Seven Tyrants Theatre, Vancouver’s Jessie Award-winning independent theatre company, concludes their first season in their new theatre space with a remount of last season’s award-winning production of A Steady Rain by Keith Huff, Directed by Bill Devine and starring Seven Tyrants co-founders Daniel Deorksen and David Thomas Newham with live music provided by Kurt Schindelka.

Seven Tyrants Theatre Presents A Steady Rain

Where: Tyrant Studios (1019 Seymour St, Vancouver)
When: May 23 to May 31, 2019 at 7:00pm, Tuesdays – Saturdays
Tickets: Available online now for $29

A dark duologue filled with sharp storytelling and biting repartee, A Steady Rain explores the complexities of a lifelong bond tainted by domestic affairs, violence, and the rough streets of Chicago. Joey and Denny have been best friends since kindergarten, and after working together for several years as policemen in Chicago, they are practically family: Joey helps out with Denny’s wife and kids; Denny keeps Joey away from the bottle. But when a domestic disturbance call takes a turn for the worse, their friendship is put on the line. The result is a harrowing journey into a moral gray area where trust and loyalty struggle for survival against a sobering backdrop of pimps, prostitutes, and criminal lowlifes.

The play will be performed in Tyrant Studios, the rarely opened private rooms above the historic Penthouse Nightclub. Recently converted to a studio theatre, these upstairs rooms once hosted exclusive parties and performances by music legends like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr, and Frank Sinatra.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away, here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

I will draw one winner at 12:00pm on Friday, May 24, 2019. Follow Seven Tyrants Theatre on Facebook and Twitter for more info.

UDPATE The winner is Serena!

A storied totem pole, a make and take art class, gallery gift shops, high tea and live music — you can find all of this and more in Port Alberni this summer. You may know Port Alberni for its natural beauty (from lookout hikes or a swim in Sproat Lake), but you can also plan an entirely arts and culture themed getaway to the heart of Vancouver Island this summer. On assignment with ZenSeekers, I scouted out 4 spots to add to your itinerary:

Arts and Culture in Port Alberni

Stop 1: Wood Carving

Start your arts and culture adventure on the waterfront where artist Tim Paul is making history. You can stop by to watch a totem pole take shape on the 40-foot long red cedar, and if you spot fellow artist Cecil Dawson, he’ll be happy to give you a wood carving lesson on the spot. Talk about inspiration! Read more about the totem project in my ZenSeekers story here »

Stop 2: Glass Workshops, Make & Take

Paint nights are all the rage, and Costal Flow Glass Co notches the concept up to a whole other level. Did you ever think you’d be able to create glistening and colourful stained glass pieces? How about a framed sea glass sea scape? Michelle Frost’s workshops – private for you and your friends, or regularly scheduled sessions – give you access to unique materials and concepts you may not have even dreamed of working with before. The best part is you get to take your creation home to display proudly.

Stop 3: DRAW Gallery

If there’s one person in town who knows what arts festivals and events are coming up, it’s Astrid Johnston over at DRAW Gallery. Originally from Quadra Island, she brought her passions for creative cultural events to Port Alberni. Her gallery walls are filled with the latest local art exhibitions, and posters and all upcoming happenings.

Stop 4: Rollin Arts Centre

Do you know the difference between High Tea and Low Tea? Enjoy both at the Rollin Arts Centre on Thursdays starting in July. Their Tea on the Terrace includes delectable snacks, live music, tea, and access to the gallery gift shop and fragrant flower garden.

Want to browse the works of over 80 artists? Take part in the Solstice Arts Festival June 14-15, 2019! 15 venues will showcase local painters, metal artists, photographers, glass artists, wood carver, silversmiths, First nations artists, potters, jewelry, and mixed media. FestivalSeekers has all the info about this festival and more here »

When You Go

• Read more about Port Alberni on ZenSeekers
• Search #ExplorePortAlberni for more inspiration. Be sure to tag #ExplorePortAlberni while exploring the region as you could be featured on our social media channels.
• Start planning your adventures in Port Alberni at Alberni Valley Tourism.
• Start exploring your Port Alberni region options with Destination BC.
• Find out more at the City of Port Alberni’s website.

Uncover more about the Port Alberni region’s offers for adventure. Check out ZenSeekers’ #ExplorePortAlberni Expedition page to see how you can have an adventure like this.

Each year, invited artists show works of art produced in a variety of media and styles during the Mid Main Art Fair. Established in 2010 by artist Enda Bardell, the Fair was created to help promote and sell the work of established artists of the greater Vancouver area.

