Newt’s top 10 (or 15) things to do in Vancouver this weekend, March 8 to 10

The Descent screens at the Rio

By Steve Newton

FRIDAY: Canadian improvisational comedian Colin Mochrie, star of TV’s Whose Line Is It Anyway?, performs at the Improv Centre on Granville Island. SOLD OUT.

FRIDAY: as part of International Women’s Day, late-night screening at the Rio Theatre of director Neil Marshall’s riveting and claustrophobic 2006 horror film The Descent, about six female friends on a caving journey who find themselves trapped with bloodthirsty humanoid creatures.

Ballet BC presents NOW at the Queen E

FRIDAY AND SATURDAY: Ballet BC presents NOW, an evening of contemporary dance at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre featuring the return of Crystal Pite’s The Statement and world premieres from Vancouver’s Out Innerspace and L.A.-based Micaela Taylor.

FRIDAY TO SUNDAY: 31 emerging and seasoned local designers and makers were selected to create 22 objects made from vintage mahogany for Reclaim + Repair: The Mahogany Project, running until August 7 at the Museum of Vancouver.

FRIDAY TO SUNDAY: the work of late Trinidadian-Canadian artist Denyse Thomasos is featured in the career retrospective Denyse Thomasos: just beyond, running until April 1 at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

La Famille LeBlanc plays Festival du Bois

FRIDAY TO SUNDAYFestival du Bois is a francophone music festival at Coquitlam’s Mackin Park featuring Acadian, Celtic, Metis, and world-music, with mainstage performances by such groups as La Famille LeBlanc, College Trad, and the North Shore Celtic Ensemble.

FRIDAY TO SUNDAY: St. Louis-based conductor Leonard Slatkin leads the Vancouver Symphony in a program that includes Richard Strauss’ Don Quixote, Op. 35–featuring VSO principal cello Henry Shapard and VSO principal viola Hung-Wei Huang–at the Orpheum Theatre.

SATURDAY: Canadian jazz musicians Jodi Proznick and Amanda Tosoff lead The Ostara Project, a gathering of seven female jazz artists formed to challenge the male-dominated narrative, at White Rock’s Blue Frog Studios.

The Jets are in town

SATURDAY: the Vancouver Canucks take on the Winnipeg Jets in National Hockey League action at Rogers Arena.

SATURDAY: Nashville-based indie-folk singer-songwriter William Fitzsimmons plays the Fox Cabaret as part of his The Sparrow and the Crow 15th anniversary tour, with guests Baerd.

SUNDAY: the Dead Poets Reading Series at Massey Arts Society features Rahat Kurd reading Parveen Shakir, Devon Rae reading Ikkyū Sōjun, RC Weslowski reading Ian Ferrier, and Estlin McPhee reading Siegfried Sassoon. Admission by donation.

The Record Company plays the Biltmore

SUNDAY: L.A. blues-rock trio the Record Company plays the Biltmore Cabaret on the Roll With It Tour, with guest Sárah Rogo.

SUNDAY: Australian indie folk-rock quintet the Paper Kites plays the Vogue Theatre, with the Roadhouse Band and guest Bella White. SOLD OUT.

SUNDAY: big-screen Oscar Party at the Rio Theatre features the live televised broadcast of the 96th annual Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.

Coco Montoya plays the Rickshaw

SUNDAY: American blues-rock guitarist Coco Montoya, formerly of John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, plays the Rickshaw Theatre, with local guests Terminal Station.

If you’re a concert promoter, arts organization, music store, or just somebody wanting to support my work, I’m looking for an exclusive sponsor of my twice-weekly Newt’s top 10 things to do in Vancouver blogs. If interested, please contact me at steve@earofnewt.com.

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