#i love you playhouse collective jane

[janeya]

i want to give her a kis s on the forehead

[sleepboysummer]

What would you say are your top 10 Jane Does? What’s some of your favorite Jane Does singing wise as well?

OH I LOVE THIS QUESTION I AM KICKING MY FEET

its hard enough to just pick ten of them that i dont think i can rank them 1-10 so im just gonna say my favorites in no order. (also im not going to count emily rohm! i usually dont include the american tour in these sort of questions). just be ready cause i am about to yap SO hard i am going fucking OFF

sarah jane pelzer! the og, but also i just love the darker sort of tone she uses for jane. it really shows a different side of jane that i love.

playhouse collective jane is just so cute and i think such a good take on the character. adore her so much

ofc jane was one of the first i ever saw, and i just really like the characterization and interactions with the other characters. still to this day one of the best vocally that ive ever heard!

usd jane is so precious and sweet and i loveee how she holds herself and the voice she does. and k&e is a production where i have not seen any content of her actually performing but i adore her so much anyways. i just genuinely love her costume so much it makes me so happy as a costumer myself...

ut austin gotta rep my texans.. but rly i am just very into the direction taken with the character in this production and think that all the decisions made for her were very well done. plus i always love a white hair jane and i think the white lashes was also a really nice creative decision.. very ghostly and i think it fits so well.

majestic repertory!! a current production (which i have been waiting for for MONTHS to happen as i am familiar with some of the theatres other work and knew they would do this show so well. (and i was right!)), i love when janes take the more scary route with their movements, similar to my love for roxys downtown jane! and she is a prime example of that. i really love the characterization so much and it is definitely more similar to how i imagine her.

roxys downtown is the best example of how i actually imagine jane to be... their jane is the blueprint to me.. the actors choices and work with movement is so impressive and genuinely captures the character so well i can hardly imagine any other direction. plus the amout of impact their bojd had on future theatres is undeniable there is nothing like it

jungle theatre another one of the earlier productions i have just kind of always adored, the costuming is just so well done and i think we owe all the props to the first marionette jane

and cjt jane i love!!! i found their production from the jane actor themself, we were talking in a comment section and they sent me their theatres tiktok (which had three followers at the time lmao they were still months out to opening) so i kind of have a special place in my heart for them. their sweet childish kind of charactization is just so precious and really encapsulates the tragedy of the situation i think. plus also they made me CRY with their reaction to ocean sending jane back and that has never happened before so.

the best vocally that i can think of would have to be

ashlyn maddox. i wish i could say otherwise but she brought such a fresh voice to the character and is very clearly trained to perform in this register. plus the opt up she does changed me as a person forever and i genuinely cant hear the song without it.

ofc theatre- some of the clearest notes ive heard by any jane, and the stability that she performs is so beautiful. im also obsessed with the gentle vibrato and more sweet tone that she has compared to the intense operatic style of the original material.

beck centre, i havent watched in a hot minute so i cant give the most specific examples but i just remember how healthy and clear her vocals were and that is something that surprisingly many productions are lacking. i really appreciate when i find one where the actor sounds practically effortless.

the cast of mini mirage that there is a recording of. (i cant say anything for the other 2 casts sadly). i really appreciate a young actor who not only can pull off the song alone (WITH HEALTHY AND SUPPORTED VOCALS) but also incorporate the ashlyn maddox opt up!! i love that choice so much and cant believe we moved on from it so fast its such an incredible moment in any production that utilizes it as long as it is well done by the actor. i also just really love this actors vocal tone, i think it is so rich and beautiful and very different from most voices, especially in contemporary musical theatre.

dramatech. some of the softest sweetest vocals ive heard and they sound so healthy too but she does it so effortlessly which is what i love abt her performance most!

[twisted-pact]

Solid reasoning! If I may counter-conspiracy for a moment though, I've got alternative hypotheses (Or, let's be honest, guesses) about Raven and the Wanderer

I think that Raven is Jenna's "Uncle Ray." Like you mentioned, Raven's got a connection to Xandoria, since that's presumably where Lloyd got his new body, and the three of them might keep visiting so Han can keep in touch with Jane or her descendants, and we know he's adopted the role of "everybody's friendly (R-rated) uncle" before, so he might not be Jenna's biological uncle. What little description of him we get is that he "loves his wild excursions" and that he hasn't gone back into the Great Collective, which might mean he isn't really part of Xandoria, but more of a visitor Now, I think the big, obvious issue with this is that Uncle Ray is, well, dead, according to Jenna. That could be her assumption, though; did she necessarily do a body count, or did she just realize she was the only one left alive, so Ray must have perished? Raven could have blipped to a different narrative instead, either thinking everyone else was already dead, or intentionally abandoning the crew to their fate, since he might not actually have a familial connection to Jenna that he would care about that much, especially in light of his promise to be there for Han going forward; he might not risk dying for a maybe-not-actual niece. Whether Raven is Ray or the Wanderer though, I think you're definitely right that Paul wouldn't be able to resist some cameos from the Playhouse crew here and there.

As for the Wanderer, setting aside the possibility that he's a totally new character because that would shut down our wild speculations, I think he actually COULD be one of the Puppetshades. Yes, he mentions them in his song, but the lyrics are so messed up, it could have been "the Puppetshades and I…" or "the other Puppetshades…" Who knows what we can really take away from that song? My guess is that the Wanderer is Skyler. Yes, he's voiced by Paul and not Nora, but Skyler's sobriquet is "Magic Skyler" after all; shapeshifting/voiceshifting might be in his skillset, and it'd make sense that Paul would voice that part himself rather than getting another VA to voice a bit part we may never hear again Do I have any evidence to back this up? Well… not really, but hear me out: Right after the Wanderer's scene, we get the Oki and Skyler exchange, where Skyler says he "just made a move." I guess that could refer to him sending the Wanderer to 9A, or influencing the Kratu to bomb him, or maybe something to do with the attack on Jenna's ship/saving her from being lost in space, but I think the easier answer is that Skyler disguised himself as the Wanderer to set off the entire chain of events that constitute the rest of the album As for the other Wanderers, if they aren't Lloyd and Han, they could be the, like, go-to disguises for the other Puppetshades. Two of the five are supposedly out of commission, either dead or lost, gone askew, which would get us to three remaining Wanderers; or, since Oki and Cindilou have both been holed up in their respective sanctums, they may no longer be "wandering" and it's Skyler, Dottie, and Piper who the Kratu think are the remaining, active Wanderers. Once again, no hard evidence for any of this, but my gut just kinda says that Paul wouldn't immediately have well-established characters driving the plot for the new series? I dunno, that's maybe just me

Finally, I think Wilhemina IS William! Right at the start of the Cabaret, she says something about "trying a new archetype out for a bit," which could mean that William's moving on from his preferred archetype of Old Coot Willie and trying out, uh, judging by her jacket, Lion Tamer Wilhemina? We can workshop the name :P Here's my reasoning: The names are similar, obviously, but Wilhemina is also capable of narrating for OTHER POSTIES without them noticing, and even snaps and freezes the rest of them so she can give a witty comment, a level of control that even Sarah never reached when fully powered on mutant children juice, but WOULD make sense coming from the oldest, most advanced posthuman. I think during that snap-based aside to the audience, she also referred to Lloyd and Raven as like, her trash boys or something? It's been a while since I listened, but she made some comment that established that she knew them and was fond of them, which could make sense if William sees them as, like, his followers, working their way onto the higher paths he's operating on From a meta standpoint, it also makes sense that Paul would want William (who didn't have an established voice actor) to be voiced by someone he could reliably get to reprise the role, and who didn't already have a postie character they were known for, just like Lauren

This rambling screed brought to you by I've listened to this album approximately 126 times since it was released two weeks ago and I needed somebody to conspire at :P

ok ive convinced myself the wanderer is raven and i Will elaborate if asked that is a threat

[hannahhook7744]

A Wish Fulfilled Prologue part 1;

Big shout out to @c-rose2081 inspiring the opening of this chapter. Also, if you want to be tagged, let me know.

