Arts Preview March 2016 by Vancouver Courier

T H U R SDAY, M A R C H 1 0 , 2 0 1 6 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

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This remarkable, imaginative talent is here to stay. CHAN CENTRE CECILE MCLORIN SALVANT PHOTO: JOHN ABBOTT

WAR ROMANTICS THE MUSIC OF BEETHOVEN, OF THE

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN

JOHANNES BRAHMS

RICHARD WAGNER

BRAHMS & WAGNER

2016 VSO SPRING FESTIVAL APRIL 7 TO 18 5-CONCERTS AT THE ORPHEUM @VSOrchestra

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TICKETS vancouversymphony.ca

604.876.3434

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ARTS

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Intro to the season As much as Vancouver prides itself on its yoga-enhanced lifestyle and sea-to-sky image, winter can be a rain-soaked slog. It’s wet, it’s cold and tearing yourself away from a weekend-long date with Netflix can be a challenge at the best of times. Which is why spring is such welcome relief in these parts. Not only is it a season of renewal, but also exciting possibilities, which you can see bursting across the city’s arts scene like budding flowers. Whether it’s dance, theatre, music or comedy, there’s something invigorating about springtime. All you need to do is step outside and start exploring what Vancouver has to offer. With any luck, you won’t even have to bundle up.

Spring arts events Here’s a by-the-numbers look at some of our top 10 suggestions for arts events worth gussying up and getting out of the house for this spring.

The number of plays written so far by 68-year-old George F. Walker, Canada’s most widely produced dramatist, whose latest, The Crowd, has its world premiere through Langara College’s renowned Studio 58 theatre program from March 19 to April 3. langara.ca/ studio-58

ENTER 13 TO WIN! To give you a head start to the spring arts season, we have loaded our contest page full of ticket giveaways! Visit vancourier.com/contests to enter!

ANDREW FLEMING fleming.courier@gmail.com

The anniversary being marked at this year’s Motown Meltdown, an annual charity fundraiser and celebration of soul music. The event — in support of Seva, a group dedicated to preventing blindness in the developing world — returns to the Commodore Ballroom March 19 and once again features a who’s who of local musicians throwing down on their Hitsville favourites. seva.ca

The number of Pixar film soundtracks being paid tribute to by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra March 21 at the Orpheum Theatre. Pixar in Concert, conducted by Gordon Gerrard, revisits memorable moments from all the Disney studio’s cartoon crowd-pleasers ranging from the Toy Story trilogy to Cars, WALL•E, Ratatouille, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc. and more. vancouversymphony.ca

presents

an intimate evening of theatre… without a play presents

VOYAGES Travel to the sea, space and stars, with pieces by Urmas Sisask, Jaako Mäntyjärvi, Michael McGlynn and Peter Hannan.

"Theatre for Living is one of the most proliﬁc, life changing, humanity affirming and powerful theatre companies in the country. This is what theatre is to me." – Jenny Magenta, audience member

FRIDAY APRIL 15 | 7:30 PM ST JAMES COMMUNITY HALL 3214 WEST 10TH AVE VANCOUVER

Joked by David Diamond

“David Diamond is an international treasure.” Mark Leiren- Young, Vancouver Sun

March 10 to 27 various Vancouver venues

“One of Canada’s most astonishing musical exports” RAYMOND TUTTLE

TICKETS MUSICAINTIMA . ORG 604 731 6618 ADULT $25 STUDENT $12

FANFARE MAGAZINE

Events at 7:30pm

April 1 & 2, Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie St Reservations Recommended at 604.871.0508 or rsvp@theatreforliving.com For more info:

The Martha Lou Henley Charitable Foundation

T H U R SDAY, M A R C H 1 0 , 2 0 1 6 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

PREVIEW SPRING 2016

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by the numbers 389 7

The number of Tony Awards, including Best Musical, won by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita, the rags to riches story of the controversial Eva Perón, the First Lady of Argentina in the 1940s. Vancouver Opera’s version runs April 30 to May 8 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. vancouveropera.ca

The number of animal costumes designed by Carmen Alatorre for Carousel Theatre’s family-friendly adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s classic The Jungle Book running at Granville Island’s Waterfront Theatre April 16 to May 1.

