welcome

MAY 2025 | VOLUME 251

 

MAY 19-June 1

LIFE COULD BE A DREAM …

Late May-June is a rich time for theatre with a bunch of festivals in town along with season-enders for the Cultch, the Firehall, Pacific Theatre, United Players, Western Gold and Metro, along with a whack of independent shows. See our On Now page for everything running through May. Be sure to look for the BUY TICKETS buttons. And plot your theatregoing through June as the Arts Club’s summer shows, Bard on the Beach, Theatre Under the Stars and some good-looking indies feature on our Coming Soon page.

Eight shows on our site right now are musicals—‘tis the season. Speaking of music, I’d like to toot my own horn a little. I’m proud to announce the publication of my book, Life Could Be a Dream: African American Blues,R&B,Gospel and Doo Wop, 1946-56.

This is a study of, and homage to, the great Black American artists and their songs (excluding jazz) created in the tumultuous decade before rock ‘n’ roll. Some of the names will be familiar—Muddy Waters, B.B. King, Etta James, Mahalia Jackson, Fats Domino, the Platters—but most are obscure, having dropped off the musical map as rock and soul took over. This book honours those artists and aims to bring their amazing music back into general consciousness. I’m delighted at the way it has turned out, at 260 pages with 30 photographs, thanks to McFarland Publishing of North Carolina. The book is now available on Amazon. It’s expensive: $50 US or nearly $70 Canadian, but worth it, I hope. The digital E-book for Kindle should be on Amazon in a couple of weeks; for now it’s available for Kobo at $34.99 CAD HERE. I’m happy to talk about it with anyone, and keen to sign your copy anytime!

Theatre lovers, theatre students, theatre historians and casual readers are invited to browse our ARCHIVES pages. Read 1000+ 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.

Théâtre la Seizième presents Lapin blanc, lapin rouge by Nassim Soleimanpour as
the last staged reading in its series ÉCHO(S). The play will be performed in French with English surtitles by Julie Trépanier on May 23 and Omari Newton on May 24 at 7:30 pm, at Studio 16, 1555 W. 7th Av. Tickets $22 at www.seizieme.ca.

Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre is holding a raffle to support its mainstage productions of The Frontliners. Tix $10 or five for $40. Draw May 25. Info and tix at https://frontliners.rafflenexus.com/.

North Van’s Presentation House Theatre invites you to The Sound of Music movie singalong, June 14, 2 pm and 7 pm. Tickets from $20. Info and tix: https://www.phtheatre.org/movie-singalong-the-sound-of-music-2025/

Sound the Alarm: Music/Theatre brings A Whole New World: A Live Concert of Movie Musicals’ Greatest Songs to North Van, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, New West, Richmond, Abbotsford, Maple Ridge, Vancouver and Surrey. May 25-June 20. Info and tix: https://soundthealarm.ca/a-whole-new-world

Bard on the Beach is holding a series of special events along with its four shows this summer. Bard Pride Day, June 28, 5:30 pm; Bard Explored talks with SFU’s Paul Budra, June 28, July 5, Aug. 9& 16; Relaxed Performance of Much Ado AboutNothing, June 29, 2 pm; Wine Wednesdays, July 2, Aug. 13, Sept. 10; Family Days, July 13, Aug. 17; Bard Club, July 16, Aug. 2, 6 & 27; Bard Fireworks Nights, July 19, 26. https://bardonthebeach.org/special-events/

Congratulations to Arts Club artistic director Ashlie Corcoran, recipient of the 2025 YWCA Woman of the Year Award in Arts, Culture and Design. Way to go, Ashlie!

The Arts Club’s 13-play 2025-26 season plus 3 touring productions includes a new version of A Doll’s House and musicals Kimberly Akimbo and Come from Away. www.artsclub.com

The Cultch’s rich new season features 18 shows plus a festival from Australia, Toronto, New Zealand, Hungary, Halifax, Amsterdam, the UK and of course Vancouver. https://thecultch.com/ticket-packages/#shows

United Players’ 5-play 2025-26 season at Jericho Arts Centre includes Shaw’s Arms and the Man, Metamorphoses, and a new play by Aaron Bushkowsky. www.unitedplayers.com

Coquitlam’s Evergreen Cultural Centre's 8-show season includes three Arts Club shows and three musicals. https://evergreenculturalcentre.ca/theatre-series/

Deep Cove’s First Impressions Theatre’s 4-play season includes Jake’s Gift, Art and two musicals. https://www.firstimpressionstheatre.com/#nextseasontitle

Broadway Across Canada’s 2025-26 5-musical season at the Queen E Theatre will include MJ (the Michael Jackson musical) and old faves Les Misérables and Mamma Mia. https://vancouver.broadway.com/

The Improv Centre is offering classes in improv at all levels. Info HERE.

Richmond’s Gateway Theatre Academy is offering acting and musical theatre summer camps for kids ages 6-13. https://gatewaytheatre.com/academy

Metro Theatre is offering musical theatre summer camp for kids 9-13, July 7-11. Info and registration at https://metrotheatre.com/musical-theatre-summer-camp-at-the-metro/

Enjoy,

Jerry