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Gift of Entertainment
Early Music VancouVEr
Three spectacular performances:
The Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir presents
Festive Bach Cantatas for Christmas
Bach
Wednesday evening, 22 December 2010 at 8:00 pm
–h–
J.S. Bach’s “St. John Passion” Monday evening, 21 March 2011 at 8:00 pm
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& Handel
G.F. Handel’s “Acis and Galatea” – a fully staged performance – Sunday matinée, 27 March 2011 at 3:00 pm
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Presenting Sponsor for the Festive Bach Cantatas:
at the Chan
For complete details:
www.earlymusic.bc.ca
Friday, December 3 ~ 7:30
Sunday, December 5 ~ 2:30
White Rock Baptist Church 1657 140th Street, Surrey $25 regular / $22 senior/student
with Winter Harp Massey Theatre 735 8th Ave, New Westminster $22 / $25 / $30 reserved seating
Sunday, December 11 ~ 8:00
Thursday, December 16 ~ 8:00
Shaughnessy Heights United 1550 W.33rd Ave, Vancouver $25 regular / $22 senior/student
St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church 1022 Nelson St (at Burrard), Vancouver $25 regular / $22 senior/student
BUY TICKETS on line at www.vwmc.ca or telephone the Choir at 604-878-1190 Tickets for December 5th also available at masseytheatre.com
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Va n c o uve r Co u r i e r friday, november 12, 2010
Gift of Entertainment
Your hot ticket guide
ballet bc performing the nutcracker. photo by drew myers.
by Helen K. Peterson
T
ime to think about stuffing their stockings with “live” cheer. The Vancouver Courier’s Gift of Entertainment guide offers up a multitude of seasonal specials and sensational showstoppers, with excellent performances in store that you won’t want to miss! Vancouver’s arts groups also need your support and appreciation to drive their success throughout the year, so make the gift of a show or two your priority this holiday season. The Vancouver arts community thanks you! Check out this exciting lineup:
Capture the Classics Every second month on Fridays at 8 pm, Vetta Chamber Music serves up one of its acclaimed concert performances. Nov. 26 features The Vetta String Quartet. Yes, the new Vetta String Quartet is back! Repertoire includes Scott Goode, Borodin and Beethoven Rasumovsky
No. 1 in F major. The Chamber Music quad includes Joan Blackman and Jennie Press on violin, David Harding on viola and Joseph Elworthy on cello. Look forward to the Horn Trio Plus concert in January, 2011. The new year promises even more beautiful chamber music offerings.
Get in the spirit! The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra concerts in the thrilling 2010/2011 season are on sale, and the new season included world-renowned guest artists such as Anne-Sophie Mutter, Pinchas Zukerman, Chantal Kreviazuk, Sarah Chang, James Ehnes, John McDermott, Louis Lortie, Alexander Gavrylyuk, and more. Don’t miss Music Director Bramwell Tovey conducting the VSO in concerts featuring diverse musical styles sure to appeal to every audience – even children and families. New this season: buy online and print your tickets at home! Bonus gift idea: Pick up a CD of Chopin: Piano Concertos, featuring famed pianist Janina Fialkowska and the VSO under the baton of Bramwell Tovey. For details and to order your copy, go to the website: www. vancouversymphony.ca.
Wrap up the symphony for the perfect holiday Gift!
The Symphony
Sampler!
99
$
Give the Gift of music for as little as $99. a customizable ticket package makes the perfect gift: choose from a wide range of specially-selected concerts, with choices ranging from the great classics to jazz, Broadway, and more. Go beyond regular gifts and treat the people on your list to an frOM as lOw as experience they will always remember.
4 tickets
media partner
order online at www.vancouversymphony.ca/sampler or call
604.876.3434
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Gift of Entertainment
MAGNIFICAT!