The number of performances of Vancouver TheatreSports League’s epic swords-and-sandals spoof Throne and Games: A Chance of Snow at Granville Island’s Improv Centre running April 7 to May 28. Winter may no longer be coming, but here’s a great chance to get your Game of Thrones geek on in preparation for the hit HBO series’ return April 24. vtsl.com

In thousands, the number of old photos donated to the UBC library that have been curated for the new exhibit Nanitch: Early Photographs of British Columbia From the Langmann Collection at Presentation House Gallery from March 30 to June 26. Nanitch is a Chinook word meaning “to look and watch,” suggesting the important role the emerging art form played in documenting B.C.’s colonial period. presentationhousegallery.org

The number of stanzas of iambic tetrameter in Russian poet Alexander Pushkin’s verse novel Eugene Onegin. The 1825 classic has been reworked as a musical by Veda Hille and Amiel Gladstone, members of the team behind the recent hit Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata, and runs March 23 to April 10 at the Arts Club’s new BMO Theatre in the Olympic Village. artsclub.com The number of “calls to action” recommended by the federal Truth and Reconciliation Commission after speaking with First Nations survivors of the residential-school system. One of them was to commission art projects to help commemorate the painful legacy, and Going Home Star: Truth and Reconciliation, is the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s carefully choreographed response. The Queen Elizabeth Theatre hosts its West Coast premiere April 7 to 9. rwb.org

The milestone birthday being reluctantly marked by Olivia, one of five women who make up the all-female cast in this Ruby Slippers and Zee Zee Theatre co-production of Brad Fraser’s new play 5 @ 50 running at Coal Harbour’s PAL Theatre from May 13 to 29. palstudiotheatre.com

Get your tickets to this Arts Club fundraiser for $80—you save $10! Visit artsclub.com or call 604.687.1644 and use promo code 8814 by March 17

The Love that Moves the Universe Bach, Handel & Schafer

8pm | Friday, March 25, 2016 Orpheum Theatre Vancouver Chamber Choir and Orchestra | Pacifica Singers Jon Washburn, Conductor One of the Vancouver Chamber Choir’s most acclaimed performances was the 2010 premiere of R. Murray Schafer’s radiant choral/orchestral work The Love that Moves the Universe, based on the final lines of Dante’s Paradiso. In answer to popular demand, we repeat that magical experience, and extend it by singing the equally luminous Jesu, meine Freude by Bach and Dixit Dominus by Handel.

1.855.985.ARTS (2787) vancouverchamberchoir.com

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ARTS

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HosTed by:

David Wills (Stonebolt) & Angela Kelman

MusIcal DirEcTors:

David Sinclair & Steve Hilliam

ProDuced by:

THEATRE THE HOOKER MONOLOGUES True life stories from a collective of active and former sex workers challenge myths and dispel stigma, in a candid portrait of various aspects of the sex work industry. Until March 13 at Firehall Arts Centre. ﬁrehallartscentre.ca RETURN TO GRACE This glorious, heartfelt tribute to the iconic Elvis Presley traces the greatest musical moments of a generation from the early years through to the amazing ’68 comeback special to the historic Aloha from Hawaii concert. March 22-27 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. returntograce.ca

Kendra Sprinkling

PerFoRmaNces by:

Alexander A-train Boynton Jr. Joani Bye Leora Cashe Candus Churchill Oliver Conway Krystle Dos Santos Olivia Steele Falconer Warren Dean Flandez Al Harlow Angela Kelman Linda Kidder Jane Mortifee Marcus Mosely Tom Pickett Will Sanders Danay Sinclair Charon Kendra Sprinkling Catherine St. Germain Stephanie Standerwick David Steele Don Stewart Shari Ulrich David Wills Garﬁeld Wilson

and More!

Arts Club ONEGIN March 17-April 10

PHOTO: EMILY COOPER

WIT Professor Vivian Bearing approaches her cancer therapy with the same academic rigour she applied to her studies, but as her treatments progress, her intellectual armour gives way to her need for human kindness. May 20-June 11 at Pacific Theatre. pacifictheatre.org BC BUDS SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL The 12th annual festival of inventive, original site-specific works and new play readings by B.C. artists provides a platform for genre-bending and multi-disciplinary emerging and established artists. May 2016 at Firehall Arts Centre. firehallartscentre.ca ONEGIN Life is quiet on the Larin family’s Russian country estate, until the charismatic Evgeni Onegin ignites the romantic longings of its residents. Poet Vladimir Lensky dances with jealousy when his dear friend flirts with his fiancée, and even the reclusive Tatyana Larin finds herself falling for the handsome rogue. March 17-April 10 at Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre. artsclub.com

GOOD PEOPLE A sharp character-driven comedy about changing your fortune set in South Boston where paycheques hardly made the rent, asks why some people manage to escape from the situations into which they’re born — and some don’t. March 24-April 24 at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. artsclub.com

