And with their brunch menu available from 10:00am to 2:30pm on Saturday & Sundays, it’s a perfect destination to grab a meal before one of our weekend matinees of It’s a Wonderful Life.

After brunch and the show your soul will be filled with all the very best of this festive time of year.

Click here for Piva’s Brunch Menu

Click here to book your tickets for Wonderful Life

Daren Herbert & Michael Torontow in Floyd Collins, Photo by David Cooper

After the excesses of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, along comes Giving Tuesday. Like a nice crispy dinner salad after several days of indulgent eating, Giving Tuesday is a great way to re-set.  It harnesses the potential of social media and the generosity of people around the world to encourage and amplify small acts of kindness.

The excellent online charitable giving platform Canada Helps assists hundreds of Canadian charities, large and small, by providing a simple easy way to donate to whatever charity speaks to your heart.

If PSP is one of those charities – and we sure hope it is! – just click here to make your contribution.

And if you give this Tuesday, a spectacular PSP benefactor is MATCHING all donations we receive through our Friends of PSP Campaign to a maximum of $20,000 – so your gift will instantly double in size.

Canada Helps will also add $5 to any donation of $25 or more – so a $25 gift would immediately become $60. You’ll automatically be given a charitable tax receipt from Canada Helps and you will be helping PSP continue to bring you great productions of great musicals.

We hope you enjoyed the orgy of consumerism that American Thanksgiving brings, whether you participated by finding some great deals, or laughed in amazement at the line-ups of chilly would-be shoppers waiting for Best Buy to open.  Now that the craziness has passed, consider becoming part of the Giving Tuesday movement.

Because the company wanted it to be a musical, and I didn’t find either version particularly appealing, I asked the AD to let me create an adaptation using songs from the era and traditional Christmas songs as the score.  Time being of the essence I whipped together a treatment of about half the show.  At this early stage one thing became quite clear: how well the songs of Gershwin, Weill and others integrated with the story. I realized I was attempting to create the version of Wonderful Life that may have been done had the musical division of MGM got their hands on the project during its heyday!

That first production for Chemainus Theatre Festival was like a workshop production: a very intense few weeks of rehearsals as we tried to take these disparate pieces of theatre, film, and music and weave them into a satisfying whole. I can’t overstate how important that first cast was to the development of this piece. David Marr as Clarence, Alison Macdonald as Mary, Jeff Hyslop as Uncle Billy, and David Leyshon as George all helped to sculpt this adaptation, and I’m thrilled that two actors from that original cast are returning to the show again: Gordon Roberts as Gower/Dr. Campbell, and Sayer Roberts (no relation) as Harry Bailey.

That may have been the end of it had Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon not expressed interest in producing the piece the following year. With time off in between I was able to come back to the treatment with fresh eyes. A number of changes were made including cutting a song, moving the placement of another, polishing the dialogue, and integrating more of Clarence, the angel into the action and dialogue – it also allowed Nico and I to create a proper working draft of the entire score.

That production, in a bigger house with a bigger budget, proved even more successful than the first, again playing to sold-out houses, and even receiving an outstanding production nomination at the end of the theatre season. David Leyshon returned as George, and I was thrilled to have Jeff back as Uncle Billy.

The following year the adaptation was licensed by Theatre Aquarius just outside of Toronto, Ontario. Although I couldn’t direct this production I was able to attend opening night and based on what I saw went back to the libretto once again to polish a few moments that still seemed a bit elusive on stage (no fault of that production – entirely in the writing).

A year or so after that production I was approached by Jovanni Sy about mounting the production at Gateway Theatre in Richmond. I was thrilled because I had still not been able to share the work right here at home.

We had been wanting to produce the whole show with PSP but the fact is, it is a gigantic production and PSP just could not raise the capital needed to mount it on our own. Partnering with Gateway made the whole thing possible, and we struck a plan to produce it at the Gateway in 2018 with a follow up production at the Anvil Theatre in 2019.

And here we are…

It should be noted that the goal of this production was not to recreate the film, but rather to both honour it and give audiences a unique, new way of experiencing this beautiful story. Musically, our aim was to have the songs give greater expression to the story while transporting us to the time and place in which it’s set and to unify the score through the use of original musical motifs woven throughout the existing songs.

Enjoy!

Anvil Centre is a boutique arts, culture, and conference centre conveniently located in the heart of New Westminster. Designed to accommodate a wide range of activities, Anvil Centre is a vibrant gathering space and one of Metro Vancouver’s newest cultural hubs.

