Category Performing Arts

Bard play becomes musical

photo - Erika Babins, choreographer, and Zach Wolfman, actor, in Awkward Stage Productions’ Titus, written by Andrew Wade and Jenny Andersen

Erika Babins, choreographer, and Zach Wolfman, actor, in Awkward Stage Productions’ Titus, written by Andrew Wade and Jenny Andersen. (photo by Corwin Ferguson) In its sixth appearance at the Vancouver Fringe Festival, Awkward Stage Productions is presenting its first original…

At home anywhere in world

photo - Playwright, cyclist and world traveler Ira Cooper. Among his many endeavors has been teaching English in China

Playwright, cyclist and world traveler Ira Cooper. Among his many endeavors has been teaching English in China. (photo from Ira Cooper) “I lust to travel, to see places, to meet people and do theatre,” said Ira Cooper. In everything he…

Rumshinsky operetta rediscovered

image - poster of Joseph Rumshinsky’s Yiddish operetta Di Goldene Kale premièred 92 years ago at Kessler’s Second Avenue Theatre in New York

Joseph Rumshinsky’s Yiddish operetta Di Goldene Kale premièred 92 years ago at Kessler’s Second Avenue Theatre in New York, and was still being performed as late as 1948. The Aug. 5 perfomance at Nicholas Music Centre was the first since…

Thirty years and counting

photo - Warren Kimmel as Javert in Arts Club Theatre’s Les Misérables

Warren Kimmel as Javert in Arts Club Theatre’s Les Misérables. (photo by Ross den Otter) This October will mark the 30th anniversary of one of the most adored, reproduced, translated and recorded performances of our time. If you are one…

TUTS takes on light and dark

photo - Dustin Freeland as Link Larkin, Erin E. Walker as Tracy Turnblad, Hannah Williams as Penny Pingleton and ensemble members in Hairspray

Dustin Freeland as Link Larkin, Erin E. Walker as Tracy Turnblad, Hannah Williams as Penny Pingleton and ensemble members in Hairspray. (photo by Tim Matheson) When Theatre Under the Stars announced its lineup earlier this year, I was excited. I’d…

Shakespeare musical

photo - Left to right, Jay Hindle, Josh Epstein and Daniel Doheny in Bard on the Beach’s Love’s Labor’s Lost

Left to right, Jay Hindle, Josh Epstein and Daniel Doheny in Bard on the Beach’s Love’s Labor’s Lost. (photo by David Blue) How do you get more people interested in Shakespeare? Give ’em what they want – music, song, dance,…

Community talent in TUTS

photo - Left to right: Nathan Piasecki (the Artful Dodger), E. Marie West (Nancy) and Stephen Aberle (Fagin) in Theatre Under the Stars’ production of Oliver! He also plays Mr. Brownlow

Left to right: Nathan Piasecki (Artful Dodger), E. Marie West (Nancy) and Stephen Aberle (Fagin) in Theatre Under the Stars’ production of Oliver! Aberle also plays Mr. Brownlow. (photo by Tim Matheson) Actor Steven Aberle describes Theatre Under the Stars as…

No errors in Comedy

photo - Josh Epstein, left, and Andrew Cownden in Bard on the Beach’s production of The Comedy of Errors

Josh Epstein, left, and Andrew Cownden in Bard on the Beach’s production of The Comedy of Errors. (photo by David Blue) It’s summer in Vancouver and with it comes sun, surf and Shakespeare – that is, Bard on the Beach…

The same old stories

photo - Aubrey Joy Maddock as John the Baptist, left, Andrew Cohen as Judas and Jennifer Copping as Jesus in Arts Club Theatre’s Godspell. (photo by David Cooper)

Aubrey Joy Maddock as John the Baptist, left, Andrew Cohen as Judas and Jennifer Copping as Jesus in Arts Club Theatre’s Godspell. (photo by David Cooper) Before I attended Godspell, I was not familiar with the story or with the…

Choreographers on the edge

photo - Tara Cheyenne Performance’s how to be, part of Dancing on the Edge

Tara Cheyenne Performance’s how to be, part of Dancing on the Edge. (photo by Wendy D Photography) This year’s Dancing on the Edge festival, which runs July 2-11, once again features the talents of many Jewish community members. The Jewish…