GenErOusLy SpoNsOred by:

THE VALLEY An ensemble piece featuring four characters whose stories and families intertwine after a teenage boy’s arrest on a SkyTrain platform in this topical story about the contradictory attempts to balance care and public safety. April 7-May 7 at Granville Island Stage. artsclub.com

RECLAIMING HOPE Theatre for Living tours a series of theatrical dialogues throughout different Vancouver venues to engage about how we can identify and transform the fears that hold us back from building healthy communities and caring for the environment. April 1-2 at Scotiabank Dance Centre. theatreforliving.com

THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR The corrupt officials of a small Russian town react with terror to the news that an incognito inspector will soon be arriving to investigate them. The flurry of activity to cover up their considerable misdeeds is interrupted by the report that a suspicious person is staying at the inn. March 25-April 17 at Jericho Arts Centre. unitedplayers.com DIRTY OLD WOMAN After her divorce, Nina, a 50-something-yearold, decides to venture back into the world of romance. But when she meets Gerry, 20 years her junior, the sparks fly in more ways than one. April 12-24 at The Cultch. thecultch.com

GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES A series of unsettling injuries over the course of 30 years brings together a corrosive masochist and an accident-prone daredevil as they spar, spat and haltingly try to rescue one another. April 1-16 at Pacific Theatre. pacifictheatre.org DEAD METAPHOR A darkly comic look at what happens when a former sniper in Afghanistan returns home to Canada and finds the job market doesn’t exactly accommodate his particular skill set. April 2-23 at Firehall Arts Centre. firehallartscentre.com

Compagnie Thor | Thierry Smits/photo Hichem Dahes

Discover Dance! series

LORITA LEUNG DANCE Co March 10 KAREN FLAMENCO April 21 Global Dance Connections series

COMPAGNIE THOR | THIERRY SMITS May 5-7

Scotiabank Dance Centre | thedancecentre.ca MEDIA SPONSORS Discover Dance!

Global Dance Connections

THE INVISIBLE HAND Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright’s Ayad Akhtar’s high-stakes thriller follows a kidnapped American trader in Pakistan playing the market for his life. April 5-23 at Vancouver East Cultural Centre. pitheatre.com

Theatre For Living David Diamond

PHOTO: WOLFGANG RAPPEL

T H U R SDAY, M A R C H 1 0 , 2 0 1 6 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

PREVIEW SPRING 2016

THE JUNGLE BOOK A powerful coming-of-age tale. Deep in the Indian jungle, the human Mowgli is raised by wolves. Tutored by Baloo the bear, Bagheera the panther and Akela the wolf, Mowgli learns the codes and traditions of the hunter community. April 16-May 1 at Waterfront Theatre. carouseltheatre.ca

COMEDY OF ERRORS Travel back to the wild, wild west and follow the journey of two pairs of twins who were separated at birth. When Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant, Dromio of Syracuse, stumble upon Ephesus, the home of their respective twin brothers, their worlds collide and a whirlwind of mistaken identities ensues. April 22, 23 & 26 at Gateway Theatre. gatewaytheatre.com

TOWARDS ZERO The labyrinthine maze of clues and deception centres around the wealthy Lady Tresillian — found murdered in her bed, with a house full of suspects connecting a failed suicide, theft and romance. Plan to see this “rare” work from the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie. April 30-May 21 at Metro Theatre. metrotheatre.com

DANCE

BALLET BC Ñ PROGRAM 2 A world premiere, New Work questions how to balance order and chaos, the individual and the collective, and the human need for celebration in this specially commissioned work from French choreographer Medhi Walerski. March 17-19 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. balletbc.com

VITAL FEW A new work created with and for six unique performers is a collaborative undertaking utilizing mechanisms of constant co-dependence and interrelation between the dancers, presented by the 605 collective. March 17-19 at Roundhouse Community Arts Centre. 605collective.com

COMPANHIA URBANA DE DAN‚A A high-energy fusion of hip hop, samba, capoeira and contemporary dance tears up the stage in this boldly imaginative choreography from Sonia Destri Lie, of Brazil. April 1-2 at Dance House. dancehouse.ca

GOING HOME STAR Ñ TRUTH AND RECONCILIATION Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet mounts this deeply classical ballet, 10 years in the making, to pay tribute to the pains and atrocities of Canada’s indigenous past, while giving hope for healing and wholeness in our future. April 7-9 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. rwb.org

