ay a at = i DAVID COOPER submitted photo The holiday film, It’s a Wonderful Life, is back as a theatrical production on the Granville Island Stage after a three-year hiatus. Studio 58 grads in classic hit The staged adaptation of a 1946 film has been a fave with audiences 66 Its avery important theme and a very impor- tant story that’s popular with audiences BILL MILLERD ARTS CLUB ARTIS- TIC MANAGING DIRECTOR By ROSEMARY NEWTON beloved classic holiday film is back on stage for Vancouver au- diences this Christmas season fter a three-year hiatus. The Arts Club’s Granville Island Stage is currently presenting a theatri- cal production of the 1946 motion pic- ture, It’s a Wonderful Life, which chronicles the life of George Bailey, a man who has given up his dreams in order to help others and makes a decla- ration on Christmas Eve wishing he had never been born. Clarence, his guardian angel, is sent to Earth to show George what life would have been like without him. Two of the play’s cast members, Bob Frazer as George Bailey, and Kyle Jes- persen who plays multiple characters, are Langara College Studio 58 alumni. For many, the story is a Christmas favourite and one reason why it’s back on the Granville Island Stage. Bill Millerd, Arts Club Artistic Man- aging Director, said the tale of appreci- ating life’s beauty is one audiences missed. “Many requested it; it’s a production we're proud of,” he said. Millerd added this is the sixth time the play has run in Vancouver. “It’s a very important theme and a very im- portant story that’s popular with audi- ences,” he said. Millerd said the production, which is based on an adaptation written by Phil- ip Grecian, has been met with positive feedback since its Nov. 19 opening day. He said the protagonist Bailey’s emo- tional journey from near suicide, to the realization of how much he means to his loved ones, and the overlying mes- sages of holiday unity, hits home with audiences. “Community is more important than one individual. It’s a theme a lot of peo- ple relate to this time of year,” he said. Millerd added many of the club’s other holiday productions, like A Christmas Story, are musicals, which makes It’s a Wonderful Life a little different. The production, directed by Dean Paul Gibson, has been behind “a num- ber of wonderful productions” by the Arts Club over the years, according to Millerd. Celina Drysdale-Henriquez, a sec- ond year Langara student in Studio 58’s acting stream, said the story’s theme of redemption is appealing. “It’s a classic story about righting your wrongs and seeing that you’re worthwhile,” she said. “It resonates with people.” It’s a Wonderful Life runs until Dec. 26. Tickets are available online at www.artsclub.com. Beer advent calendar popularity rising Traditional Christmas chocolate advent calendars are rapidly being replaced By MARK STUART started carrying them here at BC liquor a couple years ago they’ve been selling like hot cakes, and I province. ove over chocolate, craft beer is Mi: and it’s taking your spot in Christmas advent calendars in living rooms and fridges across B.C.. The popularity of beer advent calen- dars has skyrocketed since its incep- tion in B.C. in 2012, according to Phil- lips Brewing Company cellarman Jimmy Roney. BC Liquor Stores, although not sell- ing the Phillips Brewing Company ad- vent calendar this year, haven’t had any problems selling the novelty beer cases. “Beer advent calendar sales have been awesome, just awesome -like last year, and the year before,” said Pauline Prokopyshen, senior store manager at the Signature BC Liquor Store at Cam- bie Street and W 39 Avenue. “Since we contributing to the emerging craft beer culture around the , Roney said. “I think the idea in and of itself is mean that.” » great for gifts. The amount of r4 4 But they variety available in each case serve a big- is really driving its ° ger pur- é popularity.” I think the pose than \ a Although Roney has no- ideainand a good \ ticed “less buzz” around ° gift for i the calendars at the Phil- of itself friends and lips Brewing Company isa great family Roney this year, he praises ° explained. The cal- } Me the culture — shift idea f or endars are opening the Me that has been cre- gifts. A lot minds of beer-drinkers Le ated as a byprod- and connoisseurs about e uct. of peop le the province’s variety of Meni “There’s a are buying different brews. ’ culture th « : P em as Customers are becoming . around it . very educated on beer varieties in ; now, its J if ts the Pacific Northwest and B.C. spe- truly cifically. There’s this incredible revo- help- JIMMY RONEY lution happening where people are —_ ing PHILLIPS stepping away from the big beer com- ~ grow BREWING panies in favour of smaller, craft t he COMPANY beers,” Roney said. Giving customers a choice between so many different beers in one case is one of the main selling points, and is beer culture in B.C., and that’s a great thing.” Theatre groups get new digs The new Bank of Montreal Theatre Centre will help with limited rehearsal space across the city By VINCENT MATAK is about to receive a much-needed performance space that members say is long over-due. The Bank of Montreal Theatre Cen- tre is set to officially open Dec. 2, al- though the Arts Club Theatre Compa- ny have their first public show of Peter and the Starcatcher Thursday. The opening marks the end of cramped and unreliable rehearsal spaces across the city. Theatre groups often scramble to rent prior to perfor- mances, including the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, which his- torically has never held a fixed spot for rehearsals, according to Arts Club ar- tistic manager Bill Millerd. “These kinds of facilities allow those people that create theatre proper con- ditions,” said Millerd, adding that Gate- way Theatre is currently renting out a rehearsal space. The 48,000 square foot theatre cen- tre, located at 162 W. 1% Avenue in the Olympic Village neighbourhood, con- sists of a flexible 240 seat main stage — named after sponsor GoldCorp Inc. - two costume shops, costume storage space, and two “large” and two “small- er” rehearsal halls, according to Millerd. The centre is owned by the City of Vancouver, with a 60-year lease extend- ed to both the Arts Club and the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival. Both groups will operate out of the building once it opens. The total cost of the building was roughly $18-million, with a $500,000 sponsorship from Gold- Corp Inc.. Despite the move to the building from its Granville Island location, Millerd said the Arts Club will still per- form shows at the Review Stage on Granville Island and the Stanley The- atre. The Arts Club will continue to produce three to four shows per year. Thursday’s show tells the tale of Pe- ter Pan who, on a quest to protect the Queen’s Starstuff from a greedy cap- tain, transforms from a “lonely orphan to beloved hero,” according to the Arts Club’s website. “We hope that once people discover how great these spaces are they’ll want to be there,” he said. Heather Kennedy, director of mar- keting and communications at Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, said that while festival performances will remain at Vanier Park, moving into the new centre will allow them to bring “their production activities under one roof.” Previously, costume storage and re- hearsals were housed at different ven- ues across Vancouver, she said. “You can imagine the synergy that comes from having costumes and re- hearsals in the same space,” she said, adding the move will also allow them to expand their theatre and performance workshops for children and adults. T: Vancouver theatre community MARK HALLIDAY submitted photo The new BMO theatre space is located in Olympic Village.