Category: History

Thank you for coming to Kudos & Cocktails!

Posted: May 10 2012

Last night’s Kudos & Cocktails was an intimate gathering of folks wishing to pay tribute to five amazing individuals: Sid Chow Tan, Barbara Clayden, Bonnie Allen, Marlie Oden and Chris Randle.

Slides and images accompanied each tribute, the recipients shared a few words and each received a Standing Ovation Award from the Firehall.

Thank you to all our Silent Auction donors, your donations are in good hands and have provided a boost to the Firehall’s Emerging Artists Programs.

Thank you to our terrific performers; the Vancouver Police Department Lion Dance Team opened the night with some traditional lion dancing, and then shook it up with some great moves set to LMFAO!  The Tim Sars Band jazzed up the crowd with a couple original numbers and will be here this weekend for BC Buds performing in the courtyard. Finally, to close out the evening Josh Martin of the 605 Collective treated the crowd to a solo created for composer Tobin Stokes’ El Sol du Sur, which he performed at 2011’s 10x10x10 at the Dance Centre.

Thank you to everyone who attend, and finally, thank you to each of the recipients; your impact here at the Firehall and to the greater community is immeasurable.

The 2012 Standing Ovation Award recipients: (front row) Sid Tan & Bonnie Allen(back row) Barbara Clayden, Marlie Oden & Chris Randle

 

Donna Spencer Honoured with BC Community Achievement Award

Posted: May 05 2012
Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development Ida Chong, Donna Spencer and Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia Steven Point

On April 25th, the Firehall’s fearless leader Donna Spencer was one of thirty-six individuals honoured with a BC Community Achievement Award. The ceremony, held at Government House in Victoria, recognizes people who go above and beyond to make a difference in communities across the province.

It was inspiring to hear the stories of the award recipients; each one has made a huge impact in their communities working to strengthen the people and the cities and towns they live in. It was an inspiring ceremony. Visit the BC Achievement Foundation website for a full list of the recipients.

Donna speaking on behalf of the award recipients

Congratulations Donna and all her fellow recipients, you help make British Columbia the wonderful place it is!

From the Intern Desk

Posted: Apr 23 2012

Greetings, my name is Nicolas Lay and I am an intern for the Firehall Arts Centre.

My experience at the Firehall has been one of the most thrilling ones I’ve had since moving here 3 months ago from a small prairie town in Alberta. I’ve never worked in a performing arts theatre before and now I don’t ever want to stop working in one. I love how the overall atmosphere of the Firehall is about having fun and not taking things too seriously. In my mind the Firehall has been a positive and uplifting experience. I could never stress enough about how grateful I am to have been chosen for this internship. The people are great; whenever I needed help, no matter what I am doing, they always have my back.

The work itself is a pleasure as well, mainly because I’ve never done anything like it before. Working stage production was probably one of the easier jobs I’ve had here because manual, labor-intensive, jobs have always been my forte. Marketing was something that was completely foreign to me, but when I was chosen to help promote the Ubuntu, I tackled the challenge head-on, and discovered that marketing wasn’t all that difficult after all. Front-of-House was another job that I had no prior experience in but when I job-shadowed FOH last week I found it to be fun and rejuvenating, with exception to the prospect of a FOH speech (which fortunately I didn’t have to do that day). The Bar shadow was equally as fun as working FOH had been and is maybe something I’d consider trying outside the Firehall as a potential part-time job. Box Office training (yet another first) was interesting, though I did not enjoy it as much as working FOH or the Bar. Maybe I just found the memorization of all those policies to be the most intimidating part of the job, but come what may, I wouldn’t mind trying it again.

Things are shaping up to be rather busy; with BC Buds coming in a few weeks I’m expecting a larger than usual work load. I’m not too sure what fate has in store for me in the coming weeks, but one thing is certain: I am ready to meet these challenges head on and I hope to do my absolute best in getting the job done.

 

Kudos & Cocktails May 9th

Posted: Apr 18 2012

The Firehall Arts Centre is pleased to announce its annual ‘Kudos & Cocktails’ tribute and fundraiser will take place on Wednesday May 9 at 7pm at the Firehall Arts Centre. The celebratory event fetes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Firehall and the artistic community in Vancouver.

For 30 years, the Firehall Arts Centre has produced and hosted award-winning, cutting edge theatre, dance, and inter-disciplinary works while contributing greatly to the heart of the arts in the Downtown Eastside.

Its ability to carry out this important work is enhanced greatly by a large circle of artist, volunteer, and donor supporters. To acknowledge this group’s incredible commitment, the Firehall honours five individuals and their contributions to the various fields of theatre, dance, sponsorship, and community activism/volunteerism with the Firehall’s Standing Ovation Award at a special ‘Kudos & Cocktails’ event each spring.

