David Cooper News

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.

Actor, comedian, writer and storyteller Stephen Fry takes to the Festival Theatre stage with Mythos: A Trilogy - Gods. Heroes. Men. During his limited engagement at the Shaw Festival, Stephen will perform each of his three shows 13 times - giving audiences 39 chances to catch this world premiere event. Helmed by the Shaw Festival's Artistic Director Tim Carroll, Mythos is on stage May 24 to July 15.

With its well-known songs such as 'Honey Honey' and 'Dancing Queen,' the beloved story of Sophie Sheridan, her mother Donna, and Sophie's 3 possible fathers: Sam, Harry, and Bill brought many laughs and warmed the hearts of audience members during Mamma Mia's opening night at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage in Vancouver. The hit musical featuring the songs of ABBA will continue its run until August 12th. As many are familiar with the movie adaptation of the musical from 2008 starring Amanda Seyfried and Meryl Streep and are excited for the movie's sequel, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again, this stage production of Mamma Mia from the Vancouver Arts Club couldn't have come at a better time.

For the second year, The Philadelphia Youth Orchestra (PYO) conducted a nationwide search to name the three winners in the PYO Young Composers Competition. There were 54 entries by composers ages 18 to 22 who submitted original orchestral scores. The winners were selected by PYO's music director, Maestro Louis Scaglione, and the director of the Young Composers Competition, Sheridan Seyfried, who is a Philadelphia-based composer, and a PYO alumnus as well as a graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with Richard Danielpour, Jennifer Higdon and Ned Rorem.

The Firehall Arts Centre brings its hit show, Chelsea Hotel: The Songs of Leonard Cohen, back to the stage from March 17 to April 21 in celebration of the venue's 35th anniversary season and to pay homage to the late Mr. Cohen. Featuring six artists playing seventeen different instruments, this award-winning production has toured across Canada to sold out audiences.

Arizona Broadway Theatre's thirteenth season continues as the Valley's leading producer of musical theatre with the opening of South Pacific which will run through December 30.

Today's subject, Gregory Linington, is currently living his theatre life onstage at Theater J playing Harry Hyman, the doctor with a big heart and strong attraction to one of his patients, in Arthur Miller's rarely produced Broken Glass. The production has been extended and now runs through July 16th.