For this play, I was happy to be “behind the scenes” - the onstage action is sprinkled with nudity and (simulated) sex both gay and straight. Yikes! Yet when I finally saw it unfold on opening night, I saw that these aspects work seamlessly and provide character and plot information - they didn’t really have shock value in the way I anticipated. And the show overall was full of humour, great characters, and snappy dialogue as well as more tragic elements.
They’ve really pulled off something extraordinary here, since the play is quite technically complex. Besides captions and visuals that appear throughout, there are constant, lightning-fast scene changes. Somehow they make it all work, using judicious staging and lighting, plus a little of that ol’ stage magic. And if I do say so myself, the captions add a whole other level - plus some real visual surprises!
So what can I say? Go and see this Canadian gem, Poor Super Man, while you can! There are upcoming shows on the 8th, 12th, 14th and 16th. Tickets are available in advance through Tickets Tonight or 604-631-2872. Or visit their website, SavingMetropolis.com!
In the jubilant finale to the Broadway Chorus holiday show, the star-crossed lovers are united at last in matrimony, and serenaded by “The Wedding Singer”!
This Sunday, March 2, I will be performing along with the Kol Halev Performance Ensemble in the Chutpah! Festival’s 2nd annual Community Dance Show. Three local dance troupes in total are performing.
Our 20-minute presentation is called “The Forties: Life on the Home Front”. It includes a thrilling tap dance number, songs, poems of WWII, and wraps up with “Yiddishe Blues”, a big, expressive finale.
The show is this Sunday, 10:30 am and 12:30 pm, at the Jewish Community Centre. Tickets are a deal at only $10. I hope you can make it!
Last Sunday night was the always-delightful Ovation Awards, where the best in local musical theatre talent is honoured by their peers. It’s a ton of fun and a chance to see virtually everyone I was in a show with in the past year!
Adding to the fun this time, I participated in not one but two group numbers during the show - “There You Are” from “The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and “Anything Can Happen” from “Anne Murray of Green Gables” (the latter a fine excuse to wear my glittery “cheesy TV Host” jacket again!)
Here’s some pics I took at the reception, intermission, and even one from the show itself. Enjoy!
Vancouver’s peppy and boisterous Broadway Chorus is proud to present the MOST CANADIAN SHOW EVER!
Sure, Anne of Green Gables is a Canadian classic, but it’s just that little bit more Canadian when gutsy imp Anne Shirley is replaced with multi-Grammy and Juno winner Anne Murray, Canada’s sweetheart. Yes, in Anne Murray of Green Gables our favourite pop star is adopted by Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert of Avonlea. She can’t work on the farm, she can’t help around the house, but she has a beautiful singing voice, and just might be their ticket to winning that talent contest they’ve always lost to the Lyndes.
Will Anne fit in to her new family? Will the Lynde Family (and the Partridge Family) adopt a pop star of their own? Find out in this hilarious spoof featuring songs from Broadway, the movies, pop hits, and beloved seasonal favourites. Christmas will never be the same!
Watch for me in the role of Reuben Partridge, and also also in a cameo appearance as a highly recognizable musical legend!
To reserve tickets, e-mail ashley.lm@ubc.ca or call 778-322-7182. Tickets are $14, or $11 for students, seniors and kids. 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. Click here for a map.
For my final blog entry about “It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Superman”, something special.
Join me as I capture what happens backstage, in the wings, and in the green room while the show is in progress, minute by minute. From the vocal warm-up to costume changes in the wings, to the high-spirited wrap party afterwards, it’s all here. Below are just a few samples - for the whole gallery, click here.
Also, here’s a video of some random moments I captured during rehearsal and performance.
