This September local theatre company Reality Curve Theatre is staging six performances of "Bug" by Pulitzer-prize winning author Tracy Letts (August: Osage County). "Bug", first produced in London, then off-broadway in 1996, became a 2006 film starring Michael Shannon and Ashley Judd. The play is a prize-winning thriller filled with dark comedy, sex, drugs and paranoia.
"We wanted to produce a piece that both actors would be excited to dig into and would appeal to a wider audience than your typical theatre-going crowd," said producer Paul Piaskowski. "We received the space at the Annex as part of the city's underutilized theatre spaces pilot, and we realized if we want to see these spaces full throughout the year we need to produce plays that attract not just theatre-lovers, but people who don't consider themselves big fans of theatre based on a limited experience. We wanted to show something modern, gritty, something that can compete with Netflix and HBO in an era of well written high quality television."
According to the report to City Council that led to the grant pilot, Vancouver's theatres are utilized at a rate of 50%, with The Annex under 20%.
The company is concentrating on affordability and quality, hoping to change limiting perceptions of theatre being too expensive or old fashioned. Reality Curve is also using partnerships with local businesses to turn a night at the theatre into a lively experience, and all for $20. Central City Brew Pub, for example, will give a free Red Racer beer to patrons buying tickets for the show's preview on September 14 or closing night September 18.
Under the vision of Director Stuart Aikins, a veteran 2-time Emmy nominated casting director with decades of experience in theatre, film and television, the production also includes award-winning set designer Heidi Wilkinson, and stars Lori Triolo, Paul Piaskowski, Rekha Sharma, Aleks Paunovic and Andrew McIlroy.
Tickets are now on sale and available at
www.bugtheplay.ca.
Reality Curve Theatre is a registered non-profit company based in Vancouver, BC, with a vision to produce high-quality plays that appeal to a new and wider generation of theatre-goers. Along with Bug, the team is also producing Ethan Coen's Waiting as free, live street theatre in partnership with the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association this August - September. Piaskowski shares the Board with veteran casting director Stuart Aikins and Rebecca McNeil, a digital marketer specializing in non-profit work.
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