Trigger warning; Cinderella and Kit Charming Bashing, descendants parents sucking, headcanons, bad parenting, etc.

Previous parts here; Summary.

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6 children played on the vast grounds of Charming castle-- innocent, carefree, & happy as can be. Unaware of just how soon their circumstances would change.

"EN GARDE" One of the children yelled, swinging a wooden sword at another-- leaping over a log as he did so. He was short, chubby, & had a head full of blonde curls, and his hazel eyes shined bright as he advanced forward. His name was Prince Chadwick Robert Charming & he was 6 years old, and the heir apparent to the Cinderellasburg throne.

His friend, the one he was play-fighting, was another prince named Benjamin who would one day rule them all. But for now, he was just a 7 year old boy playing with Chad and their other friends. And he was gracefully ducking every blow sent his way. "YOU'LL NEVER TAKE ME ALIVE!" Chad swung at him once again, nearly tripping over the cape he was wearing. "RELEASE THE PRINCESS, YOU EVIL SWINE!" Ben blocked the hit with his own sword, yelling "NEVER!"

Nearby, four additional children sat in and around a castle playhouse-- keeping their eyes on the duel that was commencing. Far too enamored with the fight to remember the roles they were supposed to be playing in their little game of 'Quests and Bests'. The 6 year old 'kidnapped' Princess (Audrey) was leaning out of her 'prison' window with a look of awe on her face. One that was mirrored by her fellow 'prisoner', the high fairy queen of Auardon (Jane) who was leaning out the other window. The magical bard (Doug) who was supposed to be rescuing them looked just as invested in the outcome of the fight as they did, while their last friend and prison keeper (Lonnie) just looked on with envy. No doubt annoyed that she had gotten stuck guarding them instead of fighting.

No one paid her any mind because again a duel was going on right in front of their eyes. And it was the coolest thing they had ever seen, because it was clear that the two princes in front of them were taking their duel very seriously (like they were taught to be) & that they both intended to win it. Both boys moved with unfathomable grace & dignity, swinging, swiping, blocking, & ducking each and every blow the other sent their way with ease. As if they were born for this. As if they could do it all day. And they would all gladly watch them do so if they were permitted to do so. How could they not when seeing both of their friends so calm, collected, and concentrated?

Suddenly, a warm, loving, familiar voice cut through the air like a blade-- destroying the concentration everyone has built up with just a few simple words. "KIDS, TIME FOR LUNCH!" Chad yelped and tripped-- startled by the yelling-- and fell on his backside as his sword flew out of his hand, far behind him. All of his friends ran over immediately to help him up and to see if he was alright, only for him to beat them to it. He pushed himself up-- seemingly unfazed by his embarrassing fall-- & brushed himself off, quickly calling out "COMING GRANDPA!" as he did so before turning to them.

"You guys go ahead without me, I gotta go find my sword " He said, sheepishly glancing behing him. Ben, being the helpful little people please he was, didn't miss a beat and earnestly replied with "we can help you find it, if you want!" The rest of their friends eagerly nodded, showing their solidarity and willingness to help, but Chad shook his head. "No, no. It's fine. I got it. You guys go ahead and tell my grandpa I'll be in a sec". His friends all looked hesitant to drop the matter-- no doubt due to their shared upbringing-- and Chad feared for a moment that he'd have to fight them on it. Or worse, leave his sword behind and admit to his grandpa that he had lost yet another sword. But then Audrey stepped forward. "Don't worry, guys. I'll help him find it. Now shoo"

Surprisingly, their friends listened to her-- albeit hesitantly-- and raced back to the castle. Clearly excited to absolutely devoure whatever the staff had prepared for lunch. Chad couldn't really blame them; he'd have been racing back too if he hadn't lost his sword. He couldn't lose another one. His parents would be so mad and then they'd ground him and make him do more stuffy lessons and he wouldn't be able to play with his friends for a few days! And they'd take his mice, puppy, and kitty away again! He couldn't let that happen! He just had to find that sword!

"Which way did it go?" The princess inquired exasperated, knowing just as well as he did how his parents would react to him misplacing yet another toy. Sure, they'd replace it eventually when he got too annoying (clingy) for their liking or when his grandpa scolded them for being too harsh and distant again. Then they spend some time with him and get him another sword, and go back to dumping him on his grandpa, the grand duke and his wife, Prudence, until they got scolded for it again. That's just how parents were; Audrey's parents were the exact same. They were bestfriends for a reason after all.

"Somewhere over there" The blonde replied, jerking his thumb over his shoulder to gesture where it had gone. Which just so happened to be near the opening of the forest their parents and grandparents had repeatedly told them to steer clear of.

Audrey groaned, clearly not looking forward to the scolding her family and his parents would be giving them when they inevitably got caught-- and grabbed his hand. Moving forward and not even bothering to look back at him as she tugged on it.

"Well, come on then. We don't have all day" Chad stared at her wide eyed, jaw dropped; not having expected her to grab his hand like that. He quickly snapped out of it a second later and quickly followed after her when she tugged on his hand again.

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Seconds passed and turned into minutes, and those minutes drew out so much that it quickly became a quarter till 1. Or so Audrey's tiara watch said. And they still hadn't found the damned sword. Chad was becoming desperate at this point.

"Chad, come on. We gotta get back. They've definitely noticed we're gone by now" Audrey sighed, nervously glancing from her watch to Chad, who looked close to tears. "But.. but we need to find it! My mama and papa will be so mad if we don't!" His eyes were watering and he was wringing his hands together. Audrey felt her resolve slipping "Hey, no. Don't look at me like that. It's not my fault you lost the stupid thing!"

The blonde sniffled and swiped at his eyes-- Clearly trying not to cry. He looked like a kicked puppy when he did that. "Okay, okay fine! We'll look for 10 more minutes but after that, we're going back and there's nothing you can say to change my mind"

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They didn't go back after 10 minutes. They kept looking and looking until---"Hey Auddy look! Over there!" Chad piped up, pointing behind her.

"What is i--woah" the small princess's jaw dropped as she spotted what her friend was pointing at. A trail of wisps. One of which was holding the sword they had been looking for the past hour and a half. To say Audrey was a bit miffed would be an understatement. "Hey you!" The wisps all turned towards them at her exclamation, looking like a kid who got caught with their hand in the cookie jar as they nearly dropped the sword. It would be comical if Audrey wasn't so mad.

"Yeah you! Drop the sword!" She demanded, stomping her foot. Which wasn't very flattering for a princess let alone one her age but she couldn't care less at that moment. Her and Chad were gonna be in so much trouble when they got back, and it was all their fault; Audrey was pretty sure that that justified her current attitude and unprincessly actions.

But unlike their friends, the wisps weren't intimidated enough to listen to her and opted for bolting off farther into the woods instead. "HEY! GET BACK HERE YOU LITTLE THIEVES!" The brunette screeched enraged, quickly pursuing them. Chad said nothing, too stunned by the current situation to even think about talking as he hurried down the trail after her-- wondering what they'd find.

The wisps ducked behind trees and rocks, jerked up and down, and just in general dodged every swipe of a hand or foot, or rock thrown at them as they tried to 'escape' the two children that were pursuing them. And every time Audrey and Chad caught up with the strange creatures, they seemed to get quicker and trickier. And they didn't seem like they'd be slowing down anytime soon-- they didn't even look or sound out of breath or tried or disheveled at all as they continued to lure the two royals further and further into the forest.

