Category Archives: Upcoming Shows

Debt- The Musical; Firehall (Upcoming show)

Posted on December 28, 2009 | Leave a comment

January brings us the world premiere of Debt- the Musical at the Firehall Arts Centre.  Debt is billed by its creators Leslie Mildiner and Todd Butler as a 90-minute musical satire exploring “the chaos, comedy and confusion created when the charge card creeps too high and the commercials keep saying buy-buy.”

Debt is directed by Donna Spencer, features choreography from Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg, and stars Ellen Kennedy, Tom Pickett, Tracey Power, Andy Toth and Simon Webb.

The Firehall Arts Centre presents Debt- the Musical with preview performances from January 8 – 12, and opening Wednesday, January 13 – 30, 2010.  Tickets are available online or by calling 604-689-0926.

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Forbidden Broadway; Fighting Chance (Upcoming show)

Posted on December 27, 2009 | 1 comment

Forbidden Broadway, the popular musical-theatre parody, makes its BC premiere in January.  Fighting Chance Productions presents a best of version of Forbidden Broadway poking good-natured fun at shows like Wicked, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia, Hairspray, and The Phantom of the Opera.

Forbidden Broadway is directed by Ryan Mooney, with musical direction by Sarah Jaysmith, and starring Andrea Bailey, Natalee Fera, Aaron Lau, David Nicks and Cathy Wilmot.

Fighting Chance Productions presents Forbidden Broadway from January 6 – 16, 2010 at the PAL Theatre, 581 Cardero St.  Tickets are available online or by calling 604-684-2787.

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Thoroughly Modern Millie; Gateway (Upcoming show)

Posted on December 9, 2009 | 1 comment

Thoroughly Modern Millie opens at the Gateway Theatre in Richmond this Friday.  Millie was already one of TUTS’ offerings this past summer, so it will be familiar territory for some.

Mat Baker and Lauren Bowler in Gateway Theatre's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie.

Having really enjoyed seeing Millie at the Malkin Bowl, I’m eager to see how this production will compare.  Starring Lauren Bowler, Mat Baker (Evil Dead, DSR), Diana Kaarina (Thoroughly Modern Millie, TUTS), Irene Karas, Minh Ly, Raugi Yu, Gaelan Beatty, and Denis Simpson.

Directed by Simon Johnston and assistant director Natasha Nadir, musical direction by Allen Stiles, choreography by Ken Overbey, set design by Drew Facey, costume design by Jen Darbellay, lighting by Ereca Hassell, sound design by Chris Hind, stage managed by Angela Beaulieu and assistant stage manager Jamie Tait.

Gateway Theatre presents Thoroughly Modern Millie from December 10, 2009 – January 3, 2010 at the Gateway Theatre, 6500 Gilbert Road, Richmond.  Tickets are available online or by phone at 604-270-1812.

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Posted in Gateway Theatre, Musical Theatre, Richmond, Thoroughly Modern Mille, Upcoming Shows, Vancouver

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Disney’s The Lion King coming to Vancouver (Upcoming show)

Posted on November 18, 2009 | 1 comment

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.

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Posted in Broadway Across Canada, Musical Theatre, The Lion King, Theatre News, Touring Shows, Upcoming Shows, Vancouver

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Dirty Rotten Scoundrels; Playhouse (Upcoming show)

Posted on November 17, 2009 | 1 comment

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels begins previews at the Vancouver Playhouse this Saturday with an official opening next week.

Artistic Managing Director Max Reimer hopes to continue his winning streak after last year’s hit The Drowsy Chaperone brought new life to, and with it higher expectations for, the Playhouse’s annual musical offering.

