Tonight marks the opening night of Ninja Pirates Theatre Society’s production of SubUrbia by Eric Bogosian, directed by Anthony Shim.
The play follows the nighttime activities of a group of aimless 20-somethings still living suburban hometown and their reunion with a former-geeky-high-school classmate, who is now a successful musician. It’s semi-autobiographical take on Bogosian’s own youth, growing up in Woburn, Massachusetts.
When Shim was first given the play, he had a lot of resistance towards the work, mainly because it resonated so acutely with his adolescence, spent in Coquitlam.
“It made me so uncomfortable because it was so true and so honest that I didn’t even like the play.” But finally, Shim relented. “This isn’t a play I wanted to do. It’s a play I had to do.”
Deciding to go with this close-to-home theme and run with it, Shim took it to the next level casting friends he grew up with (who also so happen to be accomplished actors) in the play. Shim has known actor James Pizzinato since the 10th grade and he grew up down the street from actor Adrian Petriw and Assistant Director Victor Ayala in Coquitlam.
The result? “There is a real truth to the relationships between the actors that lets this show be real. We were able to go the extra distance because there is that extra understanding and trust.”
Adding to the intimacy between the cast is the intimate space. Shim is wanted the set to be small and wanted to break traditional theatre rules around blocking.
“The audience should feel like you’re sitting on a sitting around with these teenagers, shooting the sh*t.”
SubUrbia runs July 3-8 and July 10-14, 2012 at 8:00pm at the Blake Snyder Theatre, 112 East 3rd Ave (near Quebec St) in Vancouver. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online in advance or by calling (604) 633-1124.
Celebrating the launch of her first album in seven years, Fiona Apple is now on tour and will be making a stop in Vancouver on July 24th. The Grammy Award-wining singer/songwriter
Photo courtesy of Live Nation
In 1999 she held the record for longest album title name with When the Pawn… which contained over 400 characters and although the record has since been broken, her new album’s title is also a poem:
The Idler Wheel is wiser
than the Driver of the Screw
and Whipping Cords will serve you more
than Ropes will ever do.
Two singles from The Idler Wheel so far include “Every Single Night” and “Anything We Want”. Tickets for Fiona Apple at the Orpheum are currently on sale through Live Nation online and by phone (1-855-985-5000) for $39.50, $55, and $75. The show is all ages and there is reserved seating.
Live Nation has offered up 3 pairs of tickets to the show as well as 3 copies of The Idler Wheel for a couple of Miss604 readers. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw 3 winners (who will each receive a pair of tickets and a copy of Fiona Apple’s new CD) on Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at 10:00am.
Update The winners are Bev, @AmandaGAdams, and Eileen!
The Vancouver Heritage Foundation just launched a photo contest where you can submit your pictures of heritage buildings around the city for your chance to win a grand prize staycation at a bed & breakfast.
Peppered throughout the city, between glass towers modern storefronts, you’ll find structures that have stood the test of time in Vancouver. From prominent favourites like the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver or the Marine Building to the cluster of heritage homes in Mole Hill, City Hall, or the Staples store that used to be Dominon Motors.
Snap a photo, using any equipment that you like, and submit it to the Vancouver Heritage Foudation’s Facebook page before July 21, 2012.
Grand prize: The winner will be awarded a one night stay at The Manor Guest House at 13th & Yukon. The prize will be redeemable until September 30, 2012.
Staff-voted prize: The Vancouver Heritage Foundation staff will also choose their favourite picture. This winner will receive 4 tickets to VHF Tours: 2 tickets to the Vancouver Specials Tour, and 2 to the Laneway House Tour.
Bonus votes can be gathered by sending out a tweet to promote your entry. The tweet must include your name, @VanHeritage and #VHFPhotoContest to receive 5 extra votes. The contest will be open until July 28, 2012 to allow for a week of voting once all submissions have been received.
Surrey’s Canada Day saw over 100,000 people enjoy free festivities and concerts throughout the day on July 1st as the city once again delivered a solid celebration. Neighbours, families, Canadians, and visitors enjoyed a full 12 hours of flashy midway attractions, BBQ treats, and one of our favourites — free concerts from top local and national acts.
The Chevron Main Stage ran all day with everything from Cole Armour’s national anthem performance to DJ Flipout’s mixes. The High Bar Gang, Andrew Allen, Blaze of Glory (Bon Jovi Tribute), and Jerry Doucette were all crowd favourites. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
The Global Relay Gastown Grand Prix returns to the streets of Vancouver July 11, 2012. Coming off a 3-year hiatus, this race is one of the most famous in Canada and it attracts North America’s best cyclists.
Gastown Grand Prix 2006 Photo by Greg Descantes
For spectators, it’s a free festival where crowds can line familiar streets in Vancouver’s heritage district and cheer on Olympic-caliber riders — who fly by at over 50km/hour. It’s a challenging race but the reward is worth it as the Gastown Grand Prix features the largest prizes for a criterium in North America. A past winner is a man called Lance Armstrong, that you might have heard of, he won the Gastown Grand Prix in 1991.
Date Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Times Opening ceremonies 5:45pm. Women at 6:15pm, men at 7:30pm.
Where The race starts at the steam clock, does a hairpin turn around Shine, goes down Cordova, turns left on Carrall, around Gassy Jack and then back up water street. Men do 50 laps totalling 60kms. Women do 30 laps totalling 36kms.
I have also been informed that cowbells are encouraged so bring yours down after work if you want to cheer on some cyclist that will be heading onto London 2012.
The race has been brought back after a three-year hiatus thanks to Gastown-based Global Relay who have invested $1 million over the next 5 years.
To celebrate the return of the Gastown Grand Prix, Global Relay Group has offered up a prize pac for a Miss604 reader that includes a limited edition race backpack and $50 to spend at an Donnelly Group establishment (like the Lamplighter in Gastown). Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow the Gastown Grand Prix on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 10:00pm Tuesday, July 3, 2012. Must be 19 years of age or older to enter and win. Donnelly Group establishments include: The Academic, Cinema, Hooker’s Green, Lamplighter, New Oxford, Metropole, Smileys, Library Square, The Bimini, The Calling, Post Modern, Bar None, Republic, Clough Club, Killjoy, Granville Room.
Update The winner is @_dlight!