The same could not be said for Audrey and Chad. They were both drenched in sweat and covered in dirt. Their clothes were ripped and equally as damp and filthy as the children were. And their hair had become horribly untidy and frizzy-- they even had a couple of twigs and leaves in their hair! And both of them were horribly out of breath.

Though, Chad was in much worse shape than Audrey was for various reasons. He was extremely sunburnt and having a mild allergic reaction to honey (from running into a broken, thankfully empty bee hive) and feathers (from a fallen bird's nest that had landed on his head). He had developed a nasty rash that he just couldn't help but scratch at. Which just slowed them down even further because he just wouldn't stop scratching at it!

But by some miracle of fate, the two never lost sight of the pesky little things and Chad's sword-- not even once. No matter what got in their way; it was almost as if the wisps wanted Chad and Audrey to follow them.

The two quickly dismissed the thought from their minds as soon as it crossed them because that would be ridiculous. Wouldn't it? What could a ton of wisps possibly want with two "bratty" children who weren't very talented? Nothing. Absolutely nothing, because the mere idea was proprosterous.

Though the wisps did seem to go slower at times. Like when they led them through the thicker parts of the forest and across the frigid, unrelenting river. Eventually though, the wisps were back to their usual antics and sped into the only house that seemed to be around-- a little, shabby, lightened cottage that was covered in moss and shrubbery. And they took the sword with them--which caused the two children to halt their pursuit and retrieval of their property.

Audrey met Chad's shifty eyes and they quickly had a silent conversation where they weighed their possible options and the consequences of them. If they knocked on the door, the person might not answer or refuse return the sword. Which would mean they came all this way for nothing, which would make the trouble they were gonna be in worse. The same could be said for option 2, which was just to go home and ask an adult to go get it for them (which few would do).

They decided to go with the 3rd option; technical breaking and entering. If they were caught, they'd just run away or explain the situation. Or pretend that they were very, very lost. The plan wasn't very good but what other choice did they have? And they were just 6, so they wouldn't be punished too harshly for it anyway.

Audrey entered first; her exhaustion hadn't extinguished her anger in the slightest. She was gonna give up those stupid little wisps a piece of her mind and get Chad's sword back, whether they liked it or not. No matter what it cost. Chad reluctantly followed her, having 2nd thoughts but knowing that there was no backing out now.

The inside of the cottage looked straight out of the past. The walls were made of stone and the floor made of wood. Torches lit the wall and the place was decorated in scary masks, jars full of glowing liquids, a giant cauldron, & strange wood carvings. Wood carvings that were mainly of bears. All the furniture was made of stone, brick, or wood and the place was completely devoid of any tech. It was strange. But strangest yet, was the fact that the wisps had completely vanished.

The only evidence that they had ever even been there was the blue wooden sword that laid completely discarded on the floor. "MY SWORD!" Chad squealed happily as he ran over and plucked it off thr ground-- hugging it closely to his chest.

"Chad!" Audrey hissed frantically, making a cutting motion with her hand. "Keep it down, you're gonna get us caught--"

A cackle broke out from somewhere within the house, causing them to jump as an unfamiliar, feminine, accented voice called out "bit late for that, deary".

[365daysoflesbians]

JULY 17: Berenice Abbott (1898-1991)

Born on this day in 1898, the photographer Berenice Abbott was at the center of lesbian society throughout the early 20th century and rubbed elbows with the likes of Janet Flanner, Thelma Wood, and Else von Freytag-Loringhoven and made a name for herself with her architectural photography of New York City in the early 1930s.

Berenice Abbott photographed by her friend Walker Evans in 1930 (x). 

Berenice Abbott was born in Springfield, Ohio on July 17, 1898. She was raised in a working-class household by a single mother, Lillian Alice Bunn, and recalled having had an unhappy childhood. She fled home to study journalism at Ohio State University as soon as she graduated high school, but eventually became disenchanted with academia and ran away again – this time to New York City – after only a year at the university. In New York, Berenice found a love for sculpture and sought to make a career out of it, but in the meantime she was only able to make money by working as a dark room assistant, a waitress, and even by acting in minor roles at The Famous Provincetown Playhouse. In 1921, Berenice had once again grown tired of her surroundings and purchased a one-way ticket to the city of Paris. It was there where she met and befriended the man who would change her life: incomparable photographer Man Ray who found the plucky, eager dark room assistant he was looking for in Berenice.

Berenice’s self-portraits from throughout the years show her sporting her signature short hairstyle and butch fashion sense (x). 

And thus began Berenice Abbott’s photography career, her dreams of being a sculptor long forgotten. She would later recall, “I took to photography like a duck to water. I never wanted to do anything else." With Man Ray allowing her to use his studio in Montparnasse for her own work, Berenice specialized in taking portraits of all the big names in Parisian society  and her work began to be shown at the popular “"Au Sacre du Printemps.” Her subjects included everyone from the popular authors Jean Cocteau and James Joyce to her own close friends from the lesbian salons of the day, Jane Heap, Janet Flanner, Marie Laurencin, and many others. Her friend Sylvia Beach once wrote that “To be 'done' by Man Ray or Berenice Abbott meant you rated as somebody.”

While in Paris, Berenice took many portraits of her lesbian socialite friends, including (from left to right) Djuna Barnes, Peggy Guggenheim, and Solita Solano (x). 

In 1929, Berenice took a trip back to New York City with the intention of finding a publisher for her photograph collection and then returning to Paris, but fate had other plans. With her new artistic mind, Berenice became entranced by the cityscape of New York City and immediately began the project that would make her career in America – Changing New York. For almost 6 years, Berenice used a Century Universal camera, which produced large format 8 x 10 inch negatives, to capture the everyday life of both work and play of the people of New York. The project eventually evolved into a sociological study and she began to be funded by Federal Art Project to continue her work. Today, Changing New York can be seen in its entirety at The Museum of the City of New York.

One of Berenice’s iconic photos from Changing New York; Waterfront, South Street, October 25th, 1935 (x). 

In her later years, Berenice began to experience lung problems and so she and her partner, the art critic Elizabeth McCausland who she had lived with for over 30 years, decided to move and settle down in the small town of Blanchard, Maine. She practiced photography until her death on December 9, 1991; her last collection ever published was A Portrait of Maine in 1968 and, at the time of her death, there was a documentary about her life in the works. In her last interview for Berenice Abbott: A View of the 20th Century, Berenice says, “The world doesn't like independent women. Why? I don't know, but I also don't care.”

-LC

[biofunmy]

The Fate of a Brooklyn ‘Palace’

On a recent Saturday, 25 members of the Philadelphia Church of Universal Brotherhood, an African American Seventh-day Adventist congregation, gathered in the ornate lobby of a 95-year-old former movie palace in Brooklyn for their weekly Sabbath service.

Surrounded by columns and a gold-painted plaster frieze of griffins and vases, the attendees sang exuberant, hip-swaying hymns, accompanied by drums, a synthesizer, tambourines and even a cowbell. The fellowship was palpable, and the voices so strong that the force of their collective music seemed to belie the congregation’s meager numbers. But when the collection baskets were handed around, the limited number of hands to pitch in for badly needed building repairs was manifest.

“The lack of funds has really kept us back, because we’re not rich,” said D. Liendra Jeffries, the church’s octogenarian senior pastor. “We’re trying to negotiate a deal so we can do something with the building.”

The building in question, the church’s home since 1975, is the former Loew’s Kameo on Eastern Parkway near Nostrand Avenue in Crown Heights, a 1,400-seat theater with a snazzy, Egyptian-inflected Art Deco facade of vibrant, multicolored terra cotta. Pieces of that facade and other masonry have fallen off the building in the past few years, prompting the church to erect a sidewalk shed to protect pedestrians. And in a peculiar example of life imitating art, real plants are growing out of a decorative band of terra-cotta leaves on the structure’s cornice.