A Festive 40th Anniversary Christmas
8pm • Friday, December 3, 2010 Orpheum Theatre Seussical The Musical, Carousel Theatre, 2008. Photo by Tim Matheson
Early Music Vancouver performs at Unity Church in Vancouver. Nov. 28 at 3 pm it’s La Rose Tres Bele: Women’s Voices: Monody & Polyphony by 13thCentury Women Trouvères. Among the 250 well-known trouvères, only eight women have written poems accompanied by melodies. The French medieval ensemble Diabolus in Musica makes its first appearance in Vancouver with a programme that explores all aspects of the feminine presence in this magnificent repertoire. Don’t be late getting your tickets for Early Music!
Navas is much in demand on the international scene for his audacious and striking group pieces. “Face to Face” is a Vancouver premiere choreographed by Kevin O’Day.
Chatman’s Magnificat, an earlier rendition of the Magnificat by Vivaldi, a new orchestral version of Jon Washburn’s A Silver Christmas, and a rousing carol sing with former singers of the last 40 years. Meet composer Stephen Chatman at a pre-concert talk at 7pm.
604.280.3311
www.vancouverchamberchoir.com
Dance on Air Ballet BC is launching a world premiere Nov. 18 to 20 entitled Songs of a Wayfarer and Other Works. A powerful new work for 10 dancers, choreographer and Ballet BC Artistic Director Emily Molnar brings a new vision to the familiar and hauntingly beautiful music of Mahler’s first song cycle. Plus, “the bliss that from their limbs all movement takes” is choreographed by Jose Navas, with music collaborrated by Philip Glass and Ravi Shankar from Passages. Born in Venezuela, Quebec-based choreographer José
Vancouver Chamber Choir with guests Pacifica Singers, Martha Guth, soprano, and the Vancouver Chamber Orchestra present the world premiere of Stephen
Johannes Moser, VSO Guest cellist in stravinsky’s firebird sat. dec. 4 at the orpheum theatre.
continued next page
2120 West Broadway - 604 730 0880 Home-Style European Cuisine. Comfort food. Comforting Prices
$10 OFF
with the purchase of two dinner entrées or four starters. Not redeemable for cash. Not valid with any other offer. Expiry: November 28th, 2010.
Beef goulash, schnitzels, chicken Paprikash, cabbage rolls, perogies, lamb shank Ossobuco, homemade desserts, & more...
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Va n c o uve r Co u r i e r friday, november 12, 2010
Gift of Entertainment Embrace Choral Works
The Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir rings in the festive season with Let There Be Peace on Earth – Sounds of Christmas at Shaughnessy Heights United Church, Dec. 11 at 8 pm. The choir will also present this concert in downtown Vancouver on Dec. 16. The venue is the majestic St. Andrew’s Wesley United Church at 1022 Nelson Street (at Burrard). Celebrating their 30th year, the choir was formed in 1980 by a few enthusiastic members of the Vancouver Welsh Society, and the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir has grown to over one hundred singers from a variety of national and ethnic backgrounds. They offer an entertaining repertoire of traditional Welsh hymns and folk songs as well
as spirituals, opera choruses, and show tunes from around the world. Vancouver Bach Choir features Christmas with the Bach Choir on Dec. 5 at 2 pm, at the Orpheum Theatre. In this traditional Vancouver family concert, all the choirs in the Bach Choir organization, the Adult Choir, the Children’s Chorus and the Youth Choirs take to the stage, singing separately and together in a programme of Christmas music for choirs, organ and brass. Music Director Leslie Dala conducts Daniel Pinkham’s Christmas Cantata. On Dec. 11 at 8 pm, no Vancouver Christmas is complete without Handel’s Messiah, surely the most popular work of all time. This year the Bach Choir’s Messiah is conducted by Leslie Dala with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and superb Canadian soloists Allison Angelo, soprano; Lauren Segal, mezzo; Colin Ainsworth, tenor, and Alexander Dobson, bass. Vancouver Chamber Choir is abuzz with its debut of MAGNIFICAT! A Festive 40th Anniversary Christmas. On Dec. 3 at 8 pm at the Orpheum, join in the festivities of the choir’s gala 40th anniversary Christmas concert. One highlight will be the world premiére of Stephen Chatman’s Magnificat, written for this occasion and composed for soprano solo, choir and orchestra. They will also sing an earlier rendition of the Magnificat text by Antonio Vivaldi and a newly revised orchestral version of Jon Washburn’s “A Silver Christmas.” To close the evening, the present choir will be joined by former singers of the last 40 years for a rousing carol sing. Then from Dec. 17 to 19 catch A Dylan Thomas Family Christmas – A Child’s Christmas in Wales, at Ryerson United Church.
