THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT
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One-Offs & Limited Engagements …
The cast of The Understudy in rehearsal.
THE UNDERSTUDY
Satire, Comedy, and Farce at PAL
August 1 to 3 & 8 to 10
8 p.m.
PAL Studio Theatre (581 Cardero)
Admission $20 General / $10 Students & Seniors
1/2 Price August 8
Tickets
What do you do when your past catches up to you and demands retribution? That’s the question posed by playwright Theresa Rebeck’s complex love triangle The Understudy, presented by Island Productions at PAL Studio Theatre in Coal Harbour. In reviewing the world premier in 2008 one critic described the play as “an unstable mixture of satire, sentimental comedy, and a smidgen of farce.”
The Understudy features a love triangle between a director, her ex-fiancé, and an aspiring actor. Toss in a stoned light board operator, a hyperactive intercom system, and producers threatening to shutter the show, and you have to wonder … will the show go on?
The boys of “Newsies” at Theatre Under The Stars. (Lindsay Elliott Photo)
THEATRE UNDER THE STARS
”Mama Mia!” and Disney’s “Newsies”
Through August 17
Alternating Evenings
8 p.m. (7 p.m. Fireworks Nights)
Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park
Admission $25 to $55
Tickets here or at 604.631.2877
An evening’s stroll into Stanley Park and West Enders can find themselves taking in one of this summer’s offerings at Theatre Under The Stars.
A Vancouver tradition for 79 years, Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) this season offers two popular musicals, Mama Mia!, which tells the light-hearted tale of a mother and her daughter who embark on a hilarious quest to discover the true identity of her father, and Newsies, the story of a ragged band of newspaper boys and street urchins who strike for fair pay and humane working conditions in 1899 New York City.
Mama Mia! previewed July 5 and runs every other night through to August 16. Newsies previewed July 6 and runs every other night to August 17. The shows run about two hours and 40 minutes, including one intermission.
THE COAL HARBOUR MUSIC FESTIVAL
August 7 to 30
Coal Harbour Park & PAL Studio Theatre
Various Times & Admissions
Performing Arts Lodge (PAL) Vancouver, the PAL Studio Theatre, and the Coal Harbour Residents’ Association (CHRA) present the second annual Coal Harbour Music Festival, with concerts and events throughout the month of August, including:
The Coal Harbour Twilight Jazz Series … This Wednesday evening series kicks off with popular Celso Machado in an outdoor performance at Coal Harbour Park, the rest of the subsequent series will be presented indoors to PAL Studio Theatre (581 Cardero) for shows by local jazz festival favourite Anagram on August 14, the Malleus Trio on August 21, and the Emily Chambers Duo on August 28. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Free admission.
Swing Band Dance & Family Fun … An afternoon of entertainment and activities for the entire family, featuring the zany Greenhorn Community Band (1 p.m); the Rugcutters Swing Band (2:30 p.m.); and Dixie Stars entertainment with games and face-painting throughout the afternoon. PAL Studio Theatre. Thursday, August 25 from 1 to 4 p.m. Free admission.
PAL Studio Theatre Concert Series … Three evenings of stellar entertainment with some of Vancouver’s favourite musicians. Marcus Mosely, Will Sanders, and Khari McClelland are The Sojourners, a gospel trio with echoes of doo wop, R&B, country and blues on Friday, August 23; Much More Music Video Award winning
singer-songwriter Tonye Aganaba takes to the PAL stage Saturday, August 24, and hit-maker Alfie Zappacosta performs Friday, August 30.
All shows from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at PAL Studio Theatre. Admission $27. Click here for tickets to The Sojourners and scroll down for links to tickets for the other two acts.
Winston Matsushita and his trio will perform August 8 at Roedde House.
JAZZ ON THE PORCH
Thursday, August 8
7 - 9 p.m.
Roedde House Museum (1415 Barclay)
Pay What You Can / No Reservations
The Roedde House Museum’s monthly jazz series moves outside for the summer, with August’s featured artists the Winston Matsushita Trio, including Winston on keyboard, Daniel Howard on bass and Nicholas Bracewell on drums. Bring your own blanket, lawn chairs, and snacks. Complimentary lemonade available. VIP seating available for a $15 donation to Roedde House.
