Fall Theatre Season Preview

Brrr. Fall is certainly in the crisp air as I write this so while we may be bidding an all too early adieu to summer today, it is also time to welcome a whole new crop of exciting plays that are ripe for the picking this season. Here is my preview of what’s happening and where.

Photo: Contributed - (Photo: Derek Gratz)

Confessions of A Paperboy

My theatre company New Vintage Theatre offers two very different play experiences this fall. Confessions of A Paperboy is about a charming and adventurous 10 year old paperboy who begins to read the minds of his neighbours and gets messages from God after a car hits him while he is riding his precious bike “Beautiful”. Set in the 1970’s in Calgary, this award winning play by Doug Curtis, starring Graham Daley, is our offering for Arts and Culture Days and will run at Waterfront Park on Sept. 24 & 25, admission by donation, and then indoors at Benvoulin Historic Church on Sept. 26 & 27, tickets at www.selectyourtickets.com. All shows are at 7 PM. We encourage our patrons to ride their bikes to our shows and to enter our draw for another beautiful bike, a retro Hot Rod KHS, donated by the great folks at Cyclepath.

Our second offering is terrifying -The Bone House - by Marty Chan. This play is about Eugene Crowley, a famous serial killer hunter who comes to town to track his next big project. I have seen this play twice and will be in it this time with Brad Hull and Cory Armour and I am still scared, but I am also thrilled to have Matt Brown, the award winning director of The Woman In Black, to be directing this cult hit. It is definitely not for the faint of heart and absolutely not for kids, but is an unforgettable theatre experience that you should check out - if you are brave enough. Tickets will go fast and are now on sale for our October 23-28 shows at The Black Box Theatre from www.selectyourtickets.com

Photo: Contributed

The Bone House

Theatre Kelowna pulls in large audiences for all of their highly regarded plays and they expect to again this fall with a musical and comedy revue show, complete with a live band, directed by Kelowna favorite Jeff Samin called Pig and Whistle - A Traditional English Pub Show, running Sept.17-October 5. Featured in the cast are TKS regulars Robin Jarman, Roger Ward and Corinne Marks, along with newcomers Pamela Renzi, Jennifer Turner and Judy Dow. The band members are Sylvia Clerk, Jim Rhindress and Rob Crawford. Tickets are available from www.selectyourtickets.com

Bumbershoot Theatre had an uber busy summer with Legally Blonde and Crowning Miss Cutie, the amazing Tracy Ross is back at it again with another family favorite play, The Secret Garden. A full cast of performers led by Mackenzie Denis will bring Frances Hodgson Burnett's classic story of 'The Secret Garden' to life on the Bumbershoot stage. Denis will portray Mary Lennox, a young orphan who is sent to her Uncle Archibald Craven's (Ray Mordan) grim Misselthwaite Manor on the Yorkshire moors. Mary's explorations lead to a secret unkempt walled garden which she begins to tend. The Secret Garden opens on Sept.18 and runs until the 28th at Bumbershoot Theatre on Cannery Lane. Shows are at 6:30pm nightly with Sunday Matinees at 2pm. Tickets available by calling 778-478-0142, or better yet, stop by the theatre!

I know that Kelowna Actor’s Studio is also primed and ready for another amazing season, starting with the fantastic play Crimes of The Heart by Beth Henley, starring a cast of incredible Kelowna actresses including Dorothy Dalba. Be sure to check out their site at www.kelownaactorsstudio.com for all of the details.

I would be remiss to not mention two of the most notable up and coming companies in The Okanagan - Erinara Theatre and Fred Skeleton. Both companies will be working in the theatre class realm this fall. Check out Erinara’s shiny new Springfield Road studio and full line up at www.erinara.com and you can catch Fred Skeleton super couple Rob Mason-Brown teaching theatre classes for adult actors with New Vintage Theatre (see the course in detail at www.newvintage.ca) and Shannon Mason-Brown is teaching drama at Studio 9 School of The Arts, www.studio9.ca

There is nothing like the thrill of a new theatre season, so don’t be afraid to pull on that coat and enjoy the falling leaves on the way to a wonderful play or class in Kelowna this fall. You will be glad you did.

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