Kyle Jesperson in "120bpm"

Remember Kyle Jesperson? He played George MacDonald in A BRIGHT PARTICULAR STAR. Kyle's a grad of the TWU Theatre program who recently completed Studio 58 training. He writes;

Hey gang,

Running April 3-20 (2-for-1 preview April 2nd) is a new play called "120bpm." It's one night in the rave culture of the late 90's, and the venue is pretty cool: a second-story warehouse rather than a theatre. I've never been in a show like it, and I feel pretty safe in surmising that I won't ever be in a show like it again.

I'd love for y'all to come!

Love from Kyle

For more, check out Up In The Air Theatre

GRACE Costume Sketches

I'm an actor who loves the physical world of a play. Sets, light, props, and especially costumes give me so much as I build the life of a character. Tangible materials to build the world of the play that I'm going to move into and inhabit. Of course, a tremendous amount of that world is created in the actor's imagination, and re-created or co-created in that of the audience: we can create a world together on a bare stage. But when we're given real, physical stuff by the designers, it does so much to make that world specific, and tangible.

Especially costumes. I show up on the first day of rehearsals with rehearsal costumes I've scrounged on my own, just so I can start living in the skin of the character I'm beginning to embody. And as soon as the costumer adds each new element - a pair of shoes, a belt, a jacket, whatever - I beg to use it in rehearsal from then on. Now bear in mind, I weather a good deal of mockery for these indulgences, but for me it pays off.

I love costume designers.

Thought it'd be fun to offer you a sneak peek at Francesca Albertazzi's GRACE costumes. Here are her preliminary renderings...

Mar 1-18: Anthony Ingram, "A Delicate Balance"

Anthony Ingram's involvement with Pacific Theatre goes right back to 1984, when "Tony" auditioned for the Pacific Salt Company! A billion shows later at PT (ELEPHANT MAN, BEGGARS AT THE WATERS OF IMMORTALITY, HALO, PRIVATE EYES, RON'S FIFTIETH BIRTHDAY PARTY, etc, etc) and everywhere else, Anthony's in the director's chair for Eddy Albee's seventy-ninth birthday party...

Tempus Theatre presents…

Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize winning play
A Delicate Balance
Directed by Anthony F. Ingram
Starring: Anna Hagan, Terence Kelly, Teryl Rothery, Bert Steinmanis, Valerie Sing Turner, and T Weir

March 1 - 18
Tuesday to Sunday 8pm
Jericho Arts Centre
1675 Discovery Street (at NW Marine Drive)
Pay-What-You-Will: Tuesday March 6 and 13
For Tickets: ticketstonight or 604.231.7538

Join us after the show on March 11, and celebrate Edward Albee’s 79th Birthday!

On an autumn weekend, Agnes and Tobias find their stately home invaded by her alcoholic sister, their daughter who has just left her fourth marriage, and their best friends seeking refuge from a mysterious terror. As the powerful ties between family, friends and each other begin to pull in opposing directions, Agnes and Tobias discover that more is at stake than just who gets the spare room.

"[A Delicate Balance] is basically about these people who have accommodated to their own weaknesses and compromises, the adjustments they've made. When the time comes that there is a demand put on them, they have to figure out whether or not they are strong enough anymore to do what should normally be done; the Christian way, to take you in. The [delicate balance] is between what we should be doing and what we ultimately decide we need to do to protect ourselves."
-Edward Albee

Who - or what - is Tempus Theatre?
In 2005, five actors - Anna Hagan, Anthony F. Ingram, Bert Steinmanis, Valerie Sing Turner and T Weir - were brought together as part of the cast of Caryl Churchill’s groundbreaking work, Cloud 9, which became both an audience and critical success. Challenged by the complexity of the play and inspired by each other’s talent, ideas and passions, they sought a way to continue working together on scripts that challenged actor and audience both artistically and intellectually. Thus, Tempus Theatre was born. Celebrating the ephemeral essence of theatre – the unrepeatable moment of performance – Tempus Theatre is committed to producing strong, text-based work that provokes consideration of the past that has shaped us, the present we live in and the possible futures we may encounter. For more information about Tempus Theatre, visit us on the web

Mar 20 & 27: Julia Mackey, "Jake's Gift"

Back in 2002, Julia Mackey was part of a group of actors who worked through Libby Appel's mask training process and then created a show with the characters they created, which we staged in December 2002 as MERCY WILD. Jake was a marvel, a cranky old bookie with World War Two secrets and a penchant for Frank Sinatra.

Julia couldn't let go of her creation - or he couldn't let go of her - and a trip to Normandy for the D-Day commemorations led her to create a one-person-show for her crusty alter ego. Pacific Theatre presented a staged reading of the piece last fall, and Jules has gone on to perform JAKE'S GIFT at a number of theatres in BC since that time, including Nanaimo's Western Edge Theatre, Antony Holland's Theatre Centre on Gabriola Island, and upcoming performances in the Richmond Gateway's SceneFirst series and a Vancouver Public Library performance on World Theatre Day - as well as a slot in Toronto's 2007 Fringe Festival!

But before I pass along the details on the upcoming lower mainland shows, let me point you to the JAKE'S GIFT website - a skookum little setup by none other than Dirk Van Stralen, another PT regular and Julia's main squeeze (in fact, fiance!).

SceneFirst at the Gateway!
SceneFirst is back for its third season at the Gateway, an exciting four-day series featuring staged readings of four new Canadian scripts, directed and performed by theatre professionals, scripts in hand, without benefit of props, sets, special lighting or costumes. SceneFirst runs March 20-23rd, 2007 at 8pm.

Four scripts by local writers Julia Mackey, Mark Leiren-Young, Joao Canhoto and Elaine Avila were chosen from over 100 submitted by writers across Canada. These plays will now become part of the short list for future production in the Gateway’s MainStage or Studio B Series. Thanks to feedback from last year’s SceneFirst attendees, one script from SceneFirst 2006 is short-listed for Gateway’s 2007-08 Mainstage season.

JAKES GIFT by Julia Mackey
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007 8PM
Jake's Gift is the story of a cantankerous WW2 veteran who reluctantly returns to Normandy, France for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day. On his journey, Jake meets a precocious local girl named Isabelle whose inquisitive nature challenges him to confront some old ghosts. Jake’s Gift celebrates the importance and the healing power of remembrance.
Tickets are $5 per person at the door or call 604-270-1812.

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Tuesday Mar 27 2007 @ 7PM: World Theatre Day
Vancouver Public Library, Alice Mackay Room Lower Level
Vancouver theatre legend Antony Holland directs presentations of two one-act plays. Written and performed by Julia Mackey, Jakes Gift tells the touching story of a meeting of a Canadian World War II veteran and a young French girl on a beach in Normandy. Brian Friels The Yalta Game, a romantic comedy based on a classic Chekhov story, follows a young couple and their misadventures at a holiday resort.

Contact: Nicola Scudder 604-331-3774