“We are a small albeit strong arts community here in British Columbia,” said Donna Spencer, Artistic Producer of the Firehall, “and these five wonderful people have really made a difference to us and to the larger arts and cultural community.”

This year’s honourees include:

Patron Category: Marlie Oden and Bonnie Allen of Bridge Communications
Theatre Category: Barbara Clayden, Costume Designer
Dance Category: Chris Randle, Photographer
Community/Volunteer Category: Sid Tan, social justice, environmental and human rights activist

Kudos and Cocktails will also include performances from local artists as well as a silent auction. Tickets are available by donation, with a suggested donation of $50/$25 for artists/students. Tickets are available through the Firehall Box Office at 604.689.0926 or firehallartscentre.ca. Proceeds will go to benefit the Firehall Arts Centre’s emerging artists programs.

This year’s Honorees:

Bonnie Allan
Bonnie Allan has been a partner in Bridge Communications for the past eleven years and possesses a broad range of experience and expertise in marketing, sales, communications and public relations in the arts and entertainment.
Not new to the theatre world, Bonnie trained as a classical ballet dancer, resided in New York City and performed in a number of Broadway musicals and toured throughout the United States and Canada.
She has served as a board member on the Board of Directors at Park Royal Mall, a member of the West Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance and on the board of Vancouver TheatreSports League.

Barbara Clayden
Barbara Clayden has been a theatre artist for over 30 years, designing costumes and sometimes sets for various theatre and dance companies around Vancouver, including the Arts Club Theatre, Blackbird Theatre, Carousel Theatre, the Firehall Arts Centre, Neworld Theatre, Presentation House, Pi Theatre, Rumble, and Theatre Replacement.  She has been nominated for numerous Jessie Awards and won a few along the way. Most recently, her work was seen in the Firehall Arts Centre’s Chelsea Hotel – featuring the songs of Leonard Cohen and the Arts Club Theatre production of Scar Tissue.

Marlie Oden
Marlie is well known for her creative marketing programs, and since founding Bridge Communications in 1995 has had the opportunity to undertake successful communications programs for dozens of organizations and businesses. She is very proud of the work that she has undertaken with many arts organizations – in particular the Firehall Arts Centre.
An active member of the cultural community, Marlie has served on the Boards of The Stanley Theatre Society, BC CH.I.L.D. Foundation, The Arts Club Theatre, The Fringe Festival and the BC Wine Institute. She is currently the president of the board of Vancouver TheatreSports, and a member of the Board Telefilm Canada. In 2007 she received the patron of the Arts award at the Jessies and in 2011 she was the recipient of the Mayor’s Arts Award for Board Member of the Year.
Marlie’s proudest achievement is her family who are all active in the cultural communities in which they live.

Chris Randle
In the mid-seventies, Chris began to shoot dance and has photographed and videoed the dance community since then. Acclaimed as one of Canada’s finest dance photographers, his work has appeared in countless newspapers and magazines. Chris is the resident photographer for the Vancouver International Dance Festival, and shoots on a regular basis for the Dancing on the Edge Festival, the Chutzpah! Festival, the Talking Stick Festival and for the Scotiabank Dance Centre. Music and theatre are other areas where Chris ventures into with pleasure.

Sid Chow Tan
Sid Chow Tan is best known for his over two decades of work in community media and redress for the Chinese head tax and exclusion laws. His media work and politics are informed by a life of anti-racism and social justice activism and he has help found and build many organizations in Vancouver and across Canada to fill community and personal needs. Also a traditional and new media producer as well as a community organizer, Sid’s current community service includes: national chairman of the Chinese Canadian National Council; founding co-chairperson of Head Tax Families Society of Canada; a founding director of the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood Council, W2 Social Enterprise Café Society, Community Media Education Society, W2 Community Media Arts Society; and a director of five other not-for-profit societies.

 

Thank you!

Posted: Apr 06 2012

We would like to thank everyone who donated to the Firehall Arts Centre’s $30 for 30 Campaign. Your gifts will help us continue the work we do and support local arts and culture in Vancouver!

And from everyone here at the Firehall, we hope you have a terrific Easter and Passover!

 

 

 

Firehall Fact #30: Congratulations Donna!

Posted: Mar 31 2012

Donna Spencer, our Artistic Producer, has been with the Firehall Arts Centre since the beginning thirty years ago, and has been honoured for her work in theatre as well as her commitment for community over the years.

