welcome

MAY 2023 | VOLUME 227

 

may 22-JUNE 4

Shakespeare, Musicals and Everything Else

The last big batch of 2022-23 season’s plays opens these two weeks and continue into mid- and late-June before the summer season comes on, dominated by the Arts Club, Bard on the Beach and Theatre Under the Stars. Check out our On Now page for everything running now. Be sure to look for the BUY TICKETS buttons. Look ahead, too, at the rich offerings through the end of June on our Coming Soon page. And if you’re a real plan-aheader, check the bottom of this page for what some companies will be offering for their 2023-24 seasons. Enjoy!

We invite theatre lovers, theatre students, theatre historians—amateur or pro—and casual readers to browse our ARCHIVES pages.Read reviews of what you may have seen or missed over the past two decades of Vancouver-area theatre.

Important Note: The BUY TICKETS button on our PREVIEW and REVIEW pages is strictly a convenience for theatregoers. Click on the button and get direct access to the company’s box office for that show. Vancouverplays gets no cut or commission from your ticket purchase. 100% of the money goes directly to the theatre company.

I’m thrilled to receive this year’s Max Wyman Award in Critical Writing, aka The Max, awarded annually to a BC arts critic for a significant body of work.The prize honours author, critic and all-around good guy Max Wyman in a generous endowment from Vancouver philanthropist Yosef Wosk. The winner chooses a mentee to share the prize. I’ve chosen Angie Rico, a member of Neworld Theatre’s terrific Critical Futures program, which helps train BIPOC theatre critics. Angie and I will get our awards at a presentation at the Vancouver Public Libraryon May 28. More info at https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/theatre/postmedia-theatre-critic-jerry-wasserman-wins-max-wyman-award.

Bouche Theatre Collective and Presentation House Theatre presenttheir New Constellations and Perspectives series:Ageing in the Live Performing Arts, with UBC’s Julia Henderson and Western Gold Theatre’s Glenn McDonald and Tanja Dixon-Warren. May 27, 2 pm at North Van’s Presentation House. Register HERE.

Electric Company Theatre’s Climate Change and Other Small Talk’s latest episode takes place May 29, 7:30 at The Cultch and online. “Rolling Hills, Green Pastures” features Carmen Aguirre in conversation with environmentalist Justin Podur. Tickets HERE.

rice & beans theatre’s Polyphonic Translation Residency Showcase features Sarvin Aesmaeili’s Maman, Do You Love Me? and Emily Jung’s Dead Korean Girl Comedy Show, June 9, 7 pm, live at Progress Lab (1422 William St.) and online. Tickets HERE. 

Vancouver’s Queer Arts Festival 2023: Queers in Space runs June 17-28 at the Roundhouse. Info and tickets at https://queerartsfestival.com/.

Deadline for the Arts Club’s50/50 raffle fundraiser is May 25. Order tickets at https://artsclub.rafflenexus.com/order.

Carousel Theatre for Young People’s fundraiser is May 27 at Granville Island’s Performance Works, featuring the band Queer as Funk. All-ages afternoon extravaganza at 2 pm; 19+ evening show at 7 pm. Tickets at https://tickets.carouseltheatre.ca/TheatreManager/1/login?event=0.

The Arts Club’s60th anniversary 2023-24 season features twelve shows in its three theatres plus three touring productions. Four musicals play at the Stanley, including Little Shop of Horrors and Guys and Dolls. For all the plays and subscription info, click HERE.

United Players’ five play 2023-24 season includes a Christmas show and a co-pro with Touchstone Theatre. Info and subscriptions: www.unitedplayers.com.

Pacific Theatre’s 8-show 40th anniversary season opens with a remount of Tetsuro Shigematsu’s Empire of the Son and include two premieres. Info &tickets: https://pacifictheatre.org/the-2023-24-season-is-here/.

Broadway across Canada will have a 4-show 2023-24 season at the Queen E Theatre: Hadestown, Disney’s Frozen, Hairspray and Mean Girls. Info and tickets at https://vancouver.broadway.com/shows/.

Metro Theatre’s 61st season of 5 shows plus a Xmas panto includesThe Mousetrap and Noises Off. Info and tickets at https://metrotheatre.com/2023-2024-metros-61st-season/.

Richmond’s Gateway Theatre Academy offers year-long and sessional acting and musical theatre classes for ages 6-18. https://gatewaytheatre.com/academy

Register for Theatre Replacement’s PantoLand and PantoTown summer camps. Ages 5-10, July 10-14 or July 17-21, $375; Ages 11-13, July 17-21 or July 24-28, $350. https://www.theatrereplacement.org/panto-pantoland-and-pantotown

Register for Carousel Theatre for Young People’s summer drama classes, July-Aug 2023, for ages 3-17. Info and registration at https://www.carouseltheatre.ca/drama-school/.

Please stay healthy. Get your booster!

Take care,
Jerry