Within the Anvil Centre you will find The New Media Gallery, the New Westminster Museum and Archives, and the Canadian Lacrosse Hall of Fame. It also includes their Community Art Space as well as arts and dance studios.

Around the Anvil Centre you’ll discover amazing places to eat such as our Season Sponsor, Piva Modern Italian, as well as El Santo, Hub, Kelly O’Bryan’s, Bruncheria, and the Old Spaghetti Factory – not to mention the fabulous array of food and treats available at River Market just over the railway tracks.

Speaking of River Market, there are fabulous boutique shops to be discovered throughout downtown New West: Jolene’s Natural Soap, Raincity Games, One Thing Lockets, and our favourite Origins Chocolate Bar – all located in River Market. Also in the neighbourhood you’ll find cool, funky fashion at Mila & Paige, or a pot pourri of unique gifts at Good Omen Apothecary. Want to pamper yourself? Check out Tori Blush, or B Bombshell – the coolest salon in New West. Maybe you just want to have a walk in the brisk winter air along the boardwalk – just make sure to grab a hot drink from Old Crow, Craft Café, or Great Wall Tea.

Aside from all that the Anvil Centre is a great venue for live theatre. Looking out over downtown New West and the Fraser River is the gorgeous third floor lobby where you can grab a drink at the concession. And don’t worry about downing it during intermission because you can take it into theatre to sip on while you enjoy the show – and it doesn’t matter where you sit in the 360 seat theatre because there’s not one bad seat in the house.

If you’re driving you can park directly under the Anvil Centre and take the elevator to the third floor lobby – but we suggest hopping on the Skytrain and getting off at New West Station conveniently located just across the street.

So, if you haven’t been to New West in a while… it’s time for a visit. Buy your tickets for It’s a Wonderful Life and come make a day of it. Or reserve a room at the beautiful Inn at the Quay and make a wonderful night of it!

Diane was very dear to PSP and to both Katey and Peter. She was a champion of PSP for many years.

“I remember Diane’s shyness, her deep dedication to TUTS and later to PSP; I remember her being really mad at us for making budget decisions without her advice, and boy was she right; I remember how moved and quietly proud she was of The Light in the Piazza. And I remember on a certain afternoon in Chris Allan’s back yard watching Diane and Michael Noon dissolve into fits of laughter while trying to put sealing wax on invitations to a fundraiser. I wish we had been aware of her struggles with cancer; we would have helped in any way we could.” – Katey

 

“Diane believed very strongly in the work we were doing and her enthusiasm and support was always keenly felt (even when she was trying against all odds to get us to be more pragmatic). She loved local musical theatre, and local musical theatre artists, and was always unreserved when expressing her resolute belief in me as a director. I always found more strength and purpose from her resolve.” – Peter

At Diane’s celebration of life we discovered that It’s a Wonderful Life was Diane’s favourite Christmas film when one of her close friends rang a bell for Diane to get her wings. It was a perfect moment of serendipity, letting us know that she’ll keep watching over us. Any theatre company could use a guardian angel, and Diane would be one of the best.

We send our deepest sympathies to all those who knew and loved her – and they are many.

We will think of her often.

PSP has partnered with River Market to create the perfect package for families or friends to see It’s a Wonderful Life and taste the amazing delights on offer at River Market.

The Wonderful Day package comes with four tickets to see any matinee of It’s a Wonderful Life and two Food Passports for River Market. Each Food Passport includes a list of signature dishes from each River Market restaurant. You simply choose 5 signature dishes from your passport and eat your way through River Market!

The Wonderful Day package is only $160 – a savings of over $50.  You get to see the show for less, and eat for free – making for a truly wonderful day!

Wonderful Life matinees play Dec 22, 26, 28, 29 and Jan 4 and 5.  Once you’ve bought your package we will contact you to book you prime seats for the matinee of your choice. And because River Market is open 10am-6pm seven days a week, you can choose to eat before or after the show… or both!

If this deal makes your mouth water, click here to book your package right away. With only ten of these packages available they are sure to find their wings faster than Clarence.

Jim Hibbard & Nick Fontaine in the 2018 Gateway Theatre / PSP production. Photo by David Cooper.

Nick Fontaine (A Little Night Music, Best Laid Plans) will star, once again, as George Bailey, the hopeless dreamer who can’t see the wonderful life that surrounds him until a hapless Angel makes him see what life would be like without him. Nick was nominated for an Ovation Award for Outstanding Performance for his turn as George Bailey, and we are thrilled to have him back.