Sense the Theatre United Players is revving up with some good old-fashioned fare, including an offering Nov. 12 to Dec. 5 entitled Mrs. Klein, by Nicholas Wright. In 1934, the son of Britain’s most admired psychoanalyst, Melanie Klein, was reported killed in a climbing accident. There were no witnesses. Nicholas Wright’s play shows the effect of this shattering and unexpected death on Mrs. Klein,
actors (front to back) Alison raine, joan bryans, trina mcclure as Klein, Melitta and Paula in united players’ mrs. klein. photo by doug williams.
on her daughter and on her new assistant Paula, a young refugee from Hitler’s Berlin. Mr. Wright’s haunting and poignant study of mother-daughter relationships played at the Almeida Theatre, London, in 2009. All shows are at the Jericho Arts Centre.
Headlines Theatre pushes the envelope and asks the question: Who are ‘we’ and who are ‘they’? Fun, moving and gutsy – Us and Them (the inquiry) is a theatrical performance that invites audiences to participate, and explore how we are woven together. The plays are taking place at various venues across Metro Vancouver, including Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House. Runs to Nov. 28 and admission is by donation (be generous!). Go to the website for specific locations and dates.
A Perfect Holiday Gift
“Seasonal winner... a beautiful production” —jerry wasserman, the province
for lovers of good music
VETTA CHAMBER MUSIC
25th
ANNIVERSARY
Bob Frazer and Kirsten Robek. Photo by David Cooper
Gift Packages of 3 concerts for $75
January 14 – Horn Trio Plus March 4 – Piano Trios April 15 – 25th Anniversary Finale single tickets also available
Call 604-261-4417 or Email huttonmj@gmail ♦ ♦ ♦
Join Us for Our Next Concert
“The Vetta String Quartet”
STARTS THURSDAY!
GRANVILLE ISLAND STAGE
Scott Good ♦ Borodin ♦ Beethoven
November 26 at 8pm West Point Grey United Church 4595 West 8th Avenue (at Tolmie) Tickets $28/$23/$12
production sponsor
1-866-863-6250
or at the door
www.vettamusic.com
CHAMBER MUSIC
brief encounters is on stage at the playhouse this season. photo by alfred meikleham.
The Arts Club Theatre Company has perennial favourite, It’s a Wonderful Life, running Nov. 18 to Jan. 2, 2011. Based on the classic film by Frank Capra, this holiday heart-warmer says: “Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings,” as George Bailey’s guardian angel swoops in to remind him that faith, hope, and family, make life truly wonderful. From Nov. 25 to Dec. 26 at the Revue Stage, it’s The Patron Saint of Stanley Park by Hiro Kanagawa, starring Jillian Fargey, Brian Linds and Derek Metz. Irving Berlin’s White Christmas: The Musical takes the stage at the Stanley Theatre Dec. 4 to Jan. 2, 2011. Don’t miss out! Gateway Theatre in Richmond has Sexy Laundry, held over to Nov. 27 due to popular demand! You’ll be in for a few surprises as 25-years-married couple, Henry and
fri d ay, n o v e m b e r 1 2 , 2 0 1 0 T h e Va n c o uve r Co u r i e r
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Gift of Entertainment Alice, try to work out the “kinks” in their relationship. It’s a touching, laugh-out-loud comedy about an ordinary couple with a “less-than-ordinary” overnight bag. From Dec. 9 to 31 it’s a production of Annie, a favourite of kids, parents, dog lovers and optimists, Annie is the delightfully heart-warming story of a Depression-era orphan who finds happiness with a grouchy millionaire. Adorable orphans, a loveable stray, lots of great singing and dancing, and a happy ending for everyone – who could ask for more? The Vancouver Playhouse’s forties-era play, Brief Encounters, runs Nov. 27 to Dec. 23. Emma Rice’s concept shows off an impressive array of theatrical styles, technical effects and Noël Coward songs such as Mad About the Boy, World Weary, and No Good at Love. Switching seamlessly between theatre and film using a combination of Coward’s original stage play Still Life and the screenplay of the classic 1946 film, the Playhouse takes you back to a bygone age of romance and the silver screen. The lives and loves of three couples are played out in the famous station tearoom using the words and