THEATRE
MY TURQUOISE YEARS: A comic coming-of-age story set in 1960. Apr. 4-May 4 at Granville Island Stage (1585 Johnston). $10. ArtsClub.com
SPIN: Celebrate the bicycle as muse, musical instrument, and agent of social change. Apr 9-20. $15-$41. TheCultch.com
HIGHGATE: A morbid romp through Victorian funerary culture, jumping straight from the darkest part of Tara Cheyenne Friedenbergs imagination. Apr. 30-May 4. $15 $32. TheCultch.com
THE PRINCES PLAY: Victor Hugos tragic story of the deformed jester who tries to protect his daughter from the sexual advances of the prince. Mar. 29-Apr. 21 at Jericho Arts Centre. UnitedPlayers.com
GOD AND THE INDIAN: Drew Hayden Taylor explores the aftermath of a life lost to residential schools. Apr. 7-20. FirehallArtsCentre.ca
THREE SISTERS: Anton Chekhovs classic about four aristocratic siblings, and their slipping hopes of returning to social importance. Vancity Culture Lab (1895 Venables) until Apr. 20. $14-28. TheCultch.com
MIS HERMANAS: THICKER THAN WATER, MY SISTERS AND I: The personal story of Rosario Ancer growing up in Mexico, her dreams of becoming a dancer, her journey to Spain and her arrival to Vancouver. Apr. 6, Vancouver Playhouse. FlamencoRosario.org.
SEASCAPE WITH SHARKS AND DANCER: A tragi-comedy that explores the nature of emotional wounds, interdependence, and love, through the story of a writer who rescues a drowning woman from the ocean. CBC 700 studio on 700 Hamilton. Apr. 11-20. $15-$20. SHIFTtheatre.ca
CAFÉ DE CHINITAS: Flamenco dancers explore the power and variety of human emotions. May 3-4. Norman Rothstein Theatre. Tickets at VTixonline.com or at Highlife (1317 Commercial).
HOW TO WRITE A NEW BOOK FOR THE BIBLE: The story of an aging mothers peculiarities and a sons flawed devotion. Canadian Premiere. Apr.-26-May 25. $15. PacificTheatre.org
BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL: Based on the smash-hit film and featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry. Apr 2-7, 8pm at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. $35 at Ticketmaster.ca.
US & EVERYTHING WE OWN: A young man whose hunger to be successful threatens his relationships with those he cares about when he gets in over his head in an investment scheme. Apr 4, 8pm at PAL Studio Theatre. $12-$21 at BrownPaperTickets.com.
A CRAIGSLIST CANTATA: An 80-minute song cycle of quick-witted and heartfelt spoken text and song.Revue Stage(1601 Johnston). Apr. 18 to May 18. Times vary. $25 and $35. ArtsClub.com.
DANCE
GISELLE: A story of class struggle, sacrifice and doomed love. Apr. 25-27, 8pm at at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (649 Cambie). $22.25 to $70 at Ticketmaster.ca. BalletBC.com
THE LIGETI PROJECT: The music of the great Hungarian composer Gyorgy Ligeti provides the starting point for this exciting new collaboration between contemporary choreographer Martha Carter and the innovative Microcosmos String Quartet. A dialogue of movement, sound and rhythm that vibrates with contrasts, and expresses raw energy and deep emotion. Apr 18-20, 8pm at the Scotiabank Dance Centre.
STRIA: The latest solo work by the award-winning and versatile choreographer/performer Marie-Josée Chartier, inspired by the beautiful and unpredictable terrain of the Badlands. An exquisite blend of movement, music, text and voice to delve into a mosaic of colourful memories, and touches on themes of nature, love and loss. Apr 25-27 at the Scotiabank Dance Centre.
CLASSICAL
THE LITTLE RUSSIAN SYMPHONY: VSO DaYe Lin conductor, Avan Yu piano, with a repertoire of Mendelssohn, Brahms, and Tschaikovsky. Apr. 6 & 8 at 8pm, Apr. 7 at 2pm, Orpheum Theatre.
FROM THE NEW WORLD: VSO Conductor Andrew Grams, violinist Ray Chen with a repertoire of Smetana, Sarasate and Dvorak. Apr. 13 at the Orpheum, Apr. 15 at Bell Performing Arts Centre, 8pm.
ANTHONY MARWOOd PLAYS MOZART: VSO Violinist Anthony Marwood leads a repertoire of Mozart, Rameau, Schubert and Haydn. Apr. 19 and 20 at Chan Centre, 8pm.
RITUALS: VSO Features Aaron McDonald on timpani with a repertoire of Edward Top, Giorgio Magnanensi, Michael Colgrass, Sofia Gubaidulina and Louis Andriessen. Apr. 20, 8pm, Orpheum Theatre.
APRIL IN PARIS: VSO Christopher Gaze hosts a performance of Weber, Rossini, Saint Saens, Chopin, Debussy, Delibes and Berlioz, with pianist Jeffrey Luo. Apr. 25, 2pm, Orpheum Theatre.
