When last I chatted with Avril Brigden, she was 12 years old and getting ready to don bloomers for her role as an orphan in the Royal City Musical Theatre 2014 production of Annie.
Three years later, Avril is taking to the stage in a role first made famous by Ariana Grande.
Avril is featured as Charlotte in Bring On Tomorrow Co.’s upcoming production of 13: The Musical. The Broadway hit that debuted in 2008 was the first Broadway show ever to feature an all-teenage cast.
This production features rising professional talents from the stage and screen, all under the age of 18.
Avril brings an abundance of performance experience to her role, including the above-mentioned Annie. Last year, she played Susan Parks in the Arts Club Theatre Company production of Billy Elliot, and she also appeared in Align Entertainment’s Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in 2016.
The musical, for those who don’t know it, follows the story of 12-year-old Evan Goldman, a New York City kid stuck in small-town Indiana, who’s trying to plan the world’s best bar mitzvah.
It’s onstage Sept. 28 to Oct. 1 and Oct. 4 to 8 at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island. Tickets range from $13 to $34 and can be purchased at botco.eventbrite.com. Check out www.bringontomorrowco.com for more details.
NATIONS AT WAR
A new TV series created by a Burnaby resident debuts next week on APTN.
Tim Johnson’s Nations At War is a new, 13-episode series that chronicles a history of Canada unknown to many of us: that of its First Nations and its wars.
“For over 850 years, Canada was a battleground forged in war, as the First Nations fought each other and waves of Europeans, over land, resources, power and survival, which would shape a nation,” a press release notes.
Each half-hour episode combines live action re-enactments with visual effects and CGI, plus interviews with elders, veterans and historical experts, as well as documentary footage.
It starts with the Pacific Raiders, showing generations of Northwest Coast First Nations who lived in fear of the Haida. Other episodes will cover the story of Louis Riel and rebel Métis, and Viking incursions into Newfoundland, among others.
It’s hosted by David H. Lyle, with Jason Friesen serving as producer, director and writer.
Johnson, born in Nova Scotia and raised across the country, graduated from Vancouver Film School and got his start in the film industry in production design. For Nations At War, he’s also a writer and story producer.
Nations at War will air Wednesdays starting Sept. 6 at 10 p.m. on APTN. See www.nationsatwar.tv or www.aptn.ca for more details.
SHADBOLT SEASON SET TO START
Theatre lovers, get set for another busy year.
The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts will once again be hosting the Arts Club on Tour series for its 2017/18 season. This year’s offerings include Mom’s the Word 3 (Nov. 4 and 5), Misery (Feb. 3 and 4) and Onegin (March 13 and 14).
There will also be four performances in the independents series, including Evalyn Parry’s Spin (Nov. 16 to 18), the Ghost River Theatre production of Tomorrow’s Child (March 14 to 17), Alley Theatre’s O’wet/Lost Lagoon (May 2 to 5) and Electric Theatre Company’s 40 Days and 40 Nights (May 22 to 26).
Plus, of course, the centre will be chock-a-block with music, dance, opera and more, along with its always-full schedule of programs and workshops for all ages.
Check out www.shadboltcentre.com for all the details, or pick up a season brochure at city facilities.
Do you have an item for Lively City? Send arts and entertainment ideas to Julie, [email protected].
