Historic West End hotel gets its time in the spotlight with two new one-act musical plays

Two new one-act musical plays look at that most historic of Vancouver hotels, the Sylvia.

In the heart of the West End’s English Bay neighbourhood, the Sylvia was built in 1912. In 1954, it opened Vancouver’s first cocktail bar, the Tilting Room; until 1958, it was the tallest building in the West End. The Sylvia Hotel cat, Mr. Got To Go, inspired three popular children’s books.

Two Views from the Sylvia is the title for the evening of the two musical one-acts. They run Nov. 8-12 at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island (and not, unfortunately, at the Sylvia itself. Then again, parking would be a nightmare).

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Historic West End hotel gets its time in the spotlight with two new one-act musical plays

New musical celebrates iconic West End eatery

The Elbow Room Café: The Musical

The Elbow Room Café: The Musical runs March 1-12 at the York Theatre. Emily Cooper photo.

“Refill your own water & don’t bring kids as explicit language is encouraged,” reads one Yelp review for a popular Vancouver restaurant.

Another Yelp reviewer writes, “The food is quite good, the attitude is nasty and fun. If you can’t take a joke them stay away from here… This is the only restaurant I know that should be rated X for adults only. Definitely leave the kids at home.”

Many locals – or at least, residents of Vancouver’s West End – will by now already have recognized the eatery in question: the ever-popular Elbow Room Café. Well, now the iconic restaurant is getting its own musical. And it sounds as though it’s going to be even more fun than a hungover Sunday morning brunch.

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New musical celebrates iconic West End eatery

Get set for some adult fun with acclaimed burlesque musical Shine this July!

SHINE_2016_Shine_med copy

A musical theatre romp that has been called a “stellar example of the new burlesque” (by Vancouver theatre critic Colin Thomas) is returning to Vancouver.

Shine: A Burlesque Musical is an original production about the fight to save an old theatre. With Broadway-calibre songs and charismatic talent, the show is bringing some adult fun and sexy sizzle to Vancouver’s theatre scene this summer.

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Get set for some adult fun with acclaimed burlesque musical Shine this July!

Beware of the Heathers! They’re coming to Vancouver…

heathers cast

Generation X nostalgia alert!

A local theatre company is bringing a live version of the movie Heathers to the stage.

Originally performed in Los Angeles and then Off-Broadway in New York in 2013, Heathers: The Musical delivers the characters, situations and lines we know and love from the 1988 film, then adds musical numbers. The show stars a multi-racial cast of local talent and will run at the York Theatre on Commercial Drive Jan. 6-17.

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Beware of the Heathers! They’re coming to Vancouver…