That hapless angel is the one-and-only Greg Armstrong-Morris (The Full Monty), who is also back from last year’s production and also an Ovation Award nominee for his work in Wonderful Life. Greg absolutely thrilled and delighted audiences with his brilliant take on the much loved character of Clarence Odbody, AC2! 

Speaking of Ovation Nominations (you’ll see a trend here) Erin Palm (PSP debut) will warm your heart as Mary Hatch, and BC Entertainment Hall-of-Famer, Jim Hibbard (PSP debut) will utterly delight as Uncle Billy. Both return from last year’s production and we are lucky to have them both.

Greg Armstrong-Morris, Erin Palm, and Nick Fontaine in the 2018 Gateway / PSP production. Photo by David Cooper.

The incredible company also includes Stephen Aberle (The Full Monty) as Henry Potter with Andrew Cohen (PSP debut) as his Goon. Sayer Roberts (Out of a Dream) returns home from two seasons at Stratford to play Harry Bailey to his actual mother, the incomparable Colleen Winton (making her PSP debut), while PSP favourite Gordon Roberts (The Best Laid Plans & Percussion for Into the Woods and Floyd Collins) takes the roles of Gower, and Dr. Campbell.

Also making their PSP debuts will be Kamyar Pazandeh as Bert, the Cop, Ali Watson as Violet, Justin Lapeña as Sam Wainwright and Vanessa Merenda (It’s a Wonderful Life). Though new to PSP these artists will be well known to any avid theatre goer in Metro Vancouver.

Rounding out the town of Bedford Falls are two young actors that are sure to steal your heart: Oakley Arksey as Young Mary / Zuzu Bailey, and Will Byassee as Young George / Pete Bailey.

Any one of these artists alone is worth the price of admission – but altogether they are not to be missed.

Click here to book your tickets today! 

FUN FACT: The 2018 Gateway Theatre production (with the support of PSP) was nominated for a whopping 14 Ovation Awards last year.

Well, to inspire you with a different kind of holiday spirits – here are my five favourite creepy, bizarre, or frightening musicals to add to your Hallowe’en playlist.

5. LET’S JUST START WITH THE OBVIOUS: Sweeney Todd: the Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Many consider this show to be Sondheim’s biggest achievement and arguably it is (I would argue that it’s Passion) – never the less, this musical would certainly make it onto my all-time favourites list. I was around 19 years old the first time I heard that whistle sound on the Original Cast Recording – and it may have changed the trajectory of my life. Sweeney tells the gruesome tale of a vengeful barber who slits the throats of his customers before sending them down the chute to be ground-up for meat pies in Mrs. Lovett’s Pie Shop.

If you don’t want to give away too much candy this Hallowe’en I would suggest playing the opening number on loop and amplifying it out your front door.

Fun fact:  Sweeney Todd is one of the few Sondheim musicals in which the original idea came from Sondheim himself. That… and Passion.

You can watch the entire Lincoln Centre In-Concert version (with an electrifying opening) here.

4. THOUGH IT’S NEVER BEEN ON STAGE (though many are longing to see it live) we all know that The Nightmare Before Christmas may be the best Hallowe’en musical ever. Conceived by the ever-imaginative Tim Burton, the gorgeously designed stop-motion animation would be a choreographers dream (or nightmare) for a live show – and the score by Danny Elfman creates the perfect tone throughout.

What would a live stage show look and feel like you ask? Well, fortunately there is a super fan out there who gave us a taste.

3. ANOTHER REASON I GOT TURNED ON TO MUSICAL THEATRE is the epic off-Broadway, bit of musical-theatre-B-movie-horror perfection Little Shop of Horrors. I played Seymour Krelborn in my high school production back in … another era. I also had the pleasure of directing a production for Persephone Theatre a few years back. Both productions seemed to be surrounded by impish-evil spirits and I hope to tackle it again one day. For now, here are Rick Moranis and Ellen Greene in the film doing a delightful Suddenly Seymour:

2. WELL, WE PROBABLY PRODUCED Herringbone ABOUT ONE MONTH TOO EARLY. I mean a tale about a vengeful spirit possessing an innocent boys body? It’s a perfect dark, creepy tale to enjoy as we consider warding off the evil spirits that might haunt us. We hope to get Herringbone out of his box again down the road. But if you missed it there is a cast recording made by actor, B.D. Wong who toured the show a number of years ago.  Here he is talking about why it’s a one (person) musical.

