Photo shoots are tons of fun – especially because our photographer Devin Karringten is one of the chillest people we know. He also happens to do a great job. His first photos for us were for The Laramie Project and he’s taken photos for all of our shows since then – and they almost always get a spot in newspapers because they are just so damn good!

AARON LAU in FORBIDDEN BROADWAY

Here are a couple of shots from our shoot! We decided to do shots for our next three shows, which are Forbidden Broadway, Matt & Ben and The Wedding Singer.

ANDREA BAILEY, DAVID NICKS, NATALEE FERA & CATHY WILMOT in FORBIDDEN BROADWAY

We haven’t cast The Wedding Singer yet with the exception of Andrew Halliwell, who will be playing Robbie Hart (the Adam Sandler role) so we got him in for some shots. You can check out all of the pictures on our Facebook page.

BECCA STROM & KAT GAUTHIER in MATT AND BEN

Note – these are not the touched up, edited final pictures – but I still think they’re pretty freaking great!

ANDREW HALLIWELL in THE WEDDING SINGER

For those of you who are unaware Stephen Sondheim will be visiting Vancouver THIS TUESDAY thanks to Scott Ashton Swan and APPLAUSE! Musicals in Concert.

Tickets are still available through Tickets Tonight HOWEVER you can win a pair of tickets just by attending the last two shows of One Good Marriage!!!

Just book your tickets over the phone at 604-807-9268 or e-mail: fightingchanceproductions@gmail.com and you’ll be entered to win two orchestra tickets to see A Life In The Theatre, An Evening with Stephen Sondheim – Tuesday October 27th at the Vogue Theatre.

Don’t miss this INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY!

From Mark Robins @ GayVancouver.net

• “One Good Marriage is a solid piece that turns theatre slightly on its edge.”
• “Reycraft’s writing demands a very natural conversational style from the two actors as they tell their story and McMahan easily found this style.”
• “Both actors were equally as successful in allowing the memories of the central event to percolate just below the surface as they tried desperately to hold themselves together.”
• “Director Ryan Mooney has wisely made this mostly about his actors and gives them very little stage business; for the most part the story is told by the two actors from two banquet room chairs at the front of the room.”

From Ed Farolan @ ReviewVancouver.org

• “They talk to each other, and oftentimes, they ramble into monologues which were well acted and well directed by Ryan Mooney.”
• “The play was short and bitterly sweet, and the actors had good rapport with the audience”
• “I commend the actors and the staff for something unique and different from the other plays of the repertoire of this company which has successfully produced different genres of play production, from musicals to intimate theatre.”

Don’t miss out the BC Premiere of this awesome play!

Jeff will be starring as Stewart in One Good Marriage, Fighting Chance’s next show in our 2009/2010 season! Here’s a couple questions we asked to help you get to know him!

Tell us a bit about your character in One Good Marriage
He’s a librarian. Glencoe District’s High school librarian. He’s gone through a very difficult trauma with his new wife and he’s doing his best to keep it all together. He’s also very handsome. It doesn’t say it in the script but I think I’ll play him very handsome.

What is it about acting that you like so much?
I like acting because it’s more simple than life. I don’t have to think about what I have to say or where to stand in a room. Plus I like being told by someone while rehearsing “that’s not very good, do something different”. In real life it upsets me to hear that.

Do you have a dream role?
My dream role is to Play Hotspur in Henry the 4th part 1 or Tom in the Glass Menagerie.

If you didn’t act, what would you do instead?
If I didn’t act I’ve always had this idea about being a police detective. It appeals to me because it seems that police aren’t ever afraid to talk back to their superior officers. I could solve important murders and have intense conversations with people at work.
“You’re a damn good detective, McMahan but you’re a loose cannon”.
“Get off my back Lieutenant, you do you’re job and I’ll do mine.”

Who are your theatre/acting role models?
T.V:  Jason Alexander 1992 – 1995 on Seinfeld.
Film: Harrison Ford, Jeff Bridges
Theatre: Jonathan Young and Jonathan Goad.

What is your first memory of the theatre?
My first memory of the Theatre is being taken to see Winnie the Pooh at the local community theatre in Salmon Arm. I was frightened of the man in the giant bear suit.

What scares you most about the theatre?
Opening night parties and all the hugging, handshaking and witty banter that happens when you meet other artists. I’m not a very social or extroverted person but I’m starting to get better.

Here’s an interview with Becky Shrimpton who will be starring as Steph in our next production, One Good Marriage.

Tell us a bit about your character in One Good Marriage
Steph is an English teacher with a bitter streak. One gets the impression that up until her marriage to Stewart she’s had a rather mild life, with not many highlights or even low lights. She’s a girly girl with a tough edge to her which makes her a fun contradiction.

What is it about acting that you like so much?
It’s totally an adrenaline thing. Some people jump out of planes, some people drive really really fast, some people time themselves doing really hard crosswords – I act. That and people clap for me whether they want to or not. That’s pretty awesome.

Do you have a dream role?
I would love to play Hedwig in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” I know it’s a part for a guy but Ally Sheedy did it and so I can too.

If you didn’t act, what would you do instead?
Probably starve. I’m not good at anything else…especially math. I really really suck at math. I enjoy writing, I’ve written a young adult novel so far and I’m now working on an animated web series scheduled to be up in early 2010. I hope to start directing at some point. I think I’d make a good producer because I like to yell, but anything I did with my life would have to involve theatre in some way.

