The Arts Club takes over the Granville Island waterfront
On Saturday night we staked further claim to Granville Island, our headquarters for over three decades, for an elegant soiree on the waterfront, followed by a moving theatre performance honouring 50 amazing fun-filled years.
On a practically perfect June evening, a combo of actors, board members, long-standing supporters, patrons, and staff gathered for a night of festivities to celebrate our birthday in grand style.
We kicked things off on the right note with a red carpet entrance and a chic open-air reception with delectable tasting plates from top Vancouver restaurants and fine Okanagan wines.
Executive Director Howard Jang and Artistic Managing Director Bill Millerd take a moment to reflect
Board member Michelle Collins and Bravo! committee chair Lisa Seed soak in the party atmosphere
Host Gabrielle Rose knows how to make an appearance
Our next generation of acting talent, Kassia Danielle Malmquist and Graham Verchere, from Mary Poppins show off their red carpet style
Host Jackson Davies, with his wife, gets ready to relive the ’60s and ’70s
Arts Club’s Director of Development Kathy MacKenzie with Industrial Alliance’s Azmina Karim-Bondy
Moving inside, Vancouver’s own Red Robinson raised a glass of bubbly with patrons to toast our birthday.
The performance that followed was a heartfelt tribute to just a few of the many musicals we’ve staged over the years, which helped shape the theatre’s reputation and grow the company to its current state. The themes of family and friendship infused many of the stories that were shared by the hosts—Jackson Davies, Gabrielle Rose, Deborah Williams, and Todd Talbot—and by the video messages from the likes of Michael Bublé, Nicola Cavendish, Michael J. Fox, Nicola Lipman, Eric McCormack, Morris Panych, Hal Wake, and many more.
Musical highlights included Zachary Stevenson doing justice to Buddy Holly’s hit “Come On, Let’s Go,” Warren Kimmel singing “Bring Him Home” from Les Misérables, and Sibel Thrasher took charge with the eponymous tune from Ain’t Misbehavin’. Our Artistic Managing Director Bill Millerd received an enthusiastic standing ovation after his touching speech, which led into a sweet and fitting finale of “If We Only Had Love” from Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris featuring Ann and Jane Mortifee, Ruth Nichol, Warren Kimmel, and Pat Rose.
The party then moved to the Backstage Lounge for tunes from the ’50s and ’60s with Zachary Stevenson and his band getting everyone out on the dance floor!
Zachary Stevenson and band get the after-party started in the Backstage Lounge
Pat Rose gets down on lead guitar
Thanks to all our partners and everyone who came out to toast to our big 50 at Bravo! Cue the Memories.
Read more about our last 50 years and what’s to come next in The Vancouver Sun, including a video interview with Bill Millerd.
All photos by Mark Halliday.
See the full gallery on our Facebook page. And check out our red carpet photos on flickr.