1. IF YOU HAVEN’T GUESSED YOU PROBABLY WEREN’T A PSP FAN in 2010. That’s when we produced Bat Boy: the Musical. This epic little tale, inspired by the stories in the Weekly World News, tells the story of Edgar – a half-bat/half-child found in a cave in West Virginia. This musical isn’t just a great bit of horror-kitsch, it’s a great morality-tale too.

In our production we revealed the origins of Bat Boy through a series of B-Horror, black and white reels… here is a hysterical little bit where (Spoiler Alert) Bat Boy’s mother Meredith is about to be… umm… ravaged by bats. It features the wonderful Bree Grieg, and was shot and edited by the brilliant Michael Side… and it still makes me laugh.

FUN FACT: this was shot right by our hold home on Patrick Street!

And if you’re really craving spirits from beyond our mortal coil, don’t forget that Wonderful Life does feature an Angel who curses a man’s life by making it so he was never born!  And if you book before Hallowe’en is all over you’ll get our early-bird rates on tickets!

-PETER JORGENSEN
Co-Artistic Producer
Patrick Street Productions

So, how many people does it really take to put on a one-person musical – and who is that “crew” that Herringbone is thanking?

Well, before anything – you need writers/creators – artists with the imagination, talent, tenacity, diligence, and just enough crazy to create what never was, but had to be.

You need an actor (two in our case): artists who can carry a show on their own, learn nearly two hours of material, 15 songs, dialogue, choreography, and bring 11 different characters to life on stage.

You need a director: an outside eye to help guide and inform the actors – to help bring a unity of vision to the piece with the entire creative team, and to be the collaborative centre of the whole experience.

You need designers: a costume designer to create something fun, fanciful, and transformative, a lighting & set designer to create the space in which the story is lived out, a sound designer to ensure that everything we hear is perfectly balanced and clear.

You need tradespeople to build your set pieces and your costumes.

You need a musical director: someone who is going to dig into the music and help the actors understand its nuance – who can lead a band through the maze of performing a live piece of theatre. In the case of Herringbonein two different keys for two different voices!

You need a band: a groovy bass player, and a sharp drummer to play the hell out of the incredible score.

You need technicians: a sound operator to mix the show each night, a board operator to run the lighting, crew to load-in the set, hang and focus lights, set up microphones, and then strike it all when you’re done.

You need a Stage Manager: the person who will keep everyone and everything organized and make sure the show comes off each night as the director and designers envisioned – to be the calm eye in the middle of the theatrical hurricane.

You need an Assistant Stage Manager, to run backstage… and run to the hardware store…

You need a designer for your marketing materials: someone who can create a captivating image that might draw people in, then format it in myriad different versions for all the various media.

You need a photographer, and a videographer to capture imagery before rehearsals begin, during the process,
and in the venue to help create enticing content that will draw more people in.

You need a publicist to help get the word out about the show (especially, when it’s a show that people don’t know well) – someone who will be your ambassador, and champion, and cheerleader.

You need a production manager: someone to watch the budget and find an emergency dance floor for rehearsals.

You need producers: two crazy-ass people who are going to try and raise the money to pay everyone equitable, professional fees for the extraordinary work they all do.

All in all, Herringbone, our delightfully upsetting one-person musical, brought together 22 professionals, many of them doubling their duties/roles to bring this “one-person” show to you.

Twenty-Two professionals = one-person musical!

Now if you’ve read this far… if you’ve gotten here… why not go a bit farther and make a donation to our matching fund campaign.

Every artist, technician, designer, artisan, manager will benefit from your generosity.

Thanks for reading,

-Peter & Katey

Peter Jorgensen as Herringbone – Photo by Moonrider Productions

Since PSP’s award-winning production of A Little Night Music at the Anvil Centre, a fabulous new restaurant has opened up just steps from the lobby: Piva Modern Italian.  Piva also happens to be our Season Sponsor for Herringbone and It’s a Wonderful Life.  Two great experiences in one place.

So why not make a night of it?

With 8pm performances in the evening either stop in for an incredible Italian meal before the show, or enjoy a drink and dessert after. Attending one of our 4pm Sunday matinees? If you drop by Piva before the show you can enjoy their Happy Hour Menu!

As a bonus, Piva and the Anvil Centre are amazingly accessible.  Take the Skytrain to New West Station and we’re just across the street, or access the parking garage off of 8^thStreet.

So after you book your tickets to see our “delightfully upsetting” production of Herringbone– make your dinner reservation with Piva for before or after the production.