Directed by Max Reimer, with musical direction by Steve Thomas and co-choreographed by Reimer and Nathalie Marrable, the musical version of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is based on the 1988 film of the same name.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels stars Josh Epstein (The Producers, Arts Club) as Freddy Benson, Andrew Wheeler as Lawrence Jameson and Elena Juatco (Canadian Idol) as Christine Colgate and an ensemble including Danny Balkwill (Thoroughly Modern Millie, TUTS), Tyson Coady (A New Brain, Pipedream), Brennan Cuff, Kazumi Evans (West Side Story, RCMT), Gabrielle Jones (The Drowsy Chaperone, Playhouse), Kiara Leigh, David Marr (The Drowsy Chaperone, Playhouse), Katie Murphy, Jaclyn Rae, Colin Sheen and Debbie Timuss (The Drowsy Chaperone, Playhouse).

The Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company presents Dirty Rotten Scoundrels from November 21- December 27, 2009 at the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre, Hamilton and Dunsmuir.  Tickets are available online or by phone at 604-873-3311.

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Irving Berlin’s White Christmas: The Musical; Arts Club (Upcoming show)

Posted on November 12, 2009 | Leave a comment

Christmas is coming early to Vancouver this year.  The Arts Club production of White Christmas begins previews tonight and opens officially November 18th, 2009.

Based on the 1954 musical film starring Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera-Ellen, the stage version debuted in 2004 with a book by David Ives and Paul Blake and music by Irving Berlin.

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Todd Talbot, Laura McNaught, Jeffrey Victor, Sara-Jeanne Hosie in the Arts Club Theatre Company’s production of White Christmas. Photo by David Cooper.

Starring Sara-Jeanne Hosie (Les Misérables, Arts Club), Monique Lund (Beauty and the Beast, Arts Club), Todd Talbot (Annie, TUTS), Jeffrey Victor (Les Misérables, Arts Club), Susan Anderson (Beauty and the Beast, Arts Club), Réjean Cournoyer (Les Misérables, Arts Club), with Robert Allan, Jak Barradell (Altar Boyz, Arts Club), Darren Burkett (A Chorus Line, RCMT), Adam Charles (A Chorus Line, RCMT), Anna Kuman (A Chorus Line, RCMT), Jeremy Lowe (Les Misérables, Arts Club), Kristie Marsden (Company, Arts Club), Marianne McCord, Laura McNaught (A Chorus Line, RCMT), Keri Minty (A Chorus Line, RCMT), Shane Snow (The Full Monty, Patrick Street), Fiona Vroom, Mark Weatherley, and Rachael Withers (Les Misérables, Arts Club).

Arts Club Theatre Company presents Irving Berlin’s White Christmas: The Musical from November 24– December 27, 2009 at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, 2750 Granville St.  Tickets are available online or by phone at 604-687-1644.

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Posted in Arts Club, Musical Theatre, Upcoming Shows, Vancouver, White Christmas: The Musical

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High School Musical 2; URP (Upcoming show)

Posted on October 17, 2009 | Leave a comment

High School Musical was such a success for URP back in 2007 and 2008 that they’re mounting the sequel to the massive Disney hit for their 15th season.  HSM and its two sequels have a huge following among tweens, teens and Disney fans of all ages, which should bode well for URP’s ticket sales.

Cast of URP's production of High School Musical 2

The cast of URP's 2009 production of High School Musical 2

High School Musical 2 stars Aaron Lau, Julie Trepanier, Scott Perrie, Shannon
Adams, Brandyn Eddy, and Jessica Kelly.

URP presents High School Musical 2, playing November 3-22, 2009, at the Centennial Theatre, 2300 Lonsdale, North Vancouver.  Tickets are available online or by phone at 604-984-4484.

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39… and Ticking! (Upcoming show)

Posted on October 14, 2009 | Leave a comment

Full Figure Theatre and the Shadbolt Centre for the Arts present the world premiere of 39… and Ticking! Written and directed by Sharon Heath, this clown musical deals with issues of dating, aging, raising kids and procreating.

