The Broadway smash hit Wicked comes to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, playing from June 1 – 26, 2011. Musicals in Vancouver is offering its readers a chance to buy their tickets ahead of the crowds.
This offer available from now until Friday, March 4, 2011 at 10 pm. Click the link below; the password is DEFYING:
Posted in Broadway Across Canada, Musical Theatre, Touring Shows, Upcoming Shows, Vancouver, Wicked
Tagged Presale, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Wicked
The three-time Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q makes its Vancouver debut this February. Often-described as an adult-take on Sesame Street, Avenue Q uses puppets to tell the story of a recent college graduate who moves to New York to find his place in the world.
Music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, book by Jeff Whitty, and based on an original concept by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx. Directed by Jason Moore, puppet design by Rick Lyon, choreography by Ken Roberson, scenic design by Anna Louizos, and costume design by Mirena Rada.
Starring Kerri Brackin, Ashley Eileen Bucknam, David Colston Corris, Lisa Helmi Johanson, Tim Kornblum, Michael Liscio Jr., Anita Welch, Ben Hart, Laura Yumi Snell, Katie McCreary and Zach Trimmer.
Work Light Productions presents Avenue Q, from February 1 – 5, 2011, at The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts, 777 Homer Street, Vancouver. Tickets are available online or by phone at 604-280-4444.
Posted in Avenue Q, Musical Theatre, Touring Shows, Upcoming Shows, Vancouver, Work Light
Tagged Anita Welch, Anna Louizos, Ashley Eileen Bucknam, Avenue Q, Ben Hart, Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts, David Colston Corris, Jason Moore, Jeff Marx, Jeff Whitty, Katie McCreary, Ken Roberson, Kerri Brackin, Laura Yumi Snell, Lisa Helmi Johanson, Michael Liscio Jr., Mirena Rada, Rick Lyon, Robert Lopez, Tim Kornblum, Tony Awards, Work Light Productions, Zach Trimmer
I feel it’s best for all of us if we forget the television travesty that was Grease: You’re the One That I Want. So, I offer my sincerest apologies for bringing it up once again. For those of you lucky enough to have missed it, the 2007 reality show had young actors and actresses competing to portray the lead roles of Danny Zuko and Sandy Dumbrowski in the Broadway revival of Grease. The entire endeavour was a creative sellout and the eventual production, featuring winners Max Crumm and Laura Osnes, was largely panned by most major Broadway critics.
Brad Lawson, Marc Winski, Patrick Cragin, Patrick Joyce, and Matt Nolan perform “Greased Lightnin'.” Photo by Joan Marcus.
Upon learning that the touring role of Danny Zuko was being played by Matt Nolan, a finalist from that show which shall-no-longer-be-named, I didn’t harbour much hope for the success of this show. So, I was pleasantly surprised by his performance on the opening night of Grease at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
For most Grease fans, Danny Zuko will forever be indelibly tied with John Travolta’s film portrayal and everyone who has played Danny since must endure the inevitable comparisons. Matt Nolan embodied the too-cool-for-school attitude of the character without trying to mimic Travolta’s mannerisms. Nolan was extremely likable; an overgrown kid not entirely sure of himself.
The same can’t be said of Alyssa Herrera’s Sandy. Herrera suffered from a severe lack of stage presence and she struggled to stand out from the chorus.
The secondary roles of the T-Birds and Pink Ladies were all played adequately, though none of them really delivered anything special.
Though touring shows aren’t expected to measure up to Broadway standards when it comes to sets and costumes, this production really fell short of the mark. Some of the sets looked like hastily-painted cardboard backdrops, while the costumes in the opening looked similarly cheap.
I was a bit underwhelmed by the whole thing, until some of the bigger dance numbers. Joyce Chittick’s choreography was slickly executed and helped lift the show from its inauspicious beginning.
This current production also incorporates some of the more popular songs from the movie that weren’t originally part of the stage version including “Grease (Is the Word)” and “Hopelessly Devoted to You.”