Nicola Everton plays with Trio Con Brio August 11 at Roedde House Museum.
ROEDDE HOUSE CLASSICAL MUSIC SERIES
Sunday, August 11
4 - 5 p.m.
Roedde House Museum (1415 Barclay)
$15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors
Tickets here.
The Classical Concert Series presents Trio con Brio who will take the parlour by storm on August 11 with an uplifting and eclectic program featuring the unique voices of the three reed instruments of the orchestra. VSO players Beth Orson (oboe); Nicola Everton (clarinet); and Julia Lockhart (bassoon) will play reed trios by Mozart, Ibert, Ippolitov-Ivanov, Bill Douglas, and more.
MUSIC IN THE PARK
A Summer Series At Haywood Bandstand
Sundays August 11 & 18
1 - 3 p.m.
Haywood Bandstand in Alexandra Park (1755 Beach)
Free
You have two more Sunday afternoons in August to pack a picnic lunch and head over to the bandstand at Alexandra Park to enjoy some fine live music, with an emphasis on jazz and blues, and a touch of country.
The series wraps up the season with The Lucie Walker Band on August 11, and The Just Jazz Trio on August 18.
Once A Week, Every Week …
SUMMER CINEMA IN STANLEY PARK
Tuesdays through August 20
Second Beach / Stanley Park
Entry from 5 p.m. Showtime at Sunset
General Admission is Free / VIP Tickets from $23 (click here)
Drive-in theatres are few and far between these days, but some West Enders (and others of course) can catch some flicks under the stars Tuesday nights through July and August. The Evo Summer Cinema Series returns for a 2019 season of outdoor movies in Stanley Park. The shows begin at dusk, and you’ll be watching popular films on one of the biggest screens in the Lower Mainland. And check out this year’s Dinner & A Movie package option with several West End restaurants.
The schedule includes: Finding Nemo (August 6); Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (August 13); and Jurassic Park (August 20).
Palo de Rosa entertains August 11 at Jazz Vespers.
JAZZ VESPERS
Every Sunday
4 to 5 p.m.
Temporarily Relocated to First Baptist (969 Burrard).
By Donation
Every Sunday afternoon the folks at the historic St. Andrew’s-Wesley Church at Burrard and Nelson present the finest jazz musicians in the Lower Mainland in an afternoon performance where jazz meets, and dances, with the spirit. The August lineup includes: Heather Soles on August 4; Palo de Rosa on August 11; TBA on August 18; and Parker Woods on August 25. Check here for updates and further details.
Linda Szentes is with Hooked On Jazz, at The Sylvia Sunday, August 11
JAZZ ON THE BAY
Every Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday the Sylvia Hotel (1154 Gilford) presents an evening of live jazz in their lounge overlooking English Bay. The March lineup will be posted here as soon as available.
The lineup for August includes:
Wednesdays (8 - 10 p.m.): the jazz-pop trio Blue Bird Day on August 7; The New Shackletons on August 14; R&B with Bob Richard Acoustic on August 21; and roots and blues with Harris & DeBray on August 27.
Thursdays (8 - 10 p.m.): Blues and folk rock with Jim Foster on August 1; vintage soul with Full Spin on August 8; pop and R&B with Asheida on August 15; acoustic roots and rock with Chapter 11 on August 22; and folk and pop with Jana Seale on August 30.
Sundays (7 - 9 p.m.): Classic harmonies with The Hot Mammas on August 4; jazz/funk stylings with Hooked on Jazz on August 11; world music with Lache Cercel on August 18; and jazz and blues with the Weaver/Wirth Band on August 25. And Sundays feature a Prime Rib special!
SAMBA FUSION
Fridays & Saturdays at Rio Brazilian Steakhouse (1122 Denman). Samba Fusion is a Vancouver based Dance Company, whose roots are based in Brazilian Samba, fused with numerous dance styles, music and rhythms. This Multicultural Dance Group performs several styles of dance fusion including: Brazilian Samba, Forro, Samba Reggae, Afro- Brazilian, Hip Hop, African, Polynesian and Burlesque.
