Play this summer

There is a great tradition of summer theatre in the Okanagan.

When tourists tired of sun and sand and want to cool off in the evening they have enjoyed the theatre. They enjoyed the plays by Sunshine Theatre, Shakespeare Kelowna, Theatre Kelowna, Viva Musica, Kelowna Actor’s Studio, Bumbershoot Theatre and Caravan Farm Theatre.

And so have we!

Since 2012, the company that I run, New Vintage Theatre, has offered our own version of summer theatre. In June of our first season, it was Calendar Girls and then we co-produced God of Carnage in the very charming, but very hot Benvoulin Historic Church. 

The next summer, we were outside in the heat and smoke with My Favourite Fairy Tales-a show we do for kids-and inside with the charming high school reunion show by Daniel McIvor, BINGO, still one of my favourites.

The following summer, it was the steamy stage version of The Graduate and while the following summers we did things as wholesome as possible with The Great Gatsby, Grease, A 1970’s Cinderella and Fairy Tale High.

Last year, we just had our fundraiser, The Night Party-an epic cabaret that concludes with a glow dance party.  Oh. yes. and then there was the five summers of our soap opera As The Sun Burns-always epic, always crazy.

As you can see there has been a whole lot of summer entertainment created by New Vintage and this year we are back at it.

Here is our line up:

52 Pick Up by TJ Dawe & Rita Bozi

52 playing cards, 52 short scenes from the relationship from two young lovers. 52 Pick Up, based on the playwright’s real stories of romance from their own lives, is an unforgettable play that has received 5 star reviews and acclaim throughout the world. 

Now it is Kelowna’s chance to see this incredible play starring stand out newcomers Josh Richardson and Aly Rothery. Directed by Bonnie Gratz.

Tickets include a drink and a card reading from a psychic.

• July 9; 6pm; July 10-13; 7 p.m.
• The Black Box Theatre
• Tickets at www.newvintage.ca

Cruel Summer - A Summer Murder Mystery

There’s nothing like a good summer mystery.

In ours, there is a new resort that is opening on Rattlesnake Island and the guests are a creepy librarian, vain fighter pilot, bitter former NHLer, lonely heart, Instagram model, a psychic and a strange drifter.

Each one has a past and a motive/tie to a killing back in 1989 and a Bananarama tape found at the crime scene. Audiences are invited to our fun, scary murder mystery nights where mix tapes and murder are strangely compelling bedfellows.

• July 11-12 at 9 p.m.; Aug. 22-23 at 8 p.m
• The Black Box Theatre
• Tickets at www.newvintage.ca

The Night Party & Hippy Market - July 13

For the third year, we are raising money for our youth and teen programs by holding a late night cabaret called The Night Party.

This year, we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Woodstock with songs from the summer of ’69 and finish up the evening with a groovy glow dance party.

Our hippie market will have flowers for your hair and more. Tickets include a free drink and party favour.

• July 13 at 9 p.m
• Tickets at www.newvintage.ca

We look forward to entertaining the Okanagan this summer and hope to see you at New Vintage shows.

We also encourage you to also support Fred Skeleton Theatre’s Lost Boys, Shakespeare Kelowna’s As You Like It, Kelowna Actor’s Studio’s The Little Mermaid and Madfox Theatre’s Little One.

Best of luck to Theatre Kelowna’s Late Company, which is in Theatre BC’s community theatre competition in Port Alberni this week as well.

I also can’t wait to catch Caravan Farm Theatre’s show The Coyotes this summer in Armstrong.

See a play this summer!

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.