheatreSports™ League, The Improv Centre
SEE PAGE 15 for full description.
SEE PAGE 15 for full description.
A woman and her pre-sapien self ask an audience to help her remember what she was talking about and where she put those things she can’t remember. A one-woman powerhouse performance mining the missing files of memory, the boxes into which we misplace ourselves, and the fragile inexplicability of it all. A Tara Cheyenne Performance.
OCTOBER 5 & 6
OCTOBER 10–20
tickets.shadboltcentre.com
THE PIANO TEACHER
A BRIEF HISTORY OF HUMAN EXTINCTION
OCTOBER 18–20
The Cultch, Historic Theatre
Anvil Centre Theatre
Backbone, Gravity & Other Myths (Australia). Photo by Darcy Grant/Carnival Cinema.
Kay Meek Arts Centre Erin, a concert pianist, hasn’t touched a piano since her husband died. As Elaine, a piano teacher, gently reacquaints Erin with her instrument, other life changes follow. A moving story on lessons of love, loss, and life. Written by Dorothy Dittrich. An Arts Club On Tour production. kaymeek.com
OCTOBER 9–13
BABY SITTER Théâtre La Seizième, Studio 16 Inspired by current events, Baby Sitter is an outrageous and darkly hilarious comedy that cuts to the heart of feminism and all the confusion that surrounds it. While intelligently echoing the concerns of the #MeToo movement, the play also shakes up male-female relationships, asking: What are the limits of freedom of expression? And how do we deal with the labels that society imposes on us? seizieme.ca OCTOBER 9–31
SPOOKTOBER Vancouver TheatreSports™ League, The Improv Centre At least four different improv shows, all with a spooky theme to celebrate Halloween. vtsl.com 24
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2178. A creeping fungal plague has rendered the surface of the planet uninhabitable. Trapped inside a retrofitted scientific facility, the last woman, man (and otter) on Earth prepare for the launch of a ship that will carry our planet’s genetic legacy to a new home. With the fate of humanity in the balance and tensions mounting, a series of strange occurrences reveal a terrifying possibility: There’s something alive outside the facility, and it would very much like to come in. thecultch.com
THROUGH OCTOBER 11
MIXED IMPROV ARTS Vancouver TheatreSports™ League, The Improv Centre SEE PAGE 15 for full description.
OCTOBER 13–27
KILL ME NOW
ARSENIC AND OLD LACE A classic black-comedy and a Broadway hit! Bodies all over the place, the Panama Canal being dug in the basement, a nephew who thinks he’s Teddy Roosevelt, and a cop who wants to be a playwright—just a few of the zany happenings in this perfect Halloween treat. A Royal Canadian Theatre Company presentation. anvilcentre.com OCTOBER 18–28
SO, HOW SHOULD I BE? Presentation House Theatre Angie (Orange) has a secret. She has learned how to make herself lighter, even float. What happens when she ends up leaving Earth and floats into outer space? Can she survive? An exploration of the impact that social and mass media, community, friends, and family have on our body image.
Touchstone Theatre, Firehall Arts Centre
phtheatre.org
Kill Me Now is a frank, fearless, and ferociously funny awardwinning play by Brad Fraser. Jake is a single dad and cares for his teen son Joey who has a severe disability. Handling Joey’s puberty is hard enough, but when Jake
THE WOLVES
OCTOBER 19–NOVEMBER 10
Pacific Theatre A pack of teenage girls prepares for battle on the soccer field. In the exhilaration of adolescence, they grapple with everything from pop culture to politics,
OCTOBER 24–NOVEMBER 3
THE ONES WE LEAVE BEHIND Abby Chung, an investigator for the Public Trustee, is assigned her first case: to find the next-of-kin for Beatrice, an elderly woman who has died without any family or friends to claim her. As Abby uncovers more details of Beatrice’s lonely life, she is forced to face the mystery of her own life. A Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre production. thecultch.com OCTOBER 30
THE PIANO TEACHER Anvil Centre Theatre Erin, a concert pianist, hasn’t touched a piano since her husband died. As Elaine, a piano teacher, gently reacquaints Erin with her instrument, other life changes follow. A simple update to Erin’s home, for instance, brings the unexpected companionship of a contractor, Tom. An Arts Club On Tour production. anvilcentre.com OCTOBER 30–NOVEMBER 4
BACKBONE The Cultch, Vancouver Playhouse From the company that brought us 2015’s hit A Simple Space, Gravity & Other Myth’s (Australia) Backbone (literally) tosses around the perception of what strength is, where it comes from, and how it is measured. This international circus hit is a frenetic celebration of human interconnectedness that tests the limits of strength: physical, emotional, individual, and collective. thecultch.com OCTOBER 30–NOVEMBER 10
THE BELIEVERS ARE BUT BROTHERS The Cultch, Culture Lab We live in a time where old orders are collapsing: from the postcolonial nation-states of the Middle East to the EU and the American election. Amid this, a generation of young men finds
OCTOBER 26 & 27
COMPANY WANG RAMIREZ (FRANCE) DANCEHOUSE
FEATURED SHOW: COMPANY WANG RAMIREZ (FRANCE): BORDERLINE Gravity turns elastic in Wang Ramirez’s sensational new work Borderline that combines B-boy dance battles with the soaring movement of Wuxia martial arts to trace a line between chaos and control. Fueled by the performers’ stunning technical skill and composer Jean-Philippe Barrios’ (lacrymoboy) score, choreographic duo Sébastien Ramirez and Honji Wang fluidly blend contemporary dance with diasporic identity and blunt social commentary to carve out new territory in the interstitial space between air and ground. DanceHouse, Vancouver Playhouse dancehouse.ca Photo by Frank Szafinski.
