Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company: Difference between revisions

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The '''Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company''' ("The Playhouse") was a regional theatre company, producing plays since 1962. Its first production was ''[[The Hostage (play)|The Hostage]]'' by [[Brendan Behan]], which opened on October 2, 1963.<ref>Retrieved{{Cite Augustweb 23,|title=Company 2011History from http|url=https://www.vancouverplayhouse.com/about-us/company-history.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120214111042/https://www.vancouverplayhouse.com/about-us/company-history.php |archive-date=2012-02-14 |access-date=August 23, 2011 |website=Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company}}</ref> The company performed out of the [[Vancouver Playhouse (theatre venue)|Vancouver Playhouse]], a civic theatre in Vancouver’s downtown core (at Hamilton and Dunsmuir), which is also home to the [[Vancouver Recital Society]] and the Friends of Chamber Music. Citing financial difficulties, the company announced that it would cease operations on March 10, 2012<ref>.{{cite news |titleauthor=Sunny Dhillon and Ian Bailey |date=2012-03-09 |title=Money woes force Vancouver theatre company to close curtains |author= Sunny Dhillon and Ian Bailey |publisher=Globe and Mail |date=2012-03-09 |url=httphttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/money-woes-force-vancouver-theatre-company-to-close-curtains/article2365080article552854/ |accessdateaccess-date=20122022-0307-1008}}</ref>

{{RefimproveMore citations needed section|date=August 2011}}

At the time of its closure, The Playhouse was presenting a five-play "Mainstage" season that ran October through May, smaller-scale productions and play readings at alternate venues, and special productions for young audiences. Productions generally ran for three to four weeks, with some matinees for students, seniors, and the disadvantaged. Some productions were preceded by guest speakers, known as "Salon Saturdays", with others followed by moderated "talkbacks" . The Playhouse also had an education and outreach program. The company often partnered with the [[Studio 58]] theatre and production program to apprentice students and graduates.<ref>{{cite web|author= Jeff Kubik |url=http://www.ffwdweekly.com/Issues/2007/0412/the2.htm |title= Getting the silent treatment |publisher=Fast Forward Weekly |date=2007-04-12 |accessdateaccess-date=2011-08-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320084848/http://www.ffwdweekly.com/Issues/2007/0412/the2.htm |archive-date=2012-03-20}}</ref>

A major fundraiser for the company was the Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival,<ref>{{cite news |title= Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival |publisher=The Globe and Mail |url=httphttps://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/vancouver-playhouse-international-wine-festival/article1537614/ |date=2010-04-18 |accessdateaccess-date=2011-08-24}}</ref> which was first produced as a single-winery event in 1979.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.playhousewinefest.com/page152.htm |title= About the Festival |publisher= Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival |accessdateaccess-date=2011-08-24}}</ref>{{Self-published inline|date=September 2011}}

In 2011, following ''in-camera'' deliberations by the [[Vancouver City Council]], Vancouver provided the company with a complex bailout of approximately $1 million.<ref name=Sun>{{cite news |url=httphttps://www.vancouversun.com/news/City+bails+Vancouver+Playhouse+million/5410888/story.html |author = Jeff Lee |title= City bails out Vancouver Playhouse for $1 million |publisher= Vancouver Sun |date=2011-09-16 |accessdateaccess-date=2011-10-06}}</ref> The information regarding the bailout was the result of a leak from Vancouver city hall,<ref name=Sun/> following which the city posted the relevant documents on-line.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2011/09/16/vancouver-posts-confidential-playhouse-theatre-bailout-documents-online/ |author = Jeff Lee |title= Vancouver posts confidential Playhouse Theatre bailout documents online |publisher= Vancouver Sun |date=2011-09-16 |accessdateaccess-date=2011-10-06}}</ref> In response to negative reaction,<ref>{{cite news |title= Vancouver Playhouse bailout sparks funding debate |publisher=The Georgia Straight |url=httphttps://www.straight.com/article-465826/vancouver/playhouse-bailout-sparks-funding-debate/ |date=2011-09-22 |accessdateaccess-date=2011-10-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Artistic director Max Reimer defends city's million dollar Vancouver Playhouse bailout |publisher=Vancouver Observer |url=http://www.vancouverobserver.com/politics/news/2011/09/16/artistic-director-max-reimer-defends-citys-million-dollar-vancouver |date=2011-09-16 |accessdateaccess-date=2011-10-06}}</ref> artistic director Max Reimer defended the city's action on the Playhouse's website.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vancouverplayhouse.com/blog/artistic-managing-director/max-responds-to-media-coverage-of-citys-assistance/ |title= Max Responds to Media Coverage of City's Assistance |publisher= Vancouver Playhouse |date=2011-09-26 |accessdateaccess-date=2011-10-06}}</ref>

The company had many prominent Canadian directors serve as Artistic Directors over the years including [[Christopher Newton]], [[Joy Coghill]] and [[Walter Learning]].<ref>[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/thestar/doc/435434344.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&type=current&date=May+24%2C+1986&author=Masters%2C+John&pub=Toronto+Star&edition=&startpage=F.3&desc=Patrons+gorging+at+Expo%27s+culture+banquet "Patrons gorging at Expo's culture banquet"]. ''Toronto Star'' - Toronto, Ont. Masters, John May 24, 1986 Page: F.3</ref> The Artistic Managing Director at the time of the company's closure was Max Reimer, who joined the Playhouse in July 2008.<ref>{{cite news |title= New chief at Playhouse to wear two hats |author= Peter Birnie |publisher=Vancouver Sun |date=2007-12-11 |url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story.html?id=56b5d043-8ddd-4f1f-8ff8-8482d2c326d6 |accessdateaccess-date=2011-08-24}}</ref> The following individuals served as Artistic Director:

* [httphttps://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.comca/en/article/vancouver-playhouse-theatre-company/ Entry on Playhouse Theatre Company]. ''The Canadian Encyclopedia''

[[Category:Performing artsTheatre in Vancouver]]