A Fringey Valentines!
Fringey Love
Who doesn't?!!!
When you think of the Fringe, love and marriage aren’t usually the first things that come to mind. But for one Vancouver couple, the three will be connected forever.
Anthony Lee has been coming to the Fringe Festival for years and years, and has even volunteered at two Festivals. One of his first dates with Vanessa Reinson, was at the Fringe too, so when he decided to ask her to marry him, he thought of an ingenious way to propose—he knew she wouldn’t be impressed with something ordinary.
Anthony snuck a ladybug ornament from their home and brought it to us at the Fringe. With a little help from him, we put a silent auction bid sheet together that described the ladybug and said, “in addition to the ornament, the winner will have the option to receive a lifetime of laughter and love. Please see donor for the additional benefits….Value: Priceless.”
To throw Vanessa off and maintain the surprise, Anthony took her for a romantic dinner at the Hart House the night before the Opening Night Gala— without saying a word.
The next day the couple arrived at the Gala. With nerves aflutter and a ring in his pocket, Anthony tried leading Vanessa to the right table. “It was so crowded, she wanted to change tables [when we were only] two items away from it,” Anthony confided. But Vanessa spotted the ladybug and was dying to know what it was going for. Then she read the sheet.
“She was stunned. She said ‘of Course!’ I completely caught her off guard,” Anthony boasted.
Vanessa and Anthony’s happy day will fall on May 1, 2010. Ah…Fringey love.
Goodbye Debby and Michelle
Superstar Michelle Leclair!
We must bid a very fond farewell to Debby Reis, our Communications Coordinator, and Michelle Leclair, our Artist Service Coordinator, whose contracts have come to an end. They have both been invaluable in making the Fringe wheels turn.
Debby "The Communicator" Reis!
We already miss Debby’s social networking flair and Michelle’s infectious laugh and it’ll be a bit too quiet around here for a while…Thanks for being such an integral part of our team and always going the extra mile for the Fringe!
Ps. Check out Debby’s blog!
The Canada Show Returns!
Just in time for the estimated 250,000 to 2 million people soon coming to Vancouver, Monster Theatre brings back The Canada Show as part of Granville Island’s Winterruption Festival!
The Canada Show's Beaver!
The Canada Show was at the Vancouver Fringe in 2002 where it won the Pick of the Fringe, but it’s toured across Canada and won the 2002 Just For Laughs Frankie Award for Best Comedy at the Montreal Fringe Festival.
The show will take its patrons on a one hour tour of Canada’s history—from beavers to the FLQ to Jacques Cartier puppets, Monster Theatre makes learning about Canada fun and irreverent!
Check it out February 22-27 at the Waterfront Theatre. For more details and to purchase tickets, visit Monster Theatre’s website.
Fringe Flashback
Bruhanski Theatre Studio!
Bruhanski Theatre Studio
When we were digging through boxes and files of old Fringe photos, we came across this one, but we had no idea where this was or who these people were. The only information on the back of the photo was “’87.” No one in the office has been with the Fringe that long—even our Executive Director has only been involved since 2004.
So the photo sat in a folder.
Then our Communications Coordinator went to visit a friend on 11th Avenue. And there it was! The sign from the photo! The Bruhanski Theatre Studio!
The Bruhanski Theatre Studio was a Fringe venue in the Festival’s early days in Mount Pleasant. Alex Bruhanski, who owns and teaches at the Studio, told us that our founder, Joanna Marratta was one of his students. One day she called him to ask if he would attend a meeting for a project she was working on. It turns out that project was the Vancouver Fringe!
According to Alex, the Studio was the smallest of the Fringe venues. And it might have been highly illegal . . . at least as far as licensing goes. In its second year as a venue, Joanna ensured it was up to code, but its Fringe life was short. Due to noise complaints from the upstairs neighbours and the difficulties this caused with scheduling, the Studio stopped being a Fringe venue.
The Bruhanski Theatre Studio is still alive and kicking today with Alex teaching classes to actors of all levels. He admits his website is always out of date, but you can call or email him to find out the latest info.
A Choir Like Fringe? A Fringe-like Choir?
