TNW setting sights on next season

Jack Grinhaus and TNW founder and former executive director Ted Price discuss the theatre’s upcoming season of plays (and additions to ticket purchasing options) during a season launch event on Saturday.

Theatre North West’s upcoming season promises to be a first class act.

At a season launch event on Saturday, Jack Grinhaus, TNW’s producing artistic director gave guests a glimpse into the new plays and also unveiled some new plans and programs.

The season opens with a riotous and fast paced play Art by Yasmina Reza which runs Sept. 17 to Oct. 7. When Serge buys a completely white painting for $200,000 it infuriates his best friend Marc and confuses another friend Yvan. Hilarity ensues as the three debate morals, art, snobbery and ultimately friendship. Next up is an old favourite classic A Christmas Carol which runs Nov. 19 to Dec. 9. Heather Davies, internationally known adaptor and director will be creating an original version of the show for Prince George that includes elements of Steam Punk and Tim Burton. The production is highly theatrical and shows off to audiences the visual splendors and magic of the holiday spirit. This is a Christmas Carol as you have never seen it, says Grinhaus.

Dreary and Izzie is the third play of the new season. It runs Jan. 28 to Feb. 17. This is a heart warming story about the power of unconditional love, written and directed by Tara Beagan whose show Thy Neighbours Wife was a huge hit for TNW in 2010. In Dreary and Izzie, the Monoghan sisters lose their parents, Deirdre is barely staying afloat as Isabell’s sole caregiver when gorgeous vacuum cleaner salesman Freddie Seven Horses arrives, sparking in each sister hopes for new opportunities and perhaps even love. This play takes a look at Fetal Alcohol Syndrome through a beautiful story about love and survival.

The last play of the season is Girl in the Goldfish Bowl by Morris Panych which runs from April 17 to 27. This play won the Governor General’s Award for Drama. Funny, absurd and genuine, this story is about Iris, a young girl going through the last stages of childhood. When her goldfish Amal dies, her father flushes him down the toilet so Iris takes a frozen fish stick to ceremoniously bury him in the ocean. When she arrives she meets a man whom she believes is Amal reincarnated and brings him home to the goldfish bowl of her dysfunctional family of lethargic piranhas, existential bottom-feeders and aggressive guppies.

In March, TNW as part of its presentation series, The Tale of a Town will bring its unique story telling production to Prince George.

“This will be a theatre event like no other, based on the stories and experiences of the people of Prince George,” said Grinhaus. This new and decidedly different piece will be just for this community, our stories presented and told by us.

As well as a new season of riveting plays, there has been additions made to the box office system. Patrons can still book tickets through Books and Company, either in person or by telephone but TNW will also provide the option to purchase tickets online. And subscribers can take advantage of the new Flex Pass which offers four any play passes that can be used any way throughout the season or a Family Pack which provides eight tickets towards two shows for the whole family.

For more information and updates visit www.theatrenorthwest.com or on Facebook.