|
|
|
||||||||
the review
Volume III No. 6
June 1999
Editor: Ed Farolan
"June is bustin' out all over" with summer festivals starting up this month: Vancouver International Children's Festival; Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival 's 10th summer opening with A Midsummer Night's Dream; The 20th Anniversary of the Banff Television Festival ;The Alcan Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival; the International Jazz Festival; and the Vancouver Folk Music Festival in July. Other reviews this month include: Arts Club Theatre Company's hit revue Swing by Dean Regan; United Players of Vancouver's The Frogs by Aristophanes; Wake! by Battery Opera; and Viveza.
Calendar of Events
Theatre
Arts Club Theatre Company announced that the hit revue SWING will return this summer at the Stanley Theatre from June 17th to August 1. Neil Simon's classic comedy The Odd Couple starring Norm Grohman as Felix and Miles Ramsay as Oscar is coming July 8th and plays till August 14th at the Granville Island Stage. Tickets and further info: (604) 687-1644 or Ticketmaster (604) 280-3311.
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival opens its 10th anniversay season on June 15 in Vanier Park with the magical comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream which opens June 19, and runs until September 25 in repertory with Macbeth, which opens July 6. Measure for Measure opens on the new 225-seat tent, the Douglas Campbell Studio Stage, July 27-August 28. Tickets (604) 739-0559 or Ticketmaster (604) 280-3311. Website: www.faximum.com/bard.
United Players of Vancouver presents The Frogs by Aristophanes.. Presented in the round, the play is directed by Studio 58 graduate Brad Reed, recently seen as Alfred in United Players production of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead, with masks by Melinda Esworthy and Jennifer Patterson, set by John Taylor, lighting by Justine Daoust, and is produced by Andrée Karas. It runs June 4th -27th, Thursday through Sunday, at 8 pm at the Jericho Arts Centre, 1675 Discovery & N.W. Marine Drive (beside the youth hostel). Tickets $10/$8.00 available at the door. Phone 224 8007 for more information.
Vancouver East Cultural Centre: Theatre Terrific's Step Right Up!, June 8-12; Standing Wave's Shifting Terrain, June 13; da da kamera's Monster; and du Maurier International Jazz Festival, June 25-July 4. Ticketmaster (604) 280-3311.
Firehall Arts Centre Dance, Little Lady! by Conrad Alexandrowicz, June 3-13; Blinded by Vision, June 11-12. For tickets and info, call (604) 689-0926.
Classical Music
Vancouver Academy of Music presents a Puccini double-bill, Gianni Schicchi and Suor Angelia, for its 1999 Opera Studio production, at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 17; Friday, June 18; Saturday, June 19; and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 20; at the Waterfront Theatre, Granville Island, Vancouver. Tickets (604) 685-6217 or Ticketmaster (604) 280-3311.
VSO: Vancouver Symphony Orchestra . For more info, contact VSO at (604) 684-9100.
Bramwell Tovey has been appointed the VSO's new Music Director effective September 2000, replacing Sergiu Comissiona who has presided over the VSO for the past ten years.."In Maestro Tovey we have found all of the qualities we were looking for in a new Music Director," said Mrs. Nezhat Khosrowshabi, Chair of the Board of Directors. "His vast experience as Music Director of Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet, Artistic Director of D'Oyly Carte Opera Company and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and creative leader of the internationally acclaimed New Music Festival, plus his numerous conducting engagements worldwide, made him our ideal choice."
Barry McArton, President and General Manager of the VSO said," Maestro Tovey loves to conduct not only the classical repertoire but Pops and Kids concerts as well as choral works. His approach is totally compatible with our strategic philosophy of being 'your Orchestra in your Community'. We are thrilled to welcome him to Vancouver."
Chan Centre for the Performing Arts For more info: Ticketmaster (604) 280-3311.
Vancouver International Children's Festival at Vanier Park May 31-June 6, 1999. New Shanghai Circus Joins Lineup Straight From Broadway ~ New Acts of Derring-Do. Tickets: Ticketmaster outlets or by phone at 280-4444. Public Information: 708-5655 Website: www.youngarts.ca
"Feats of circus art that reach literally breathtaking heights of skill ..." New York Times
The critically acclaimed New Shanghai Circus has been added to the lineup of the 1999 Vancouver International Children's Festival. Replacing the previously scheduled Circus Ethiopia, which was forced to cancel late last week due to visa problems, the New Shanghai Circus will come to Vancouver straight from a successful New York engagement at the New Victory Theatre on Broadway. "We are very pleased and excited to be able to add the New Shanghai Circus to our lineup" said festival Executive Director Marjorie MacLean. "This troupe of fifteen extraordinary young performers, ages 15 through 22, have been getting rave notices in New York from the likes of the New York Times, and their acrobatic, juggling and balancing routines are leaving New York audiences absolutely breathless. They will be a wonderful highlight of this year's Children's Festival."
