Alyson Eng - Page 5

This month, the incredibly talented Tehillah Alphonso earned her first Grammy nomination in the category, “Best Arrangement, Instruments, and Vocals” for her arrangement of the song, “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke.

Next week, Broadway and Disney Legend, Lea Salonga, will perform at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on April 12th in Vancouver as part of her 2022 DREAM AGAIN TOUR. Known for her work on Broadway (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables), TV (The Voice Philippines), and film (singing voice of Disney’s Mulan and Princess Jasmine of Aladdin), Lea is the epitome of a true global superstar.

Until March 27th, Arts Club’s KIM’S CONVENIENCE will play at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage in Vancouver. Written by Korean-Canadian, Ins Choi, KIM’S CONVENIENCE focuses on the Kim family and their family-owned convenience store located in Toronto.

The Massey Theatre will present Arts Club Theatre Company’s NOISES OFF this month from February 15th to 27th. Written by playright, Michael Frayn, this hilarious “play within a play” gives audiences a behind the scenes look of an acting troupe performing a play called “Nothing On”.

After a 2-year concert hiatus, the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir (VWMC) returned to the stage this month for multiple in-person performances. Their Christmas concert series, Sing We Now of Christmas, featured the amazing talent of the choir led by musical director, Jonathan Quick.

A BROADWAY HOLIDAY will play at the Gateway Theatre in Richmond, BC from December 16th to 23rd. In addition to in-person performances, A BROADWAY HOLIDAY will also have a video on-demand stream available for purchase from December 18th to 23rd for audiences to enjoy in the comfort of their own home.

This holiday season, JUNO-nominated men’s choir Chor Leoni will return to live performances with CHRISTMAS WITH CHOR LEONI on December 17th, 18th, and 20th. At the newly restored St. Andrew’s- Wesley United Church in Vancouver, Chor Leoni will be joined by the talented violinist/fiddler Cameron Wilson.

From November 18th, 2021 – January 2nd, 2022, the Arts Club will present DOLLY PARTON’S SMOKY MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS CAROL at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. The musical tells the classic Christmas Carol story by Charles Dickens combined with music and lyrics from legendary artist Dolly Parton.

From November 24th to 27th, DanceHouse will present the second show of their season: TRACE from Red Sky Performance. The show will play at the SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts in Vancouver and will be one of their last performances on their 15-stop tour across the U.S. and Canada.

SINGDAPTIVE is an online learning platform for singers of various levels. Even though the company is based in Victoria, BC, the online service is available for people worldwide day or night. The flexibility of SINGDAPTIVE is what makes it so accessible for everyone to access within their own schedule.

From October 21st to 23rd at the Vancouver Playhouse, DanceHouse will present Rubberband’s EVER SO SLIGHTLY. Rubberband is a Montreal-based dance company and this is their first major work to feature their entire 10-artist lineup.

This season brings the exciting return of theatre to Vancouver! During the past year hiatus, Urban Ink Productions used the time to create new works to help inspire the community once again. Urban Ink is based on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and səl'ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples in Vancouver.

From July 22nd to August 15th, Arts Club’s I, CLAUDIA, will play at the Newmont Stage in the BMO Theatre Centre in Vancouver. Written by Kristen Thomson, directed by Marie Farsi, and starring Lili Beaudoin, the play features four very unique characters in this one-woman theatre extravaganza. From feeling hopeful to feeling heartbreak, this play tells a story from multiple perspectives and explores the challenges that are faced at different stages of life.

A new creative arts space called EIGHTH & EIGHT is currently in the works for local artists and performers in Metro Vancouver. Located at 735 Eighth Avenue in New Westminster, EIGHTH & EIGHT will be a 35,000 square foot space with the Massey Theatre at the heart of the complex. The aim for the project is to create more opportunities for current and future generations of artists by providing them with a space to collaborate with one another. EIGHTH & EIGHT hopes to become a place for a variety of voices. With programs highlighting Indigenous cultural development, Prismatica (for the LGBTQ2iA+ spectrum), the We are Multitudes program (for diverse African Heritages), digital arts, and much more – EIGHTH & EIGHT will provide a space for various communities to flourish.

Love, heartbreak, and drama – the key ingredients of the perfect audio play to spice up your day! SOMEONE LIKE YOU written by Christine Quintana is Arts Club’s newest audio play in their “Listen To This” series and is available for download starting May 19th to January 19th. SOMEONE LIKE YOU brings forth a modern take on the play Cyrano de Bergerac involving romance, hidden identities, and complex relationships. Set in Vancouver, this audio play is the perfect way to support local theatre while satisfying your cravings for a good romantic comedy!

This year, Arts Club Vancouver will offer four audio plays in a series called: Listen to This. Highlighting the works of Canadian playwrights from the “Emerging Playwrights Unit” or the “Silver Commissions Project,” these audio plays will allow the exploration of theatre in a different and engaging way. From March 17th to October 27th, NIGHT PASSING written by Scott Button will be available for listening.

In a world where face-to-face conversations are currently at a minimum and online interactions are at a high, theatres are finding new ways to foster creativity and conversations to reignite a spark in a community that has been dimmed for a long time. Next month, Vancouver’s Zee Zee Theatre will present VIRTUAL HUMANITY, an online version of their popular past event: Human Library.

This holiday season is a lot different than the past. With increased restrictions due to COVID-19, live theatre is currently on pause with uncertainty as to when it will return. Thankfully, the Arts Club’s one-woman play, THE TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS, is available for streaming to satisfy all of your theatre needs this December. Starring Genevieve Fleming and Melissa Oei both taking on the lead role of Mary, this play follows a 30-something newly single woman as she navigates her way through the dating scene. After catching her fiancé locking lips with another woman on national TV, Mary goes on many dates that make her question whether she will ever find love again. If you’re curious to see how Mary’s love life plays out, you have until January 3rd to purchase a recorded stream of the show for $19 on the Arts Club website – it is definitely worth the watch!

This month, HEY VIOLA! Viola Desmond: The Soundtrack of a Life plays from October 15 – 25 at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster. After interviewing star, Krystle Dos Santos in September, it was a pleasure to see her take the stage playing Canadian Hero: Viola Desmond in the show. Viola Desmond was a Canadian civil rights activist and entrepreneur. In 1946, Desmond fought against racial segregation as she refused to leave the “Whites only” section of a movie theatre in Nova Scotia. Desmond was arrested and charged with tax evasion. Her experience was publicized and sparked a movement amongst Canadians against racial discrimination. Viola Desmond is currently featured on the Canadian ten-dollar bill and her story will remain important to Canadian history, as racial injustices are still an ongoing issue we face today.

Returning from a long period of dormancy, theatre makes a comeback in Vancouver: better and safer than ever! At the Anvil Centre, the show: HEY VIOLA! Viola Desmond a?' the Soundtrack of a Life plays from October 15th to 25th. This production follows the life of Canadian civil rights activist: Viola Desmond highlighting her fight against racial injustice in Nova Scotia. Starring Krystle Dos Santos (Co-Creator) as Viola and direction by Tracey Power (Co-Creator), HEY VIOLA also incorporates 15 songs from Desmonda??s era. With musical accompaniment from local musicians Steven Charles (guitar/bass), Chris Davis (trumpet, drums, and piano), and Mary Ancheta (keyboard), Dos Santos will sing the night away while telling the story of a woman who sparked a movement across Canada. I had the pleasure of chatting with Krystle Dos Santos touching on Violaa??s life, the creative process, and her favourite parts of the show! Read the full interview below!