VERNON, BC— The Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre Society’s SPOTLIGHT Special Presentations Series is back with a full lineup of popular music, comedy, and cirque performances to entertain and delight.

Canadian artists take centre stage in the 2023/24 SPOTLIGHT Season with concerts from two-time JUNO Award winning Dan Mangan on September 25 and multi-platinum selling country artist Tim Hicks on October 25. Ever-popular, VDPAC’s OnSTAGE Concerts return with intimate performances by trailblazing alt-folk artist Mariel Buckley on January 26 and the hauntingly beautiful vocals of folk singer-songwriter Abigail Lapell on April 12.

“Our OnSTAGE Concerts are known for featuring rising stars and usually sell out quickly,” said Artistic Director Erin Kennedy. “I am excited to share these immensely talented artists with our audiences.”

Cirque-lovers will be awed by two very different circus shows. All the way from Australia, Casting Off on October 29 is a disarming and hilarious circus show by three women about living on the edge. Relaxed, personal and fantastically inappropriate, Casting Off is circus that will make you laugh and cry simultaneously. Blizzard by Flip Fabrique on February 24 is an homage to Quebec winters that invites you to lose yourself in moments of complete wonder. With performers at the peak of their art and outstanding visual poetry, Blizzard promises to blow away everything in its path.

Award-winning comedian Steve Paterson is coming to town with festive funnies on December 1 in The Debaters Live on Tour Holiday Special. Vernon’s favourite annual comedy tradition, I Am Woman, Hear Me Laff! promises another night of side-splitting laughter on March 9 with headliner Elvira Kurt.

Subscriptions are on sale now! Patrons can build their own Pick 3 flexible subscription by selecting any three or more shows from the SPOTLIGHT Special Presentations, Dance, or Theatre Series and save 10% off the regular ticket price. Single tickets go on sale on June 15, 2023.

“Current subscribers can also purchase tickets for Special Presentations now, before single tickets are available,” said Executive Director Jim Harding. “If you are a Dance, Theatre or Kids Series subscriber, you can call Ticket Seller to add these shows to your season tickets package.”

To learn more & book your SPOTLIGHT Special Presentation Series tickets call 250-549-SHOW (7469) or visit www.vdpac.ca. Pick 3 flexible subscriptions are on sale now. Single tickets go on sale on June 15. Follow us for announcements about added shows throughout the season.

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Ticket Link: https://vdpac.ca/spotlight-season/special-presentation

Video: https://youtu.be/DfJJ0gIS_T4

2023-24 SPOTLIGHT Special Presentation Series Details:

Dan Mangan
September 25, 2023, at 7:30PM

Dan Mangan is a two-time JUNO award winning & two-time Polaris Music Prize listed musician and songwriter. Mangan’s new album, ‘Being Somewhere’, arrived in October 2022. Produced by Drew Brown (Radiohead, Beck), the album unfurls like an overdue conversation with a dear friend where you talk about the world, how you’re doing, and how you can help one another.

Tim Hicks

October 25, 2023, at 7:30PM

Known for his sure footed, every-man approach and party ready anthems, multi-platinum artist Tim Hicks will be giving fans the unique opportunity to experience his music in the most intimate way with the Campfire Troubadour Tour this fall.

Casting Off presented by A Good Catch and Cluster Arts

October 29, 2023, at 7:30PM

Casting Off is intergenerational circus that will make you laugh and cry simultaneously! These dynamic Australian women tumble, talk, fly, and balance precariously. A disarming, hilarious show about living on the edge and how it’s easier done than said.

The Debaters Live on Tour Holiday Special

December 1, 2023, at 7:30PM

Award-winning comedian Steve Patterson is coming to town with two of his favourite comedy elves, Katie-Ellen Humphries and Graham Clark for a no-holds-barred festive free-for-all. This two-hour joke-fest is for live audiences only and features two entertaining debates in the format familiar to fans of the hit CBC Radio program, plus bonus segments of smart stand-up comedy from Steve and his hilarious cohorts. Get your tickets now for the holiday-themed extravaganza that will surely tickle your sugar plums.

Mariel Buckley (OnSTAGE Concert)
January 26, 2024, at 7:30PM

Anchored by the haunting whine of the pedal steel, rounded out by heavy synth pads and produced by Marcus Paquin (The Weather Station, The Barr Brothers, Arcade Fire, The National), Mariel Buckley’s trailblazing songs are a driving, swooning, toe-tapping catharsis; sealed and delivered by her signature crooning brand of angst-ridden alt-folk.

Blizzard by Flip Fabrique

February 24, 2024, at 7:00PM

With Blizzard, FLIP Fabrique takes you on a crazy, poetic and gentle journey in the dead of winter, and invites you to lose yourself in a moment of complete wonder. With performers at the peak of their art and outstanding visual poetry, Blizzard promises to blow away everything in its path.

I Am Woman, Hear Me Laff!
March 9, 2024, at 7:30PM

Stand-up comedian Elvira Kurt headlines the 19th annual I Am Woman, Hear Me Laff! Comedy Show. A beloved annual tradition, I Am Woman, Hear Me Laff! brings a selection of the brightest professional stand-up comedians together for a night of female empowerment guaranteed to deliver side-splitting, tear-inducing laughter. Grab your besties and get ready for a sizzling night out! Caution: It gets SPICY! May contain strong language & mature content.

Abigail Lapell (OnSTAGE Concert)

April 12, 2024, at 7:30PM
Call it prairie noir or Canadiana desert rock: Abigail Lapell sings haunting, gorgeous modern folk songs. The Toronto songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has won two Canadian Folk Music Awards and reached over 20 million Spotify streams. Her evocative new album, Stolen Time, was released April 2022 on Outside Music.

About the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre:

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society is a non-profit, charitable organization devoted to fostering artists, their work, and live performance in all genres and for all ages. The Society operates the Performing Arts Centre (VDPAC) on behalf of the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) and with the support of over 30 staff and 200 volunteers. Each year, we present our SPOTLIGHT Season of over 30 diverse performances, complemented by over 125 professional guest concerts, festivals, and special events. We select professional touring productions to entertain, enlighten, move and amuse our patrons. Altogether, they offer audiences of all ages a world of unforgettable live theatre experiences. Please visit: https://vdpac.ca/ & https://ticketseller.ca/

Facebook: @vdpac
Instagram: @vernonperformingarts

For interviews and more information, media can contact:

Angela Pells
Marketing Director
250-542-9355
[email protected]