In addition to the New Shanghai Circus the 1999 festival presents: Japan's Theatre Kazenoko, long revered for fostering child development through enchanting stories and interactive games; two teen bands that have each earned critical acclaim: the 15-year-old Jordan Cook & the Blues Boys and Serial Joe, a group of 14-year-old award-winning rock / rap artists; Raffi returning to dazzle his followers, two other favourites, Fred Penner and Charlotte Diamond as well as Heather Bishop and Leon Bibb , the Netherlands' Theater Terra and Canada's Theatre Beyond Words.
Tickets to the 1999 Vancouver International Children's Festival ($6.75 to $13) are available at all Ticketmaster outlets,by phone at 280-4444 or online at www.ticketmaster.ca. Individual ticket prices include grounds admission, which is $5 without a show ticket. For a copy of the Festival programme call 708-5655 or visit the Festival website at www.youngarts.ca.
Tickets for Circus Ethiopia will be honoured at the corresponding New Shanghai Circus performance (the schedule remains the same) and anyone wishing a refund should contact Ticketmaster (604) 280-3311.
The Alcan Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival June 18, 19 & 20 / Friday & Saturday 9 am to 7 pm; Sunday 9 am to 6 pm. The dragons returned to the sun-splashed waters of False Creek for Vancouver's biggest annual multi-cultural spring celebration. Three days of continuous entertainment, family activities, food fair and exhibitions and two days (Saturday and Sunday) of competitive Dragon Boat racing as more than 160 teams from across Canada and around the world competed, almost 30 more than last year's, according to Kathleen Bourchier, Corporate Communications Manager of Alcan, and her assistant, Patsy LaFrance.
In the opening ceremonies, B.C. Minister of Multiculturalism & Immigration Dosanjh was there, and he was reading the wrong script, but cleverly quipped: "With immigrants like me who had to study ESL when we first came to this country, we can't tell the difference." This got a laugh with the audience. He appointed Mr. Wong as Mayor of the Festival, and offered him a Mayor's necklace which appeared to be lei of aluminum medallions. Chairman Daisen Gee-Wing also welcomed the guests during this opening ceremony.
During the closing ceremonies, almost all the teams received awards. Even Sing Tao Daily who sponsored the Sing Tao team awarded its own team with a trophy! But the real winners were the Toyota, Team Gloabal and False Creek rowers who came in winners in the last race.
It's a pity that the last day was marred by almost Asian tropical rains, but even then, it seemed to be an exciting experience for these boaters. Standing ovation was given to the Breastless in Vancouver, all female rowers, survivors of breast cancer.
The music was great. You had the likes of Spirit of a Nation which did a magnificent performance during opening ceremonies, and there were the Thai Dance Group, the Strathcona Chinese Dance Company, Yevshen Ukrainian Dancers, and rap group Ris-K, as well as Latin music with Los Mocosos, Alma Libre, and Rumba Calzada.
The 20th Anniversary of the Banff Television Festival is being held this June 13 to June 19 in beautiful Banff, ALberta. This festival highlights and commends International Television talent, marketing, vision, collaboration and the future of the industry.World markets are spotlighted as are certain individuals for their creative talents, industry support and experience. For example Avid technology wins the international Image outstanding Achievement Award, Canadian comedian Martin Short wins the Peter Ustinov Comedy Network Award and David E. Kelley receives the Lifetime Achievement Award. There are Master classes, pitching workshops, breakfast intorductions, presentations, dinners and lots of schmoozing!
Vancouver Folk Music Festival July 16,17, 18 / 1999.Vancouver's Jericho Beach Park
Once again, for the 22nd year, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival makes its way over to Jericho Beach Park showcasing both traditional and contemporary folk and folk-fusion music. The festival will be presenting workshops and a folk art marketplace and there will also be a huge selection of health foods and beverages available throughout the weekend, however remember this is a non-alcoholic event.
If your thinking this is just local and North American folk, think again. There is a very strong international presence coming with groups from Scotland, Brazil, Venuezela, Domican Republic, Equatorial Guinea, and other musical themes from Persia and China. Of special interest this year is the presentation of "One Thousand Years of Chinese Music" which brings us the experience of Chinese music from its ancient roots to present day. If the Chinese Throat singing heard at the press session is any what related then this is a must see event.
On the local front the Verdant Stones will bring together every taiko group in Vancouver and many other interesting performers. This large group of musicians and dancers promise to dazzle us under a brilliant Vancouver night time sky. By the way the Festival runs rain or shine and seating is on the grass, so be prepared. For more information on other themes and the other fifty-plus performers attending check out the Festival's website or give them a call.
Weekend passes for adults are currently $85 however commencing June 20th the price goes up to $100. If your only up for an evening or one day performance the cost rings in at $35 and $50 respectively. Youth tickets ring in at $55 for the weekend, $22 for Friday night, and $25 for a one day admission. Children under 2 years and seniors 65 and over are admitted free. The gates open at 5 pm on Friday and 9:30 am on Saturday and Sunday. For more information on ordering tickets contact Ticketmaster at (604) 280-4444 in Vancouver, (250) 380-7444 in Victoria, and in Washington and Oregon at (206) 628-0888. On the internet the website is at www.thefestival.bc.ca