BALLET BC Ñ PROGRAM 3 Emily Molnar’s 16+ a room, Bill from Sharon Eyal and Gai Behar, and I and I am You from Jorma Elo. May 12-14 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. balletbc.com

WORDS IN MOTION What happens when words come to life? Three writers and three choreographers work in pairs to create new works combining the cerebral and the physical. March 18-19 at the Chan Centre. thedancecentre.ca

EVITA A full-scale production of this modern classic of musical theatre — the story of the charismatic and controversial Evita Perón, whose beauty and ambition vaulted her from poverty to power as the First Lady of Argentina in the politically turbulent 1930s. April 30-May 8 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. vancouveropera.ca SEASONS To celebrate 30 seasons of Vetta Chamber Music, the Vetta Chamber Players will perform the ever popular Four Seasons by Vivaldi and pair it with a local take on our seasons. April 28-29 at West Point Grey United Church. vettamusic.com

FLICKER An innovative dance piece that combines West Coast design with a unique scenographic hybrid of projected environments and live-action shadow dance. Vividly rich imagery represents the “spirit world,” the mystical realm portrayed through Gitxsan masked dance. May 25-29 at The Cultch. thecultch.com

CHORAL BACHÕS ST. MATTHEW PASSION A pinnacle accomplishment in the history of classical music, the staggering masterwork overﬂows with sweeping harmonies and colossal power — relating St. Matthew’s account of Christ’s betrayal, trial and execution. March 19 at Orpheum Theatre. vancouverbachchoir.com

INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY Enjoy a program of performances and events celebrating the vitality and diversity of dance in Vancouver. April 29 at Scotiabank Dance Centre. thedancecentre.ca

CLASSICAL SONIC BOOM FESTIVAL Vancouver Pro Musica continues to bring unique artists and new music together in the festival’s 29th year of contemporary classical music showcasing original compositional works of some of B.C.’s best over four not-to-be-missed performances. March 17-20. vancouverpromusica.ca PIXAR IN CONCERT This visually stunning, high-definition, multimedia family show features montages of memorable clips from all 14 of Pixar’s films set to the music of the movies that brought us some of the most beloved characters in cinematic history. March 21 at Orpheum Theatre. vancouversymphony.ca WAR OF THE ROMANTICS The VSO’s 2016 Spring Festival explores one of the most important periods in classical music history over the course of five concerts featuring works from Beethoven, Gustav Mahler, Wagner and Brahms. April 7-18 at Orpheum Theatre. vancouversymphony.ca The Jungle Book with Carousel Theatre for Young People

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Ballet BC Dancer Gilbert Small

PHOTO: MICHAEL SLOBODIAN

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PHOTO: TIM MATHESON

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more sleeps to vote! Support your favourite businesses by voting for them in our Stars of Vancouver Readers’ Choice Awards.

VSO presents Joyce Yang at the Orpheum on May 16

ARTS

VOYAGES This adventurous concert explores mythical travel, the sea, space and stars. It features Kiva Simova, an overtone soloist who sings two pitches simultaneously, and Musica Intima’s exploration of other extended vocal techniques including yodeling and belting. April 15 at St James Community Square. musicaintima.org

THE LOVE THAT MOVES THE UNIVERSE Vancouver Chamber Choir, with the Paciﬁca Singers, under the direction of John Washburn repeat the magical experience of R. Murray Schafer’s radiant choral/orchestral work based on Dante’s Paradiso. March 25 at Orpheum Theatre. vancouverchamberchoir.com LAGRIME DI SAN PIETRO Phillipe Herreweghe and Collegium Vocale Gent, one of the world’s most accomplished vocal ensembles perform “The Tears of Saint Peter” by Renaissance composer Orlande de Lassus. April 15 at Chan Shun Concert Hall. earlymusic.bc.ca LUX ANTIQUA: SONGS OF LIGHT The ﬁnal performance for the Vancouver Cantata Singers 2015-2016 season joins forces with Redshift Music Society for an a capella program that spans the centuries featuring three premieres. May 13 at H.R. MacMillan Space Centre. vancouvercantatasingers.com

WIN

MYVOICE MYVoice will present their own free afternoon concert at 4 p.m., then join the evening’s Summit Concert, singing with more 300 people. March 12 at the Chan Centre. chancentre.com

All voters are in with a chance to win a grand spa getaway at The Grotto Spa in Tigh-Na-Mara valued at $780. VOTING ENDS MARCH 13.

starsofvan.com

DINA YOFFE Dina Yoffe came to international recognition by winning top prizes in two international competitions. Today her concert performances are renowned throughout Europe, Israel, Japan and the United States. April 8 at Vancouver Playhouse. chopinsociety.org

Langara CollegeÕs renowned Studio 58 theatre program teams up with Green Thumb Theatre for the world premiere of George F. WalkerÕs The Crowd, March 19 to April 3.

