Rickie Wang and Sharon Crandall in Elf: The Musical, 2023: set design by Brian Ball; costume design by Christine Reimer; lighting design by Itai Erdal; photo by Moonrider Productions for the Arts Club Theatre Company
In The Community
Current and Ongoing
Join us for the 2024 Summer Workshop Series! We offer an amazing array of AFFORDABLE pay-what-you-can workshops for youth and adults in the month of August.
Check out what we have brewing over at the BMO Theatre Centre:
Acting is Embarrassing! w/ Stella Jack-Rennie
Monday August @12:30PM-2PM
Location: The BMO Theatre Centre, Studio B
Ages: 12+
Level: Open Level
In school and work we’re so often taught how to limit ourselves to become more “acceptable” to please those around us. This can affect how we interact with others, including in our acting. In this workshop I want to invite the shy folks, the loud folks, and everyone in between who feels like they get stuck between “right and wrong”; to allow yourself to take pride in being silly and risk feeling embarrassed through learning how to stop pretending, by pretending.
Desk Jokes to Survive Dark Times w/ Lauren Martin
Monday August 12 @ 3:30PM-4:30PM
Location: The BMO Theatre Centre, Studio B
Ages: 18+
Level: Open Level
Do you love SNL’s Weekend Update? Last Week Tonight with John Oliver? Or do you want to learn how structure to make sure you get a laugh every time you tell a joke? This workshop encourages participants to learn basic joke structure and how to write jokes inspired by current events to strengthen their comedy writing and find humour in troubling times.
Character Movement and Physicalization w/ Kelly Zhou
Thursday August 15 @ 11AM-12:30PM
Location: The BMO Theatre Centre, Newmont Stage
Ages: 12-19
Level: Beginner
Learn how you can transform yourself into unique, diverse characters using your body as your guide! With elements such as weight, speed, direction, and tension combined with inspiration from other artistic forms, you will discover how you can create distinct characters with life and purpose. This Character Movement & Physicalization workshop will allow you to showcase your individuality through physical interpretation so you can feel confident exploring a wide range of characters, whether you’re on stage or screen.
Voice and Play in Spoken Word Poetry w/ Alex Masse
Thursday August 15 @ 1:30PM-2:40PM
Location: The BMO Theatre Centre, Newmont Stage
Ages: 12-19
Level: Open Level
Through this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to experiment with writing and reciting spoken word poetry, allowing them to explore multiple aspects of storytelling and performance, for themselves and others. Through play with everything from voice projection to weaving metaphors, the goal of this workshop is to get participants--regardless of creative or theatrical background--more comfortable with storytelling and performance.
Story Weaving: Devising Theatre w/ Damion LeClair
Friday August 16 @ 11AM-12:30PM
Location: The BMO Theatre Centre, Newmont Stage
Ages: 14+
Level: Intermediate
In this workshop actors will learn how to create original theatrical works with the use of sound, movement, moments and breath. Actors will have the opportunity to connect the teachings of Laban to the teachings of Miruel Miguel's Story Weaving exercise. Actors are encouraged to bring meaningful stories from their lives or works of fiction to create original theatrical works through a decolonized lens.
Choreographed Fighting with Props: Devising Theatre w/ Hitotose
Friday August 16 @ 1:30PM-3PM
Location: The BMO Theatre Centre, Newmont Stage
Ages: 16+
Level: Open Level
Hitotose is a group specializing in Japanese-style stage combat. Participants will learn fundamental stage combat techniques with weapons and essential acting elements such as reactions. We highlight the importance of vocal cues, eye contact for safety, and facial/body expression to elevate performance quality. The workshop includes pair practice and choreographed sequences as you learn basic movements and swings for swords and use everyday props to boost creativity and enhance communication skills with scene partners. This workshop aims to uncover the power of physical storytelling through combat choreography while offering a fun and memorable experience!
If price is a barrier for being a part of these workshops, email sjack-rennie@artsclub.com to secure your spot as no one is unwelcome at the Arts Club for lack of funds.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTORS:
Stella Jack-Rennie (they/she)
Stella is an actor, educator, and multidisciplinary artist who lives on the stolen land of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. Stella has worked with the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, the Vancouver Fringe Festival, the Burnaby Arts Council, and the United Players of Vancouver. She has trained with the Arts Club, Arts Umbrella, Carousel Theatre, Bard on the Beach, and is a current student at Studio 58 at Langara College. Stella is fascinated in theatre as a method to build empathy and community, and she believes that theatre education plays a key role in the puzzle. They are currently this summer’s Arts Club Education Outreach Intern, where they are developing more tools in their arts education toolbelt!
