Tag: Musical

A Director’s Cut of King Arthur’s Night is Headed To The VIFF This July!

John Bolton’s director’s cut of King Arthur’s Night makes its Vancouver theatrical premiere at VIFF Centre, bringing a wildly imaginative and inclusive take on Camelot to the screen.

King Arthur's Night Poster ImageJuly 10, 11, 12, 14, 18, 2026
Please check the VIFF website for advance tickets.

Who would’ve thought Harrison Hot Springs, British Columbia, could become Camelot? In real life, some say Bigfoot is nearby. But for John Bolton, who made King Arthur’s Night, this alternate take on the legend is something to behold. The director’s cut will make its Vancouver theatrical premiere at VIFF Centre next month.

The original production was created by award-winning playwrights and performers Niall McNeil and Marcus Youssef, directed by James Long, with original music by Veda Hille. The teasers show the labour of love behind this fairy tale, and how everyone can dream. Marketing says this take is not the version of King Arthur folks learned about in school. Some things have changed, and as for who the Lady of the Lake is, well, you’ll have to see it to find out!

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Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter 25th Anniversary Review, A Holy Cult Classic Returns

Twenty-five years later, Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter returns with a restored 2K scan and renewed midnight movie energy. This Canadian cult classic remains as delightfully absurd as ever.

Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter Poster
Special Screening, June 11, 2026 at Mayfair Theatre (1074 Bank St) in Ottawa.

Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter is celebrating a milestone. After twenty-five years of being very, very quiet, Lee Demarbre’s cult classic is being honoured with a fresh revival. Library and Archives Canada provided a new 2K scan of the original 16mm negative for restoration, and a new DCP has been created to bring out the colours. It’s ready to sing! During the first week of June, the film had a party with Demarbre and superstar Phil Caracas attending special screenings. And this movie will keep preaching cross-country in the coming weeks, if not months, so the herald can be heard. This is the type of midnight madness cinema even Rocky Horror fans should attend!

This very beloved work was made on a shoestring budget, and it has enough romp to make a B-movie director blush. Its hilarity often feels right at home with a Troma production. But there’s more! There’s music, grindhouse attitude, and kaiju involved. Okay, not kaiju, but had it included some, I’d be beside myself. I was more impressed with the sentai influence. It’s not full-on Power Rangers style, but that flavour is clearly there. We even get some 70s-style Bruce Lee foolery when it matters.

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The Fires Won’t Always Be Burning with Bat Out of Hell The Musical and a Varied Cast

A filmed version of Bat Out of Hell The Musical delivers all the bombast, noise, and mythic swagger Jim Steinman fans could want, but the attempt to shape his greatest hits into a coherent dystopian love story remains uneven.

Bat Out of Hell The MusicalPlaying on BroadwayHD

Watching the streaming broadcast of Bat Out of Hell The Musical feels a bit like riding a phantom bike that needs to brake now and then. Jim Steinman’s work is as bombastic as expected, even though the story is essentially a dystopian remix of Streets of Fire. That connection is no accident, since Steinman also penned the anthems for that rock and roll fable.

While the songs from Meat Loaf’s landmark 1977 album remain thunderous and mythical, this filmed stage production shows how difficult it is to build a consistent narrative around music originally written as stand-alone set pieces.

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BALLS at New York Comic Con: The Voices of Ash Ketchum and Professor Oak Reunite!

Balls at New York Comic Con is bringing back the Monster-Catchin’ Musical Comédy with a special panel, after party, and a final Caveat NYC performance. Fans can catch Pokémon legends Veronica Taylor and Stuart Zagnit live, along with plenty of surprises.

Promotional poster for Balls at New York Comic ConAnyone who missed the Monster-Catchin’ Musical Comédy over the summer will get another chance with BALLS at New York Comic Con. Technically, the entire performance will be after this event, but it’s safe to say some moments will be offered during this bigger convention.

This celebration of pop culture is right around the corner! We recommend planning a ten-day trip to make the most of the experience (or you can read our review here). One weekend can be spent enjoying this convention and the party afterwards, but during the days leading up to a full show at Caveat NYC, to tour the spots where Ghostbusters and Night at the Museum filmed can help fill the time.

There is a panel featuring Veronica Taylor and Stuart Zagnit (the original voices of Ash Ketchum and Professor Oak from “Pokémon: The Series”) reuniting for an exclusive appearance, and the day promises to be big! In what’s promised is a Q&A with the fans, interactive monster battles, and exclusive merch giveaways! This panel will take place Friday October 10th at 8:30pm at the Javits Center, followed by a special AFTER PARTY at Sugar Mouse NYC: (Tix avail here.)

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Top 10 Nerdy Must-See Picks of Vancouver Fringe Festival 2025

From immersive experiments to meta-theatre and surreal solarpunk visuals, these picks are a geek’s ideal ticket to the Vancouver Fringe Festival 2025.

Vancouver Fringe Festival 2025Runs Sept 4 to 14th, 2025.

Not many acts from the Victoria Fringe Festival are heading to Vancouver Fringe Festival 2025, but that’s no reason to skip it! When most live theatre acts examine the “game of life,” letting us explore the human condition through the safe lens of an observer, what’s presented are often eye-opening in more ways than one!

Solo shows, a hallmark of Fringe, make this exchange especially powerful—raw, intimate, and deeply personal. Unlike film, which often leans on escapism, Fringe thrives on honesty. Other forms of theatre will vary, but ultimately, when we can connect with the story, the meaning isn’t hidden; it’s right in front of us, asking us to feel, reflect, and engage.

Over the years, I’ve seen countless performances that deserve standing ovations. Many artists return with fresh material or clever twists on familiar acts, and that’s part of what keeps me coming back. Although one performer missed the lottery for my local Fringe, he’s thankfully back at Terminal City. This individual has consistently stood out, earning a spot in my top ten yet again. I won’t reveal their name just yet, but longtime readers may already recognize the work—newcomers will have fun seeing if they can guess who it is.

This year’s picks are presented in alphabetical order. These links go to ticket purchases and showtimes.

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Juicy Woo Woo! A Mind-Bending Cosmic Cabaret at Victoria Fringe 2025

In what makes John Sobol’s Juicy Woo Woo – the UFO Cabaret – unique is that he’s up to date with the latest facts, theories and disguises. And he encourages everyone to look at the facts too!

juicy woo woo
Remaining Shows Aug 26 8:00 pm

Some conspiracies about the alien agenda lean into Juicy Woo Woo! territory—and if John Sobol has any say, that’s exactly where he wants to lead us. As a storyteller and musician, he mixes UFO lore, pop culture, and cosmic musings into a 60-minute journey that moves from fear to acceptance. With his show, he wants audiences to feel they are in the experience. Here, they also get caught up in the latest reports too.

There are no cameos from the jazz greats I usually spin, but I swear Pharoah Sanders might have heard the call.Anything tied to cosmic consciousness or “The One” could appear, though that might overwhelm a casual Fringe crowd. As for the Lemurians of Mt. Shasta or why some people live in a shared bubble, that depends on which studies you trust.

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