March 26, 2011
Hello, good morning, and welcome to the Saturday Morning News Post!
Readers, it’s World Theatre Day this weekend, and you’re either really excited to go support this art form or,… you had no idea there was such a thing as World Theatre Day. If you’re in Vancouver you can find out what’s playing here (As usual, the SMNP has the inside track on what’s hot, and my money’s on the dark comedy Evelyn Strange by Stewart Lemoine , on now until April 2nd!). Since I’m in Montreal, I’ll be finding a show somewhere here.
As SMNP readers are aware, we’re living in the Information Age more…
March 19, 2011
Hello, good morning, and welcome to the Saturday Morning News Post!
Readers, I’m ALL big band ALL the time these days! Not only am I directing McGill’s Jazz Orchestra III, but I am also writing a big band arrangement of my CBC commissioned “Jelly Roll Suite” and really, really trying to finish it soon. The charts are to be played by a McGill big band and will fulfill a degree requirement.
As many of you know, arranging for big band is new for me. It’s fun and exhausting creative work. Not creative in the same way as more…
March 12, 2011
Hello, good morning, and welcome to the Saturday Morning News Post!
Readers, thank you all for the comments on last weeks post! As we’ve read, some people (ie Cory Weeds) have chosen to take on the challenge to make things happen in Vancouver while others have chosen to move elsewhere in search of greener, or at least dryer, pastures. I support both; artists gotta do whatever the hell they gotta do.
My goal over the last few weeks has been to examine, and possibly debunk, Vancouver’s “No-Fun Town” reputation. (For starters, such a broad slogan is not going to get people on board; of course you can have fun in Vancouver,… or any city really! If the message is supposed to convey “Unsupportive-of-the-arts Town” then call it that.)
And why examine/debunk it? you ask. Indeed, why not more…
March 5, 2011
Hello, good morning, and welcome to the Saturday Morning News Post!
Readers, my head hurts. I’ve been thinking way too much about the question of Is Vancouver “No Fun Town” or not!?, and thinking, and thinking. Quite frankly, I’m exhausted. The answer isn’t as simple as I had hoped.
1st, let’s clarify…
Vancouver is not a “cultural vacuum” as one reader remarked. Gentrified and a little sleepy perhaps, but Vancouver is still a major city with all the usual trimmings: theatre, galleries, clubs, ballet, etc. Also, in this conversation, “No Fun Town” doesn’t literally mean no fun can be had in Vancouver. There are mountains to climb, and beaches more…