Lauren Martin (she/her)
Lauren Martin has written and performed sketch comedy in festivals across Canada. She is currently an instructor and director specializing in comedy at Vancouver Film School. In 2018/2019 she helped devise the award-winning show “Hysteria” (Direct Theatre Collective) and directed the French comedy, “God of Carnage”, written by Yasmina Reza. Lauren’s writing has been shortlisted by Room’s Annual Poetry Contest in 2015 (As L. McCraw) and published by Today’s Parent and Understorey Magazine. Lauren has a keen interest in collaborative art and performance and has contributed to countless indie and interdisciplinary art projects.
Kelly Zhou (she/her)
Kelly Zhou (she/her) is an actor, teaching artist, multidisciplinary creator, and graduate of the Theatre Performance Program at Douglas College. Select acting credits: One Of A Kind (The Flame/Vancouver International Children’s Festival), The Matchmaker (Theatre in the Country), Dissected (Or Festival), A Christmas Carol in Gay Apparel (The Leaping Thespians), and Bog Body (Foolish Productions). Kelly was also a part of the 2023 Riotous Youth cohort at Bard on the Beach where she devised and performed a piece titled Come Away: A Shakesperiment. Recently, she was seen on screen in the short film Mortal Coil and was a roving performer for the Surrey Spark Stages. Additionally, a film she worked on, Tides of March, premiered in June at the Rio Theatre as part of the Run N Gun Festival and was nominated for Best Youth Film. As a teaching artist, she has worked with The Surrey Arts Centre, Lights Up Musical Theatre, and Bard on the Beach. Kelly strives to embrace diversity in her art and to foster a safe, inclusive, and accessible learning environment for students from all walks of life.
Alex Masse (they/them)
Alex Masse, AKA Fairything, is a writer and musician from what is colonially known as Surrey, BC. They've had work featured in Autostraddle, The Lyre, WMN Zine, and more, and have performed spoken word poetry at Vancouver Pride, Vancouver Fringe Festival, and others. For Alex, writing is a means of connection and expression, within themself and with others, as well as a major source of joy. They're also a neurodivergent nonbinary lesbian, which greatly affects their creative process.
Damion LeClair (they/them)
Damion LeClair is an award-winning Métis, Two Spirit / Settler multidisciplinary artist, actor and facilitator. Damion has toured and worked with several local and national professional theatre companies such as Axis Theatre, Green Thumb Theatre, Chemainus Theatre, Savage Society and Native Earth. Damion has taught for Bard on The Beach and Arts Club. Damion is the recipient of The Bill Millerd artist fund (Arts Club) and Boca Del Lupo's SLaM. Damion's play Rougarou will be featured in Ruby Slippers Advance Theatre Festival in January of 2025.
Hitotose – Haruno (she/her) & Yuki (he/him)
Hitotose is a group specializing in Japanese-style stage combat, founded in 2021 by the core members Haruno and Yuki. With extensive international experience, they bring a unique blend of expertise to their performances and workshops. Haruno began her performing arts journey with ballet at age 5 and later graduated from a drama program in Japan & Canada. She is trained in acting, dance, martial arts, stage combat, and Katana performance. Since 2015, Haruno has acted in notable productions such as Ultraman Taiga and Disney Plus’s SHOGUN, where she played Natsu no Kata. Yuki is an actor, sword performer, and choreographer. He has trained in stage combat, martial arts, and acting for 13 years. He played an important role in the Promising Next-Generation Actor Cultivation Program sponsored by the Agency for Cultural Affairs of the Government of Japan. After that, Yuki moved to Vancouver and received a 2-year artistic mentorship with the Arts Club Theatre Company and appeared in all ten episodes of SHOGUN as Takemaru. Hitotose shares their skills with the B.C. local community such as Vancouver, Victoria, and Salt Spring Island. They conduct workshops for a wide range of ages, from young children to seniors, focusing on physical storytelling and stage combat.
The Arts Club makes theatre accessible to our communities through our Open Theatre program. This program offers complimentary tickets to Arts Club shows to organizations that work with equity-deserving communities who face financial barriers to enjoy live theatre.
For the 2021–2022 season, we provided over 400 Open Theatre tickets to a variety of communities. Here are some testimonials from participants:
"It was wonderful to get the opportunity to see a live play, and to be at the beautiful Stanley theatre. I felt very pampered. Thank you for a wonderful night out!"
"I would like to thank the Arts Club for making tickets available to the Kettle Society, and myself, for Made in Italy. I would not have been able to attend this performance without the generosity and community spirit of the Arts Club. It is much appreciated."