songs of Noël Coward, to create a breathtaking, delightfully funny and tear-inducing show. Carousel Theatre Company is feline friendly this season, because – the Cat is back! Carousel Theatre’s hit production returns after two sold-out runs. The hilarious musical, The Cat in the Hat, is based on the works of Dr. Seuss, and it will make everyone laugh and dance in their seats. With music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and some Eric Idle (of Monty Python fame) influence thrown in, the whole family will enjoy each lyrical moment, an experience not to be forgotten. Runs from Dec. 4 to Jan. 1, 2011, with all performances at Granville Island’s Waterfront Theatre.
Visit these Venues Make your way over to the Pacific Coliseum for Disney on Ice presents Let’s Celebrate, Nov. 24 to 28. It’s one colossal party on ice, with all your favorite Disney friends! Join Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse as they celebrate a “Very Merry Unbirthday Party” with Alice and the Mad Hatter; “Mardi Gras”
This Holiday,
Say it with Music!
JANN ARDEN
Spotlight DVD/CD Features a behind-the-scenes documentary, music videos, live CD plus the new hit “I Can’t Make You Stay”
LOREENA McKENNITT
The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Available Nov.15)
Loreena McKennitt returns to her musical roots with a haunting, new collection of traditional Celtic music.
BRYAN ADAMS
Bare Bones (Available Nov.15) 20 of Bryan Adams’ best, stripped to the Bare Bones live!
ANNIE LENNOX
A Christmas Cornucopia (Available Nov.15) A beautiful collection of traditional festive songs, plus Annie’s new composition, “Universal Child.”
ENTER TO WIN 1 OF 2 CD PRIZE PACKS
Prize Pack includes: new CDs from JANN ARDEN, BRYAN ADAMS, ANNIE LENNOX and LOREENA MCKENNITT! Mail or drop off entry: c/o The Vancouver Courier Newspaper, 1574 W. 6th Ave., Vancouver BC, V6J 1R2 or email us at contest@vancourier.com with subject line: NEW MUSIC FOR FALL. Draw Date: Monday, December 6th by 12 noon. One entry per person.
Name: ___________________ Phone: ________________
with Princess Taina and Prince Naveen; a “Royal Valentine’s Day Ball” with the Disney Princesses; a “Hawaiian luau” with Lilo & Stitch; a “winter wonderland” with Woody and Buzz Lightyear from Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story, and more, in magical medley holidays celebrations and festivals from around the globe. Various matinee and evening times, with prices to suit all types of families and individuals. Tickets available through Ticketmaster.
Andre Rieu, the world’s most popular classical musician who is known for his energetic and festive live concerts, is bringing his “Celebration of Music” 2010 North American tour to Vancouver, Dec. 7 at Rogers continued next page
Book by Thomas Meehan Music by Charles Strouse Lyrics by Martin Charnin
December 8–31, 2010 Tickets online at gatewaytheatre.com or call the Box Office at 604-270-1812
Gateway ad / Courier CMYK / 3.312 x 5” / for submission 8 November 2010 Keith Hamilton > rare design inc: tel 604 505 4100
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Va n c o uve r Co u r i e r friday, november 12, 2010
Gift of Entertainment
handel’s messiah performed by the Vancouver bach choir at the orpeheum
Arena. Musical Holidays with André Rieu will give fans what they’ve come to expect from Rieu’s performances – celebrations of music in all its wonderful and powerful aspects, featuring André Rieu accompanied by his 55-piece Johann Strauss Orchestra and six powerful soloists. Fans will hear favourites and selections from his latest release Forever Vienna, as well as holiday classics. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster. Woodward’s SFU Centre proudly introduces its arts venue – The Fei & Milton Wong Experimental Theatre, at SFU Woodwards – 149 W. Hastings Street. On Nov. 25, the Faculty Dance Show at 12:30 pm features the inaugural performance of SFU Centre’s annual faculty dance show. Dec. 17 and 18, the theatrical offering is a take on a venerable classic – Bah Humbug! A Staged Reading of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, presented at 7:30 pm.