Here it is. Celebrated local musician Anna Baignoche started a choir with friends in her living room for the joy of singing. Anna says “I wanted to create a space where everyone could sing for the fun of it” and Local Vocals was born. Anna’s philosophy is: Anyone can sing, everyone welcome, no auditions! She was inspired by the Gettin’ Higher Choir in Victoria after training with Shivon Robinsong. Now four years later the choir has far outgrown her living room, but the idea of creating community through singing is still at the core of what she does.
A trained jazz singer, with a passion for world music she is currently studying ethno-musicology through UBC. She brings the world into Local Vocals through a ridiculously diverse repertoire. The choir tackles everything from Cuban son to an Irish ballad, a Korean love song to a Brazilian samba, Bob Marley to The Beatles.
David Jordan and Anna B.!
Our very own Executive Director is in the choir and says he is inspired by Anna’s ability to lead such a large group with a pretty untrained musical background through this musical terrain. “She has an unrelentingly positive attitude that makes everyone feel like they can sing. When you feel like you can sing, you can.”
So… wanna sing? Everyone’s invited. There’s even a family choir if you want to get the little ones singing.
Local Vocals annabmusic@gmail.com | (604) 215-1901
Directed by Anna Baignoche
The Spring Season will run on Mondays from March 8th – June 14th (no class on May 24th) at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House (800 East Broadway – just east of Fraser) from 7:30 – 9pm. 14 weeks for $140. Grants/payment plans available.
Local Vocals Family Sing will be on Sundays from March 6th – March 27th (4 weeks) at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House (800 East Broadway – just east of Fraser) from 10-11am. $50 per family. Grants/payment plans available.
CTV Covers the Olympics!
CTV, the Fringe’s official and exclusive television sponsor is also the 2010 Winter Olympics’ official broadcaster! They’ll be covering everything Olympics, including events from the Cultural Olympiad. Be sure to check them out for highlights and coverage throughout the Games. You can also check out their website for extra tidbits.
Rumour has it that CTV’s Canada AM will be broadcasting from Granville Island on at least one day during the Games. The show has to be on the air at the right time back east, so they’ll be on air in Vancouver at such an odd time, that you may as well stay up while you’re enjoying all the free stuff on offer.
Reminder to Granville Island Visitors:
Parking Restrictions
You know how hard it is to find parking on Granville Island on, well, pretty much any day? Well, times that by a million and you’ll have an idea of how hard it will be to park here in February. In short, don’t bring your car.
Cartwright Street, which is the street that circles the Island, will be restricted to authorized vehicles only, east of Old Bridge Street. If you don’t know if you’re authorized, then you’re not.
You’ll also have to pay for parking, if you can find a spot, at a rate of $3.00 per hour for a maximum of two hours (unless you’re here between 10:00pm and 10:00am-then parking will be free, but only for a maximum of two hours).
So, why not try an alternative method of transportation? Take transit, the Aquabus or False Creek Ferries, bike, or walk. And there’s that new streetcar, too.
And if you do decided to bring your car, be careful. There’ll still be ducks on the road!
Other Fun Stuff:
Electric Company
Love Film Noir? Have some ‘30s-esque clothes? Want to be an extra? You can!
On February 13, the Electric Company will be filming the backgrounds for a new piece that incorporates film and theatre at the Stanley. It’s called Tear the Curtain! and you can be part of it!
For details on how to be an extra, check out the Electric’s Facebook Fan Page or email them directly.
Talking Stick Festival
Volunteers Needed for 2010 Talking Stick Festival
TSF is looking for Volunteers – the true heroes of any festival. If you are interested in getting involved, want to have a fabulous time, meet some amazing artists and work alongside an energetic, creative team simply fill out our online application form and contact our Volunteer Coordinator Valri Wright.
It’s an opportunity to volunteer at what will be remembered as one of the best Talking Stick Festivals to date. Featuring artists like Digging Roots, Rez Official, New Native Music Revue, Wonderbolt Circus “Tricksters”, Byron Chief Moon, Red Sky “Raven Stole the Sun”, Pat Braden, Dancers of Damelahamid and so much more!
If the link doesn’t work, paste this url into your browser:
http://www.fullcircleperformance.ca/content.asp?chapterID=15&SubchapterID=62&PageID=157