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calendar october themselves burning with resentment, without the money, power, and sex they think they deserve. This bold one-man show explores the smoke and mirrors world of online extremism, anonymity, and hate speech. thecultch.com
ONGOING
ROOKIE NIGHT Vancouver TheatreSports League, The Improv Centre ™
SEPTEMBER 22–MARCH 17
OCTOBER 13–JANUARY 20
OCTOBER 27–FEBRUARY 3
A CURATOR’S VIEW: IAN THOM SELECTS
GUO PEI: COUTURE BEYOND
DANA CLAXTON: FRINGING THE CUBE
Vancouver Art Gallery
Guo Pei: Couture Beyond is the first Canadian exhibition devoted to the work of Guo Pei, China’s preeminent couturière. This mid-career survey features more than 40 complete looks from Guo Pei’s most iconic runways from 2006 to 2017. In her theatrical, extravagant creations, Guo Pei combines contemporary aesthetics, production methods, and materials with ancient tradition, evoking Chinese history and mythology in her craft techniques, fabric selection, and imagery. The exhibition provides a comprehensive overview of her evolution as a designer as well as her contribution to global fashion culture. vanartgallery.bc.ca
Vancouver Art Gallery
SEE PAGE 16 for full description.
OCTOBER 13
SPLASH: ART AUCTION & GALA Arts Umbrella, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
Vancouver Art Gallery
Experience the power of creativity at Splash—Arts Umbrella’s signature fundraising event. Share in the magic of Arts Umbrella and enjoy a spectacular evening featuring works from close to 100 prominent artists, inspiring student performances and, most importantly, you!
SEE PAGE 16 for full description.
artsumbrella.com/splash
SEE PAGE 15 for full description. V IS U A L A RT S
THROUGH OCTOBER 28
KEVIN SCHMIDT: WE ARE THE ROBOTS THROUGH OCTOBER 28
AYUMI GOTO AND PETER MORIN: HOW DO YOU CARRY THE LAND?
Vancouver Art Gallery The first exhibition to survey the formidable career of Vancouverbased Hunkpapa Lakota (Sioux) artist Dana Claxton. Known for her expansive multidisciplinary approach to art making, Claxton investigates notions of Indigenous identity, beauty, gender, and the body. Comprising photography, video, text-based work, and documentation of her performances, Dana Claxton: Fringing the Cube presents a body of work that is both visually compelling and thought provoking. vanartgallery.bc.ca
Download the Artslandia App to have all these listings in the palm of your hand.
Vancouver Art Gallery SEE PAGE 16 for full description.
Inspiring classes for kids and teens: VISUAL ARTS | DANCE | THEATRE
TAKE YOUR CREATIVITY
FURTHER REGISTER TODAY! Fall session starts September 15
artsumbrella.com
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With patisseries in Victoria, Kitsilano, and Granville Island, Bon Macaron is devoted to the creation of France’s most fun and elegant dessert: the macaron. Owned by David Boetti & Yann Fougère, both originally from France, Bon Macaron opened its doors in 2012. With over 50 flavours ranging from the traditional to the most creative sweet & savoury, everyone will find something to their taste! All macarons are naturally gluten-free; some dairy-free options as well.
VICTORIA
1012 Broad St Victoria, BC 778.265.0850
KITSILANO
2823 W. Broadway Vancouver, BC 778.379.6065
GRANVILLE ISLAND
545-1689 Johnston St. Vancouver, BC 778.379.6065
t i t l e category
OCTOBER 13–27
KILL ME NOW TOUCHSTONE THEATRE
FEATURED SHOW: KILL ME NOW is a frank, fearless, and ferociously funny award-winning play by Brad Fraser. Jake is a single dad and cares for his teen son Joey who has a severe disability. Handling Joey’s puberty is hard enough, but when Jake develops a serious medical condition, he becomes the one to rely on the people around him. As Jake’s condition worsens, an ethical dilemma troubles the household, as everyone is forced to consider the possibility of saying goodbye. Directed by Roy Surette. Touchstone Theatre, Firehall Arts Centre touchstonetheatre.com
Brad Fraser, playwright. Photo by David Hawe. ARTSLANDIA.COM
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SEEN on the scene
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Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards view more photos at A R T S L A N D I A . C O M
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4
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ARTSLANDIA.COM
5
3
BEST
1
JACKY YENGA ESSOMBE AND MARIAM BARRY.
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GENEVIEVE FLEMING (Ray Michal
dressed
Prize for Most Promising New Director)
WITH CAMERON MACKENZIE (Isolde N. Barron). 3
LAUREN JACKSON AND MARKIAN TARASIUK.