Some of the grittiness and more mature bits have either been glossed over or removed entirely. In the song “Greased Lightning”, lyrics have been changed from “the chicks will cream” to “the chicks will scream” and “pussy wagon” is now “draggin’ wagon.” Rizzo’s second-act pregnancy scare is brushed off as no big deal. Though, in fairness, it can be hard to remember that these twenty-something actors are all supposed to be playing teenagers.
But, no one has ever accused Grease of trying to be serious theatre. On opening night, the theatre was laden with patrons of all ages, many of whom were avid fans of the movie. At several junctures throughout the show, I could hear audience members singing along with their favourite songs. The appeal of Grease isn’t in its barebones plot; it’s in the nostalgia and the catchy songs. And on that count, Grease more than delivers.
Grease, presented by Broadway Across Canada, runs until October 31, 2010, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 600 block Hamilton St, Vancouver. Tickets are available online or by calling 604-280-4444.
Posted in Broadway Across Canada, Grease, Movies, Musical Theatre, Reviews, Television, Touring Shows, Vancouver
Tagged Alyssa Herrera, Broadway Across Canada, Danny Zuko, Grease, Grease: You're the One That I Want, John Travolta, Joyce Chittick, Laura Osnes, Matt Nolan, Max Crumm, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Reality Television, Sandy Dumbrowski
A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline follows the life of the legendary singer, and features such songs as “Walkin’ After Midnight,” “Sweet Dreams,” and “Crazy.”
Sara-Jeanne Hosie in the Arts Club’s production of A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline. Photo by David Cooper.
Written by Dean Regan. Directed by Shane Snow, with musical direction by Nico Rhodes, set and lighting design by Ted Roberts, and costume design by Norma Bowen. Starring Sara-Jeanne Hosie (White Christmas, Arts Club) and Kevin James.
A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, presented by the Arts Club On Tour in association with Chemainus Theatre Festival, runs from October 8 – November 15, 2010, at various theatres in North Vancouver, Maple Ridge, Surrey, West Vancouver, Coquitlam, Kelowna, Nelson, Cranbrook, Mission, Burnaby, Vernon, and Chilliwack. Tickets are available from the local theatres, click here for a more detailed schedule.
Posted in A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, Arts Club, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Cranbrook, Kelowna, Maple Ridge, Mission, Musical Theatre, Nelson, North Vancouver, Surrey, Touring Shows, Upcoming Shows, Vernon, West Vancouver
Tagged A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline, Arts Club, Arts Club On Tour, Burnaby, Chemainus Theatre Festival, Chilliwack, Coquitlam, Cranbrook, Dean Regan, Kelowna, Kevin James, Mission, Nelson, Nico Rhodes, Norma Bowen, North Vancouver, Patsy Cline, Sara-Jeanne Hosie, Shane Snow, Ted Roberts, Vernon, West Vancouver
That original high school musical, Grease is the word once again. After a drought of touring productions in Vancouver in recent years, Broadway Across Canada has a steady stream of Broadway shows heading our way. Up next: Grease. The current production includes songs from the original stage production as well as popular hits from the movie version, including “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” “Grease,” and “You’re the One That I Want.”
Book, music, and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey, with additional songs by Barry Gibb, John Farrar, Louis St. Louis and Scott Simon. Directed by David John O’Brien, choreographed by Joyce Chittick. Set design by Tony Award winner Derek McLane, costume design by Tony Award winner Martin Pakledinaz and lighting design by Tony Award winner Kenneth Posner.
Starring Tony nominee Eddie Mekka, Alyssa Herrera, Matt Nolan (Grease: You’re The One That I Want), Patrick Cragin, Audrey Filson, Kelly Teal Goyette, Patrick Joyce, Alicia Kelly, Brad Lawson, Ashley Rubin, Lauren Elaine Taylor, Lauren Turner and Marc Winski.
Broadway Across Canada presents Grease from October 26 – 31, 2010, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 600 block Hamilton St, Vancouver. Tickets are available online or by calling 604-280-4444.
