Celebrate the New Year’s with improv comedy and a look back at 2019 with Vancouver TheatreSports.
How unusual, you ask? Well, maybe not that unusual. But the following New Year’s Eve events have the benefit of featuring a diverse lineup of live acts, an unusual location, and/or both. There’s even a family-friendly event in here.
Patrick Maliha’s Naughty New Year’s Eve (Rio Theatre, 1660 E. Broadway St.)—Local comedian hosts the Rio’s annual New Year’s celebration. Guests include comedians Glenn Wool and K.C. Novak and burlesque dancers Melody Mangler and Barbara Beall (who, as an added bonus, performs with glow poi balls). Tickets are $33 at eventbrite.ca)
2020: A Space Odyssey (Waldorf Hotel, 1489 E. Hastings St.)—Still in East Van, but in the Strathcona neighbourhood, the Waldorf hosts 2020: A Space Odyssey. The celebration features dancing and music in four rooms with planetary (and lunar) designations: Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and the Moon. Bands include Souls Rest and Phonix, DJs are Kemo, Sheps, and TZEN. (Tickets: from $50 at eventbrite.ca)
Phonix is one of the acts featured at the Waldorf’s 2020: A Space Odyssey NYE party.
Vancouver TheatreSports: 2019 Year in Review (Improv Centre, 1502 Duranleau St.)—Those tireless improvisers with Vancouver TheatreSports take on headlines from the year 2019, spinning audience suggestions into hilarity. The show is on from Dec. 26 until New Year’s Eve, with a special NYE show. (Tickets: NYE at $38.25/other nights $12.75 at vtsl.com)
Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve Variety Show (Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton St.)—Vancouver Cabaret’s New Year’s Eve Variety Show features circus acrobats, magic, a live orchestra and one of Vancouver’s biggest balloon drops. It’s appropriate for all ages. (Tickets: $20-76 at eventbrite.ca)
Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert (Jan. 1 at 2:30 p.m., Orpheum Theatre, 601 Smithe St.)—So sue us—this one’s actually on New Year’s Day. But wouldn’t you like to spend the first day of the new year enjoying the music of Vienna? The Strauss Symphony, along with the VSO, performs The Blue Danube Waltz and other favourites, with guests from the Kiev-Aniko Ballet of Ukraine and International Champion Ballroom Dancers. (Tickets: starting at $62 at vancouversymphony.ca)
