ARTS LISTINGS
ONGOING
EAST VAN PANTO: PINOCCHIO When a lonely old ice-cream vendor is given a puppet by the mysterious Beckwoman of Commercial Drive, his dreams of having a child come true. To Jan 5, York Theatre. From $26.
THE SOUND OF MUSIC Romantic musical about a young woman who takes a governess position with a large family and falls for the widowed father. To Jan 5, Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. From $39.
FADO: THE SADDEST MUSIC IN THE WORLD The story of a young woman confronting her country’s fascist past and her own identity is interwoven with the heartbreaking national music of Portugal. To Dec 14, Firehall Arts Centre. From $25.
IT’S A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS-ISH HOLIDAY MIRACLE Canadian comedy about a blended family during a complicated season. To Dec 22, Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre. From $29.
PETER PAN Adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s classic tale reimagines Peter Pan for the new millennium. To Jan 5, Waterfront Theatre. $18-35. WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE Back by popular demand! The wild rumpus starts again with the return of PHT’s beloved Where the Wild Things Are. Jump in and help Max transform his bedroom into the many landscapes of his adventures. Sail along together to the land of the Wild Things! It’s a highly interactive, guided play experience. Ages 3-6. To Dec 15, Presentation House Theatre. $22/18/12.50. A CHRISTMAS CAROL Ron Reed embodies Scrooge and 43 other characters in Dickens’s Christmas story. To Dec 21, 8 pm, Pacific Theatre. $20-36.50.
MERRY KISSMASS: A ROYAL ROMANCE Vancouver TheatreSports presents improvised romantic holiday comedy Wed-Sat. To Dec 24, Improv Centre. From $10.75.
LUZIA Cirque du Soleil presents a poetic and acrobatic ode to the culture of Mexico. To Dec 29, Under the Grand Chapiteau (Big Top), Concorde Pacific Place. $39-270. VANCOUVER CHRISTMAS MARKET Authentic German market features more than 80 huts stuffed with sweets, treats, and treasures. To Dec 24, Jack Poole Plaza. $15. VANCOUVER ART GALLERY ➧ROBERT RAUSCHENBERG 1965–1980 to Jan 26
➧VIKKY ALEXANDER: EXTREME BEAUTY to Jan 26 ➧TRANSITS AND RETURNS to Feb 23
➧CINDY SHERMAN to Mar 8
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4
THE TRAGIC COMEDY OF MACBETH A comedic look at Shakespeare’s tragedy, both scripted and improvised. Dec 4-15, 7:30-9:30 pm, Jericho Arts Centre. $25/30.
UNTOLD WANTS PRESENTS: COCK, A PLAY BY MIKE BARTLETT Olivier Award– winning play by Mike Bartlett. Dec 4-15, Vancity Culture Lab. $20/25.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5
MISS BENNET: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY A comic holiday play with classic Jane Austen charm. Dec 5–Jan 4, Granville Island Stage. From $29.
UN FIL A LA PATTE Le Petit Théâtre presents a classic French vaudeville play. Dec 5-7, 7:30 pm, Alliance Française. $20.
O CHRISTMAS TEA: A BRITISH COMEDY Off-Broadway comedians James & Jamesy present their Christmas comedy. Dec 5-7, 7:30 pm, Vancouver Playhouse. $19-44.
DAN ST. GERMAIN American writer and comedian performs three nights of standup. Dec 5-7, Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club. $21.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6
DIRTY BETTY PRESENTS: HOE-HOE-HOLIDAY SHOW! Variety show with an all-femme cast featuring comedy, burlesque, and drag queens. Dec 6, 7-10 pm, Fox Cabaret. $17. DANCE INTO CHRISTMAS Richmond Academy of Dance and New Westminster Symphony Orchestra perform. Dec 6, 7:30 pm, Massey Theatre. $22.
VANCOUVER CHAMBER CHOIR: CHRISTMAS ORATORIO The choir is joined by Owen McCausland, the Pacific Baroque Orchestra, and artistic director Kari Turunen. Dec 6, 7:30 pm, Orpheum Annex. $15/21-55.