Whether the building, which the church consecrated as the Philadelphian Sabbath Cathedral, will survive at all is very much up in the air. The church has been besieged by developers and builders, according to F.E. Roy Jeffries II, the institution’s leader and son of its senior pastor. Church leadership is now weighing whether to repair the building or tear it down and build something larger, such as a six-story apartment house.

“We might do a land lease that includes the air space,” said Pastor Jeffries, a dapper 69-year-old with a salt-and-pepper beard. “But we’re not going to sell.” In any scenario, he insisted, the church would continue its ministry at that location.

Originally known as the Cameo, the buff-brick theater was built in 1924 on land that Samuel Wolfman, a developer, had purchased from the city, which had obtained the property for construction of the subway beneath it. To design the cinema, Wolfman’s company chose Harrison Wiseman, a prolific, Manhattan-based theater architect.

An Ohio native, Wiseman would soon design two noteworthy theaters on the thriving Yiddish Rialto of Manhattan’s lower Second Avenue: the stunning Moorish Revival-style structure on East 12th Street now known as the Louis N. Jaffe Art Theater, a landmark, and the 2,800-seat Commodore Theatre, near Sixth Street. (In 1968, the Commodore became the legendary rock venue the Fillmore East, which for three boisterous years hosted the likes of Jimi Hendrix and the Who.)

Wiseman’s Cameo facade was an exotic film-world fantasy with an Egyptian flavor, probably influenced by Howard Carter’s discovery of King Tutankhamun’s tomb in 1922, which had set off a wave of Egyptomania in the design world. Running along the top was a terra-cotta band of stylized Art Deco women’s faces, suggestive of theatrical masks or muses, each one sporting a smart Cleopatra hairdo. From their eyes shot angular beams of green light evocative of film projections.

The Cameo opened on Feb. 9, 1924, with the melodrama “The Lullaby,” starring silent-film beauty Jane Novak. In June, the cinema began showing movies under the open sky in a 1,500-seat roof garden.

The theater was one of two — along with the Rolland, a neo-Moorish-style Yiddish stage venue at St. John’s Place — that Wiseman designed on Eastern Parkway. The two have had similar histories. Both were built in the 1920s for owners who themselves lived on Eastern Parkway. Both have vividly colorful, terra-cotta Wiseman facades. And both were repurposed for religious use, when churches scrambled into the theatrical shells like hermit crabs and made themselves right at home. Since the 1950s, the former Rolland Theatre has been the Holy House of Prayer for All People.

In its first year the Cameo was purchased by Marcus Loew’s theater chain and rechristened the Loew’s Kameo. At the star-studded opening gala, fans swarmed the playhouse to ogle Johnny Hines and other screen idols; hundreds were turned away. Among the celebrities, noted The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, was Ernest Hilliard, who, though “one of the most despicable villains in screendom,” looked “as harmless as the kitten who sat licking its lips in the lobby.”

By the 1950s the Kameo had grown tatty, but its showy interior still held substantial allure. “It had a skyline of minarets and fake Moorish stuff,” recalled Mark Jacobson, who used to watch movies like “Creature From the Black Lagoon” there with his granduncle Gus, a projectionist at the theater. “And the artifice was set in front of the fake sky in a way that gave you the sense that there was a vast city surrounding you set against the twilight of this other world that probably never existed.”

Mr. Jacobson also got a look behind the theater’s artifice. “I would climb up this little catwalk, and the booth would open up and my uncle would be up there reading The Daily News with a half-eaten chicken sandwich lying around,” he said. “It kind of shot the fantasy.”

When the church purchased the property from Loew’s in 1975, the theater was a mess. “We were in love with that building, oh man, because we bought it with our hard-earned money,” said Liendra Jeffries, the senior pastor. The church paid $110,000 in cash, she said, because racially discriminatory redlining by banks made obtaining a loan impossible.

Cleaning the building was grueling. “Loew’s had guard dogs they let run free in here, and they defecated,” said Pastor Jeffries. “We had to wear boots and overalls and masks and use bleach to clean the whole sanctuary.”

The church reupholstered the seats, whitewashed the plum-colored tapestries in the recessed wall arches and — as the senior pastor said — “we hired a Greek painter who painted over all the naked ladies in the ceiling and turned them into angels.”

Today, the sky-blue-and-gold auditorium is in decent shape, although the ceiling has collapsed in an upstairs stairwell landing, another area has mold, and the building needs repointing. High above the auditorium, the projection booth serves as a breathtakingly untouched time capsule. A rusted cabinet for film reels remains in place, one door marked “Sat Nite.” A vintage spotlight points out a square hole in the wall. And a midcentury Norge icebox bears a message in Magic Marker: “This Refrigerator Is the Personal Property of Men in Booth.”

The building’s terra-cotta facade also remains mostly intact, at least for now. Susan Tunick, author of “Terra-Cotta Skyline,” a history of architectural terra-cotta in New York, said that few city theaters with such vivid polychromatic decoration survive. “It’s unusual for this period to have that much color and a hybrid architectural style,” she said. “It’s very quirky, so it would be very sad to lose such a richly colored terra-cotta building.”

But the structure is not a landmark and can be demolished as of right. Indeed, only one Brooklyn theater with multicolored terra-cotta facade ornament — the 1908 Peter Jay Sharp Building at BAM — enjoys landmark protection.

Even if the church does not raze the former cinema, the Art Deco faces may be stripped from its facade. “If we can change them into angels or replace them with figures that are spiritual, we might go that route,” said Pastor Jeffries. Art Deco is worth big bucks, he has been told, and movie industry people have offered to buy that row of terra-cotta visages. “Anytime we’re ready to get rid of it,” he said, “they’ve left their cards.”

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[stllimelight]

Today for our “10 Questions With” segment, we are shining our Actor’s Spotlight on Shannon Lampke.

What is your name and how old are you?

Shannon Lampkin and I am 26 years old.

What social media do you have for your fans to connect with you?

I am on Facebook, click here to check it out!

I also have my own Personal Website, click here to come visit!

Other than community theatre, of course, what hobbies do you enjoy?

I love to read, sing, collect musical CDs, walk in parks (which is great for Pokemon GO!), play volleyball, make baked goods, and watch TV/movies.

What do you do professionally?

I am a full-time actress/singer who travels for work, but am currently looking for a M-F, 8am-5pm type of job so I can stay here in the St. Louis area.

How long have you been acting?

I began acting in high school.  My freshman year I was cast in the musical “How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying” as Ms. Jones and I haven’t stopped since!

How many shows have you been in?

Far too many to count!  I don’t know how many shows I have been in, but I have been fortunate enough to perform in 15 states in the USA.

What are the top 3 favorite roles you have played?

Drowsy in “The Drowsy Chaperone”, Next Generation Theatre Company

Dorine in “Tartuffe”, Creighton University

Margery Jourdain/Lady Grey in “Blood Reigns: The War of the Roses Trilogy”, St. Louis Shakespeare

What are the top 3 roles you would love to play?

Squeaky Fromme in “Assassins”

Carrie in “Carrie: The Musical”

Jane Eyre in “Jane Eyre”

What theaters have you worked with?

St. Louis Shakespeare

Next Generation Theatre Company

West End Players Guild

St. Charles Christmas Traditions

St. Charles Legends & Lanterns

Bluff City Theater

Holland America Line/Princess Cruises Alaska

The National Theatre for Children

Nebraska Shakespeare

The Rose Theater (aka Omaha Theater Company)

What nominations and awards have you received?

Won: St. Louis Arts for Life BPA Best Non-Singing Actress in a Musical (Wicked Witch of the West/Miss Gulch–“The Wizard of Oz”, Next Generation Theatre Company)

Nomination: St. Louis Arts for Life BPA, Best Comedic Actress in a Musical (Drowsy–“The Drowsy Chaperone”, Next Generation Theatre Company)

St. Louis really does have talent!

