Yearly Archives: 2014

Sherlock: Director’s Notes

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Mark DuMez

When I first heard about this show from a friend who developed the work at Taproot Theatre – I was concerned it was a gimmick. But knowing their artistic focus and integrity, I asked to read a copy. I was hooked. From the period language to the surprising twist to the Dickensian characters reframed, the show spoke with dignity and authority. It has a welcome holiday familiarity and yet, probes another side of the human condition – the quest for knowledge and its cost. I am thankful to be able produce the Canadian premiere of this up-and-coming play.

It’s a wonderful time of year to reflect on our own longings – intellectual, physical and spiritual – as Sherlock does in this play. To consider who the Mrs. Hudsons, Irregulars and Watsons are in our own lives – and what pursuits drive us to or from them. During this season, in working through this piece with the talented artists and staff whose good company I get to enjoy, I have been constantly challenged to consider the breath and spirit of inspiration and deepening relationships with fellow travelers on our journey.

About the Director

Mark is a proud resident of Vancouver Island and has enjoyed directing Jeeves in Bloom, A Pretty Girl (A Shayna Maidel), Delicious Lies, Harvest, The 39 Steps and Amadeus for Chemainus Theatre Festival. Other favourites include: A Christmas Carol, Strindberg’s Easter, Anne, Mr. Pim Passes By and Pet the Fish. He has collaborated with companies including Theatre X, Pacific Theatre and TheatreOne to develop over a dozen new plays. Favourite acting credits include: Mass Appeal, Enchanted April, Queen Milli of Galt and Streetcar Named Desire.

By |November 22nd, 2014|Categories: 2014 Season|0 Comments

Become a Super Patron

Donate $100 or more with your season ticket package and become a Super Patron!

Join the inner circle of Theatre supporters and receive a host of perks including invites to Member soirees, advance booking privileges and a complimentary welcome drink in our Fireside Lounge during your first theatre visit in 2015.

Plus,Super Patrons who book into selected Gala Opening Nights are automatically invited to attend a post-show party, your exclusive chance to mix and mingle with the cast and crew in a relaxed environment.

For more information on our Membership programs email: members@chemainustheatre.ca

By |November 17th, 2014|Categories: 2015 Season, Theatre Fundraising|0 Comments

Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol

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Opening Soon!

A holiday mystery! After being presumed dead for three years, a hardened Sherlock Holmes resurfaces, turning his back on the people who need him most. Three unexpected callers arrive on Christmas Eve, uncovering clues from the detective’s past, present and future. Can they save Holmes and his world from a devastating conclusion all in one night? The Canadian premiere of an instant classic filled with mystery, intrigue and song for the entire family.

Click here for more info

By |November 13th, 2014|Categories: 2014 Season|0 Comments

2014 Online Auction On Now!

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We are excited to offer selected limited edition serigraphs by internationally acclaimed artist Arthur Vickers, generously donated by the Pink Family. The private collection, purchased directly from the artist, is currently on display at the Chemainus Theatre in our Playbill Dining Room. You may arrange for a viewing of the collection by contacting Marlie Kelsey or Anita McCallum. Five serigraphs are available for online auction. In addition, we are featuring a variety of other prizes and getaways!

All proceeds from this auction benefit the Chemainus Theatre Festival Society and will help us continue our passion of presenting engaging and enriching live theatre for Vancouver Island residents and visitors.

Start Bidding Now!

Message from the Artistic Director

Mark Dumez

Mark DuMez

I grew up in a small great lakes town with a population just about to crack 2000 souls when I left. I knew all my aunts and uncles – even the ones who moved “all the way” to the other side of town. Every second Sunday of the month, without fail, my father’s six siblings would gather in one of their houses for a meal and a visit – until the later years when the “cousin count” was so high that only the aunts and uncles were allowed. To this day, the living relatives still gather – to solve the problems of the world over a pot luck lunch, some coffee and Snickers bar salad. I am grateful for many blessings of my family and especially that even with their differences, they all love and respect one another when they gather together.

