The Week in Review: May 20
JESSIE RICHARDSON THEATRE AWARD NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED
The 31st Annual Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards nominations were announced this week in Vancouver. A celebration of the city's thespian talent which quickly became an awaited tradition, the “Jessies” cover a variety of categories across large and small productions. Leading the nominations this year is Bard on the Beach's The Merry Wives of Windsor with seven nominations, followed by Arts Club Theatre's Master Class with six. Other productions on the slate include Xanadu, Clybourne Park, and Boeing Boeing.
The Merry Wives of Windsor are nominated for seven awards.
LOCAL THEATRE COMPANY OFFERS REFUNDS FOR WALKOUTS
A Vancouver theatre company has offered a money back guarantee to audience members, following a heated debate with a theatre critic on Twitter. Should anyone walk out of Mnemonic Theatre Productions' upcoming production of Proof, they will be encouraged to publicly express why and receive a full refund. It's a risky proposition, as The Globe and Mail explored. “I was terrified,” says actor Minh Ly about his initial reaction to the idea. At rehearsal last week, he said he’s far less hesitant now. “Because I believe in our show, and ideally it’ll bring more people to the theatre.”
CENTRE FOR PERFORMING ARTS SOLD
The pending sale of The Centre for Performing Arts has caused some furor within Vancouver over the past week. A variety of arguments and viewpoints have arisen on the sale. Over at the Globe and Mail, it is being hailed as a tragedy, prompting the question, 'Do Vancouver citizens really not care about the arts?'
As counterpoint, Vancouver theatre critic Jerry Wasserman opined the venue's loss would have no significant impact on Vancouver's arts community on CBC's Early Edition.
The future is uncertain for the 1,800 seat venue.
200-YEAR OLD THEATRE IN SCOTLAND SAVED
Some of the LMPR team will be visiting the Edinburgh Festival this summer, so it is with intrigue that we heard of the saving of the Theatre Royal in Dumfries – Scotland's oldest operational theatre. Built in 1792, the theatre has been given more than $700,000 by the local council to refurbish the theatre and continue the town's long-held performance tradition.
WHERE ARE THE FEMALE ARTISTS, ASKS AUDIT
A recent audit found zero female artists featured in the top 100 auction art sales throughout the globe. Gemma Rolls-Bentley, an independent curator, was also surprised at the low proportion of public art created by women in the UK: 14 percent of London works were made by females. Although the artistic glass ceiling still exists, recent audits such as this one, along with campaigning, has led to an increased gender balance in the professions. As The Guardian suggests, many brilliant women putting on shows in small galleries may now “have a genuine shot at history.”
Categories: MPMG