What a “practically perfect” year it was! To ring in the new year, we compiled our top 5 moments of 2013 (in no particular order). Enjoy, and best wishes for a happy new year!
1. In April, with the generous support of BMO Financial Group, we launched our 50th season at the Vancouver International Film Centre—the original home of our first theatre, the Seymour Street stage. The Vancouver Heritage Foundation was also on hand to unveil the “Places that Matter” plaque in honour of the Arts Club’s golden year.
2. Some of our most popular shows took Vancouver (and Canada!) by storm! Audiences loved the magical Broadway musical Mary Poppins at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage; the Broadway musical for adults Avenue Q was held over three times at the Granville Island Stage; and the hilarious and entertaining Craigslist Cantata returned to the Revue Stage after a critically-acclaimed stop in Toronto a few months prior.
Cast of Mary Poppins, photo by David Cooper
3. We kicked off our 2013/2014 season, and the annual national Culture Days weekend, with the Arts Club stroll. We learned more about the three Arts Club stages, and watched a performance/work-in-motion by students from the Bachelor of Performing Arts Degree Completion Program (BPA). Check out our video recap of the memorable (and wet) day:
4. Other Desert Cities playwright Jon Robin Baitz visited Vancouver! Baitz joined us for the opening night Artistic Director’s Circle reception—hosted by the US Consulate in Vancouver, who graciously sponsored Baitz’s visit—and other Culture Days weekend events.
Arts Club’s Executive Director, Howard Jang; US Consul for Media and Culture, Jeanne Briganti; US Consul General, Anne Callaghan; Other Desert Cities playwright, Jon Robin Baitz; and Arts Club’s Artistic Managing Director, Bill Millerd
5. The City of Vancouver approved a joint lease of the West 1st Theatre Centre shared by British Columbia’s two largest theatre companies, the Arts Club Theatre Company and Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival. We’ll soon be able to produce and cultivate more Canadian works as this arts space will house a 250-seat theatre with a public lobby as well as separate rehearsal halls, production facilities, and offices for both organizations. We can’t wait!
We’re also in some “best of 2013″ lists ourselves! See what Arts Club shows made the critics’ lists:
- http://vancouverscape.com/our-top-10-vancouver-theater-list-for-2013
- http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/theatre-listings/best+Vancouver+theatre+unforgettable+shows/9323185/story.html
- http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Shining+light+year+best/9324647/story.html
- http://gayvancouver.net/theatre-2013/best-vancouver-theatre-2013/
- http://www.vancourier.com/year-in-theatre-was-dark-funny-and-full-of-puppets-1.765728
