welcome

MAY 2026 | VOLUME 263

May 4-17

A Musical May and More

There’s no getting around it – theatrical genres tend to change in sync with the seasons. The sunshine, warmer weather and nature exploding back into life need a soundtrack, and our companies are obliging with musicals: Singers in a Smoky Room, Legally Blonde, Grease and Gunmetal Blues these two weeks with more to come. Plus serious theatre to see, led by Itai Erdal’s timely Soldiers of Tomorrow along with City Song, Enemy Linesand Glitch. And we haven’t forgotten the kids: The Paper Bag Princess and Th’owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish.

Our On Now page shows you everything running through mid-May. And plot your theatregoing through early mid-June on our Coming Soon page.Be sure to look for the BUY TICKETS buttons.

Theatre lovers, theatre students, theatre historians and casual readers are invited to browse our ARCHIVES pages. Read 1100+ 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.

Massey Theatre invites you to Reading Theatre with Allan Morgan, reading Omnium Gatherum by Theresa Rebeck, May 6; and A Death in Gravy by Toph Whitmore, May 20. Readings 1:15 pm in Studio C. Free.

Ruby Slippers Theatre invites playwrights and directors to apply for the 2026/27 Advance Theatre Festival. Submit play synopsis, brief bio and max. 15 pp. script excerpt or director’s resume and cover letter to info@rubyslippers.ca by May 15.

North Van’s Presentation House Theatre invites you to a singalong with The Sound of Music movie, May 16, 2 pm & 7 pm. Tickets & info HERE.

Touchstone Theatre invites underrepresented early-career BC playwrights to apply for the Flying Start program, which will finance the development and production of a new script. Deadline: May 17. Details HERE.

Glitch Theatre presents Arc One, a live podcast-recording experience showcasing the work of D/disability-identified artists. May 23, 7:30 pm at the Roundhouse Performance Centre. Tickets & info at https://glitchtheatre.ca/.

Gateway Theatre’s 50/50 Spring Fling Raffle could win you up to $10,000. Deadline May 25. Tickets & info HERE.

Presentation House Theatre invites you to Curtain Call – Murder Mystery Night, June 15, 7 pm. $35 HERE.

Congratulations to Pacific Theatre for finding a new home for the 2026-27 season in the Revue Theatre on Granville Island. They invite you to their Housewarming Party, June 18, 7:30, with Ins Choi and Ivan Decker. $50. Info and tickets HERE.

The Arts Club’s 14-play 2026-27 season plus 4 plays on tour is highlighted by Death of a Salesman, John Proctor Is the Villain, plus new work and musicals, including Les Misérables. https://artsclub.com/season-tickets/packages

The Cultch’s13-show seasonincludes work by Vancouver’s Search Party,Rumble, ITSAZOO, Theatre Replacement (a new East Van Panto), Pi, Urban Ink, and a new musical from Amiel Gladstone & Veda Hille, plus from Toronto Michael Healey’s Rogers v. Rogers and a new Daisy Theatre from Ronnie Burkett. www.thecultch.com

United Players’ 5-play 2026-27 season features Canadian plays by John Lazarus and Vern Theissen and Beckett’s Happy Days. www.unitedplayers.com

Coquitlam’s Evergreen Cultural Centre’s 8-play season features three Arts Club plays on tour including Little Women, a remount of English, and Little Shop of Horrors. www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca      

Richmond’s Gateway Theatre’s 5-play 2026-27 season includes musicals Songs for a New World and 42nd Street plus Michele Riml’s She Shoots, She Scores! www.gatewaytheatre.com

Broadway Across Canada’s 5-play musical season at the Queen E opens with & Juliet and includes Hamilton and musical adaptations of Mrs. Doubtfire and The Bodyguard. https://vancouver.broadway.com/#season-26-27

Deep Cove’s 4-play First Impressions Theatre’s 2026-27 lineup includes Norm Foster’s Lunenberg, Krystal Dos Santos’ History of Motown plus Little Shop of Horrors. https://firstimpressionstheatre.com/next-season/

There’s a new improv group in town. SinPeaks presents The SuiSIN Squad, Tues. and Weds to May 27 at Little Mountain Gallery Raccoon Room, 111 Water St., 2nd floor.

Presentation House Theatre is holding a Commedia dell’ Arte Intensive with Susan Bertoia, May 19-22, 4-7 pm $160 + gst. Open to grades 8-12 on the North Shore. Info & registration HERE.

Registration is open for Carousel Theatre’s Summer Drama Day Camps for ages 6-12. Details HERE.

Perry Ehrlich’s Gotta Sing! Gotta Dance! musical theatre program is accepting applications for next summer, sessions July 7-30 and Aug. 4-27, M-F 9:00-4:00. Info and applications here: https://theimpresario.ca/gotta-sing-gotta-dance/

Register your kids for Theatre Replacement’s East Van Panto-themed summer camps for ages 5-13. Info HERE.

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

Enjoy,

Jerry