First, I would personally like to thank Shannon Lampkin for accepting the invitation to participate in our “10 Questions With” segment  of Acting Talent Spotlight.

Image provided by Shannon Lampkin

Shannon’s enthusiasm, excitement and obvious passion became clear to me as soon as we connected.   The singer/Actress has had the opportunity to experience many different theatre companies throughout the United States.  Therefore, theatre fans in the Greater St. Louis area, luck is on your side!  As her desire is to remain in the St. Louis area.

Challenges that come with the territory.

As with many Community Clubs, Groups or Activities, there can be challenges.  I asked Shannon what she felt was the biggest challenge Community Theatre faces and her thoughts were this:

” It’s hard to say what the biggest challenge is for community theatre, but I think it comes down to two things: money and the community they serve. The beautiful thing about community theatre is that people with a passion for designing, managing, directing, acting, singing, dancing, etc. all come together to create and put on a show for their community without being paid for their time, effort, energy. They do it because they love it and believe in the stories they tell.”

As an audience member, enjoying the story being told on stage, all of the details, hard work and time required for our enjoyment may not come to mind.  This talented performer elaborated on her thoughts on both monetary challenges as well as those related to the community in which one is involved.  She explained it by saying, “ The problem is that monetary funds help enrich the stories being told (set, costumes, props, etc.) and/or allow the theatre to afford shows they wish to do that have more expensive rights. The company’s survival can become dependent upon ticket sales and donations to operate.”

The preferences of a community.

As far as the community being entertained and how the two challenges go hand in hand, here is what she had to say:

“This leads into the next part: the community. As for the community they serve, there are some communities that only wish to see certain types of shows (i.e. classic musicals), meaning that the company must base their season on shows the community wants to see. While there is nothing wrong with that, it can limit the company’s potential a little.

The perfect example of this is from my time in Omaha, NE. The Omaha Community Playhouse there wanted to expand their repertoire from “standard” plays and musicals to include some contemporary and slightly controversial shows to encourage community dialogue on tough subjects. They ended up using their black box theatre for more “edgy” shows such as “August: Osage County” and “Evil Dead: The Musical”, while using their mainstage for big standards such as “Guys and Dolls” and “Les Misérables”.

This became possible for many reasons, but the reason they are able to maintain it is because the community they serve now supports both. Not all community theatres have the ability to do this, so they often have to compromise their wants with that of the community they serve.”

Education and Inspiration; A few final thoughts from Shannon Lampkin.

Just as many of you reading Shannon’s story, I am not only an advocate of inspiring others to follow their passions, but intrigued by the knowledge that can be gained  by those who do just that.

Therefore,  I asked Ms. Lampkin what her advice would be for someone just discovering the passion for theatre or just beginning the journey, her response was, “The advice I would give to someone who has just begun to explore their passion for theatre is this: you are amazing and can do whatever you set your mind to do so long as you’re willing to work for it.  Go see shows, read plays, learn new music, take a dance class, design sets or costumes, and audition, audition, audition. Didn’t get the part you wanted? Keep working and the next time it is available, try again. You may not have been the first director’s perfect [role], but you could be the next director’s. The best way to learn about theatre is by watching it and doing it.”

Hard Work and Team Work paying off.

Image provided by Shannon Lampkin

On behalf of all of us here at St. Louis Limelight, I would like to thank Shannon for taking time out of her very busy schedule to chat with me a bit.  The actress/singer shared one of her personal experiences and valuable “lessons learned” with me and I would like to forward it on to you.  Her closing thoughts were this:

“The best lessons I ever had about acting were when I was Extra #2 and just watched rehearsals from the sidelines and then tried applying the methods others used to my character (even when I didn’t have lines). Theatre is all about teamwork, so be ready to work hard and always feel free to ask others for help!”

~Shannon Lampkin~

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Images provided by Shannon Lampkin

Image provided by Shannon Lampkin

Image provided by Shannon Lampkin

10 Questions With Shannon Lampkin Today for our "10 Questions With" segment, we are shining our Actor's Spotlight on Shannon Lampke.

[larryland]

by Gail M. Burns

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) earned his knighthood by writing what used to be called “ripping good yarns,” many of which still hold up well today, mostly notable his sixty Sherlock Holmes stories written between 1887 and 1927. In fact Holmes has such a rabid fan base that there are some who believe that – like Jesus, Elvis, and King Arthur – he will come again to save the world.

Indeed, Holmes did “return from the dead.” The Hound of the Baskervilles (1901)  marked his first appearance in print after his “death” in the 1893 story The Final Problem. The novella is one of Holmes’ more popular adventures, and unique in that the great detective is absent from the narrative for long stretches, leaving his companion, Dr. John Watson, alone on Dartmoor to solve the curse of Baskerville Hall.

I don’t need to tell you that Holmes and Watson are incredibly “hot” right now, with TV series and films and plays portraying and reimagining their adventures lurking around every corner. Award-winning farceur Ken Ludwig has joined the throng with Baskerville (2015), a retelling of the famous story as a comedy for five actors – two playing Holmes and Watson and the other three playing all the other 46 roles.

There is a three-actor comedy version of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Steve Canny and John Nicholson of Peepolykus that I saw in 2009 and 2011 at Shakespeare & Company and just loved, so I was concerned that Ludwig’s version might pale in comparison, but there really is no comparison. That version is all about the laughs, while Ludwig actually wants to tell the story along with showing you a good time.

The chatter before opening was all about director Jen Wineman’s decision to cast a woman, Liz Wisan, as Sherlock Holmes. Wisan has appeared in this play before, in the “woman track,” 15 roles performed here by Caitlin Clouthier, and comparing the two opportunities I am puzzled that she would think playing Holmes was the superior opportunity. As mentioned earlier, Holmes is apparently MIA for most of this story, leaving all the work to Watson, here delightfully played by Dave Quay. Offered a chance to play any role in this work, I would have chosen Watson over Holmes.

But there she is, a woman playing Sherlock Holmes. Wisan is not playing Holmes as a woman, nor is she pretending to be a man, but sadly she is also not playing Sherlock Holmes, or at least not the Holmes I am familiar with. This is a comedy, but Holmes is neither a funny man nor a man with a lot of humor. Holmes should be the straight man, the calm center in the farcical storm, where Wisan plays the role as a jolly fellow along for the fun. For me, it didn’t work, and that has nothing to do with gender.

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Because Ludwig actually wants to include the entire plot of the mystery, the show gets off to a slow start with much exposition, but by the end of Act I and all through Act II the hilarity is moving at high speed. Quay and Brian Owen, who plays a wide variety of roles, are tremendous physical comics. Clouthier and Raji Ahsan are no slouches either, but Quay and Owen, who has performed these roles in an earlier production in Cincinnati, are stand-outs.

While it is a short book, The Hound of the Baskervilles is a big story, bouncing from London to the moors of Devon and back again. Scenes take place on moors and mires, in trains and carriages, in stately halls and hotels. In his notes on the style of the play in the script Ludwig specifically says “There are no sets needed or called for.” And yet here Wineman and set designer Alexander Woodward have built a humongous set, towering bookshelves filled with every prop in the Dorset collection and then some. It is impressive to look at, but it is barely used, other than as an impediment to be scaled on occasion, because, as the playwright said, this show doesn’t need a set!

What this show demands are piles of costumes and a backstage crew of dressers well-versed in the art of the quick change. Hats off (and on and off again) to costume designer Aaron Mastin, stage manager Sarah Perlin, and all those unsung heroes behind the scenes for their impressive efforts. Owen, Clouthier, and Ahsan do an excellent job of defining their multitudinous personae through voice and body, but the costumes and wigs really seal the deal.