In this play, Joe DiPietro gives us the perfect, imperfect family. Through his hilarity, we can consider our own sense of place, our loyalties to location, commitment to culture and hopes for our legacy and lineage. In the mobility of North American culture, Tengo famiglia invites us to examine our roots, whether we love em’ or lump em’. The patriarchs and matriarchs of Nick’s world allow us to laugh at ourselves in another skin and call us to savour the tastes and conversations that shape who we are. Enjoy the feast!

By |October 1st, 2014|Categories: 2014 Season|0 Comments

Fall Message from the Managing Director

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The Professional Association of Canadian Theatre recently released a study that found 80% of Canadians believe live theatre is important to making communities both vibrant places to live and helping attract visitors. Looking at Chemainus and the Cowichan region, this certainly holds true as the Chemainus Theatre has become a cultural and economic cornerstone drawing close to 70,000 theatre goers per year to our artsy seaside corner of the Island.

Even on the broad national scene, Chemainus plays an integral role. Last year, roughly 8 million tickets were sold for live theatre across our country. This means 1 out of every 114 people who attended a theatre performance in Canada did so by visiting the Chemainus Theatre.

Theatre plays a key role creating vibrancy and drawing us together to help create and support that elusive sense of community. Even if it’s just for a few hours as an audience sharing a collective experience, theatre is a living breathing thing that flourishes and grows with greater participation.

Randal Huber

By |September 29th, 2014|Categories: 2014 Season, Theatre Fundraising|0 Comments

About Over the River and Through the Woods

 Over the River and Through the Woods

The Play

Nick is a single, Italian-American guy from New Jersey whose parents have retired and moved to Florida. That doesn’t mean his family isn’t still in Jersey. In fact, he sees both sets of grandparents for dinner every Sunday. But then he gets offered his dream job. The job he’s been waiting for – marketing executive – would take him away from his beloved, but overwhelming grandparents. When he tells them they begin a series of schemes to keep Nick around. How could he betray his family’s love to move to Seattle, for a job, wonder his grandparents? Well, Frank, Aida, Nunzio & Emma have a plan but we won’t give the ending away here.

The Playwright

Joe DiPietro
Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Musical. His other plays and musicals include I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change (the longest running musical revue in off-Broadway history); The Toxic Avenger and The Thing About Men (both winners of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway musical,); the much-produced comedy Over the River and Through the Woods; The Art of Murder (Edgar Award winner for Best Mystery Play) and the Broadway musical All Shook Up. His drama Creating Claire debuted at George Street Playhouse in 2010. His work has received thousands of productions across the United States and around the world.

The Director

Pamela Halstead

photo_over_directorPamela recently completed her tenure as the Artistic Director of Lunchbox Theatre (Calgary, AB) and is the former Artistic Producer of Ship’s Company Theatre (Parrsboro, NS). In her 10 years between these two companies she directed and/or produced over 60 productions, the majority of them premieres of new works. Pamela is Artistic Adviser to Valley Summer Theatre (Wolfville, NS), Artistic Producer of DMV Theatre (Halifax, NS) and the PERFORM! Coordinator for Theatre Nova Scotia. Recent credits include: directing Mass Appeal for Valley Summer Theatre and The Net for Theatre New Brunswick, directing and dramaturging the world premieres of Never A Syllable for Onelight Theatre and Bingo Ladies for Lunchbox Theatre, and producing White Rabbit, Red Rabbit for DMV Theatre. She also returned recently to Lunchbox to curate and coordinate the 27th Suncor Energy Stage One Festival. In 2013, Pamela was awarded the inaugural Evans Award at the Calgary Critics’ Awards for her contribution to the vibrancy of the Calgary theatre community. She recently returned to Nova Scotia and is thrilled to be back living by the sea.

By |September 27th, 2014|Categories: 2014 Season|0 Comments

Opening October 3: Over the River and Through the Woods

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Meet Nick – a single Italian-American from New Jersey – and both sets of his meddling grandparents over a series of Sunday dinners, as they try to sort out his love life and their destiny through pasta and wise-cracks. This heartwarming and hilarious family comedy plays with old world values, new family traditions and the differences between the generations. Tengo famiglia!

Click here to Book Tickets

By |September 22nd, 2014|Categories: 2014 Season|0 Comments