Flamenco v Tap: Dawn of a New Grease

David Cooper photo.

Get ready for a new version of Grease—flamenco-and-tap-style!

The Karen Flamenco dancers are teaming up with Troy McLaughlin’s tap crew for a flamenco vs. tap showdown in a new production of Grease. The show is Nov 1 & 2 at the Vancouver Playhouse (600 Hamilton St.. Find out more below.

Continue reading:
Flamenco v Tap: Dawn of a New Grease

Guide to what’s happening in Vancouver theatre this April

Royal City Musical Theatre presents Singin’ in the Rain at the Massey Theatre.

There’s lots happening in Vancouver theatre this April. Shows include a stage adaptation of a beloved move musical, a local take on a classic Chekhov play, and an original story about a real-life Canadian women’s hockey team. Scroll below to see what’s coming up.

Continue reading:
Guide to what’s happening in Vancouver theatre this April

Acclaimed musical about Canada’s residential schools returns to Vancouver

Scene from Corey Payette’s Children of God. Emily Cooper photo.

One of the most acclaimed Vancouver plays of the last few years is coming back to the York Theatre (639 Commercial Drive).

Corey Payette’s Children of God premiered in 2017 in Vancouver. The musical stunned theatregoers with its punishing yet humane depiction of the effects of residential schools on individuals as well as the nation. Following a national tour, the show returns to Vancouver for a three-week run, Feb. 20-March 10.

Continue reading:
Acclaimed musical about Canada’s residential schools returns to Vancouver

Fairy-tale musical Disney’s Beauty and the Beast returns for the holidays

Jonathan Winsby and Michelle Bardach. Costume design by Barbara Clayden. Photo by David Cooper.

Arts Club holiday perennial Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is back, this time with a new Beauty. Following her starring role as Sophie in the Vancouver company’s summer production of Mamma Mia!, Michelle Bardoch will fill the period dresses in the fairy-tale musical.

The show opens this Saturday, Dec. 1, and runs until Jan. 6 2019. Find out more below.

Continue reading:
Fairy-tale musical Disney’s Beauty and the Beast returns for the holidays

Hit musical based on songwriter’s life will make you feel like a natural woman

Sarah Bockel (2nd from right) portrays Carole King in Beautiful.

Beautiful—The Carole King Musical will premiere in Vancouver at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Nov. 13-18.

The Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway hit covers the early life and career of the singer/songwriter behind such hits as “It’s Too Late,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” and “The Loco-Motion.” Find out more below.

Continue reading:
Hit musical based on songwriter’s life will make you feel like a natural woman

Last three nights to get Closer Than Ever!

Caitriona Murphy in Closer Than Ever. David Cooper photo.

Caitriona Murphy in Closer Than Ever. David Cooper photo.

What is “adulting”? Find out in Closer Than Ever, an off-Broadway hit musical revue that is in its final performances at Gateway Theatre this week.

A collaboration between New York stage vets Richard Maltby, Jr. (lyricist) and David Shire (composer), Closer Than Ever is a satirical two-act musical that takes a satirical look at what it calls adulting – adult behaviour like sexcapades, one-way love affairs, life crises, multiple mis-marriages, parent-child role reversal, and growing old(er).

Continue reading:
Last three nights to get Closer Than Ever!

Get your ABBA on! Mamma Mia! returns.

Mamma Mia Cast Kyra Belle Johnson Kat Borrelli Christina Eskridge Laura Michelle Hughes Sarah Smith Erin Fish Stephen Eckelmann Justin Goei Max Ehrlich Andrew Tebo Ryan M Hunt Chad w Fornwalt Joshua Taylor Hamilton Ensemble Niki Badua Cashless Butler Lily Dickinson Joshua Taylor Hamilton Mathew Helfer Marcus John Michael Lindsey Todd Macintyre Rebecca Mason-Wygal Paige McNamara Yale Reich Dustin Harris Smith Julia Cassandra Smith Chris Villain Swings Kylie Brunngraber Juan Guillen Stephanie Inglese Danny Lopez

Mamma Mia! is a tale of mothers and daughters. But it’s really about the great songs from ABBA.

You can’t keep a good musical down. And when that musical is based on the music of ABBA, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Mamma Mia!, the international hit musical, is coming back to Vancouver for a March 29-April 3 run at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (650 Hamilton St.). Sure, the story is as slight as frosting on a three-tiered wedding cake, but the music is fabulous. Both cast and audience have a blast, and everyone walks away humming “Does Your Mother Know.” What more can you ask from a night out?

Continue reading:
Get your ABBA on! Mamma Mia! returns.