conditions, call the Garden Shop 604257-8665 to confirm that FOL has not been closed for that one evening.
Going out to the movies ain’t what it used to be, unless of course you’re experiencing the trifecta of comfort and joy – Festival Cinemas. Including the Park Theatre on Cambie and the Fifth Avenue Cinemas on Burrard St., as well as The Ridge on Arbutus, membership has its privileges, to coin a phrase. Member benefits include the valuable Festival membership card, available at the theatre box office for $14 and valid for one year from date of purchase. Members receive free upgrades on pop, popcorn and coffee at the concession, as well as discounts on movie admissions.
Enjoy the Experience
TuEsday, dEcEmbEr 7Th - 7.30 pm
RogeRs ARenA tickets available at: www.TickETmasTEr.ca or call 604-280-4444
The 2010 Festival Of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden is open from 4:30 to 9 pm every night, Dec. 10 through Jan. 2, 2011, except Dec. 25 when the Garden is closed. Highlights include Santa’s Living Room: Dec. 10 to 24; Svend and Jens, the Scandinavian Christmas Elves appear nightly in the Centre Court; Dancing Lights on Livingstone Lake: starting at 4:30 p.m. Plus, kids of all ages will enjoy the Gingerbread Wood, Golden Chain Walk, Community Choir Concerts on the Deck at 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm, (dates and choirs TBA), Makea-Wish Candle Shrine and Candy Cane Lane. Note: In the case of heavy snow storms or other extraordinary weather
Brian Linds in the Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of The Patron Saint of Stanley Park. Photo by David Cooper.
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Gift of Entertainment The SO’s
ballet bc
Traditional Christmas TICKETS ALWAYS SELL OUT EARLY – GET YOURS TODAY!
sT. andrEW’s-WEsLEY ChUrCh, VanCOUVEr Thursday, december 9, 7:30pm Friday, december 10, 7:30pm saturday, december 11, 4pm & 7:30pm Bramwell Tovey conductor Christopher Gaze host UBC Opera Ensemble EnChor
The Lower Mainland’s most beloved holiday music tradition! Music director Bramwell Tovey leads the orchestra and two choirs in a celebration of the Holiday spirit, with carols, heartwarming Christmas music, and plenty of audience sing-alongs! Christopher Gaze narrates.
BraMWELL TOVEY
ChrisTOphEr GazE
vancouversymphony.ca or call 604.876.3434
Entertainment Directory
Tickets online at Arts Club..................................................www.artsclub.com Ballet BC..................................................www.balletbc.com Carousel Theatre.....................................www.carouseltheatre.com Early Music Vancouver.............................www.earlymusic.bc.ca Festival Cinemas ....................................www.festivalcinemas.ca Gateway Theatre......................................www.gatewaytheatre.com Headlines Theatre ..................................www.headlinestheatre.com TicketMaster ...........................................www.ticketmaster.ca United Players.........................................www.unitedplayers.com Universal Music ......................................www.umusic.ca Vancouver Bach Choir ............................www.vancouverbachchoir.com Vancouver Chamber Choir .....................www.vancouverchamberchoir.com
The VSO’S TradiTiOnal ChriSTmaS COnCerTS haVe been endOwed bY a generOuS gifT frOm ShEAhAn AnD GERALD MCGAvIn, C.M., O.B.C.
