Everyone loves The Sound of Music and Annie … and they’re even better together, with a smidge of Sister Act and Chicago thrown in to liven up the plot!
The Broadway Chorus is thrilled to present its latest musical mashup, as the nuns of the Convent of the Token Part send young orphan Annie off to join the Von Trapp family. She arrives to find a motherless family, and the plucky orphan determines she will find them a mother. As the nuns at the Convent are unmarried, Annie schemes to lure them to the Von Trapp family Castle, but no sooner do they arrive than mysterious visitors from the Vatican, and a surprising return from the dead, threaten to unravel Annie’s plans.
Will Annie triumph? Is the Pope Catholic? Find out in this hilarious spoof featuring songs from such shows as Young Frankenstein, The Drowsy Chaperone, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Chicago, and more!
The show runs Thursday through Saturday, December 11, 12 and 13.
To reserve tickets e-mail ashley.lm@ubc.ca or call 778-322-7182. Tickets are $15, and $12 for seniors, students, and children. All shows begin at 8:00pm.
The Roundhouse Community Centre is located at Davie & Pacific in Vancouver’s Yaletown district; there is paid underground parking available under the Community Centre (access through the lane) and across Davie at the Urban Fare grocery store. Here’s a Google Map.
Here’s a fun way to support local theatre - with some great memorabilia from “Bruce, The Musical”! Yes, the Bruce, The Musical Online Store is now open. There, you’ll find everything from “Bruce” mugs, to  T-shirts and sweatshirts, to tote bags. And even trucker hats, just like Danny would wear!
One of the effects of Obama’s triumpph down south has been that now everyone wants an Obama of their own. After all, what’s not to like about someone who’s smart, inspiring, oratorically gifted, tech-savvy, and progressive? I don’t know if people like him are simply few and far between - well, I guess that is true - but also whether it’s just that people with those qualifications just aren’t attracted to electoral politics.
At any rate, I was amused by one of the questions on the exit poll I was asked to fill out after voting in Vancouver’s recent civic election. It asked me to rate the two mayoral candidates on various qualities - leadership, compassion, intelligence, etc. - but the last item made me chuckle: who, it asked, was “more Obama-like”?
Booster though I was of Gregor Robertson, I had to answer “neither” to that one. After all, “Obama-like” is a title not to be bestowed lightly. And in Canadian politics in particular, I don’t see anyone who remotely seems to fit that title. The last election seemed to bear this out - nobody inspired voters enough to change the outcome from a near carbon-copy of what it was before.
The only politician who consistently gets referenced in this connection is the late great Pierre Trudeau. Love or loathe him (both camps seem to still be quite active), his was a dynamic personality, truly a mold-breaker - and perhaps the only Canadian politician in living memory who could truly be compared to Obama. For a relatively brief shining moment in history, Canada had a cool Prime Minister. I don’t see anyone like him on the political radar these days, though.
But there’s possibly one thing I may be able to contribute to this topic: a word for what we’re looking for. Clearly what Canadians long for is a “Snowbama” - someone who can melt the hearts of us frozen Northeners with some of the same passion and appeal.
I see that this word has appeared out there in the wild, but not - as far as I can tell - in this specific context. So perhaps it will take off. If so, you can say you read it here first!
“Bruce, The Musical” has come to the end of its 10-day run - and it’s been an amazing experience. I connected with some amazing people, got to have tons of fun on stage with contrasting and crowd-pleasing characters, and was part of something bigger than just another great show - it spoke to an entire community.
Here’s a roundup of the (generally positive) reviews and a couple of background articles that ran in local papers.
Reviews
Vancouver Courier
“It may sound corny, but you could feel community pride in the air… amazing singers… the jazz is hot and cool.”
Georgia Straight
“…the music by Bill Sample and Earle Peach is excellent, and ranges all the way from a lovely spiritual, “The Tipping Point”, to the Chinese-inflected “Gold Mountain”… there are times when you can’t help but be affected by Eriksen’s—and this musical’s—demand that the poor be treated with respect.”
Vancouver Sun
“a very pleasant piece of pure propaganda… the singing of these simple tunes is so strong that the show sometimes soars. (It’s) a tribute to the hard-working people who are so often overlooked on what used to be disparagingly known as Skid Road. Taken with that grain of salt in mind, it’s actually quite a sweet experience.”
Bruce, The Musical is in the home stretch with only two more shows to go! This hybrid of political theatre and toe-tapping musical comedy/drama has been getting positive notices from the Courier,the Georgia Straight and the Sun - and we’ve been playing to packed houses every night! It’s been a total thrill and a lot of fun. This show is making a real connection with the community and I’m honoured to be a part of it!
For tickets, contact Theatre In the Raw at (604) 708-5448 or visit the Theatre in the Raw website where you can buy tickets via PayPal.
Want a taste of the music? Click below for a quick one-minute medley of songs from “Bruce”, as heard on our recent Co-op Radio appearance. If you have trouble with the link below, try this link. (The entire one-hour show can be heard here.)
Irish Musical Seeks Actors
My friend and fellow Applause! Musicals alumni Mary Clark has co-written a new musical, “Under the Hawthorn Tree” - and they’re looking for actors! They’re holding auditions on Wednesday, November 19th, at 7pm. This will be at First Lutheran Church, at East 42nd and Wales.
The show will run March 10 - 21 at the Havana Theatre. Auditions will consist of a cold read and singing songs from the show (which will be provided). Most roles have been cast but they are still looking for:
1 young woman (15 - 25)
1 boy (soprano, 10 -15)
1 young man (15 - 25)
1 woman (40 - 70, tall and/or slim)
1 man (40 - 70)
If you’re interested, please get in touch with them via e-mail at thetwomarys@gmail.com.
On Thursday, October 30, a bunch of cast members of Bruce, The Musical headed down to Co-op Radio, CFRO, in the heart of Downtown Eastside. We crowded into a radio studio, and recorded an hour-long show featuring half an hour’s excerpt from Act 1 of “Bruce”, including scenes and songs. That was followed by interviews with the cast and creators.
Now you can listen to the show, right here - thanks to the magic of the Internet. Click the arrow below to enjoy!
