David Cooper News

The Lysander Piano Trio (violinist Itamar Zorman, cellist Michael Katz, and pianist Liza Stepanova) has announced the December 4, 2020 release of its new album mirrors on First Hand Records.

Returning from a long period of dormancy, theatre makes a comeback in Vancouver: better and safer than ever! At the Anvil Centre, the show: HEY VIOLA! Viola Desmond a?' the Soundtrack of a Life plays from October 15th to 25th. This production follows the life of Canadian civil rights activist: Viola Desmond highlighting her fight against racial injustice in Nova Scotia. Starring Krystle Dos Santos (Co-Creator) as Viola and direction by Tracey Power (Co-Creator), HEY VIOLA also incorporates 15 songs from Desmonda??s era. With musical accompaniment from local musicians Steven Charles (guitar/bass), Chris Davis (trumpet, drums, and piano), and Mary Ancheta (keyboard), Dos Santos will sing the night away while telling the story of a woman who sparked a movement across Canada. I had the pleasure of chatting with Krystle Dos Santos touching on Violaa??s life, the creative process, and her favourite parts of the show! Read the full interview below!

An eagerly anticipated highlight of the Lower Mainland's dance season each July is Canada's longest running contemporary dance festival, Dancing on the Edge. For the 2020 festival This year, during this global pandemic, things will be different, working around the limitations on public gatherings, so the EDGE has adjusted its look and vision in response.

From March 3rd to 8th, KIM'S CONVENIENCE played at the Evergreen Cultural Centre in Coquitlam. As this play acted as the inspiration behind the hit CBC television series: Kim's Convenience, this stage production was very popular leading to many sold out shows during its week in Coquitlam. KIM'S CONVENIENCE plays next in Chilliwack at the Chilliwack Cultural Centre on March 11th followed by the ACT Arts Centre in Maple Ridge on March 12th and 13th.

What has drama, comedy, and romance all in one show? What will make you laugh till tears come streaming out of your eyes? If you guessed NOISES OFF presented by the Arts Club Theatre Company, you definitely would be correct! I had the pleasure of seeing the show last week and I can honestly say it was one of the best productions I've seen from the Arts Club so far! Playing at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Theatre in Vancouver from January 23rd to February 23rd, NOISES OFF is definitely worth the money to see!

After a Members advance sale so busy it prompted the early extension of two productions, tickets for the Stratford Festival's groundbreaking new season go on sale to the public today. The 2020 season is one of the biggest ever and includes the much-anticipated opening of the new Tom Patterson Theatre. With the $100-million fundraising goal a hair's breadth away from completion, the bespoke theatre is one of North America's most significant new arts builds in decades.

An Off Broadway hit, Herringbone is a musical cabaret that is a fun-house ride of farce and fear. It is a one-person show in which the actor plays 12 characters including an 8-year old boy, a floozie and a homicidal tap-dancing who tap dances. Taking a unique approach, Peter Jorgensen and Luisa Jojic will perform this tour de force role on alternating nights, each bringing their own perspective and interpretation to the play and all the characters.

 Previews begin today for The Crucible, Arthur Miller's haunting dramatization of the Salem witch trials. Directed by Festival veteran Jonathan Goad, the production opens on Friday, August 16, at the Avon Theatre, marking the 12th and final production in the Festival's 67th season, which runs until November 10.

Birds of a Kind, Wajdi Mouawad's award-winning play about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, is now in previews before its official English-language première on Wednesday, August 14, at the Festival's Studio Theatre. This gripping production is directed by Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino who brought the book that inspired the play to Mouawad.

Avant Chamber Ballet's artistic director Katie Cooper and music director David Cooper announce the company's 2019-20 season, featuring four subscription productions at Moody Performance Hall in the Dallas Arts District and the return of the Family Saturdays series.

Growing up, Matilda was both a book and movie that was well-loved in many households. The peculiarity of the Wormwood household, the magic of Matilda's powers, and the bone-shaking wrath of Miss Trunchbull was felt by readers and audiences near and far. This month, Arts Club brought Roald Dahl's classic tale to life with its production of MATILDA THE MUSICAL. Playing at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage in Vancouver from May 16th to July 14th, Arts Club does not disappoint with this truly remarkable show.

The Stratford Festival kicks off its 67th season on Monday with the gala opening of Shakespeare's Othello, followed by five more openings as the week unfolds: Billy Elliot the Musical, Henry VIII, Private Lives, Little Shop of Horrorsand The Merry Wives of Windsor. Artistic

Mother's Daughter, the highly anticipated final instalment of Kate Hennig's Queenmaker Trilogy, is now on stage at the Studio Theatre. The production officially opens on Friday, June 14.

Director Nigel Shawn Williams brings Shakespeare's Othello firmly into the here and now with a gripping contemporary production that will officially open the Stratford Festival's 2019 season on Monday, May 27. Previews begin today at the Festival Theatre.

Filled with marvelous dance numbers, exquisite costumes, and crowd-favorite songs, Arts Club's production of Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was one of the best show's I've seen this year. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is currently playing at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Theatre in Vancouver until January 6th, 2019 and is definitely a must see during this holiday season!

Announcing the 15th annual Downtown Eastside Heart of the City Festival and twelve days of music, stories, songs, poetry, cultural celebrations, films, theatre, dance, spoken word, workshops, discussions, gallery exhibitions, mixed media, art talks, history talks and history walks.

On Wednesday September 12th, Arts Club's production of the play: THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME had its opening night at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Theatre in Vancouver. This 2015 Tony Award winning play (Best Play) is based on the best-selling novel by Mark Haddon with the stage adaptation by Simon Stephens. Being the first show of their 2018-19 season, Arts Club did not disappoint with this impeccable show featuring an incredibly talented cast and compelling storyline.

In their highly successful 29th season, Bard on the Beach is breaking records this year with the production of Shakespeare's play: AS YOU LIKE IT. As one of Canada's largest non-profit Shakespeare festivals, attending a Bard on the Beach play is something that all Vancouverites need to experience at least once in their lifetime!

Audiences at the Shaw Festival are in for a treat (or three) for the next month, as Stephen Fry regales them with tales of Greek myth. He has constructed three one man shows, directed by Tim Carroll and based on his book MYTHOS which explores these myths as he has heard them and read about them over the years. His stage trilogy at the Festival Theatre is split into GODS, HEROES, and MEN. Theatregoers can choose to see some or all of these productions. The Shaw Festival indicates that it does not matter if you see the shows in order, but after watching all three, I will say that there is most definitely an established order, and I would argue that audiences who are seeing all three would get the most enjoyment out of the experience if they did watch them in such order (GODS, then HEROES, then MEN). That said, I agree that this is certainly not necessary to appreciate the grand storytelling ability of Mr. Fry.

'People come, people go,' 'some have, some have not.' Simple lyrics that can expose a myriad of stories and wounds. Just what one would expect in a busy hotel. No one is ever quite sure what happens behind the closed doors of a grand hotel, but outward appearances are often just that, appearances that don't always belie the truth. Given those opportunities for musical intrigue, The Shaw Festival is producing an elegant production of GRAND HOTEL at their Festival Theatre for their 2018 Season.