PRESENTING SPONSOR
MEDIA PARTNER
SFU Woodward’s Cultural Programs and Vancouver Moving Theatre in association with the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company present
BAH HUMBUG
A STAGED READING
OF CHARLES DICKENS’
A CHRISTMAS CAROL A NEW WOODWARDS TRADITION
Directed by Max Reimer Starring Jay Brazeau
Vancouver Playhouse . ............................www.vancouverplayhouse.com Vancouver Symphony Orchestra ............www.vancouversymphony.ca Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir ................www.vwmc.ca VanDusen – Festival of Lights ................www.vancouver.ca Vetta Chamber Music .............................www.vettamusic.com Woodward’s SFU Centre .........................www.sfuwoodwards.ca
You are invited to
VIP Opening Reception Friday, Nov. 26, 5-7 pm
RSVP to 604.251.7633 or cchristensen@ thekettle.ca
Eastside Culture Crawl
December 17 7:30pm December 18 2pm | 7:30pm Fei and Milton Wong Experimental Theatre TICKETS: $19 | $29 CALL: 604 873 3311 or SFUWOODWARDS.CA Goldcorp Centre for the Arts 149 W Hastings Street A Benefit for Downtown Eastside community arts and Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival
1725 Venables Street at Commercial Drive
Art & Artists that Fight Stigma Against Mental Illness
A PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT On sale now at the box office - $10 and $20 gift certificates.
Friday, November 26, 5 - 10pm Saturday, November 27,11 - 6pm Sunday, November 28,11 - 6pm 350+ pieces of multi-media art by Kettle Members
All screens are Dolby Digital. “Love Seats” at Fifth Avenue Cinemas and the Park Theatre. Membership, student, senior, Tuesday and matinee discounts.
Art Raffle for exciting artwork – funds supporting art supplies for artists living with mental illness The Kettle Friendship Society 604.251.7633
"First Person Singular" by Winter Hammell PHOTOGRAPHED BY GREG MASUDA PACIFICA PHOTOGRAPHY
www.thekettle.ca
Supporting people living with mental illness to lead healthier lives SPONSORS
PRESENTING SPONSORS
ARTIST SUPPLIES PARTIALLY SPONSORED BY Commercial Drive Community Branch & Community Business Banking
www.festivalcinemas.ca Fifth Avenue Cinemas 2110 Burrard (at 5th Ave) 604.734.7469
Park Theatre 3440 Cambie (at 18th Ave) 604.709.3456
Ridge Theatre 3131 Arbutus (at 16th Ave) 604.738.6311
Va n c o uve r Co u r i e r friday, november 12, 2010
“A WONDERFULLY MAGICAL WAY TO SPEND AN EVENING THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON” – THE CALGARY HERALD
“…POSSIBLY THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MODERN DANCE COMPANY ON THE PLANET” – THE NEW YORK TIMES
BALLET BC
PRESENTS
18-19
ALBERTA BALLET
MAR
2011
DEC
JAN
29- 1
VANCOUVER PREMIERE
The Nutcracker EDMUND STRIPE CHOREOGRAPHY
Pyotr Illich Tchaikovsky MUSIC
Emmy Winner Zack Brown The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra SET & COSTUMES
LIVE MUSIC
2011
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Alvin Ailey American DanceTheater BALLET BC
®
PRESENTS
JUDITH JAMISON ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Masazumi Chaya ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Robert Battle ARTISTIC DIRECTOR DESIGNATE
SUMPTUOUS $1.5 MILLION PRODUCTION BY EMMY AWARD-WINNING DESIGNER!
Featuring Revelations, Ailey's spectacular tribute to his African-American roots and the most performed modern dance piece ever.
alvinailey.org Photos by Andrew Eccles. Dancer (above): Linda Celeste Sims.
Photos by Drew Myers.
SEASON SPONSORS
ALL PERFORMANCES AT
QUEEN ELIZABETH THEATRE ticketmaster.ca or 604 280 3311 balletbc.com
NUTCRACKER PRODUCTION SPONSOR
ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER TELEVISION SPONSOR