While the set is superfluous, it is handsome, and it, and Wineman’s direction, are greatly enhanced by Michael Giannitti’s superb lighting design. Jane Shaw’s elaborate soundscape also adds much to the fun, but sadly she misses the most important mark, providing snarls and growls more leonine than canine and no bone-chilling howls for the title character.

For die-hard fans of Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, this show may be disappointing, but anyone who loves a good farce is in for a treat. This is a show that you can take grandma and the kids (8+) to and everyone will leave with a smile on their face. And it is an excellent way to encourage young readers’ appetite for a few of Doyle’s ripping good yarns.

Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery by Ken Ludwig, directed by Jen Wineman, runs July 13-29 at the Dorset Playhouse, 104 Cheney Road in Dorset VT. Scenic design by Alexander Woodward; lighting design by Michael Giannitti; costume design by Aaron Mastin; sound design by Jane Shaw; stage manager Sarah Perlin. CAST: Liz Wisan as Sherlock Holmes, Dave Quay as Dr. John Watson, with Raji Ahsan, Caitlin Clouthier, and Brian Owen as everyone else.

Single tickets and subscriptions for the 2017 Summer Season are on sale. The box office may be reached by calling (802) 867-2223 ex. 2 Tuesday through Saturday 12-6pm (8 pm on performance days.) For more information, or to purchase tickets and subscriptions online, visit Dorset Theatre Festival’s website at dorsettheatrefestival.org.

  REVIEW: “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery” at Dorset by Gail M. Burns Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859-1930) earned his knighthood by writing what used to be called “ripping good yarns,” many of which still hold up well today, mostly notable his sixty Sherlock Holmes stories written between 1887 and 1927.

[gunboatbaylodge]

Things to Do in Vancouver This Weekend: May 11, 2017

Feast on a festival of spot prawns, marvel at a program of ballet, revel in a talk from an astronaut, and learn to weave from a Coast Salish Chief. You could to absolutely every one of these things this weekend – and more. This is also the last weekend of the Opera Festival, Vancouver Bird Week, and DOXA – so catch them while you can!

Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Ongoing

Friday May 12

Ballet BC Program 3

Ballet BC Program 3 Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 8:00pm What: The Ballet BC season finishes with a thrilling triple bill featuring works by two prominent Israeli choreographers and a world premiere by Ballet BC’s artistic director. Runs until: Saturday May 13, 2017

Traces of Words: Art and Calligraphy from Asia

Traces of Words: Art and Calligraphy from Asia Where: UBC Museum of Anthropology What: Words and their physical manifestations are explored in this insightful exhibition, which will honour the special significance that written forms. Varied forms of expression associated with writing throughout Asia is shown over the span of different time periods: from Sumerian cuneiform inscriptions, Qu’ranic manuscripts, Southeast Asian palm leaf manuscripts and Chinese calligraphy from MOA’s Asian collection to graffiti art from Afghanistan and contemporary artworks using Japanese calligraphy, and Tibetan and Thai scripts. Runs until: Monday October 9, 2017

Screengrab from Chris Hadfield music video for his cover of David Bowie’s Space Oddity. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaOC9danxNo

Chris Hadfield’s Canada 150 Tour Where: The Orpheum What: Canada’s first spaceship commander, Colonel Chris Hadfield shares a selection of stories, images, songs and ideas that celebrate the 150th birthday of the nation he is so proud to call home. From his unique perspective, Chris looks at the history and future of Canada through its people and the land itself.

Million Dollar Quartet Where: Arts Club Theatre What: Inspired by true events, this rocking jukebox musical takes you into Sun Records Studio on December 4, 1956, to witness the famed recording session that brought together rock and roll legends Presley, Cash, Lewis, and Perkins—for the first and only time. Runs until: Sunday July 9, 2017

Citizen Jane: Battle for the City

Citizen Jane: Battle for the City Where: VanCity Theatre What: In 1960 Jane Jacobs’s book The Death and Life of Great American Cities sent shockwaves through the architecture and planning worlds, with its exploration of the consequences of modern planners’ and architects’ reconfiguration of cities. Jacobs was also an activist, who was involved in many fights in mid-century New York, to stop “master builder” Robert Moses from running roughshod over the city.

U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017

U2: The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 Where: BC Place Stadium What: If you’ve been around the stadium this month, you’ve probably heard the rehearsals! Now see the finished show. The band returns to the stadium stage for the first time since 2009-2011’s record-shattering U2 360° Tour, the most successful tour in history seen by over 7.3 million fans worldwide.

Richmond Night Market

Richmond Night Market Where: Richmond, BC What: There’s a dinosaur park! Anamatronic dinosaurs! Also – live performances, carnival games, over 200 retail stalls and over 500 food choices from around the world. Runs until: October 9, 2017

Graham Clark’s Quiz Show

Graham Clark’s Quiz Show Where: The Fox Cabaret, 8:00pm What: A comedy show that cherry picks the best segments of game shows and presents them all in one bizarre event! Prizes to be won, heads to be scratched.

Royal Canadian Family Circus Where: PNE Grounds What: For 50 years, the Royal Canadian family Circus has showcased the finest circus performers from around the world, bringing the highest standards in artistic excellence, with thrilling white-knuckle acts such as The High Wire and the Motor Cycle Cyclone. Runs until: Sunday May 14, 2017

Shipyards Night Marlet

Shipyards Night Market Where: Lonsdale, North Vancouver What: Food, art, music, entertainment, shopping, a beer garden, and you can bring your dog! Runs until: September 29, 2017

  Saturday May 13

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Spot Prawn Festival Where: False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf What: The Chefs’ Table Society of British Columbia celebrates 11 years of the Spot Prawn Festival. Head to Fisherman’s Warf for cooking classes, a prawn boil, a gala, and to pick up your own fresh spot prawns.

Sea to Sky Gondola’s 3rd Birthday

Sea to Sky Gondola’s 3rd Birthday Where: Sea to Sky Gondola What: Showcasing Squamish musical and craft talent, and hosting family activities.

Pink Martini with the VSO

Pink Martini with the VSO Where: The Orpheum What: The ‘little orchestra’ from Portland, Oregon, joins forces with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. Pianist/bandleader Thomas Lauderdale, chanteuse China Forbes and the rest of the band draw musical inspiration from all over the world, crossing classical, jazz, and Latin genres with an international vibe for heart-warming, toe-tapping songs.

I Am Rapaport: Live Stereo Podcast

I Am Rapaport: Live Stereo Podcast Where: The Biltmore, 7:00pm What: Actor/Director/Comedian Michael Rapaport grew his comedic styling a modeled after stand up comedians Richard Pryor, Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, Don Rickles, Eddie Murphy, Andrew Dice Clay and more but it wasn’t until he appeared on comic Bill Burr’s Monday Morning Podcast that he realized that this was the format he’d been waiting for.

Shining Light: Celebrating Women Composers Where: Ryerson United Church, 7:30pm What: Music by living Canadian and American female composers, including Alice Parker, Eleanor Daley, Ramona Luengen, Abbie Betinis, Joan Szymko, Leslie Uyeda, Joanne Metcalf, Sarah Quartel, Jocelyn Hagen, iconic songwriter Joni Mitchell, and more. Tickets available at Tickets Tonight.