Posted in Broadway Across Canada, Grease, Musical Theatre, Touring Shows, Upcoming Shows, Vancouver
Tagged Alicia Kelly, Alyssa Herrera, Ashley Rubin, Audrey Filson, Barry Gibb, Brad Lawson, Broadway Across Canada, David John O'Brien, Derek McLane, Eddie Mekka, Grease, Jim Jacobs, John Farrar, Joyce Chittick, Kelly Teal Goyette, Kenneth Posner, Lauren Elaine Taylor, Lauren Turner, Louis St. Louis, Marc Winski, Martin Pakledinaz, Matt Nolan, Patrick Cragin, Patrick Joyce, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Scott Simon, Warren Casey
Cast members from the touring production of the smash hit The Lion King are raising money for two local HIV/AIDS groups with the special one-night-only revue Le Jazz Hot.
Developed by Vancouver local and Broadway entertainer Ian Yuri Gardner, the show will feature Wendy Bollard and international and Broadway talent including Vusi Mhlongo, Kendra Moore, LaShonda Reese, Sophia Stephens, Omari Tau, Frank Wright II and other members of Disney’s The Lion King.
Le Jazz Hot will feature solo and ensemble music, dance and audience interactive numbers in a setting of a 1930s/40s speakeasy. Door prizes will include tickets to The Lion King at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Funds raised will benefit Youth Community Outreach AIDS Society and the National Congress of Black Women Foundation in Vancouver.
Youth Community Outreach AIDS Society is Canada’s first youth-driven organization leading the HIV and HepC movement through peer education, support, and shared leadership. YouthCO was formed in 1994 to address an identified need for youth-specific HIV/AIDS services and has been providing peer support and education throughout Vancouver and British Columbia, Canada.
The National Congress of Black Women Foundation is a registered charity that promotes and facilitates leadership development, cultural awareness, health and education programs for black women and their families through funding and research. The NCBWF works in partnership with other organizations and individuals who support the goals and objectives of reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS infection and enhancing the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Disney’s The Lion King plays until August 8, 2010, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 600 block Hamilton St, Vancouver.
Le Jazz Hot plays for one night only on Monday, July 26, 2010 at 7 pm at the Revue Stage, 1601 Johnston Street, Granville Island. Tickets are $30.00 and are available online or by calling 604-629-8849.
Posted in Musical Theatre, The Lion King, Theatre News, Touring Shows, Upcoming Shows, Vancouver
Tagged Disney's The Lion King, Frank Wright II, Ian Yuri Gardner, Kendra Moore, LaShonda Reese, Le Jazz Hot, National Congress of Black Women Foundation, Omari Tau, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Sophia Stephens, The Lion King, Vusi Mhlongo, Wendy Bollard, YouthCO
The Vancouver debut of the Tony Award-winning musical Disney’s The Lion King is less than a month away and the local buzz continues to grow. The Lion King is a theatrical juggernaut that has shown no sign of slowing down since it hit Broadway 13 years ago.
Phindile Mkhize as Rafiki in the opening number “The Circle of Life” from the national tour of Disney's The Lion King. Photo by Joan Marcus.
The Lion King is the eighth longest-running musical in Broadway history and this touring company is one of the seven productions currently playing worldwide, including New York, London, Hamburg, Paris, Tokyo and Las Vegas.
Starring J. Anthony Crane, Brenda Mhlongo, Nick Cordileone, Adam Jacobs, Syndee Winters, Monica L. Patton, Kolton Stewart, Monique Lee, Dionne Randolph, Tony Freeman, Omari Tau, Ben Roseberry, Jerome Stephens Jr., and Madai Monica Williams.
Disney Theatrical Productions and Broadway Across Canada present Disney’s The Lion King from July 13 – August 8, 2010, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 600 block Hamilton St, Vancouver. Tickets are still available online or by calling 604-280-4444.