PIZZARELLI PLAYS ELLINGTON: VSO John Pizzarelli guitar/vocals, Larry Fuller piano, Tony Tedesco drums and Martin Pizzarelli bass. Apr. 26- 27 8pm, Orpheum Theatre.
ST. LAWRENCE STRING QUARTET: Music in the Morning. Apr 17-19, 10:30am at the Vancouver Academy of Music.
JEAN- FRANCOIS DESROSBY: The Vancouver Classic Guitar Society presents high-energy virtuoso Canadian classical guitarist Jean-François Desrosby in concert. Apr. 27 7pm. Spirit of Life Lutheran Church,375 W. 10.$5-25 available at the door or VancouverGuitar.org
CHORAL
YOUTH & MUSIC: CHORAL CREATIVITY: Be on the cutting edge of choral creativity by sharing these special moments with the young musicians. Apr 19, 8pm at Ryerson United Church (2205 W. 45th). $32.75 at Ticketmaster.ca.
SPRING CONCERT: ASPIRE: Works from Phoenixs Young Canadian Choral Composers Competition and also international sensations Ivo Antongnini (Swiss-Italian), Krystof Penderecki (Poland), and Paul Mealor (whose music was featured during Will and Kates royal wedding). Apr 27, 7:30 at Shaugnessy Heights United (1550 W. 33). $15-$25 at PhoenixChoir.ca.
PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: Vancouver Bach Choir presents a multimedia world premiere with The Phantom of the Opera at the Orpheum. Created to underscore and enrich the legendary silent film of the same name, the choir and a hand-picked chamber ensemble will perform the score while the cinematic masterpiece screens.
MUSIC
SERENA RYDER: The artist is kicking off 2013 with her new successful release Harmony at the Commodore Ballroom on Apr 24. $35. The albums lead single Stompa was just awarded a platinum certification. Tickets area available at livenation.com or by calling 1-855-985-5000. Ages 19+.
THE CALL: SONGS OF ARAB PRIDE AND LIBERATION: Simon Shaheen one of the most significant contemporary Arab musicians is coming to The Chan Centre for the Performing Arts. The show is a romantic yet cutting edge story which reflects the rapid development of world politics through protest and culture in recent year. Shaheens work reinterprets Arab songs from the 50s and 60s, and presents original compositions which have become anthems for protestors and young generations in the Middle East. Apr. 27, 8pm, $36-72. Tickets and info at ChanCentre.com or Ticketmaster.ca.
THE SEX LIVES OF VEGETABLES: Astrolabe Musik Theatrepresents a nutritious (and sometimes naughty) jaunt down the garden path investigating bees, weeds, and the surprising sex lives of vegetables. Apr.20, 7:30pm at VanDusen Botanical Garden, 5251 Oak. Tickets $25 adults, $18 students and seniors, available at SexLives.brownpapertickets.com or in person at the garden.
MUSIC PROGRESSIVE QUARTET: The internationally acclaimed Macedonian quartet performs Apr. 26 and 28, presented by the West Coast symphony. You can read more about the Muisc Progessive Quartet at MPQ.mk. Times vary and locations vary. Tickets at 778-279-2212 or [email protected].
FESTIVALS
SAKURA DAYS JAPAN FAIR: Enjoy the tranquility of an authentic Japanese tea ceremony, eat festival food, try ikebana (flower arranging), premium sake tastings, guided tree talks and walks with Harry Jongerden and enjoy Haiku Invitational readings. Festivities also include cultural performances of Japanese classical dance, taiko drumming, shakuhachi (bamboo flute), martial arts performances, anime, eco-friendly cars or motorcycles and more. Apr 7-8, 10am at VanDusen Botanical Garden (5251 Oak). $8-$10 at door. JapanFairVancouver.com.
EVENTS
Vancouver Rain: Pastel paintings by Dave Denson featuring Vancouvers notorious mascot rain. Densons vibrant and colourful depictions of our rainy city bring seemingly ordinary scenes to life at the Classical Chinese Garden on 578 Carall St for the month of April. Entrance included in Garden Admission. VancouverChineseGarden.com/calendar/vancouver-rain.
ARTISTS ON OUR MIDST: 35 participating artists come from different backgrounds, artistic training and work in a variety of media such as, painting, sculpture, photography, jewelry and mixed media. Their studios and homes are open for viewin. The Roundhouse Exhibit Apr. 11-14. Times and locations vary. ArtistsInOurMidst.com.
Grand Hotel: Commissioned by the Vancouver Art Gallery as a major exhibition, Grand Hotel charts the global evolution of one of our cultures most well-known icons, the hotel. Exhibit runs April 13 to September 15.
Safar/Voyage: Contemporary Works by Arab, Iranian, and Turkish Artists at the Museum of Anthropology. The first major exhibition of contemporary art from these regions to be shown in Vancouver. April 20 to September 15. MOA.UBC.ca
The Sex Lives of Vegetables... And other Delicious Distractions: Lorna Crozier will read from her poems about bees, weeds and the surprising sex lives of vegetables, accompanied by AK Coope on clarinet, Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa on piano and soprano Heather Pawsey. Apr. 20 at VanDusen Botanical Gardens. See page 11 in this weeks real estate section for details.
