At a media event this morning (February 5) at the BMO Theatre Centre, artistic director Ashlie Corcoran rolled out the roster for the Arts Club Theatre Company’s 56th season. The 2019–2020 season will open at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage with A Thousand Splendid Suns by Ursula Rani Sarma, a co-production with Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. The introduction included a brief preview via video from director Khaled Hosseini.

Due to licensing rules, details for two productions have yet to be formally announced: A Winter Musical scheduled for November 7, 2019–January 5, 2020 and Summer Musical scheduled for May 21 – July 5, 2020. Both productions will run at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage.

Ms. Corcoran left it to Scott Bellis, currently involved in The Matchmaker, to introduce Noises Off scheduled to open in January next year. Writer David Yee offered a preview of Carried Away on the Crest of a Wave which focuses on the Indian Ocean tsunami - due to run March 19 – April 19 next year.

The Granville Island Stage season begins with The Birds and the Bees. Naomi Wright and Nora McLellan read an excerpt from Mark Crawford’s comedy. Also coming to the Granville Island Stage is Trey Anthony’s ’Da Kink in My Hair opening in the Spring of 2020. Singer Cecilly Day, accompanied by Caitlin Hayes on piano performed one of the songs from this musical celebration of women of colour.

The BMO Theatre Centre will see its first play, a co-production with Citadel Theatre of Martyna Majok’s Cost of Living. It will be directed by Ashlie Corcoran.

Two plays will have their world premieres: Cipher, by Ellen Close and Braden Griffiths, in partnership with Vertigo Theatre and local creative force Marcus Youssef’s It’s a Wonderful Christmas-ish Holiday Miracle. Corcoran also announced the Arts Club’s new Silver Commission — Mom’s the Word 4, the latest instalment from the local based Mom’s the Word Collective.

The Arts Club’s line-up for the 2019–2020 Season:

Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Ursula Rani Sarma, based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini
September 12–October 13, 2019

Noises Off! by Michael Frayn
January 23–February 23, 2020

Carried Away on the Crest of a Wave by David Yee
March 19–April 19, 2020


Granville Island Stage

The Birds and the Bees by Mark Crawford
September 26–October 26, 2019

Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley by Lauren Gunderson and Margot Melcon
December 5, 2019–January 4, 2020

Cipher by Ellen Close and Braden Griffiths
In partnership with Vertigo Theatre
February 6–March 7, 2020

’Da Kink in My Hair by Trey Anthony
April 16–May 16, 2020

Peter Pan Goes Wrong by Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields
This is a partnership production with The Mischief Theatre and Citadel Theatre
June 25–August 22, 2020


Goldcorp Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre

Cost of Living by Martyna Majok
In partnership with Citadel Theatre
October 10–November 3, 2019

It’s A Wonderful Christmas-Ish Holiday Miracle by Marcus Youssef
November 21–December 22, 2019

The Wedding Party by Kristen Thomson
In partnership with Prairie Theatre Exchange
February 27–March 22, 2020

Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan MacMillan, with Jonny Donahoe
April 2–April 26, 2020