Dec 8, 2020

Vancouver, BC – Studio 58, the nationally renowned professional theatre training program at Langara College, reveals an imaginative and fresh spring line-up under new Artistic Director, Courtenay Dobbie.

Building on a successful fall semester, the spring projects continue to explore new ways of creating theatre during the pandemic. Two large-scale productions will be presented alongside the traditional Risky Nights in an online structure. TomorrowLove, a series of 15 playlets first presented by Toronto’s Outside the March, a company known for its immersive and cutting-edge work, will be presented in February in a digital format. A new Canadian musical, Monoceros, written and composed by Studio 58 alum, will be presented in March.

“I am so very grateful and excited to come on as Artistic Director of this amazing program in the new year,” says Courtenay Dobbie. “Although 2020 has been challenging, the theatre that was created at Studio 58 has remained innovative and enlightening. I'm proud to say that not only have we forged ahead in the face of adversity but created new artistic pathways within it. Our programming for the Spring of 2021 is the continuation of Studio 58's commitment to delivering and inspiring dynamic live theatre during the pandemic. We're also discovering new energy, responding to important shifts within the industry, and building movement in the art of live performance.”

Spring 2021 Programming:

*Tickets to all projects will be by donation. Stay tuned for more details about schedules and how to sign-up in the new year.

TomorrowLove
By Rosamund Small
Directed by Shekhar Paleja and Lauren Taylor
Set & Costume Design by Melicia Zaini
Lighting Design by Sophie Tang
Online in February

15 intertwined playlets imagine the romantic relationships of the near future. Lovers view each other’s memories on a screen, a virtual reality sex app aims to spice things up, and a never-ending fridge promises to solve the eternal “what’s for dinner” argument. Black Mirror meets Modern Love in this wry but heartfelt theatrical film journey, where viewers get to choose their own path.

Monoceros – A Musical
Music and Lyrics by Ben Elliott and Anton Lipovetsky
Book by Josh Epstein and Kyle Rideout
Adapted from the novel by Suzette Mayr
Direction and Dramaturgy by Meg Roe
Presented in March

Faraday has dreams of becoming a large animal veterinarian and speaking to gigantic crowds, but when she walks the halls of St Joseph’s High she just feels ordinary. The death of Ethan, a classmate known for wearing a unicorn onesie, sets Faraday off on a life-changing adventure to make sure he is remembered. Adapted from the award-winning novel by Suzette Mayr, Monoceros is a new Canadian musical that inspires us to celebrate our individuality.

Risky Nights
Working title: I, Myself Am Strange and Unusual
An original production created and performed by fourth term students 
Directed by Chris Lam
Devised online in March

Led by renowned Vancouver theatre artist, Chis Lam, this semester's original Risky Nights creation will be an anthology of horror, dark fantasy, and sci-fi short stories adapted for the virtual stage. Junji Ito, Stephen King, Edgar Allan Poe, Edgoawa Ranpo, Pu Songling, and H.P. Lovecraft all come out to play.
Now in its 20th season, the Risky Nights Series is an opportunity to bridge classroom work and mainstage productions. Students in their fourth term of training create and perform every aspect of an original theatre piece with a professional director.

About Studio 58
Studio 58 is the professional theatre training program at Langara College, located in Vancouver, British Columbia. Under the direction of Courtenay Dobbie, it offers nationally recognized training for both actors and production personnel. More information at studio58.ca.

About Langara College
Located in beautiful Vancouver, B.C., Canada, snəw̓eyəɬ leləm̓ Langara College provides University, Career, and Continuing Studies education to more than 23,000 students annually. With more than 1,700 courses and 130 programs, Langara’s expansive academic breadth and depth allows students of all ages, backgrounds, and life stages to choose their own educational path. Langara is also known as 'house of teachings', a name given to it by the Musqueam people on whose unceded traditional territory the College is located.

Learn more.
Mark Dawson
Manager, Public Affairs
Langara College
mdawson@langara.ca