Who are your theatre/acting role models?
Derek Jacobi, Cathrine O’Hara, Emma Thompson, Maggie Smith, Madeline Khan, Samuel L. Jackson, Martha Henry, Joel Grey, and Bette Davis, just to name a few…

What is your first memory of the theatre?
I’ve been attending theatre since I was three or four years old, so it’s hard to actually remember my first time at the theatre because my brains were still in development, but I think my first really good memory was seeing Les Miz when I was 6. I was obsessed with the show and as a surprise my mother took me to see a production of it when it was in Edmonton. I had no idea what was going on through most of it, but I think on an instinctual level every human being prefers Eponine to Cosette, and that’s really the point of the show. Isn’t it? The best part about it was after the show an elderly lady mistook me for the girl who played the young Cosette and I was absolutely tickled. It made me want to be on the stage and actually do the work, not just take the credit for it. I started acting classes the next week.

What scares you most about the theatre?
The same thing that scares me about theatre is why I love theatre – every moment is alive. There’s no way to predict what will happen next. Will the actor forget their lines? Will the theatre catch on fire? Will an audience member fall asleep and start snoring loudly? Who knows? That’s what’s so wonderful about theatre, nothing is ever the same twice but it’s always, for better or for worse, a memorable experience.

We are barely into our 2009/2010 season of offerings and we’re already looking at prospective shows for our 2010/2011 season. As with this year we will be offering two plays and two musicals (and a summer musical as well.) Any suggestion is a good suggestion, but here’s a bit of criteria:

1) Must be a show that features the cast. So we’re not looking for star vehicles (like Hello Dolly or My Fair Lady.)

2) Preferably shows that speak to our demographic, which is generally the 18-40 demographic, however we are well aware that we also have audience on either end of that spectrum, so this is just a minor criteria.

3) Ideally they will be shows that have never been produced in British Columbia, however we will accept them as long as they have not been produced recently.

So, please start leaving your suggestions below. We will be announcing our short list of shows in January, 2010 at the opening night of Forbidden Broadway.

For the past year we’ve been sponsored by the amazing Rosedale on Robson Hotel, and we are thrilled that they have been such a great addition to the Fighting Chance Productions family. We’re also thrilled that they have partnered with us on a very exciting audience giveaway during our production of One Good Marriage.

It’s quite simple, come see the show, fill out a short survey and you’re entered to win a pair of tickets to see the Vancouver Canucks in action, and a night’s stay at the Rosedale on Robson! If drawn, you’ll have the opportunity to pick from one of six exciting match ups at GM Place. Your room will be waiting for you when you get back to the hotel. We’re grateful to the Rosedale on Robson for providing us with this awesome package.

One Good Marriage is the story of newlyweds Steph & Stewart and what happens to them when they return from their honeymoon. The audience are the guests at the one year anniversary of this couple – so come on down to the Rosedale on Robson and check the show out.

Tickets are just $10.00 for the preview performance on Monday October 19th, and $15.00 for all performances following that. To reserve, please e-mail fightingchanceproductions@gmail.com

To accompany the performance, we will have snacks, as well as a bar – and if you reserve your tickets by October 10th, you’ll receive a complimentary wine or beer at the bar!

Don’t miss your opportunity to see this BC Premiere!

One Good Marriage stars Jeff McMahan and Becky Shrimpton. It is directed by Ryan Mooney, with stage management by Liz Wilton. One Good Marriage was written by Sean Reycraft.

I filled everyone in our first two shows of the season, but we have a full season of four that we’re very excited about. Our last two shows of the season are Matt & Ben, a hilarious comedy chronicling the unauthorised story of how Matt Damon and Ben Affleck found the script for Good Will Hunting. The final show in our season is The Wedding Singer, a musical based on the hit film starring Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore. So here’s a bit more info on the final couple of shows this season:

Matt & Ben

by Mindy Kaling & Brenda Withers

directed by Laura McLean

March 1st – March 14th, 2010

Havana Theatre

Matt & Ben depicts its Hollywood golden boys – before J-Lo, before Gwyneth, before ‘Project Greenlight,’ before Oscar&before anyone actually gave a damn. When the screenplay for Good Will Hunting drops mysteriously from the heavens, the boys realize they’re being tested by a Higher Power

From Ryan: I bought this script when I was in New York back in December – and I read it on the flight back – where I laughed out loud numerous times. It’s a hilarious script and I think Laura’s going to do an amazing job with it. It’ll also provide a nice relief from all the Olympic stuff going on in 2010.

The Wedding Singer

by Chad Beguelin, Matthew Sklar and Tim Herlihy

directed by Ryan Mooney

musical direction by Mark Reid

choreography by Anna Hassard

April 28th – May 22nd, 2010

Jericho Arts Centre

New Jersey in 1985. When Robbie’s girlfriend dumps him at the altar, he plunges into the the depths of despair. Only the support of his friend Julia (who is obviously meant for him despite her plans to marry Glen) keeps him sane.

From Ryan: I was skeptical when this show was first suggested, but I’m thrilled now. It’s a very very funny script, and light fare as the spring and sun starts to come back to Vancouver. Plus the opening number is one of the most fun songs I’ve ever been able to work on. I’m also thrilled that we’re going to have the largest band we’ve ever had (about 8 musicians) under the baton of Mark Reid, who I haven’t had the opportunity to work with in years!