Posted in Broadway Across Canada, Disney, Musical Theatre, The Lion King, Touring Shows, Upcoming Shows, Vancouver
Tagged Adam Jacobs, Ben Roseberry, Brenda Mhlongo, Broadway Across Canada, Dionne Randolph, Disney's The Lion King, J. Anthony Crane, Jerome Stephens Jr., Kolton Stewart, Madai Monica Williams, Monica L. Patton, Monique Lee, Nick Cordileone, Omari Tau, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Syndee Winters, The Lion King, Tony Freeman, Vancouver, Vancouver Musicals
Local Disney and musical-theatre fans alike will be ecstatic to hear that Tony Award-winning musical Disney’s The Lion King will finally be coming to the Vancouver stage in July, 2010.
Broadway Across Canada offerings have been relatively sparse in our city over the past few years and hopefully this announcement signals the beginning of a turnaround in the national touring productions that stop in Vancouver.
Based on the blockbuster 1994 animated film of the same name, The Lion King opened on Broadway in 1997 and promptly won a plethora of honours including six Tony Awards, eight Drama Desk Awards, six Outer Critics Circle Awards, the New York Drama Critics award for Best Musical, the Evening Standard Award for the Theatrical Event of the Year, two Olivier Awards, a Theatre World Award, the Astaire Award for Outstanding Choreography, two Drama League Awards and a Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.
Choreography is by Garth Fagan, scenic design by Richard Hudson, costume design by Julie Taymor, and lighting design by Donald Holder. The Lion King features an adapted book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi and a score by Elton John, Tim Rice, Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer.
Broadway Across Canada presents Disney’s The Lion King from July13– August 8, 2010, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 600 block Hamilton St, Vancouver. Ticket prices range from $26.50 to $98.50 and go on sale in March of 2010.
Posted in Broadway Across Canada, Musical Theatre, The Lion King, Theatre News, Touring Shows, Upcoming Shows, Vancouver
Tagged Broadway Across Canada, Disney, Disney's The Lion King, Donald Holder, Elton John, Garth Fagan, Hans Zimmer, Irene Mecchi, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Richard Hudson, Roger Allers, The Lion King, Tim Rice, Vancouver Musicals
There’s a certain school of thinking that says that higher ticket prices equate to a better show. My experiences with touring professional musicals would suggest that isn’t always the case. I’ve often found them to be uneven and not always worth the high price of admission.
Luckily, A Chorus Line is more hit than miss. Following 17 dancers auditioning for roles in the chorus line of a Broadway musical, The Tony award-winning show sets high expectations, billing itself as the best musical ever.
The calibre of acting was largely topnotch and the dancing spectacular. The sheer athleticism and grace of the cast was on full display in this beautifully choreographed production.
The company on the line in the National Tour of A Chorus Line. Photo- Paul Kolnik
A Chorus Line works best when the audience finds all of the competing dancers to be sympathetic and likeable. Not all of the actors were able to pull this off. On opening night, Julie Kotarides subbed in for Rebecca Riker in the role of Diana. Kotarides was serviceable in the part, but was nothing to write home about. Her singing voice was pretty, but her acting felt one-dimensional and left me indifferent.
Anthony Wayne’s Richie pulsed with a manic energy which translated well in his dancing. His delivery, however, seemed to be a jivey throwback to 70’s style media portrayals of African-Americans that bordered perilously close to being offensive.
Maggie as played by Hollie Howard was tepid and forgettable. Her vocals were a bit more memorable, but not in a good way. Maggie’s high notes in “At the Ballet” were painful to hear and took away from what is otherwise a beautiful song.
The negatives were largely outshone by the myriad of positive performances. Bethany Moore was note-perfect and extremely likeable as the awkward Judy Turner. Brandon Tyler’s Larry was a dervish in dance shoes as he moved with reckless abandon across the stage. Emily Fletcher smouldered as the sexually aggressive Sheila, commanding attention with a raise of her eyebrows or a toss of her hair.
A Chorus Line was truly groundbreaking when it debuted in the mid-70s, but many parts of it have not aged well. Mindy Dougherty as the artificially-enhanced Val made the most of the once risqué number “Dance: 10; Looks: Three.” But modern audiences have long since become accustomed to ‘tits and ass,’ and the song barely registers today.
