The Firehall Arts Centre’s 2014-2015 Season Announced

Firehall Arts Centre. Wikipedia photo

Vancouver, BC – Firehall Arts Centre’s Artistic Producer Donna Spencer is pleased to announce that for the 2014-2015 season the Firehall will produce and present 14 theatre and dance shows. Bridging time, cultures and artistic disciplines the works bring unique, entertaining and truly universal stories to the Firehall stage.

When announcing the season, Ms. Spencer advised that the selected work was informed by an eclectic range of cultures, whether it be Kayvon Kelly and Joel Bernbaum’s comic look at their respective Muslim and Jewish backgrounds in My Rabbi, the confrontation of Canada’s dark past in Drew Hayden Taylor’s God and the Indian, or the Jewish/French Basque Country/Quebecois heritage of Esther Brandeau in ribcage: this wide passage/thorax.

Urinetown: the Musical, one of the Firehall’s most popular and beloved shows will return with an all-new production and TJ Dawe will direct the collective creation PostSecret, the Show. Due to popular demand and an upcoming election Michael Healey’s PROUD will be back for those who missed its political antics the first time.

Dance highlights include two solos by internationally renowned South African choreographer Vincent Mantsoe, the world premiere of Wen Wei Wang’s Made In China, new solo show from Denise Clarke (One Yellow Rabbit) WAG, and a collaboration by Canada’s finest dance artists Things Near and Far (featuring choreography by Tedd Robinson and Vancouver’s Josh Martin).

2014/2015 SEASON

MY RABBI – October 7-18
The Vancouver premiere of a new play by Kayvon Kelly (Chelsea Hotel) and Joel Bernbaum (Home is a beautiful Word) about friendship, faith and family.

WAG – October 21-25
A comedy of tragic proportions by Denise Clarke. ‘Wag is many things — a meditation on life, a storytelling dance piece, and a waltz party — but ultimately, it’s good fun.’ (Calgary Herald)

URINETOWN: the Musical – November 1-29
The Jessie Award winning smash hit musical comedy returns. One of the Firehall’s most popular productions ever!

THINGS NEAR AND FAR – December 3-6
An evening of bold, new dance that spans three generations of greative experimentation. Featuring Choreography by Josh Martin and Tedd Robinson and performances by Ziyian Kwan, Ron Stewart & Anne Cooper.

CHELSEA HOTEL – December 2014
The sold-out Firehall production inspired by Leonard Cohen returns for a limited Christmas run. Featuring six artists playing seventeen different Instruments in an eclectic cabaret of loves won and lost.

KAYAK – January 8-17
Alley Theatre’s production of brilliant emerging Vancouver playwright Jorden Hall’s smart and funny play about the ways love and absurdity get tangled up in ecological ethics.

POST SECRET – January 2013
A Firehall Arts Centre production of the play inspired by Frank Warren’s internet phenomenon postsecret.com. A visual, auditory and emotional journey through the beauty and complication of our deepest fears, ambitions, and confessions. Produced and directed by TJ Dawe.

NTU, SKWATTA – February 11-14
Experience the riveting mastery of the incomparable Vincent Mantsoe and his Afro-fusion dance, which mixes traditional African dance and contemporary Western street styles. These two solos pieces draw you into the poverty stricken world of South Africa’s squatter camps.

MADE IN CHINA – Feb 18-21
Wen Wei Dance weaves together dance, music and storytelling to explore the shared identity of three Canadian artists of Chinese heritage and their evolution as contemporary international artists.

RIBCAGE: THIS WIDE PASSAGE/THORAX – Dates TBC
The startling true story of Esther Brandeau, a woman from Jewish French Basque country, who arrives in 18th Century Quebec City as a male labourer. A bold, little-know Canadian tale by urbanink productions about displacement, prejudice & identity.

THE VILLAGE – Dates TBC
A one-woman show by Canadian artist Tina Milo, whose Serbian heritage infuses this unique and darkly humorous fusion of music, physical theatre & film. Part-autobiography, part universal tale, this is a story all women and mothers will relate to.

PROUD – April 4-25, 2015
The popular comedy about Canada’s Prime Minister returns. Michael Healey’s sexy, cheeky and surprising play will have you rolling in the aisles – regardless of your politics.

GOD AND THE INDIAN – May 2015
A First Nations woman confronts a priest for answers about her dark residential-school past. A Firehall production in association with Native Earth Performing Arts of Drew Hayden Taylor’s unflinching and heartbreaking play.

BC BUDS, Firehall Spring Arts Festival – May 2015
The 11th edition returns to fill the Firehall with music, dance, theatre and the unexpected.

Early bird season passes are now on sale at www.firehallartscentre.ca or by calling 604-689-0926.