A drag queen doing theatre coverage?! What? Scandalous! Well, considering the Playhouse mainstage just played host to four vivacious drag queens in their recent production of La Cage aux Folles, Vancouver audiences shouldn't be surprised by an overabundance of glitter and sequins.
| The... wait, what exactly do you call a group of drag queens? [Les Cagelles from La Cage aux Folles] |
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| Cast of Do You Want What I Have Got? [Photo by Tim Matheson] |
The Arts Club opens two shows this month, the first beingDo You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata (Revue Stage, Jan 19 - Feb 11). The title sounds like the heading for a personals ad. Ironic because the play itself is all about human connection. The production features a non-stop musical selection of songs crafted entirely from actual ads from Craigslist. So kinda like Cats, but mentally stimulating. As someone who's frequented the "Missed Connections" section of Craigslist for a quick laugh, I can't wait to see what delicious gems playwrights Veda Hille and Bill Richardson have managed to dig up and set to music. (Buy tickets here)
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| Emily Behny as Belle |
Come February, if you happen to be near the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, you might hear the annoying sound of excitable girlish squealing. No, it's not Bieber and his hoards of fans. That's going to be me! Because my favourite bookworm of a Disney princess is coming to town. Yes, the Beauty and the Beast tour will be at the QET from Feb 8 - 12 and I. Am. So. Excited! Seven new songs feature in this stage version including diva ballad "Home." Not to be confused with the song from The Wiz of the same name. While that song is also a diva ballad, Belle's is a lot less whimsical and a little cattier (so basically, a lot more fun). Beast also gets his own ballad with Act I showstopper "If I Don't Love Her." Because in a musical, you know that the abusive hunk covered in prosthetics is about to have a positive personality change when he starts singing about his feelings. What could be sexier? (Buy tickets here)
Being the shameless diva that I am, I've always been a fan of audience participation shows. Even better when the audience participation actually affects the show. Generally, you need to go see a panto or a poorly planned open mic night to get that experience. Thankfully, the folks at Fighting Chance Productions have decided to bring us the definitive audience participation experience with their upcoming production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Metro Theatre, Feb 12 - Mar 3). Based on Charles Dicken's last unfinished novel, Drood features murder, mystery, musical numbers, and multiple endings! As voted on by the audience! The original Broadway nabbed writer Rupert Holmes the Tony awards for best musical, book, and score. And if that's not enough for you, Holmes is incidentally also the writer of my unofficial theme song, Escape. (Buy tickets here)
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| Nina Arsenault |
Is that Barbie? Actually, you could probably say yes! The glamorous trans-Barbie herself, Nina Arsenault is coming to Vancouver! The writer, actress, and artist will be bringing her one-woman tour de force show, The Silicone Diaries to The Cultch (Feb 14 - 25). In this no holds barred production, Arsenault delves into the pursuit of beauty, the need to fit in, and a transformation that spans eight years and sixty surgical procedures. Arsenault herself has devoted a lifetime to studying the feminine. Her powerfully delicate stage presence is something to behold. As a "baby queer", watching this educated, beautiful, empowered transwoman is definitely something I'm looking forward to. It also opens on Valentine's Day, so if you're like me and don't have any plans, be sure to hit me up! (Buy tickets here)
Finally, one of my favourite yearly events is here... the Ovation Awards (Van Academy of Music, Jan 29) Basically Vancouver's version of the Tony Awards, the Ovation Awards brings the local musical theatre community together to celebrate all the shows from the past year. I personally adore this show because they feature some of the most memorable performances from the past season. If you missed anything, and chances are you did, you still manage to catch a glimpse of the sparkle and starpower! Plus, it's like a crazy reunion (which personally for me, basically means I get to see a lot of the hippies from Hair). You can vote for your favourite shows until Jan 26th. (Buy tickets here)
Posted by Filipina Colada
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