IN THE ABBEY GARDEN From Holst’s breathtaking Ave Maria for double choir to Rachmaninoff’s Six Choruses for Women’s Voices and Brahms’ Psalm 13, experience the Elektra Women’s Choir foray into some of Europe’s most beautiful choral music. May 7 at Ryerson United Church. elektra.ca

CONCERTS JOANNA NEWSOM American songbird and harpist appears in support of Divers with special guest Robin Pecknold (of Fleet Foxes). March 30 at Vogue Theatre. voguetheatre.com EKACHAI JEARAKUL Award-winning classical guitarist from Thailand graces the stage at the VSO School of Music. April 2 at Pyatt Hall. ekachaiguitarist.com FATHER JOHN MISTY Indie-folk-singer-songwriter, formerly of Fleet Foxes, a.k.a. Josh Tillman, showcases songs from I Love You, Honeybear with special guests Tess and Dave. April 5 at Orpheum Theatre. fatherjohnmisty.com SPIRIT OF THE WEST After nearly 50 performances at the storied venue, the West Coast folk rockers will take the stage for one last weekend with a host of special guests for two farewell performances. April 15-16 at Commodore Ballroom. sotw.ca

T H U R SDAY, M A R C H 1 0 , 2 0 1 6 THE VANCOUVER COURIER

PREVIEW SPRING 2016

COURTNEY BARNETT Indie singer-songwriter and guitarist from Melbourne, Australia plays in support of her latest album Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit with guests Alvvays. April 19 at Commodore Ballroom. courtneybarnett.com.au

BEACH HOUSE Baltimore dream-pop duo appear in support of Depression Cherry and Thank Your Lucky Stars. April 30 at Vogue Theatre. beachhousebaltimore.com

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FINE ARTS COLD FRIENDS, WARM CASH An iteration of Ciara Phillips’ ongoing project Workshop takes over the gallery as a site of both production and exhibition, turning the gallery into a simple screen printing studio. March 18-April 30 at Western Front. front.bc.ca

THE BUZZCOCKS Legendary British punk band tours in celebration of their 40th anniversary with special guests The Residuels. May 21 at Rickshaw Theatre. buzzcocks.com

EASTER EGGS New works from Andrea Hooge, marking her fourth solo show and featuring a collection of scratchboard images, drawing inspiration from childhood interpretations of children’s books and playthings, as well as her cultural heritage. April 7-30 at Hot Art Wet City. hotartwetcity.com

CƒCILE MCLORIN SALVANT Cécile’s exceptional vocal power, soul, and virtuosity are breathtakingly showcased through her one-of-a-kind interpretations of jazz standards and rare blues compositions. May 1 at Chan Shun Concert Hall. chancentre.com

WEST COAST SUITE A new series of paintings from Sylvia Tait demonstrates a sharp focus on metaphysics and construction of the subject in this group of abstract canvases and multi-media panels. April 9-23 at Bau-Xi Gallery. bau-xi.com

The CULTCH presents FLicker Dancers of Damelahamid May 25-29

COMEDY

JONATHAN KITE Best known as “Oleg” on Two Broke Girls, the Chicago actor has studied improv and sketch comedy and now brings his stand-up to town with an opening set from John Cullen. April 14-16 at Yuk Yuk’s. yukyuks.com

ADAM CAROLLA American comedian best known for nationally syndicated radio program Loveline and costarring with Jimmy Kimmel on The Man Show and Crank Yankers tapes a live episode of his podcast The Adam Carolla Show. April 22 at Commodore Ballroom. adamcarolla.com

RON WHITE American stand-up comedian and actor known as a charter member of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, with six solo works and compilations with Jeff Foxworthy. May 20 at Orpheum Theatre. tatersalad.com

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LAWRENCE PAUL A provocative exhibition of new and existing paintings, drawings, sculptures and installations confronting the colonialist suppression of First Nations peoples from the Yuxweluptun artist, spanning his inﬂuential 30-year career. May 10-Oct. 16 at Museum of Anthropology. moa.ubc.ca

FESTIVALS CELTICFEST Western Canada’s largest Celtic celebration offers the best of traditional and contemporary Celtic culture in all its diversity and vitality – and everyone is invited to join in. March 10-17. celticfestvancouver.com

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