Birds Sing a Pretty Song

2017 Chutzpah! Festival Presents: Birds Sing a Pretty Song Where: Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre What: An evening dance piece interwoven with live music and responsive video. Dancer/choreographer Margolick and dancer Chuck Wilt join forces with composer/guitarists Berkowitz and Jake Klar, drummer Bruno Esrubilsky and Israeli author and historian Ruby Namdar.  The audience follows the two dancers wanderings through a world manipulated and influenced by the “curators” (the three live musicians) and projected light structures that move and direct the world onstage.  Tickets available at Tickets Tonight. Runs until: Sunday May 14, 2017

Emily Carr: Into the Forest

Emily Carr: Into the Forest Where: Vancouver Art Gallery What: Far from feeling that the forests of the West Coast were a difficult subject matter, Carr exulted in the symphonies of greens and browns found in the natural world. With oil on paper as her primary medium, Carr was free to work outdoors in close proximity to the landscape. She went into the forest to paint and saw nature in ways unlike her fellow British Columbians, who perceived it as either untamed wilderness or a plentiful source of lumber. Runs until: March 4, 2018

Weaving Workshop with Chief Janice George

Weaving Workshop with Chief Janice George Where: The Bill Reid Gallery What: The Salish Wool Weaving tradition has been reclaimed in a major way. For the last twelve years, Chief Janice George has been teaching all the way to top of Salish speaking territory. This 3 hour intergenerational workshop includes all the supplies you need to create your own beautiful piece of art.

Marcus Mosely Chorale presents Labour of Love Where: Highlands United Church (North Vancouver) What: The Chorale focusses on gospel style music with influences of pop, jazz and R&B. Tickets available at Tickets Tonight.

Trout Lake Farmers Market Where: Trout Lake What: This is where you’ll find the vendors who have been doing it since the beginning; what started as 14 farmers ‘squatting’ at the Croatian Cultural Centre back in 1995 has grown into Vancouver’s most well-known and beloved market. Visitors come from near and far to sample artisan breads & preserves, stock up on free-range and organic eggs & meats, get the freshest, hard-to-find heirloom vegetables and taste the first Okanagan cherries and peaches of the season. Runs until: Saturday October 21, 2017

JoJo Where: The Vogue What: With guests Craig Stickland and Locals Only Sound.

Charles Bukowski Night

Charles Bukowski Night Where: Pat’s Pub What: A viewing of the last live reading Charles Bukowski did in Vancouver, then readings by locals. 

The Smugglers

The Smugglers Where: The Commodore What: Their first hometown show in over 13 years, and their first performance at the Commodore Ballroom in 17 years. The reason for the reunion gig is simple: lead singer, author and broadcaster Grant Lawrence is releasing his memoirs of his hard-charging, international touring years.

Dance with the Dead Where: Venue What: A synthwave duo from Orange County, CA.

Goodwood Atoms

Goodwood Atoms Where: The Cobalt What: Acoustic guitar and heartfelt vocals.

  Sunday May 14

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Cyrilika Slavic Chamber Choir present Eclectica Where: Vancouver Playhouse What: From Christian Orthodox Church music, Slavic folkloric choral tunes, Renaissance Madrigals, Baroque, Romantic and Modern Era Repertoire, Cyrilika will sing, in 11 different languages, a variety of genres rarely performed in the Western part of the world. Tickets available at Tickets Tonight.

Artisan Jewelry Show and Sale Where: VanDusen Gardens What: The 4th Annual Mother’s Day event hosted by the Creative Jewellers Guild of BC.

  Ongoing

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Vancouver Opera Festival Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre and Plaza What: The first edition of Vancouver Opera Festival is a celebration of the vocal and theatrical arts. At its core, three new productions: a seldom performed masterpiece, a beloved classic, and a contemporary tour de force. Runs until: Saturday May 13, 2017

Vancouver Bird Week Where: Vancouver What:  A week-long series of events to celebrate Vancouver’s birds. Look for bird-related workshops, walks, talks, exhibitions, and lectures across Vancouver. Most events are free! Runs until: Saturday May 13, 2017

Western World

Western World Where: Vancouver Improv Centre (Granville Island) What: Vancouver TheatreSports’ improvisers will demonstrate their lightning fast wit as they play the “hosts” to the audience “guests” in Western World – an improvised parody inspired by the popular TV series Westworld. Runs until: Saturday May 13, 2017

La Merda

La Merda Where:  The Cultch What:  Literally naked, internationally acclaimed Silvia Gallerano sings and howls this provocative and critically acclaimed text: a stream of consciousness that reveals, with rage and poetry, revolting human secrets, and a modern society that is powerful, desperate, vulnerable, and cutting. Runs until: Saturday May 13, 2017

Ballet BC Program 3

Ballet BC Program 3 Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, 8:00pm What: The Ballet BC season finishes with a thrilling triple bill featuring works by two prominent Israeli choreographers and a world premiere by Ballet BC’s artistic director. Runs until: Saturday May 13, 2017

The Piano Teacher Where: Arts Club Theatre What: When Erin, a classical pianist, experiences the loss of the life she knew, she also finds herself dealing with the departure of her own musical expression. Navigating her way through this change, she meets an unconventional piano teacher who gives her new hope for the future. Runs until: Sunday May 13, 2017

Robin Hood: Prince of Tease Where: Performance Works What: An original burlesque-style musical theatre production, inspired by the classic folklore of Robin Hood with a tantalizing twist. In this tale, most characters are gender-swapped and the relationships between the classic characters of Nottingham are turned on their heads. The story follows Robin as she conspires with her merry (wo)men to take down the tyrannical Prince Joan and her sadistic sidekick, the Sheriff of Nottingham. Runs until: Saturday May 13, 2017

DOXA Where: Various locations What:  Eleven days of international documentaries give you the opportunity to see through someone else’s eyes, into other worlds, and you might even learn something along the way. Genres such as activism, sexuality, race, sports, war, science, art, docudrama and animation weave through shows you may not get to see on the big screen anywhere else. Runs until: Sunday May 14, 2017

Birds Sing a Pretty Song

2017 Chutzpah! Festival Presents: Birds Sing a Pretty Song Where: Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre What: An evening dance piece interwoven with live music and responsive video. Dancer/choreographer Margolick and dancer Chuck Wilt join forces with composer/guitarists Berkowitz and Jake Klar, drummer Bruno Esrubilsky and Israeli author and historian Ruby Namdar.  The audience follows the two dancers wanderings through a world manipulated and influenced by the “curators” (the three live musicians) and projected light structures that move and direct the world onstage.  Tickets available at Tickets Tonight. Runs until: Sunday May 14, 2017

Royal Canadian Family Circus Where: PNE Grounds What: For 50 years, the Royal Canadian family Circus has showcased the finest circus performers from around the world, bringing the highest standards in artistic excellence, with thrilling white-knuckle acts such as The High Wire and the Motor Cycle Cyclone. Runs until: Sunday May 14, 2017

Circle Game: Re-imagining the Music of Joni Mitchell

Circle Game: Re-imagining the Music of Joni Mitchell Where:  Firehall Arts Centre What:  The heartbreak of a failed love affair in “River”, the fear of imminent ecological disaster in “Big Yellow Taxi”, and the promise of a generation gathering to ‘get back to the garden’ in “Woodstock” are topics that resound as heavily today as they did fifty years ago. The enduring music of Canadian icon and renowned singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is reimagined in this energetic musical experience. Runs until: Saturday May 20, 2017

End of the Rainbow

End of the Rainbow Where: Staircase Theatre What: This gritty play with music is based on the true events of Judy Garland’s last comeback attempt in England in 1968. Runs until: Sunday May 20, 2017

The Show at Emily Car University of Art and Design Where:  Emily Car University What:  Featuring more than 300 works from this year’s Design, Media and Visual Arts graduates. Runs until: Sunday May 21, 2017

Family Lines in Landscape Where:  Kimoto Gallery What:  Veronica Plewman examines how time and memory are rooted in a location, from childhood. She reconstructs and paints her journey and portrait of BC, from the place she grew up to the old family photos of her parents early lives, and the stories she can recall. This series is about migration, how a family gets there and the unknown mysteries of our family history. Runs until: Saturday May 27, 2017

