The cycle rotates daily. A performance is followed by an engaging green room socials, which precedes a coffee critique the following afternoon before workshops and a new performance at night.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just so much going on. It害羞草研究所檚 like you害羞草研究所檙e bringing the Vancouver theatre forum to Vernon,害羞草研究所� said Richard Kerton, Theatre BC Mainstage co-chair. 害羞草研究所淓very night is a different show. Every night is a different experience.害羞草研究所�

Theatre BC害羞草研究所檚 Mainstage Festival kicks off at the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre June 29 with Collected Stories by Donald Margulies presented by E.C.H.O. Players of the North Island Zone. Each night sees a performance from each of the eight theatre companies entered in this year害羞草研究所檚 festival, which culminates in an awards banquet July 7 at the Schubert Centre.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e getting excited. We害羞草研究所檙e feeling the anxiety just crossing the T害羞草研究所檚 and dotting the I害羞草研究所檚,害羞草研究所� Kerton said of the looming festival kickoff.

害羞草研究所淢ainstage likes to set a certain quality. Giving them (community theatre companies) the opportunity to perform in a professional theatre is an experience. It害羞草研究所檚 giving them a chance to see what it害羞草研究所檚 all about.害羞草研究所�

Prior to the festival, theatre companies joined together with other companies in each of Theatre BC害羞草研究所檚 eight competing zones to decide which company proceeded to the provincials. In the Okanagan Zone (Ozone) that honour went to Powerhouse Theatre害羞草研究所檚 Calendar Girls directed by Tanya Laing Gahr.

As part of their initial performance, Calendar Girls, in the vein of the true story itself, produced a calendar from which a portion of the proceeds was donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada.

According to Barbara Keith, with Powerhouse Theatre, those donations total $4,650 and will be presented to Anni Rychtera, an LLSC volunteer and a Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma survivor, prior to Calendar Girls害羞草研究所� July 1 Mainstage performance.

Other performances include The Best Brothers by Daniel MacIvor presented by Terrace Little Theatre of the Skeena Zone June 30, Halo by Josh MacDonald presented by the Chilliwack School of Performing Arts as a wild card entry from the Fraser Valley Zone July 2, The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble by Beth Graham presented by Between Shifts Theatre of the North Shore Zone July 3, No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre presented by Theatre In The Country of the Fraser Valley Zone July 4, Hand To God by Roberts Askins presented by Williams Lake Studio Theatre of the Central Interior Zone July 5 and Blackbird by David Harrower presented by Stage North of the Peace River Zone July 6.

害羞草研究所淪ome of the companies are used to performing in their own facility and are getting used to (performing on new stages). Some have never performed in a big theatre either. We try to make it as comfortable as possible. Our goal is to welcome them to Vernon and relieve their anxiety,害羞草研究所� Kerton said.

害羞草研究所淭heatre BC is a non-profit. Our mandate is education. I害羞草研究所檓 confident that what we are doing is the right thing.害羞草研究所�

Kerton said feedback from adjudicator Stephen Drover, artistic director of Rumble Theatre and associate artistic director at Arts Club Theatre Company, is provided not only to actors but to all who work on a production. And, for one Mainstage workshop, the feedback presented to Cathie Young, full-length winner of the Theatre BC 2017 Canadian Playwriting Competition is the highlight.

害羞草研究所淪he害羞草研究所檚 bringing her play to Vernon. That害羞草研究所檚, of course, a brand new play never performed before,害羞草研究所� Kerton said of Young who works with Expect Exceptional Theatre Company.

Scenes from Young害羞草研究所檚 play Port Moody Confidential 害羞草研究所� Glimpses will be workshopped by Kathryn Shaw at Powerhouse Theatre as part of the festival.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 hard when you have it on paper to see what it害羞草研究所檚 going to look like on stage,害羞草研究所� Kerton said.

In addition to the performances and critiques, local theatre star Amelia Sirianni will lead the Theatre Youth Camp Workshop July 5-7. Sirianni led the workshop last year with success.

害羞草研究所淭he biggest struggle is getting young people into community theatre, actually getting them on stage,害羞草研究所� Kerton said.

At the banquet July 7, awards will be presented to theatre companies, actors, set designers, costume designers and more.

害羞草研究所淲e want people to come to the show. You害羞草研究所檙e not just buying a ticket to see a show, you害羞草研究所檙e supporting the theatre community,害羞草研究所� Kerton said.

害羞草研究所淭his is a great opportunity for people to see great theatre in a short period of time at an affordable cost.害羞草研究所�

Tickets to Theatre BC害羞草研究所檚 Mainstage Festival are available through the Ticket Seller, 250-549-7469, . Single performances are $30 or $25 Theatre BC member, a three-day pass is $87 or $72 respectively, a five-day pass is $140 or $115 and an eight-day pass is $216 or $176.

parker.crook@vernonmorningstar.com
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