Between Shifts Theatre Society is heading to Theatre BC's Mainstage Festival after winning several awards at the North Shore Zone Festival earlier this month for its production of The Gravitational Pull of Bernice Trimble.
The Squamish theatre company originally staged the play—about a family dealing with early onset Alzheimer's—at the Eagle Eye Community Theatre in April.
Claire Lindsay won Best Supporting Actress for her role as the eldest sibling and Todd Weitzel won Best Supporting Actor for portraying the youngest sibling. Michael Hewitt also won for Best Sound and Best Lighting, while the production team of eight also won for Best Crew.
Barbara Stover, the theatre company's props manager, won The Unsung Hero Award. "The Unsung Hero Award is presented to one nominee from the zone to recognize their significant contribution to theatre over the years and it couldn't have gone to a more deserving crew member of BST," says Kathy Daniels, artistic director of the society, in a release. "Barbara is truly our unsung hero, working tirelessly on every component of every production we do, finding and building props, and as the secretary of our board of directors."
The Mainstage Festival will take place in Vernon from June 29 to July 7. Between Shifts is looking for sponsorship to help attend it as well as to purchase a container to store props and costumes. For more visit betweenshiftstheatre.com.
Horrorfest returns
Mark your calendars: the Heavy Hitting HorrorFest is returning for its 15th instalment on Oct. 30.
The event—which screens short, local, B-grade horror films that are overwhelmingly for adults-only—last took place in 2015 at the Whistler Conference Centre. But according to its website, the festival is set for a resurrection in 2018.
"Break out the fake blood and start thinking about how to light your shower scene," it says. "Heavy Hitting HorrorFest is back."
Feet Banks (Pique's film columnist) and his friend, the late local artist Chili Thom, first launched the festival back in 2002. It's taken a few breaks since then, but is set to return in all its gory glory at the Maury Young Arts Centre.
To keep track of ticket details—or information on how to submit a film—visit heavyhitting.com.
Expressions Talent Show debuts
Young, talented Whistlerites are set to perform at the first Expressions Talent Show on Wednesday, May 23.
"It's an exciting chance for us to offer the stage to a variety of youth," says Stephanie McColm, programs and events assistant at Arts Whistler. "Each performer got to work with Ira Pettle one-on-one to help workshop the pieces they brought in. He gave them tips and techniques and then they could take the coaching and come back for the dress rehearsal and get a feel for the stage, some of them for the first time."
A total of eight youth—most between the ages of 13 and 18—will sing, dance and perform at the show, which takes place at the Maury Young Arts Centre from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.
The event is free and open to the public. "We want to keep it low key," McColm says. "The evening is going to be more of a coffeehouse-style talent night. Hopefully we can get a good, local vibe going."
