After a successful holiday run of its brilliant production of Anne of Green Gables: The Musical, Gateway Theatre has announced remainder of their 2022-2023 season of in-person artistic offerings and new audio plays.
To start the year, Gateway Theatre is launching a free audio plays series, A Year of Blessings, where young audiences and their families can learn and explore the wonders behind traditional Chinese festivals in a fun and entertaining way.
A Year of Blessings is created by Five Blessings Collective, a talented team of Asian-Canadian artists that includes Nancy Tam, Derek Chan, Jasmine Chen, Howard Dai, and Amanda Sum.
The episodes launch schedule:
Episode #1 – A Year of Blessings: Bun Fun New Year – January 21
In the midst of preparing for the Lunar New Year family feast, twin bunnies Bunnifer and Bunnithy learn the true meaning of new year festivities and a couple of interesting recipes along the way.
Episode #2 – A Year of Blessings: Little Shrimp – April 5
A brave Little Shrimp with a big heart takes us on a musical adventure through the underwater and underworld to connect with friends, family, and ancestors on Qing Ming, the tomb-sweeping holiday.
Episode #3 – June 22.
Will be released in conjunction with celebrations for the Dragon Boat Festival.
As part of the Lunar New Year festivities in Richmond, January 21st Gateway Theatre hosts a Family Fun Lunar New Year Celebration to celebrate the Year of the Rabbit and the official launch of A Year of Blessings audio play series. Head to Gateway for family-fun celebrations for a special live reading of A Year of Blessings: Bun Fun New Year in Studio B followed by festive craft activities for families. Two performance times, Sunday between 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. or 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., are available at a cost of $8 per person (including all fees) and free for ages 2 and under.
March brings Prophecy Fog, from award-winning Indigenous artist Jani Lauzon, in Studio B from March 9 to 18. Prophecy Fog takes audiences on a beautiful journey about relationships with land, family and sacred spaces. The journey begins in the Mojave Desert in search of Giant Rock, armed with the question: can a site still be sacred if it has been desecrated? Produced by Paper Canoe Projects, Prophecy Fog weaves together the captivating performance skills of veteran storyteller Jani Lauzon with evocative environmental design and projections by Melissa Joakim, along with director Franco Boni that will forever change how audiences appreciate the sky, the stars, and even a rock. These performances are $35 for general admission. Patrons will be seated on a chair or a cushion on the floor and will need to select which type of seating they would like when purchasing tickets.
Closing the 2023 season is the powerful story of Viola Desmond told through the moving musical production Hey Viola! on Gateway’s MainStage, produced by Musical TheatreWorks in association with Western Canada Theatre. Created by Vancouver performer Krystle Dos Santos and director Tracey Power, Hey Viola! is a musical exploration of Canadian civil rights trailblazer, Viola Desmond – the fearless woman featured on Canada’s $10 bill. Award-winning blues and jazz singer and actor Krystle Dos Santos, with the support of fantastic musicians, brings the life of Viola Desmond to the stage. Follow Viola’s extraordinary journey through the life and events that shaped her to stand up against systemic racial injustices in Canada – including refusing to leave the whites-only section of Nova Scotia’s Roseland cinema in 1946. With brilliant hits of the era and songs that influenced history; “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood”, “A Change is Gonna Come”, and “Sinnerman”, this eye-opening musical recognizes the important history and legacy that Viola Desmond left behind. Hey Viola! runs from April 13 to 22. Ticket prices start at $35. This production is presented in English with Traditional and Simplified Chinese surtitles. April 13 is a Pay What You Will preview and April 21 is a Vocal Eye performance.
Tickets are on sale at gatewaytheatre.com or 604-270-1812. Box Office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 am-3 pm. Save 15% off when purchasing tickets to both Prophecy Fog and Hey Viola!.
Find tickets and more details about each of the Gateway Theatre’s artistic offerings online at gatewaytheatre.com