photo: Bold Rezolution Studio
Never The Last
A delinquent Theatre Production
Centred around the life and work of brilliant 20th century Canadian composer Sophie-Carmen Eckhardt-Gramatté, Never The Last fuses classical music performance with theatrical narrative. Using Eckhardt-Gramatté's 10 violin caprices as a framework, the show explores 10 years of the composer's life, including her romance with German Expressionist painter Walter Gramatté.
Never The Last was developed at the 2016 Banff Playwrights Colony, had a workshop production at the 2016 rEvolver Festival, and premiered as a professional production as part of the SeeMore Theatre series in April 2019.
The show was nominated for 5 Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards including Best Production, Original Script, Lighting, Direction, and a Special Achievement Award for outstanding interdisciplinary collaboration.
Created by Christine Quintana and Molly MacKinnon. Featuring Molly MacKinnon, Christine Quintana, and Anton Lipovetsky. Directed by Laura McLean, Choreographed by Kayla Dunbar, Set Design by Jenn Stewart, Sound Design by Nancy Tam, Lighting Design by Jill White, Costume Design by Carmen Alatorre, and Projection Design by Joel Grinke. Stage Management by Ingrid Turk. Production Management by Conor Moore and Jamie Sweeney. Photography and art by Bold Rezolution Studio
The Black Dog String Quartet
The Black Dog String Quartet is an alternative string ensemble whose repertoire ranges from Mozart to Led Zeppelin. The quartet has collaborated with such groups as the Vancouver Peace Choir, Karen Flamenco Dance Company, as well as local Vancouver bands The Ruffled Feathers and Salt Thief.
Elyse Jacobson, violin
Molly MacKinnon, violin
John Kastelic, viola
Doug Gorkoff, cello
photo: emily cooper
Good Things To Do
Good Things To Do is an immersive performance experience for an audience of 4 to 12, which is experienced individually. The show is a meditation on goodness, generosity, and the struggle to stay soft in a world that asks us to be hard.
Christine Quintana - creator
Molly MacKinnon - collaborator, live music + concept
Mishelle Cuttler - collaborator, sound design + recorded music
Sam MacKinnon - collaborator, software design + development, promotional art
Good Things To Do was presented in 2018 in Vancouver's rEvolver Festival, as well as FoldA (Festival of Live Digital Arts) in Kingston. In the wake of COVID 19, the show was re-imagined as a fully digital experience, and presented by Rumble Theatre April/May 2020. The work is in continuing development. Find out more about the show at goodthingstodo.ca
Sounding the SOPHIA
Presented by the Little Chamber music Series That Could
Sounding the Sophia is a theatrical concert inspired by the sinking of the SS Princess Sophia CPR steamship off the coast of Alaska in 1918. Considered one of the worst nautical disasters in the history of the Pacific Northwest, the sinking of the Sophia resulted in the deaths of all 367 people on board, who remained stuck on Vanderbilt Reef for two full days with nearby help unable to reach them.
The concert uses a live 5-piece instrumental ensemble, recorded sound, movement, lighting and costuming to bring this historic tragedy into vivid realization.
Sounding the Sophia was developed at the Banff Centre for the Arts, and presented byThe Little Chamber Music Series That Could. With support from the Canada Council for the Arts, 3 local Vancouver composers Mishelle Cuttler, Nancy Tam, and Kathleen Allan were commissioned to each write an 8-minute work inspired by the events of the disaster.
Sounding the Sophia premiered on November 9th, 2018 in Vancouver’s Mountain View Cemetery, where over 100 of those on board the Sophia have been laid to rest.
photo: Jan Gates
Created by Heather Beaty and Molly MacKinnon. Arrangements and Sound Design by Heather Beaty and Molly MacKinnon. Musicians: Heather Beaty, Mark Haney, Liam Hockley, John Kastelic, and Molly MacKinnon.
CONCERTS ON TAP
Concerts on Tap is a music series that marries local breweries and distilleries with classical music performance. At each show, four selections of music are paired with a flight of beer or spirits, with care taken to match each piece with a drink that complements its unique character. Every pairing decision is a collaborative process between COT and the venue’s brewing or distilling team.
Concert on Tap's founders are Molly MacKinnon and Heather Beaty.
photo: Christine Quintana
Find out about past and upcoming events at concertsontap.com
Here's some neat videos!