A 2016 Arts Prospective Victoria BC

A 2016 Arts Prospective. Victoria BC.

From Pixabay by geralt

A prospective—I’m eagerly awaiting the following productions, seasons, events, festivals, shows, new works, new artistic risks, and celebrations for a variety of reasons.  Some include—the first time a company has been able to produce a complete season (Scrumpy Productions); a significant milestone like a 5^th (Sing Your Joy young adult chorus, Broken Rhythms) or 10^th birthday (Snafu Dance Theatre); a new artistic risk (UNO Fest stages their first show at the McPherson with Circus Incognitus); a new work (Winnie the Pooh—adapted by David Elendune; Creating Legends: BC in Song by The Other Guys Theatre Company; Shop Talk by Theatre SKAM); the arrival of a new company (Ptarmigan Music and Theatre Society, Island Circus); the return of a favourite event, season, actor, character or show (Mike Delamont returns for God is a Scottish Drag Queen 4, Chemainus Theatre Festival stages A Christmas Story—my favourite Christmas film, Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre returns to a summer season).  And then—there are shows whose reputation precedes them—Bettrofenheit by Kidd Pivot (Crystal Pite) and Electric Company Theatre (Jonathan Young), and Huff by Cliff Cardinal—both of which have received national and international acclaim.

Take a look at the following list—it is by no means exhaustive and merely highlights a few of the many artistic offerings our wonderful city and cultural community will provide during a portion of 2016.  Since most artistic seasons run September to August, I do not necessarily have information beyond August 2016 with the exception of a few companies.

• TaDa Actor’s Collaborative re-stages The Musical of Musicals the Musical January 22-24
• Dance Days returns January 22 through 31, 2016. Presented by Dance Victoria including Major Motion Picture by Out Innerspace Dance Theatre.
• 2016 Baroque Festival February 4-7, 2016
• A new work from Impulse Theatre The Hunt February 6^th as part of Intrepid Theatre’s YOU Show
• Ballet Étoile continues with more original work. The Gatsby Ballet Feb 13/14 at the Metro Studio
• Oak Bay Music New Music weekend February 13
• WorldPlay by Puente Theatre-February 13/14 and 19/20
• Theatre SKAM’s Birthday Bash February 20th
• Sin City the live improvised serial Season Six (set in Las Vegas in the Rat-Pack era) debuting February 16, running for a full week, then settling into a regular Tuesday spot February 23 to April 26^th
• Action Review by Atomic Vaudeville Feb 18-20
• Vikes Improv Festival February 25-27 at UVic
• Kaleidoscope’s Robinson & Crusoe February 26-March 6 and the 4th annual Family Theatre Festival June 8-12
• Bettrofenheit by Kidd Pivot (Crystal Pite) and Electric Company Theatre (Jonathan Young) co-production, presented by Dance Victoria and in conjunction with SPARK Festival March 11/12
• Theatre Under The Gun (Intrepid Theatre) March 13^th
• Huff by Clint Cardinal at SPARK Festival March 15-19
• Bard in the Ballroom’s ‘The Charming of the Shrew’ Adapted from William Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew. March 31st to April 9th presented by LaunchPad Productions.
• Island Circus’ first show Catalyst April 2/3
• First Victoria Improv Festival presented by Paper Street Theatre April 11-16 with 2 shows nightly
• “On Broadway”, CCPA presents Mary Poppins at the Mac (with “fly”) April 22-30
• New Music Festival with Vox Humana, Victoria Symphony, UVic Sonic Lab and a concert with Colin Tilney. Vancouver’s Standing Wave Ensemble. April 23^rd.
  “Reflecting on of social media – memes, hashtags and more, VS presents the new music festival.” Other concerts in the festival will include Vox Humana, a special recital with Colin Tilney and UVic’s Sonic Lab.”
• Castle in the Sky by Castlereigh Theatre Productions April 23-29
• Mike Delamont, God 4 April 28 and a comedy show later in the year (stay tuned)
• Victoria Composer’s Collective’ “WoodStockhausen: New Music for Rock Ensemble” April 28 at the Copper Owl.
• Fawlty Towers by Peninsula Players May 5-9
• Reader’s Theatre Festival May 14 at Langham Court Theatre
• The first McPherson theatre production for UNO Fest, Jamie Adkins’ Circus Incognitus one night only May 21^st
• The return to a summer season for Blue Bridge Repertory Theatre May, July and August—Long Day’s Journey Into Night, The Importance of Being Earnest and Animal Crackers.
• A Place to Listen in June will be hosting Mira Benjamin, an amazing young violinist based in the UK. She will be performing works by Jürg Frey, Martin Arnold, and John Lely.
• OUTStages Theatre Festival June 22-26, presented by Intrepid Theatre
• SKAMpede (formerly Bike Ride) by Theatre SKAM July 8-10
• The 30^th annual Victoria International Fringe Festival Aug 26-Sept 5
• The 26^th season for the Greater Victoria Shakespeare Festival
• A Christmas Story at the Chemainus Theatre Festival Nov 18-Dec 31
• A full season for Scrumpy Productions (including 3 new works)
• a new season from workingclasstheatre
• Snafu Dance Theatre turns 10!
• Broken Rhythms celebrates their 5^th birthday
• Sing Your Joy Young Adult Chorus (16-29) celebrates 5 years!
• Winnie the Pooh adapted by David Elendune, Outpost 21 Productions
• A new work from The Other Guys Theatre Company (details later this spring). Creating Legends: BC in Song.
• Shop Talk by Theatre SKAM
• Ptarmigan Music and Theatre Society is coming to Victoria
• Intrepid Theatre’s New Play Reading Series