American Psycho screens at the Rio
By Steve Newton
MONDAY TO FRIDAY: the annual Festival of Lights features 15 acres of trees, plants, and pathways adorned with over one-million twinkling lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden.
MONDAY TO FRIDAY: Bright Nights in Stanley Park is a family-oriented fundraiser for the BC Professional Firefighters’ Burn Fund that features rides on the Christmas train, holiday lights display, live entertainment, food trucks, refreshments, and photos with Santa. Please note: tickets for the popular Stanley Park Christmas Train are completely SOLD OUT.
MONDAY & WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY: the work of late Trinidadian-Canadian artist Denyse Thomasos is featured in the career retrospective Denyse Thomasos: just beyond, running until March of 2024 at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
The Canucks play the Devils
TUESDAY: the Vancouver Canucks take on the New Jersey Devils in National Hockey League action at Rogers Arena.
TUESDAY: pianist Anna Sagalova, guitarist Denys Panchenko, and the Kolo Ukrainian Choir perform in Carol of the Bells: A Ukrainian Christmas in Music, a fundraiser for the Ukrainian Canadian Advocacy Group’s Rehabilitation Program for the Children of Fallen Heroes.
TUESDAY TO FRIDAY: the Arts Club Theatre Company presents Elf: The Musical, based on the 2003 Christmas comedy film Elf and starring Andrew McNee as Buddy the Elf. Running until December 31 at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage.
TUESDAY TO FRIDAY: Theatre Replacement presents playwrights Jivesh Parasram and Christine Quintana’s family show East Van Panto: Beauty and the Beast, with music by Veda Hille, at the York Theatre.
WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY: Cirque du Soleil presents its production of Kooza, a 125-minute acrobatics/circus show exploring themes of fear, identity, recognition, and power. Running until December 31 under the Big Top at Concord Pacific Place.
THURSDAY: North Carolina indie-folk band Hiss Golden Messenger, featuring singer-songwriter MC Taylor, plays the Rickshaw Theatre, with guests the Lostines.
Hannah Georgas plays the Hollywood
THURSDAY: Vancouver indie-pop singer-songwriter Hannah Georgas performs tunes from her latest album, I’d Be Lying If I Said I Didn’t Care, at the Hollywood Theatre, with guest Sam Lynch.
THURSDAY: Grant Lawrence & Friends sees the local CBC personality, author, and musician leading a holiday show at the Cultch that also features his wife Jill Barber, Dawn Pemberton, Charlie Demers, and Luke Wallace, with partial proceeds to benefit Kiwassa Neighbourhood House. SOLD OUT.
FRIDAY: screening at the Cinematheque of the 1997 Japanese crime drama Hana-bi, written, directed, and edited by Takeshi Kitano, who also stars in it.
FRIDAY: Liven UP–Coal Harbour is a free, family-friendly event that will see lighting installations, artists, musicians, and storytellers along a walk from Canada Place to Cardero Park. Musical performers include the Magee All Stars Big Band and School of Rock.
Charlie Demers performs at the Rio
FRIDAY: Charlie Demers hosts East Van Laugh Riot at the Rio Theatre, featuring standup comedy by Alannah Brittany and Citizen Hurricane.
FRIDAY: late-night screening at the Rio Theatre of director Mary Harron’s gory 2000 black comedy American Psycho, starring Christian Bale as a New York investment banking executive who goes on a killing spree.
FRIDAY: the B3 Kings–composed of Hammond B3 player Chris Gestrin, guitarist Bill Coon, tenor saxophonist Cory Weeds, and vocalist-drummer Denzal Sinclaire–plays two shows at Burnaby’s Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.
FRIDAY: under the direction of Alexander Weimann, the Vancouver Chamber Choir joins forces with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra to present Handel’s Messiah at the Orpheum Theatre.
FRIDAY: Pennsylvania punk-rock quartet the Menzingers play the Harbour Event & Convention Centre, with guests Microwave, Cloud Nothings, and Rodeo Boys.
FRIDAY: screening at the VIFF Centre of director Richard Fell’s stop-motion animated comedy Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget, the sequel to the hit 2000 film Chicken Run.
FRIDAY: the Vancouver Men’s Chorus presents its annual Christmas concert, Making Spirits Bright, at the Vancouver Playhouse.
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