9th Annual Mid Main Art Fair

When: Sunday, June 9, 2019 from 11:00am to 6:00pm
Where: Heritage Hall 3102 Main Street Vancouver
Tickets: Free Admission register online to save your spot »

The 3300 square foot main floor of Heritage Hall in Mount Pleasant is the perfect location to show fine art work with plenty of room for guests to view the work from a distance as well as close up. The 17 artists featured this year are:

This wonderful group of established artists will showcase work from abstraction to realism creating stunning art, in a variety of mediums such as watercolors, acrylic, oil, photography, sculpture, and printmaking.

For more information follow Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Disney on Ice Presents Mickey’s Search Party in Vancouver, bringing the magic closer to fans than ever before through dynamic and immersive moments that take place on the ice, in the air and in the seats.

Disney on Ice Presents Mickey’s Search Party in Vancouver

• Where: Pacific Coliseum
• When: November 28th, 2019 at 7:00pm 
  • November 29th, 2019 at 7:00pm
  • November 30th, 2019 at 11:30am / 3:30pm / 7:00pm
  • December 1st, 2019 at 11:30am / 3:30pm
• Tickets: On sale now starting at $18 plus fees

I had the opportunity to preview the show in New Orleans earlier this season, and it was like no other ice show I had seen before! The acrobatics and skating stunts were impressive – and exhilarating. What made the experience even more memorable was when the entire arena sang along to their favourite songs. Talk about chills!

Mickey’s Search Party features a collection of Disney characters fans know and love portrayed by decorated performer-athletes who push the boundaries of what is possible. Their theatrical talent combined with this innovative Disney On Ice production elevates the live entertainment experience and will leave families with memories that will last a lifetime.

Joined by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, live hosts will enliven the performance space by welcoming everyone into the magical world of Disney On Ice, setting the stage for a participatory adventure. Guests will embark on a search for clues to find Tinker Bell after Captain Hook tries to capture her magic. As each scene unfolds, compelling storytelling will be delivered through multi-level production numbers by skaters, performers and acrobats alike.

As Miguel from Disney●Pixar’s Coco crosses the marigold bridge, he finds himself in the magnificent and mystical Land of the Dead. In this culturally rich, vibrantly colourful performance, skeletons atop sway poles swing back and forth over the audience in a dazzling display perfectly suited to this exciting and beautiful celebration of family. Through video projection, Arendelle builds from the ground up, and ice harvesters from Disney’s Frozen use extreme skating to launch themselves from the mountainous, wintry slopes delivering an athletically-driven performance as they chop their way through blocks of ice. The iconic chandelier seen in “Be Our Guest” comes to life as Belle and the enchanted objects from Beauty and the Beast become a rotating carousel using aerial silks and lift upward into the air, mesmerizing onlookers seated above and below.

In a high-energy opening number, Club Mickey Mouse-inspired performers will hype up the crowd through cutting-edge figure skating choreography and hoverboard tricks on the ice. Air tracks will also allow the hilarious pirates aboard the Jolly Roger to flip, tumble and twist to greater heights as they attempt to showcase their talents for Captain Hook. Aerial straps combined with adagio pair skating will elevate Ariel’s transformation from mermaid to human creating a spell-bounding sequence high above the ice with Prince Eric to the classic song, “Kiss The Girl.”  Creative costume design and fabrication will enhance the scenes as the ensemble imitate life “Under the Sea” from Disney’s The Little Mermaid and will also give the illusion the ice is enveloped in flames as Moana encounters Te Ka on her daring voyage to restore the heart of Te Fiti.

Produced by Feld Entertainment Inc., the worldwide leader in live touring family entertainment, Disney On Ice is once again elevating the ice show experience with brand-new engaging elements that will fascinate both newcomers and seasoned guests alike.

For more information, follow Disney on Ice on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube #DisneyOnIce #MickeysSearchParty. Stay tuned for more insights when I share more about my experience behind the scenes at Mickey’s Search Party and get your tickets to the Vancouver show today.

The 2019 Mission Folk Music Festival features an exceptional and diverse roster of artists from across the continent, with music from around the world.

Mission Folk Music Festival

When: Friday July 26th, 2019 to Sunday July 28th, 2019
Where: Fraser River Heritage Park, Mission, BC
Tickets: Ranging from $90 for adults to $85 for Seniors and Students to $50 for Youth, available online. Camping passes are also available at all price levels. Children 12 and under are free.