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Featuring music composed by Ted Hamilton and Joan MacLean, with musical direction by Bill Costin and choreography by Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg.  39… and Ticking! stars Joan MacLean, Lisa Beley, Lisa Bunting and Cheryl Mullen.

39… and Ticking! plays October 14-17 in the Studio at the Shadbolt Centre, 6450 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby.  Tickets are available by phone at 604-205-3000.

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The Evil Dead Dilemma

Posted on September 30, 2009 | Leave a comment

Vancouver will soon be host to not one, but two versions of Evil Dead at the end of October.  One company was granted the professional rights, the other the amateur rights.

I’ve been scouring the web, trying to see if there is a term for when there are two productions of the same show playing in the same city.  So far, I’ve got nothing.  Perhaps somebody out there can help me out?

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In a relatively smaller market like Vancouver, it must be a challenge enough to compete for ticket-buying audiences when two versions of the same play or musical are staged in the same year or season.  That being said, it seems to happen with a fair bit of regularity.  Thoroughly Modern Millie played at TUTS this summer and will play again this fall at Gateway.  Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is being done by Footlight this November, then again by Royal City Musical Theatre in the spring and then for a third time by TUTS next summer.  Maybe they all know something that I don’t.

The dual Evil Dead productions are in a particularly precarious position, as one is opening just a little bit more than a week before the other and there is considerable overlap between their production dates.

I’ve heard buzz around both productions and murmurs over which show will be better or which one should local audiences support.  For my part, I’m exercising some journalistic impartiality, giving equal coverage to both shows on this site. I’m also urging local musical aficionados to see both productions, if they can.

There are likely to be upsides and downsides to both (as with every show) and this site will provide reviews of both productions after their respective opening nights.

Ground Zero Theatre, Hit & Myth Productions and Keystone present the Vancouver premiere of Evil Dead: The Musical at the Vogue Theatre from October 20-31, 2009.  Tickets are available online now.

Down Stage Right Productions also presents Evil Dead: The Musical at the Norman Rothstein Theatre from October 29-November 7, 2009.  Tickets are available online now.

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Posted in Down Stage Right, Evil Dead: The Musical, Ground Zero, Musical Theatre, Upcoming Shows, Vancouver

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A Chorus Line; Broadway Across Canada (Upcoming Show)

Posted on September 26, 2009 | Leave a comment

The first stage musical I ever reviewed was a touring version of A Chorus Line back in the 90s.  This November, A Chorus Line returns to Vancouver for a one-week run.

Conceived and originally directed by Michael Bennett, book by James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch, lyrics by Edward Kleban, A Chorus Line ran for almost 15 years on Broadway and remains one of the longest-running Broadway musicals in history.

The company on the line in the National Tour of A Chorus Line. Photo- Paul Kolnik

The company on the line in the National Tour of A Chorus Line. Photo- Paul Kolnik

The National tour cast currently features Clyde Alves (Mike), Amos Wolff (Roy), Dena DiGiacinto (Bebe), Liza Domingo (Connie), Mindy Dougherty (Val), Joey Dudding (Paul), Emily Fletcher (Sheila), Michael Gruber(Zach), Derek Hanson (Don), Hollie Howard (Maggie), David Hull (Mark), Jordan Fife Hunt (Frank), Robyn Hurder (Cassie), Julie Kotarides (Vicki), Jessica Latshaw (Kristine), Ian Liberto (Bobby), Sterling Masters (Lois), Stephanie Martignetti (Tricia), Bethany Moore (Judy), Colt Prattes (Al), Rebecca Riker (Diana), Alex Ringler (Greg), Clifton Samuels (Tom), Brandon Tyler (Larry), Anthony Wayne (Richie), J.R. Whittington (Butch) and swing performers Deanna Aguinaga, Venny Carranza, Erica Mansfield and Shane Rhoades.

Broadway Across Canada presents A Chorus Line from Nov 3-8, 2009 at the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts, 777 Homer Street.  Tickets are available online now or by phone at 604-280-4444.

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