To submit an Open Theatre ticket request, please contact Mikenzie Page, Education Coordinator, at mpage@artsclub.com. Tickets are given on a case-by-case basis.
Other community engagement programs for youth include the Arts Club Drama Club, which offers students from equity-deserving communities access to drama education on their home turf, and the Grant Burnyeat Student Series, which provides VSB secondary schools with complimentary tickets to Arts Club shows.
We are incredibly excited to share the news that longtime patron Dr. Lee Grills has stepped forward with a commitment to an annual award to support a ten-week internship at the Arts Club. In partnership with Capilano University, the Arts Club will award one annual internship from either the School for Performing Arts or the Arts & Entertainment Management program. This ten-week internship allows for on-the-job experience at a professional theatre company and provides networking opportunities and references for future employment.
The annual award is named in recognition of George and Dr. Lee Grills for their incredible contribution to the Arts Club.
George and Lee first became involved as ticket buyers at the Seymour Stage and soon became subscribers, donors, and eventually, George joined the Board of Directors in 1998. George would help lay the groundwork for what the organization is today. One of his first suggestions was to eliminate the general “rush” seating that meant standing in long lines and coming at least an hour before the show to get a good seat. Having sat on other charitable boards, including for the Vancouver Playhouse, it was George who insisted that the board members pay for their seats and become donors. Up until this point, free tickets were considered a perk, but George argued that the board members were key advocates and should be supporting the organization financially. He also maintained that building a strong donor base was the only way an arts group could thrive. It was shortly thereafter that the Artistic Director’s Circle (ADC) was formed.
George and Lee, along with a small number of dedicated theatre lovers would gather at the Stanley Theatre’s Bruce Milley Lounge. While the ADC was initially no more than a dozen, it has now grown to include more than 130 households.
George was also adamant that the Arts Club needed corporate support. He introduced Vancouver business leaders to the company and put tremendous energy into persuading companies that they had a role to play in the Arts Club’s future.
Lee, who continues to be a staple at Arts Club’s events, whether it is an opening night or a fundraising dinner, said, “Our interest in theatre stemmed from childhoods where we depended on friends and neighbours for entertainment. Funding education for worthy people stemmed from our own life experiences. George from teaching math in his Peace Corps days in the Philippines. Mine from being really poor and being denied a scholarship to UBC as it would be 'wasted on a girl.' I am really pleased to be able to give a young person an opportunity to intern with the Arts Club."
The first recipient of the award is Danelle Schiele from Capilano’s Arts & Entertainment Management program. Danelle described her experience thus far: “Now in my first practicum semester, being involved in the Arts Club has been very enlightening and helpful as I have been able to put everything I have learned in this program into practice. I have discovered how much work it takes to run a theatre company and the vast amount of people who are behind the success and execution of these amazing shows. I am looking forward to continuing my growth in this position!”
The Arts Club is incredibly grateful to Lee Grills for making this opportunity possible.
Past Events
Spring Workshop Series 2024
The Spring Workshop Series specialized class was designed to empower participants by addressing their concerns and challenges in dance auditions, ensuring a transformative learning experience.
Fat Clothing Swap 2023
The Arts Club partnering with YVR Fat Clothing Swap and Steffanie Davis, playing Isabelle in Someone Like You, hosted a plus-sized clothing swap. Participants were able to browse and pick items from the donated clothing and browsed local size inclusive vendors.
Summer Workshop Series 2023
The Summer Workshop series offered seven FREE workshops, taught across three days such as: Enhancing your acting skills, Channeling your inner villain, Learning how to juggle and perform magic tricks.
Spring Workshop Series 2023
The Spring Workshop Series offered FREE theatre workshops for youth and adults: Climate theatre: embodying the world around us, Finding character in choreography, Speaking and Singing in a character voice, The director’s first steps, The generous playwright and Three-ring theatre.
Deaf-Led Theatre Workshop
In 2023, the Arts Club was proud to offer a free workshop series for Deaf community members who wanted to learn how to create and develop work for the theatre.
This 9-week workshop was led by Christian Vasquez, a Deaf theatre maker and performer. There was a cabaret-style showcase at the Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre on July 30, 2023. Here is just one sample of the work that was shared at the showcase.
Indigenous Stew Pot
Indigenous Stew Pot celebrated Indigenous voices at this cabaret-style event. It featured a variety of performances from local Indigenous artists, and was hosted by Gregory Coyes (Métis/Cree). This event complemented the production Rubaboo at the Granville Island Stage.