She won Jessie Richardson Outstanding Direction Award for both Urinetown The Musical and Reading Hebron as well as a Jessie Richardson Award for Multicultural Innovation in the Theatre. Donna received the City of Vancouver’s 1999 Cultural Harmony Award and was honored with YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the Arts And Culture category.  She was previously awarded the 2003 ExplorAsian Heritage Award for Community Building and the 2003 Greater Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance Career Achievement Award. Donna was also inducted into BC Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2009.

We are thrilled to announce that Donna Spencer has been recognized this year for her dedication to community building through the arts and will be one of the recipients of the BC Community Achievement Award!

Congratulations Donna and to the other award recipients for their work to make BC a stronger province through community engagement!

Today is the final day of our $30 for 30 Campaign, and the last day Capital One Canada will donate an extra $10 when you donate through Canada Helps and take their quick 5 question survey! If you’d like to donate through our website, click here!

Firehall Fact #29: Ours Shows

Posted: Mar 30 2012

There have been thousands of shows performed at the Firehall Arts Centre. As of this post, we have had +/- 7000 performances here – that’s around 230 a year!

Each production has been special, but there are certain ones that strike a special chord with audiences and keep them coming back for more.  Some of our most popular shows have included:

  • The Stone Angel, based on the novel by Margaret Laurence during the 1993-94 Season
  • The  1995-96 Season play by Edmonton playwright Marty Chan based on his experiences:Mom, Dad, I’m Living with a White Girl, which delved into culture and inter-racial relationships
  • Urinetown, The Musical, produced in the 2005-06 Season
  • Banana Boys by Terry Woo told the story of five Chinese Canadian young men as they struggle with identity and and living within two cultures during the Firehall’s 2007-08 Season
  • Only Drunks and Children Tell the Truth by Drew Hayden Taylor was first on the Firehall stage during the 1997-98 Season, and came back by popular demand the following year
  • J.J. McColl’s Menopositive was first produced in the 1997-98 Season, but was so popular it has come back four times!
  • Chelsea Hotel sold out houses this year, and will be remounted next season!

People connect with the work done at the Firehall Arts Centre. The shows we present or produce are relate-able in some way; whether it’s a play about finding your place and identity, or a musical about growing older, the Firehall chooses work that shares a truth the audience can feel a part of.

We can’t do the work we do without your help. If you donate through Canada Helps before March 31 and take their quick 5 question survey, Capital One Canada will donate another $10 on top of your donation!

If you’d like to donate to our $30 for 30 Campaign through our website, click here!

Firehall Fact #28: Kudos & Cocktails

Posted: Mar 29 2012

May 9th the Firehall will be hosting our second annual Kudos and Cocktails tribute event.

Kudos and Cocktails raises funds for the Firehall Arts Centre and was created to offer tribute to community members, artists, supporters and some of our city’s major movers and shakers that have made an impact on the Vancouver’s cultural landscape.  The event, offered at a by-donation cost to ensure accessibility for everyone, features performances celebrating the honourees and an accompanying silent auction.

This year’s honourees include:

Patron Category: Marlie Oden and Bonnie Allen of Bridge Communications
Theatre Category: Barbara Clayden, Costume Designer
Dance Category: Chris Randle, Photographer
Community/Volunteer Category: Sid Tan, social justice, environmental and human rights activist

Stay tuned for our announcement of the performers for that evening!

*Disclaimer* There is a 99.99% chance that Yanni is NOT once of the performers, but hey, a girl can dream.

Remember, if you donate through Canada Helps before March 31 and take their quick 5 question survey, Capital One Canada will donate another $10 on top of your donation!

If you’d like to donate to our $30 for 30 Campaign through our website, click here!

 

Firehall Fact #27: Rentals

Posted: Mar 28 2012

The Firehall produces many shows during the year, but there are times when the company is dark, and during those periods, the theatre is often rented out.

Currently, we have St. Patrick’s Regional Secondary getting ready for their production of Our Town, taking place March 29 to 31.

Although people are aware that the Firehall rents out its theatre, there are a number of other rental services the Firehall provides.

The Firehall’s studio is often used as a rehearsal space or performance venue, and the lobby and courtyard are made available for events and parties as well. We also make our props, sets and costumes available to people and companies (there is a giant fish costume I’ve been considering wearing. Just to liven up a Thursday).

The Firehall also provides box office services like ticket sales and printing, which Osimous Theatre is utilizing for their production of Hedda Gabler at the Rhoedde House.

If you have a production you are interested in having in our theatre, need some rehearsal space or are planning an event and are interested in having it take place in our courtyard, email us at firehall@firehallartscentre.ca.

There are only a few days left for our $30 for 30 Campaign, so remember to donate! Do it through our website, give us a call or visit Canada Helps to donate there!

 

Lion fish from the Animal Species blog