THE POSTMODERN CAMERATA’S CHRISTMAS SHOW: MY WISH TONIGHT Carols and songs from the golden age of American songwriting. Dec 6, 7:30 pm; Dec 8, 3 pm, Canadian Music Centre. $35.
SPEAK UP! SING OUT! Karla Mundy and the City Soul Choir perform for two nights. Dec 6, 7, 7:30-9:30 pm, Canadian Memorial United Church. $30/25.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7
THE CHRISTMAS STORY—VIVALDI CHAMBER CHOIR Vivaldi Chamber Choir presents The Christmas Story, with narration from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew. Beautiful choral music, with pianist Gabriel Landstedt, describes the story further. Veteran actor Bernard Cuffling is narrator. Post-show reception. 604-221-0665 for info Dec 7, 7-9:30 pm, St. Helen’s Anglican Church. $25/22.
A CELEBRATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS— WRITE FOR RIGHTS The Amnesty International Downtown Group hosts a free event with music, dance, poetry, panel discussions, and speeches. Dec 7, 7-9:30 pm, Creekside Community Recreation Centre. Free. WOUND UP IN ONE-ACT Theatre In the Raw presents a one-act mini-fest. Dec 7, 8, 14, 15, 7:30-10 pm, Spartacus Books. $15/12.
MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT The Vancouver Men’s Chorus presents its holiday show. Dec 7-14, 8 pm, St. Paul’s Anglican Church. $40-45. THE COMIC STRIP Standup comedy featuring headliner Amber Harper-Young. Dec 7, 9:30 pm, Tyrant Studios. $18.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8
FRENCH BAROQUE TREASURES The Laudate Singers and Baroque Chamber Orchestra perform French Baroque music. Dec 8, 3 pm, Highlands United Church. $40/35/25/10/free. MIDNIGHT MASS The Gallery Singers perform Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s work. Dec 8, 3 pm, Pacific Spirit United Church. $9/12/18. WINTER WONDERLAND Canadian pianist John Stetch fuses classical technique with jazz imagination. Dec 8, 4-5 pm, Roedde House Museum. $15/12.
MY SOUL MAGNIFIES THE LORD Vancouver Oratorio Society Christmas concert. Dec 8, 7:30 pm, Fraserview MB Church. Free.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 9
JOKERS Comedy show featuring Andrea Jin, Robert Peng, and headliner Stuart Jones. Dec 9, 10-11:30 pm, Manchester Public Eatery. $15.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10
HOLIDAY AT THE ELBOW ROOM CAFÉ Zee Zee Theatre presents a holiday tribute to Vancouver’s iconic eatery. Dec 10-29, Historic Theatre. From $26.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11
STORY STORY LIE: HOT AND HEAVY Unreal stories and one lie told by Sasja Smolders, Paul Anthony, Emily Bilton, Ryan Lachance, and Justine Warrington. Dec 11, 7 pm, Rio Theatre. $12/14.
MUSIC FOR THE WINTER SOLSTICE Music on Main presents music for the solstice by Caroline Shaw, Gabriel Kahane, and Rachel Kiyo Iwaasa. Dec 11-12, 8-9:30 pm, Heritage Hall. $42/35/15.
BYGONES Out Innerspace Dance Theatre explores themes of transition, conflict, and hope. Dec 11-14, 8 pm, Scotiabank Dance Centre. $35/25.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12
JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT Reimagining of the biblical story of Joseph, Jacob, and the coat of many colours. Dec 12-31, Gateway Theatre. $29-55.
AMIR K Comedian from Orange County performs standup. Dec 12, 8 pm, Yuk Yuk’s Comedy Club. $21.
ASCENSION Student-run production combines dance, music composition, production and design, and film. Dec 12-14, 8-9 pm, SFU Goldcorp Centre for the Arts. $15.
ARTS LISTINGS are a public service provided free of charge. Submit events online using the event-submission form at straight. com/AddEvent. Events that don’t make it into the paper due to space constraints will appear on the website.