4
CHRIS FRANCISQUE, OMARI NEWTON (Outstanding Performance by an Actor, Small Theatre, for SpeakEasy Theatre’s The Shipment ), KIOMI PYKE, ADRIAN
NEBLETT AND ANDREW CREIGHTNEY. 5
TETSURO SHIGEMATSU AND SUSAN MIYAGISHIMA (Outstanding Technical Design and Execution for the Purpose of Historical Storytelling for Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre’s 1 Hour Photo).
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EMILIE LECLERC AND LUCIA FRANGIONE (Outstanding Performance by an Actress, Large Theatre, for Arts Club Theatre Company’s Misery). Photos by Rob Trendiak and Flora Gordon.
WHAT’S the
word
We had a fantastic night celebrating Vancouver’s enthusiastic theatre community. Congrats to all of the nominees and winners!
@cavecanemprod #jessieawards #jessieawards2018 #yvrtheatre #theatre
I was beyond happy for @miss.oei and thrilled to be with her that evening to witness the love from her friends and colleagues.
@chadkerychuk #Jessie Awards #bigsmiles #proudboyfriend
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t o p 1 0 h a p p y h o urs
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TOP 10 HAPPY HOURS NEAR VANCOUVER CIVIC THEATRES
CHAMBAR RESTAURANT Cocktail
aficionados will taste notes of history in these inventive libations inspired by the past, from Anne Bronte to World War II. The restaurant’s mascot, the peacock, ensures visionary, integrity-focused, and award- winning refreshments.
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TUC CRAFT KITCHEN Cozy up to this
1867 vintage cocktail bar that originates from the first saloon in the city. With a date and a drink, turn this atmosphere into an intimate night, paying homage to the neighborhood’s sawmill history.
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YEW SEAFOOD + BAR Relax by the
fireplace in this award-winning Downtown staple that offers sustainable seafood. YEW boasts an array of playful and sophisticated drinks from diverse experiences in mixology.
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791 W GEORGIA ST, VANCOUVER, BC (604) 692-4939 // YEWSEAFOOD.COM
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PiDGiN Consider yourself a pioneer of
the restaurant game? Stay ahead at this innovative establishment, interweaving various philosophies from Japanese, Korean, and French cuisine, creating fun purple unicorn libations amongst equally detailed and culturally balanced décor.
L’ABATTOIR For upscale dining without
fanfare, head to this swanky, modern bar with geometric designs juxtaposed with warm wood tabletops. Sip seductive cocktails and savour French West Coast cuisine in what was the city’s first jail. 217 CARRALL ST, VANCOUVER, BC (604) 568-1701 // LABATTOIR.CA
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Before your main show, grab a drink. With a classic cocktail menu and pre-entertainment from the baby grand on Tuesdays or live DJ other evenings, this award-winning, art deco restaurant serves up prime grade Alberta beef.
NOTCH8 Plan your next date night at this
contemporary luxury hotel along the historic Canadian Pacific Railway. Choose from their mood-organized cocktail graph and set the right atmosphere for the perfect night out. 900 W GEORGIA ST, VANCOUVER, BC (604) 662-1900 // NOTCH8-DINING.COM
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ROYAL DINETTE Enjoy a drink from
award-winning Bar Manager, Kaitlyn Stewart, at this laidback yet elegant establishment. Dedicated to creating quality farm-to-table cuisine with artisanal, locally sourced ingredients. 905 DUNSMUIR ST, VANCOUVER, BC (604) 974-8077 // ROYALDINETTE.CA
350 CARRALL ST, VANCOUVER, BC (604) 620-9400 // PIDGINVANCOUVER.COM
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GOTHAM STEAKHOUSE & BAR
615 SEYMOUR ST, VANCOUVER, BC (604) 605-8282 // GOTHAMSTEAKHOUSE.COM
60 W CORDOVA ST, VANCOUVER, BC (604) 559-8999 // TUCCRAFTKITCHEN.COM
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down to this marbled-top bar, featuring behind-the-scenes looks of the culinary action. Peruse an extensive menu of light to serious comfort food, plus daring spirits with pineapple, cinnamon, egg whites, or gin. 898 HOMER ST, VANCOUVER, BC (604) 428-4299 // HOMERSTREETCAFEBAR.COM
568 BEATTY ST, VANCOUVER, BC (604) 879-7119 // CHAMBAR.COM
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HOMER ST. CAFÉ AND BAR Hunker
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UVA WINE & COCKTAIL BAR Find the
city’s top epicures nestled in this Italian lounge. Savour seasonal hard-to-find wine and spirits that are handcrafted by an internationally award-winning bar manager. Endless accolades for best happy hour, lounge food, cocktails, and more. 900 SEYMOUR ST, VANCOUVER, BC (604) 632-9560 // UVAVANCOUVER.COM
1: Ema Peter’s Photography. 2: Sammy Yoon. 3: David Q. 4: PiDGin. 5: Wynne Lee. 6: Adam Burton-Antonius. 7: Gabriel C. 8: Debra Renick. 9: Phil Gissen. 10: Allison Kuhl.
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