I had high hopes for Joey Dudding who played Paul. One of the emotional highlights in the show for me is Paul’s monologue. Properly delivered, it deftly rises to an emotional crescendo. Dudding raced through it and arriving at the end seemed to cry almost as an afterthought, barely phoning it in.
A Chorus Line features several gay characters as revealed through songs or monologues. The sexualities of many other male characters are left undefined. As such, these are usually played straight, for lack of a better word. It was nice to see, in this production, to see many other of the dancers not all played as hyper-masculine heterosexuals.
This line is a solid, strong production that is worth the ticket price for the dancing alone. That plus some inspired acting and vocal performances make A Chorus Line a must-see.
A Chorus Line, presented by Broadway Across Canada, plays at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts, 777 Homer Street from Nov 3-8, 2009. Tickets are available online now or by phone at 604-280-4444.
Posted in A Chorus Line, Broadway Across Canada, Musical Theatre, Reviews, Touring Shows, Vancouver
Tagged A Chorus Line, Anthony Wayne, Bethany Moore, Brandon Tyler, Broadway Across Canada, Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts, Emily Fletcher, Hollie Howard, Joey Dudding, Julie Kotarides, Mindy Dougherty, Rebecca Riker
The Evil Dead fans came out in droves for the opening night of Evil Dead: The Musical on Thursday night. The current of excitement was tangible outside the Vogue as they lined up in the damp Vancouver air. Inside, the atmosphere was far more akin to a rock concert than to that of a typical night out at the theatre.
Musical-theatre patrons can be a devoted and passionate lot, but they generally don’t show up to see Les Misérables or A Chorus Line in stage makeup or costumes. The Evil Dead crowd was a definite exception to that rule.
The Cast of Evil Dead: The Musical playing The Vogue Theatre. Photo- Sean Dennie, Photoganda.
The musical version comes with a built-in fan base thanks to director Sam Raimi’s cult horror Evil Dead film trilogy. Movie fans were amply represented in the opening night’s audience as evidenced by their enthusiastic appreciation of inside jokes referencing Raimi and his films.
For those unfamiliar with the movies, Evil Dead follows five college students spending their spring break at an old abandoned cabin in the woods. An ancient evil is released and blood, gore and mayhem ensue.
Producers, publicists and the press in other cities have repeatedly compared Evil Dead: The Musical to that other camp classic, The Rocky Horror Show. Sadly, Evil Dead doesn’t quite live up to the billing.
Sure, there are some passing similarities to Rocky Horror, but there really should be no comparison. The songs and lyrics plumb the depths of awfulness. Not in the way of being so bad that they’re actually good. These are just bad, in the truly worst sense of the word. And it’s a shame. The slasher and horror genre are ripe for musical parody, but the book and the music here just aren’t up to snuff.
The sound quality was noticeably spotty and I struggled to catch many lines as mics dropped in and out with little regard to who was actually supposed to be speaking or singing. Conversely, lead actor Tyler Rive was over-amplified throughout the show.
With that said, based on the audience’s reaction, the quality (or lack thereof) of the music, lyrics, or plot was inconsequential. They roared and cheered with delight each time that a familiar line from the film was recited, or a body was dismembered, or when a demonically-animated corpse made sexually suggestive pelvic thrusts. I have to assume that only part of that enthusiasm was due to alcohol or other intoxicants.
Much of the excitement revolved around the gratuitous use of blood and gore. Patrons pay a premium to sit in the first five rows of the theatre, which are termed the “Splatter Zone.” At intermission ushers handed out plastic ponchos to protect against the second act onslaught of stage blood which rained from all directions onto the audience members in the “Splatter Zone.”
High art it definitely ain’t. Evil Dead may not be everyone’s particular cup of blood, but for the sheer spectacle and concert-style atmosphere it’s worth checking out. Excitement about the theatre is always a good thing in my book, even if the material doesn’t deserve it.
Evil Dead: The Musical, presented by Ground Zero Theatre, Hit & Myth Productions and Keystone plays an extended run until November 14, 2009 at the Vogue Theatre, 918 Granville St. Tickets are available online or by phone at 604-280-4444.
Musicals in Vancouver 