; Fun! Fun! Vancouver!: July 2014

Tuesday 29 July 2014

Happy Pride, Vancouver!

It's Pride Week here in Vancouver!! Happy Pride! Stay safe and have fun!


For all Pride festivities and goings-on, I'm going to refer you over to the fine folks over at GayVancouver.Net 

Tuesday 22 July 2014

Show Tunes BY REQUEST

Get your requests in for the next Show Tunes night, Friday August 15th, 6-9:30pm at 1181 Davie St!


Anything I can do, you can do better? It's up to you Vancouver! Tell me what you want! Anything goes! August Show Tunes Night is BY REQUEST so send those requests in ASAP to showtunesyvr@gmail.com cause it's going to be a hot mess! With sexy bartenders and happy hour specials, come join us for all the fun that you've been hearing about!
Like the Show Tunes page on Facebook to keep informed! 

Monday 21 July 2014

The Cripple of Inishmaan

Theatre goers should be flocking to the Jericho Arts Centre to catch this wonderful production of The Cripple of Inishmaan, written by Martin McDonagh. Over on Broadway, Daniel Radcliffe just finished a run as the lead character, the show having closed just yesterday. Fortunately for Vancouverites, the local run here goes well into August! So go see it when you still have a chance!


It's toted as a dark comedy, and there were definitely many funny moments, but I found it to be also quite dramatic as well. The story revolves a crippled young man who is trying to find his way out of small-town Ireland by means of a Hollywood film crew who come to town.

The actors of the Ensemble Theatre Company do an amazing job, and this is on par with anything I've ever seen at the now defunct Vancouver Playhouse. My only complaint is that their shows take place only during the summer months, it seems. Given an entire year to play with, I can only imagine the top tier caliber of work they would produce. That said however, I'm thankful that there is theatre happening in the summer when most places have gone dark until the Fall. And not just any theater, but GOOD theatre - stuff that I want to go out and see, and stuff that's well performed and well produced! Kudos to you, Ensemble Theatre Company (who have three shows running consecutively right now in addition to The Cripple of Inishmaan).

I thoroughly enjoyed my evening out at the theatre thanks to the wonderful actors of this show. The set design by John Bessette was perfect, and the lighting by Darren Hales worked wonderfully to help transport the audience from an Irish corner store down to the docks and all the way across the ocean to early Hollywood.

The Cripple of Inishmaan is on now until August 13th (alternating with The Normal Heart and The Duchess of Malfi) at the Jericho Arts Centre. Buy your tickets online!

Sunday 20 July 2014

Red Rock Diner

I've heard of the Red Rock Diner musical for a while now and finally got the chance to go see it for myself last night! This ode to Vancouver and Hall of Fame DJ Red Robinson is a blast from the past, transporting you back to a more innocent time of soda shops and sock hops.



It's a performance piece that features a group of dancers and singers showcasing their moves and vocal chops to some golden oldies. It also depicts the rise of Red Robinson and how he brought popular music to the youth of Vancouver. If you're like me, and you enjoy musicals that have a storyline, the one here is pretty thin so you will have to think of it more as a cabaret / showcase of song and dance instead. It's highly enjoyable, and the actors are all stupendous!


The energy that these actors have to use for this stage spectacle is astounding. I was exhausted just watching them! They had people up in their seats, clapping along, dancing in the aisles! It's a fun and entertaining evening for everyone, and has now been extended to August 16!

Red Rock Diner is on now at the Granville Island Stage.

Thursday 10 July 2014

The Normal Heart


If you were lucky enough to catch the HBO screening of Larry Kramer's iconic Tony-award winning Broadway play, The Normal Heart, you'll know how important a story this is. It is a document of the AIDS crisis as it blew up in New York City in the early 1980s. The movie version has now been nominated for several Emmy awards, and now it's your chance to see this the way it was meant to be seen - live on stage at the theatre!

Ensemble Theatre Company brings the story to life at the Jericho Arts Centre, starting July 18th until August 16. You can purchase your tickets online here.

Vancouver TheatreSports

With the summer months mainly a dry spell when it comes to shows and performances in Vancouver, one can always count on the comedy stylings of TheatreSports, which has been around for 24 years! This is Vancouver's version of Second City, Chicago's improv school where future Saturday Night Live alum are farmed from.


Adding to their repertoire of improv shows, TheatreSports gives us TripImproviser, which "bring the highlights and lowlights of people’s travels to life in this interactive comedy, inspired by you and your travels. Watch the “worst trip ever” re-enacted onstage. Learn more about these exotic lands and people. Where will we end up? From city to jungle, bungee jumping to bird watching, the possibilities are endless because it’s totally improvised and totally unpredictable."

TripImproviser runs until August 30 at the Improv Centre on Granville Island.

Rewilding Vancouver

A few years ago I was walking to the skytrain over by Broadway and Commercial and went through the alleyway behind the McDonald's. I could've sworn I saw a rodent that looked positively radioactive scurrying into the ground. I didn't believe my eyes and was probably too grossed out by the whole thing that I've blocked it out of my mind and chalked it up to my imagination. 


However, if you go see the current exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver, you'll be quick learn that what I saw was in fact a reality. Did you know that Vancouver used to have red rats roaming about? Rewilding Vancouver "explores the city’s nature as it was, is, and could be."

Rewilding Vancouver is currently on at the Museum of Vancouver until September 1st. 
  

Tuesday 8 July 2014

Show Tunes : The Pride Edition

It's that time of month again: Show Tunes night at 1181! This month we celebrate Pride with some rainbow-inspired clips that will be sure to get you in the mood for the upcoming Pride festivities!

July 11th, Friday night, 6-9pm at 1181 Davie Street!

This month we'll be raffling off some fun giveaways, including passes to the awesome Douglas Coupland exhibit on now at the Vancouver Art Gallery, passes to go see the Rewilding Vancouver exhibit on now at the Museum of Vancouver, and tickets to go catch the newest improv show TripImproviser on now at Vancouver TheatreSports!


And don't forget to "Like" the Facebook page for a chance to win some cool prizes! You can also RSVP to Friday's Show Tunes night over on the Event Page! See you Friday!

Monday 7 July 2014

Symphony in the Park

Dare to travel outside of Vancouver just over to Burnaby's Deer Lake park to enjoy a free concert from the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra! Sunday July 13, 730pm-930pm.


"The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra performs its annual free outdoor concert showcasing the beauty of Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park. The crowd-pleasing program of light classics and popular favourites is always a coveted and not to be missed highlight of the summer!

Come early, bring a blanket and a picnic  and settle in for a wonderful evening with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Just a reminder that parking in the vicinity is limited, so alternate transportation is recommended."

For more info, check out the website!

Thursday 3 July 2014

Dancing on the Edge Festival 2014

Starting tonight is Canada's longest running dance festival, Dancing on the Edge!


Celebrating its 26th year, the Dancing on The Edge Festival of Contmporary Dance "features over 30 different choreographies from more than 70 dance artists over 10 jam-packed days of dance!"

Venues include the Scotiabank Dance Centre, site-specific locations such as Portside Park and SFU Woodwards' Atrium, and of course, the Firehall Arts Centre!

Dancing On The Edge festival begins tonight and runs until July 12th!