Glorious Granny

If you’ve watched the hit ABC TV show Once Upon A Time, you will already be well familiar with the multi-talented leading lady of our upcoming Glorious. 

Beverley Elliott, also known as Granny in the modern fairy tale, is well known for her comedic hilarity as much as she is for her musical expertise and theatrical charisma. This is what makes her perfect to play our magnificently funny and charming Florence Foster Jenkins, the worst singer in the world who believed she was a virtuoso!

Beverly is a recording artist with music CD’s of her own, and performs her music at concert festivals. Her comedic bent is along the lines of comedy legend Carol Burnett and she has performed in a wide variety of roles on the stages of theatres across Canada. Her warmth and charisma, it can be said, is her trademark, and we are excited to see how that will inform her portrayal of Florence Foster Jenkins.

Florence, for her part, was the quirky amateur singer and flamboyant socialite known as the First Lady of the Sliding Scale, the squeaky soprano du jour, who sang her way into the hearts of New York society. She counted among her admirers composer Cole Porter, operatic tenor Enrico Caruso, and English conductor Sir Thomas Beecham.

We look forward to seeing Beverley portray this “extraordinary woman who had the guts to follow her dream,” (Peter Brown, London Theatre Guide) and hope you will join us for the heartwarming hilarity sure to ensue!

Book your tickets online now or call our box office at 1-800-565-7738.

 

 

By |July 18th, 2018|Categories: Uncategorized|0 Comments

Steve Coffey at Chemainus Theatre

Chemainus Theatre is a constantly changing space. The stage changes, of course, to take us to different places and times through the magic of the sets, costumes, and stories. This year it has been a pub in Dublin, an historic recording studio, a convenience store in Toronto, and now a high school. The menu in the Playbill Dining Room evolves to reflect the current production and the seasonal foods sourced from farms on Vancouver Island. The walls throughout the theatre, gift shop, and lobbies are constantly changing as well. During every show, there is a new art exhibit creating a novel experience for patrons as they wander the lobby during intermission.

Coming up for the second half of summer, Chemainus Theatre is welcoming Steve Coffey. His work evokes the changing, wide-open prairie skies, with dark swirls of clouds or bright colour-filled vistas, his paintings draw you in. We encourage you to take your time viewing his works, as the light and textures of Coffey’s paintings will draw you in. For inspiration, he uses a technique he calls “Memory Polaroids,” drawing from his past and present day. In an article in Galleries West Magazine Coffey states: “As far back as I can remember I’ve been a sky watcher. It’s such a kaleidoscope of colour.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Coffey will be here for an artist meet and greet on Wednesday July 18th between 5 and 6 pm his work will be on display throughout the Chemainus Theatre until September 1st. For more information on his work please visit the Gallery Gift Shop website.