Susan Point: Spindle Whorl

Susan Point: Spindle Whorl Where: Vancouver Art Gallery What: Since the early 1980s, Susan Point has received wide acclaim for her remarkably accomplished oeuvre that forcefully asserts the vitality of Coast Salish culture, both past and present. She has produced an extensive body of prints and an expansive corpus of sculptural work in a wide variety of materials that includes glass, resin, concrete, steel, wood and paper. Runs until: Sunday May 28, 2017

Pacific Crossings: Hong Kong Artists in Vancouver | Sunset, Carrie Koo

Pacific Crossings: Hong Kong Artists in Vancouver Where: Vancouver Art Gallery What: June 2017 marks the 20-year anniversary of the transfer of Hong Kong sovereignty from the United Kingdom to mainland China. In the lead up to the handover, tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents immigrated to Canada, many choosing to settle in Vancouver, and among them were a significant number of artists. Pacific Crossings presents works from well-known Hong Kong artists created after their relocation to Vancouver throughout the 1960-90s. Runs until: May 28, 2017

Retainers of Anarchy

Retainers of Anarchy Where: Vancouver Art Gallery What: A solo exhibition featuring new work from Howie Tsui that considers wuxia, a traditional form of martial arts literature, as a narrative tool for dissidence and resistance. Runs until: May 28, 2017

Caroline Mesquita The Ballad

Caroline Mesquita The Ballad Where: Centre 221A What: A sculptural practice that intertwines the materiality of altered, oxidized, and painted copper and brass sheets with theatrical playfulness. Runs until: Saturday June 3, 2017

Song of the Open Road

Song of the Open Road Where: Contemporary Art Gallery What: Bringing together artists from Canada, Eritrea, Ireland, Sweden, and the US, the exhibition includes works that combine thematically to interrogate ideas rooted in photographic histories, engaging ideas such as veracity, recollection, remembrance, belonging, staging, and how the image documents and records these or is evidence of differing realities. Runs until: Sunday June 18, 2017

Up Close

Up Close Where: VanDusen Botanical Garden What: All the artists represented in this group exhibition find their inspiration while painting on location at VanDusen Garden. The Vancouver en plein air group, initiated in April 2011, zooms-in to the lush vegetation that provides a new dimension of foreground details. The subjects are varied, and so is the medium. Runs until: Tuesday June 27, 2017

Million Dollar Quartet Where: Arts Club Theatre What: Inspired by true events, this rocking jukebox musical takes you into Sun Records Studio on December 4, 1956, to witness the famed recording session that brought together rock and roll legends Presley, Cash, Lewis, and Perkins—for the first and only time. Runs until: Sunday July 9, 2017

Xi Xanya Dzam – Those Who Are Amazing At Making Things Where: The Bill Reid Gallery What: Xi Xanya Dzam (pronounced hee hun ya zam) is the Kwak’wala word describing incredibly talented and gifted people who create works of art. The exhibition is both a showcase and a critical exploration of ‘achievement’ and ‘excellence’ in traditional and contemporary First Nations art. Runs until: Sunday September 4, 2017

Panda International Night Market Where: Richmond, BC What: A diverse market in Richmond, with shopping, food, beverages, and a game zone. Runs until: Monday September 11, 2017

Shipyards Night Marlet

Shipyards Night Market Where: Lonsdale, North Vancouver What: Food, art, music, entertainment, shopping, a beer garden, and you can bring your dog! Runs until: September 29, 2017

Traces of Words: Art and Calligraphy from Asia

Traces of Words: Art and Calligraphy from Asia Where: UBC Museum of Anthropology What: Words and their physical manifestations are explored in this insightful exhibition, which will honour the special significance that written forms. Varied forms of expression associated with writing throughout Asia is shown over the span of different time periods: from Sumerian cuneiform inscriptions, Qu’ranic manuscripts, Southeast Asian palm leaf manuscripts and Chinese calligraphy from MOA’s Asian collection to graffiti art from Afghanistan and contemporary artworks using Japanese calligraphy, and Tibetan and Thai scripts. Runs until: Monday October 9, 2017

Richmond Night Market

Richmond Night Market Where: Richmond, BC What: There’s a dinosaur park! Anamatronic dinosaurs! Also – live performances, carnival games, over 200 retail stalls and over 500 food choices from around the world. Runs until: October 9, 2017

Onsite / Offsite Tsang Kin-Wah

Onsite / Offsite Tsang Kin-Wah Where:  Vancouver Art Gallery What:  This large-scale composition transforms English texts to form intricate floral and animal patterns. The work draws from discriminatory language that appeared in newspapers and political campaigns in Vancouver during the 1887 anti-Chinese riots, the mid-1980s immigration influx from Hong Kong and most recently, the heated exchanges around the foreign buyers and the local housing market. Runs until: Sunday October 15, 2017

Trout Lake Farmers Market Where: Trout Lake What: This is where you’ll find the vendors who have been doing it since the beginning; what started as 14 farmers ‘squatting’ at the Croatian Cultural Centre back in 1995 has grown into Vancouver’s most well-known and beloved market. Visitors come from near and far to sample artisan breads & preserves, stock up on free-range and organic eggs & meats, get the freshest, hard-to-find heirloom vegetables and taste the first Okanagan cherries and peaches of the season. Runs until: Saturday October 21, 2017 (Saturdays)

Kitsilano Farmers Market

Kitsilano Farmers Market Where: Kitsilano Community Centre parking lot What:   A great selection of just-picked, seasonal fruits & vegetables, ethically raised and grass fed meat, eggs, & dairy, sustainable seafood, fresh baked bread & artisanal food, local beer, wine, & spirits, and beautiful, handmade craft. Kids and parents alike can enjoy entertainment by market musicians, a nearby playground and splash park, and coffee and food truck offerings each week. Runs until: Sunday October 22, 2017 (Sundays)

The Lost Fleet Exhibit Where: Vancouver Maritime Museum What: On December 7, 1941 the world was shocked when Japan bombed Pearl Harbour, launching the United States into the war. This action also resulted in the confiscation of nearly 1,200 Japanese-Canadian owned fishing boats by Canadian officials on the British Columbia coast, which were eventually sold off to canneries and other non-Japanese fishermen. The Lost Fleet looks at the world of the Japanese-Canadian fishermen in BC and how deep-seated racism played a major role in the seizure, and sale, of Japanese-Canadian property and the internment of an entire people. Runs until: Winter 2017

Bill Reid Creative Journeys | Image via the Canadian Museum of History

Bill Reid Creative Journeys Where: The Bill Reid Gallery What: Celebrating the many creative journeys of acclaimed master goldsmith and sculptor Bill Reid (1920–1998), this exhibition provides a comprehensive introduction to his life and work. Runs until: Sunday December 10, 2017

Amazonia: The Rights of Nature

Amazonia: The Rights of Nature Where: UBC Museum of Anthropology What: MOA will showcase its Amazonian collections in a significant exploration of socially and environmentally-conscious notions intrinsic to indigenous South American cultures, which have recently become innovations in International Law. These are foundational to the notions of Rights of Nature, and they have been consolidating in the nine countries that share responsibilities over the Amazonian basin. Runs until: January 28, 2018

Emily Carr: Into the Forest

Emily Carr: Into the Forest Where: Vancouver Art Gallery What: Far from feeling that the forests of the West Coast were a difficult subject matter, Carr exulted in the symphonies of greens and browns found in the natural world. With oil on paper as her primary medium, Carr was free to work outdoors in close proximity to the landscape. She went into the forest to paint and saw nature in ways unlike her fellow British Columbians, who perceived it as either untamed wilderness or a plentiful source of lumber. Runs until: March 4, 2018

What are you up to this weekend? Tell me and the rest of Vancouver in the comments below or tweet me directly at @lextacular

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