4 Studio 58 grad snags a major role Former Langara student is cast in substantial role in Touchstone Theatre’s new local production By JAKE WRAY non has landed a major role as a high-school tormenter in Touch- stone Theatre’s Late Company, a play that addresses themes of bullying, ho- mophobia, and teen suicide. Since graduating from Studio 58 in 2018, MacKinnon hasn’t been able to find regular theatre work. He said Late Company provides an opportunity for him to sink his teeth into a substantial role. He will play 17-year-old Curtis, a bully whose victim recently committed suicide. MacKinnon said the play does a good job tackling complex themes. “It’s coming from a really real place, and I think Jordan Tannahill, who wrote the script, I think he was really exploring some interesting subject matter,” he said. “A lot of people don’t realize that seemingly funny acts of bullying add up over time and have a greater effect on someone than you might initially imagine.” Katrina Dunn, the play’s director, said the conflict between the character Curtis and the victim’s family is not black and white. “During the play, you probably shift allegiances a couple of times, and won- der, who is at fault? And that is kind of a question that the play asks: who is to blame? And who is at fault? And is blame really a useful thing at all?” Dunn said. This isn’t the first project that MacK- innon and Dunn have worked on to- gether. In 2012, while MacKinnon was a student at Studio 58, Dunn guest-di- rected a Studio 58 play. She spoke high- ly of the experience. “IT was quite impressed with him when I worked with him at Studio 58, so it’s great to work with him again,” Dunn said. “Going into the [acting] industry, which is a scary industry, I mean it’s tough to work and tough to survive in, so kids mature quickly as they get out there in the work force, and Arthur’s done a great job.” Late Company runs at the Evergreen Cultural Centre from March 29 to April 2, and at the Vancity Culture Lab from April 5 to 9. Ss: 58 alumnus Arthur MacKin- JAKE WRAY photo Arthur MacKinnon, a Studio 58 grad, stars in Late Company. South Van Big Band turns five 17-piece modern jazz band prepares to = q FA Bw i JENNA TYTGAT photo Band manager Alex Viel (standing) leads the South Van Big Band during band practice in preparation for their fifth anniversary show. By JENNA TYTGAT ne of South Vancouver’s very own big bands will be celebrat- ing its five-year anniversary on Saturday at the Cottage Bistro on Main Street. The South Van Big Band, led by Alex Viel, is a 17-piece big band that plays a variety of genres, some from the 1970s to the 1990s, reworked for 17 parts. Viel started the band by posting an anony- mous Craigslist ad. “T played in a lot of community bands in Vancouver, but a lot of them played the same stuff,” Viel said, referring to classic swing music circa the 1940s and 1950s. “T wanted to do something different and I wanted to hear something differ- ent, and one way of doing that was starting my own band,” he said. Viel was able to grow the band to its full size through the ad and word of mouth. He decided that since he was starting the band from scratch, he might as well try directing it, too. “This is the first [big band] that I’ve directed,” he said. “Usually I’m sitting in the second row playing trombone.” Will Goede, who plays saxophone with the South Van Big Band, said he hopes the band helps people find new musical outlets, as well as have fun. “T think what we’re trying to do is to get people to be more interested in a variety of music, [and] expanding their tastes,” he said. “T think [we want to bring] an appre- ciation of the instrumental,” Goede said. “As long as my health holds out, [and] I can blow a horn, I'll stick with [playing] for sure,” he said. Gerry Deagle is South Van Big Band’s lead trumpet, and has been playing with the band from almost the beginning. He said the band plays a range of pieces. “[Viel] likes to experiment with all kinds of different idioms,” he said, “People just really enjoy hearing a big band, you don’t hear them live very much anymore.” BIG BANDS in Van 1 Forward Motion Jazz Orchestra 2 45th Avenue Jazz Band 3 Impressions Big Band 4 Vancouver Legacy Jazz Orchestra Source: Arokis Centre of Music Society Oblique show not your everyday play Fourth-term Studio 58 students both direct and act in Langara’s latest production By CHANDLER WALTER tures its students in many differ- ent roles, and not all of them are on stage. Oblique Strategies is a play being put on by Studio 58’s fourth-term stu- dents as a part of the Risky Nights Se- ries, and has been created by the cast members. Toronto-based director Jonathan Seinen is directing, although he said that the students play that part as well. While not much of the plot could be revealed before opening night, Seinen spoke to how the play has come to- gether. “Tt’s called Oblique Strategies, and that has been our approach. It’s been oblique in terms of creating the work, because it’s asking ourselves the ques- tions about how we want to live in the world that we find ourselves in, and what kind of world would we like to live in.” Seinen said the play is heavily influ- enced by the lives of the cast mem- bers. “Tt’s 20-somethings grappling with the world that they were born into, how they feel about it, and authenti- cally engaging with it,” he said. Julien Galipeau, a cast member in Oblique Strategies and fourth-term student at Studio 58, said the creation of the play has taught him a lot. “When you're starting a show with- Ss" 58’s newest production fea- out even a story in mind, or without characters in mind, it’s a really differ- ent process of figuring out how to act believably, because you have nothing really to hold onto, there’s no script yet,” he said. The play is being sponsored by the Jane Heyman Fund for Creative Col- laboration, a fund that was created by Jane Heyman after 20 years of work- ing with Studio 58. Heyman said she is glad the r4 4 fund is being used for a project like Oblique When Strategies,asshe youre start- saiditis valuable ing a show for young actors * to have training without in different skills. even a story “A really im- jn mind, portant part of : the training is to or without learn that you characters can create your jn mind, own work,” Hey- “9 Il man said. is a reauy “You don’t different have to sit by the process... phone and wait for somebody to phone you and offer you a part.” Oblique Strate- gies runs from March 28 to April 3. JULIEN GALIPEAU CAST MEMBER STUDIO 58 submitted photo Teo Saefkow (drums) and Mason Temple (guitar) re- hearse for the Oblique Strategies performance.