Disability Artists Market 2023
Five local artists who live with various disabilities showcased their artwork from hour before showtime and post-show for 30 minutes in the Newmont Stage atrium for the production of Teenage Dick.
Crip Cabaret: A Reclamation! 2023
Come experience disability art and justice as we gather to tell our stories through song, poetry, monologues, and so much more! A one-night only event of artists from the disability community showcasing their talent, this event complemented the production of Teenage Dick. It was hosted by Amy Amantea, a creator/performer who lives with legal blindness, neurodiversity, chronic illness, and pain.
Photo by Moonrider Productions
The Big Question: Barriers to Theatre Faced by the Deaf and Disability Community 2022
Why aren't there more people with disabilities/disabled people in the arts was a panel of theatre makers and creatives on how to make the theatre community more inclusive and accessible, and how we can increase representation of the Deaf and disability community in all that we do. We share our experience of barriers to all things theatre and celebrate our successes.
Artists for Afghanistan
In collaboration with Carey Perloff, the director of the American Conservatory Theater's production of A Thousand Splendid Suns, and Haysam Kadri, the director of the Arts Club's, we’ve produced this video to help the theatre community support the ongoing crisis both within Afghanistan and amongst refugees. Three short sections of the novel A Thousand Splendid Suns are being read that speak to this moment. Reading these sections are Afghan-American actors Fatima Wardak, Yousof Soultani, and Kris Zarif.
We encourage you to take the time to watch this video and learn more about organizations supporting Afghan refugees.
afghancoalition.org
rescue.org/country/afghanistan
jfcs.org
lirs.org
catholiccharitiesusa.org/our-vision-and-ministry/immigration-refu
Unacceptable Views Amongst Friends 2022
"Unacceptable Views Amongst Friends" was a cabaret-style event featuring some of Vancouver's finest musicians, poets, and performers presenting pieces about talking to friends who hold opposing viewpoints. How do we disagree with people we love in ways that are agreeable?
Hosted by Redbone Coonhound co-playwright and co-director Omari Newton, this event celebrated the premiere of the show. Performers included Chelsea D.E Johnson, Sonya Littlejohn, Scribbly doodle, Ndidi Cascade, and David Morin!
Good Epiphany Cabaret 2022
Rose Butch; photo by Ray McEachern Photography
To kick off Pride Week, we brought a selection of this city's most exciting drag performers to the Arts Club. Hosted by Rose Butch, the Good Epiphany Cabaret featured the talents of Jaylene Tyme, Mx Bukuru, King Fisher, Kara Juku, and even some members of the Kinky Boots company.
Master Workshop Series 2021–2022
Photo by Albert Normandin
The Master Workshop Series was a unique program offered by the Arts Club and Arts Umbrella! This eight-class series offered budding actors aged 13–18 a chance to hone their skills and learn from the industry’s best as they explore podcasting, puppetry, fight choreography, physical theatre, and more!
The Shoe Project (2019–2020, 2021–2022, 2023–2024)
Photo by Jenn Walton
The Shoe Project is an inspirational night of storytelling about immigration and resilience. It brings to the stage twelve amazing women who share their stories of arrival and adaptation to Canada—through a pair of shoes.
From India, Kurdistan in Iran, Eritrea, Israel, China, Bangladesh, Syria, Russia, Kenya, and Brazil, the performers have been coached in writing by author Caroline Adderson and in performance by voice coaches Sindy Angel and Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg. Their stories of migration will walk you far beyond your daily experience.
The Shoe Project is generously supported by The Fund of Gender Equality. The Fund for Gender Equality is supported by a collaboration between Community Foundations of Canada and the Equality Fund, with support from the Government of Canada.
Symposium: Theatre and Accessibility in a Digital World, October 2019
Photo by Moonrider Productions
“How can we use digital technology to provide access for theatre patrons, artists, and community members living with disabilities who currently encounter barriers to the traditional theatre experience?” This question was explored during the symposium, organized jointly by the Arts Club and Bard on the Beach, in October 2019.
This symposium was made possible by the generous support from the Canada Council’s Digital Strategy Fund
Culture Days, September 2019
Photo by Hila Graf
Our special Culture Days event aimed to spread the joy of theatre with the Arts Club Fun House at the BMO Theatre Centre, an interactive session for adults and children. Our amazing staff presented costumes, props, and special effects and shared the magic of theatre-making!
Citizenship Ceremony (2018, 2019)
Photo by Dan Toulgoet
It has been an honour for the Arts Club to host Citizenship Ceremonies. In 2019, we celebrated with 36 new Canadians at the BMO Theatre Centre.
