A Progressive Federal Government is within our grasp

The Department of Culture, undaunted by the tragic reinstating of Harper’s arts-hating minority government through the lowest voter turnout in the history of the universe, responds to the cons’ latest boneheaded move by laying out a plan for us to push for a coalition government. H/T to Aaron at Tracking Righteousness for this excellent summation [...]

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Green Thumb Theatre has a blog (?!)

Did you know that Green Thumb Theatre has a blog? I didn’t, until just now. How did I not know that Green Thumb Theatre had a blog? And to top it all off, it’s awesome! For those of you unfamiliar with this company, GTT… Creates and produces plays that explore social issues relevant to the [...]

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Riding the elephant

Several people have engaged me in nervous overtones about parts of our recent interview with local theatre critic Peter Birnie (none, however, in the comments section. I’ve got to find a way to make that a more attractive prospect. Any ideas? Leave ‘em in the comments section.), wherein he prognosticates dark times ahead for our [...]

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New on the V-List: In the Boom Boom Room

For full details on this production, click here.

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New on the V-list: Billy Bishop Goes to War

Click here for full details on this production

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This one goes to eleven: Peter Birnie

I’m fascinated by our relationship with the critics. When I hear members of the theatre community talk about them, it’s always with an amazing degree of passion, one way or the other. Nobody, it seems, is ever indifferent to them. I think it’s great, and a good indication that they hold some position of importance [...]

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Great production pics: Billy Bishop in Deep Cove

Further to Rebecca’s post on production pics, I love these ones sent to me by actor Damon Calderwood promoting his company’s 30th anniversary production of the musical Billy Bishop Goes to War at the Deep Cove Shaw Theatre. I’m a sucker for anything WWII related, especially the RAF (I wanted desperately to be a Spitfire [...]

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Remember that thing I said about inviting bloggers to your show?

If you’re very lucky, you get something like this… Theatre review – “The 21st Floor” at PAL theatre – by Hummingbird 604

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Talking Point

…if a play were to run forever, could it properly be called theater anymore? Instead it would be an ossified strange thing, dangling half-way between live theater, a parade, and an amusement park ride. Think of the longest running plays…what happens to them…what do they become…restaurants and plays should not be open for longer than [...]

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Theatre publicity tip of the day

When inviting bloggers to your shows, don’t just invite the theatre-only kind. Miss 604 on The 21st Floor.

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A thorn between two roses

See what happens when you start a blog? I’m sitting a panel at the 2008 Making a Scene Conference today with two delightful Rebeccas; Bollwitt and Coleman, alphabetically. We’ll be discussing The New Face of Marketing: Facebook, text and the bloggers’ world. apparently. MaS, for anyone who might not know, is our professional theatre community’s [...]

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Impromtu seat sale for The 21st Floor! Get ‘em while they’re hot!

One night only seat sale for readers of The Next Stage! For all my gentle readers: head down to the PAL Theatre (581 Cardero) tonight befor 8:00, say that you saw this post on The Next Stage, and get as many people into the play as you like for 1/2 Price! $9! We at TNS [...]

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Show time

I should be sleeping right now. I have to get up soon and put together some cocktails and canapes for the grand opening of our very first original full-length work of theatrical experience tomorrow. That, and about 300 other tasks before we welcome the city into our microcosm of itself. We’ve written a play about [...]

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Oh great. The Westboro Douche is at it again

From publicist Christine Quintana’s Facebook announcement: VANCOUVER, BC: The show will go on, vows Fighting Chance Productions Artistic Director Ryan Mooney in the wake of threats by American anti-gay hatemonger Fred Phelps that his Kansas-based group will protest the company’s production of The Laramie Project, running November 26 to December 6 at East Vancouver’s Havana [...]

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Theatre is not for the sissy

From Halley Bondy’s interview with Director Sue Lawless: I take my beloved profession very seriously. Theatre is not for the sissy. This isn’t something you do on weekends. Anyone who calls themselves a professional actor can’t think of it as an entertainment, something they do that their friends will admire or perhaps even dismiss, or [...]

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