VERNON, BC— The stage is set for the Vernon & District Performing Arts Centre Society’s 2023-24 SPOTLIGHT Theatre Series. Five award-winning productions from across Canada will grace the stage this coming season.

“We are excited to welcome everyone back for a season of heartfelt and hilarious shows to entertain pand inspire you,” said Artistic Director Erin Kennedy. “Our 2023-24 Theatre Series has a diverse mix of different theatrical genres from musicals to storytelling with masks.”

The 2023-24 Theatre Series opens on October 4 with Hey Viola!, a musical exploration of the life of Canadian Civil Rights hero Viola Desmond. Other than being the newest face on Canada’s ten-dollar bill, Desmond is best known for her courage in refusing to leave the whites-only section of Nova Scotia’s Roseland cinema in 1946. Set to the hits of the era from Nina Simone, Sam Cooke and more, and starring songstress Krystel Dos Santos, Hey Viola! is first-rate entertainment.

Bear Grease, a fresh and fun Indigenous take on the classic 1978 musical, takes the stage on October 24. The all-Indigenous cast includes Crystle Lightning (2021 Canadian Screen Award Winner for Best Actress, Trickster and Three Pines) as Sandy and MC RedCloud (Yellowstone) as Danny. This smash hit has sold-out festivals across Canada and the United States.

On November 12, Arts Club Theatre Company returns with Mark Crawford’s The Birds and the Bees, a knee-slapping comedy about love, lust, beekeeping, and the artificial insemination of turkeys. Set in adjoining bedrooms, audiences can expect an evening of rip-roaring sex comedy and good old-fashioned laughs.

“We are so thrilled to have the Arts Club Theatre returning to our stage,” said Kennedy. “They are the largest touring theatre company in western Canada and the quality of their productions, from the sets to the talented performers, is always spectacular.”

One-man-show-master Rick Miller returns on January 17 with BOOM X, the second of his dynamic trilogy of solo multimedia performances that capture history and pop culture through stunning visuals and mind-blowing impersonations. The 70s, 80s, and 90s boom to life on stage with Miller playing over 100 characters from the days of disco, the oil crisis, Watergate, the Cold War, video games, punk rock, and more.

Finally, on February 29, Pixar meets Miyazaki in The Wilds by the WONDERHEADS, a fantastical love story about a missing wife and a journey into a mysterious forest. The WONDERHEADS are an award-winning physical theatre company specializing in exquisite mask performances and moving visual storytelling. Audiences have described their whimsical, wordless performances as like watching a living animation.

Subscriptions are on sale now! Subscribers save 25% off the single ticket price and those who book before June 15 can take advantage of an exclusive pre-sale period to secure the best seats at the best price before single tickets go on sale. 2023-24 SPOTLIGHT Theatre Series subscriptions are $147 for all five performances. Additional discounts available for seniors and students.

To learn more & book your SPOTLIGHT Theatre Series subscription call 250-549-SHOW (7469) or visit www.vdpac.ca. Single tickets go on sale on June 15. Stay tuned for upcoming announcements about the entire 2023-24 SPOTLIGHT Season.

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Ticket link: https://vdpac.ca/spotlight-season/theatre

Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA6wUWJfGyc

2023-24 SPOTLIGHT Theatre Series Details:

Hey Viola! (Wednesday, October 4, 2023, at 7:30PM)

A Musical TheatreWorks in Association with Western Canada Theatre Production

Created by Krystle Dos Santos & Tracey Power

Who is Viola Desmond...? Other than the newest face on Canada’s ten-dollar bill, she is best known for her courage in refusing to leave the whites-only section of Nova Scotia’s Roseland cinema in 1946. Hey Viola! is a musical exploration of the life of an extraordinary woman and Civil Rights hero.

Bear Grease (Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 7:30PM)

Bear Grease is a fresh and fun Indigenous take on the classic 1978 musical. The all-indigenous cast includes Crystle Lightning (2021 Canadian Screen Award Winner for Best Actress, Trickster and Three Pines) as Sandy and MC RedCloud (Yellowstone) as Danny. Get your tickets early - this smash hit has sold out festivals across Canada and the United States.

The Birds and the Bees by Mark Crawford (Sunday, November 12, 2023, at 7:30PM)
Arts Club Theatre Company

Sarah, a turkey farmer, has split up with her husband and moved in with her mom, Gail, a beekeeper. Add in Earl, the flirty neighbour, and Ben, an eager young graduate student, and you have the perfect breeding ground for unlikely attractions. Set in adjoining bedrooms, The Birds & the Bees is a Canadian comedy about love, lust, beekeeping, and the artificial insemination of turkeys.

BOOM X written, directed and performed by Rick Miller (Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 7:30PM)
A Kidoons in Association with Theatre Calgary and 20K Collective Production

He’s back! BOOM X is the second of Rick Miller’s trilogy of solo multimedia performances that capture history and pop culture through stunning visuals and mind-blowing impersonations. The 70s, 80s, and 90s boom to life on stage with Miller playing over 100 characters from the days of disco, the oil crisis, Watergate, the Cold War, video games, punk rock, and more.

The Wilds by WONDERHEADS (Thursday, February 29, 2024, at 7:30PM)
When Wendell discovers that both his wife and their beloved tree have vanished from the backyard, he must venture into the mysterious Wilds to bring them home. Pixar meets Miyazaki in this fantastical love story that the CBC called “captivating and magical”.

About 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]