Theater

Vancouver has theaters all over the city—for professional plays, amateur plays, comedy, and “instant” theater. In total, the city boasts 30 professional theater companies and more than 20 regular venues. The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts (777 Homer St., 604/602-0616, www.centreinvancouver.com) hosts the biggest of musical hits. Matinees prices start at $50, while evening shows range $60–110.

A similar facility is the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts (6265 Crescent Rd., Point Grey, 604/822-2697), comprising three stages including the 1,400-seat Chan Shun Concert Hall.

The Arts Club Theatre (1585 Johnston St., 604/687-1644, www.artsclub.com) always offers excellent theater productions at two Granville Island locations—the Granville Island Stage and adjacent Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Productions range from drama to comedy to improv. Tickets run $24–40; book in advance and pick up your tickets at the door 30 minutes prior to showtime.

One of the great joys of summer in the city is sitting around Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park watching Theatre Under the Stars (604/734-1917, www.tuts.ca). Since 1934 these shows have drawn around 1,000 theatergoers nightly, with performances usually musically oriented. The setting itself, an open amphitheater surrounded by towering Douglas fir trees, is as much of an attraction as the performance. The show runs Mon.–Sat. at 7 p.m. June–August. Tickets (adult $34, child $32) go on sale at noon daily from a booth beside the bowl.

Music and Dance

The Queen Elizabeth Theatre (630 Hamilton St., 604/665-3050) is the home of Vancouver Opera (604/683-0222); tickets begin at $40, rising to $100 for the best seats. The theater also hosts a variety of music recitals and stage performances.

The historic Orpheum Theatre, on the corner of Smithe and Seymour Streets, dates to 1927 and houses its original Wurlitzer organ. Now fully restored, the theater provides excellent acoustics for the resident Vancouver Symphony (604/684-9100), as well as for concerts by the professional Vancouver Chamber Choir (604/738-6822), the amateur Vancouver Bach Choir (604/921-8012), and a variety of other musical groups.

Ballet British Columbia (604/732-5003, www.balletbc.com), performs in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre at 630 Hamilton St. throughout its winter season. Tickets range $25–58.

Cinemas

Cinemas are in all the major shopping malls and elsewhere throughout the city. Cineplex Odeon (604/434-2463) operates 20 cinemas in Vancouver. Call or check the two daily papers for locations and screenings. Admission to first-run screenings is about $12.

If you’re staying at a Robson Street or West End accommodation, head over to Denman Place Cinema (corner of Denman and Comox Streets, 604/683-2201) for first- and second-run hits for $4–6. For foreign and Canadian indie films, check out Pacific Cinematheque (1131 Howe St., 604/688-8202).

© Andrew Hempstead, from Moon Western Canada, 3rd Edition