Tag: Pacific Northwest

Last Chance Productions Gets Toxic with Evil Dead in the Pacific Northwest!

By Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

81qMvxhWjhL._SL1425_Evil Dead the Musical
Oct 30-31, 2015

Toxic Avenger the Musical
Renton Civic Theatre
Renton, Washington
December 26, 2015

Alberta Rose Theatre
Portland, Oregon
January 2, 2016

Waterfront Theatre
on Granville Island
Vancouver, BC
Feb 5 and 6, 2016

Returning to Vancouver, BC this Halloween is Evil Dead the Musical, and hot on their tail is The Toxic Avenger the Musical. Both shows, if it was back to back, would have been duking it out at the Waterfront Theatre instead of Studio 1338!  A change in plan will have Toxie appear next year and with a bigger venue, the team of Last Chance Productions promises more fun to pop up. This crew performed Young Frankenstein and Cannibal! the Musical in the past. For the holidays, they are giving fans new content as they tour the Pacific Northwest during the holidays.

Fans of Troma who have not seen this production can see what’s changed. The plot of this stage version does not entirely follow the film. It takes the best moments from it and has fun with the tropes.

“The movie has its own cult following, and people should be aware that the musical changed things around,” revealed Chance Newman, director and producer. “There’s two performers who play 20 parts each, and it’s going to be manic.”

Continue reading “Last Chance Productions Gets Toxic with Evil Dead in the Pacific Northwest!”

Tracking GottaCon’s Foodie & Game A-Fair? It’s a Deadbeetz.

Gottacon 2015 BannerGottaCon has shifted in direction for the 2015 year, and that’s to make use of all the available spaces as possible for their gaming fair. For such a dramatic shift, I’m surprised they did not have a huge banner across the Victoria Conference Centre to say we are here. I really like the design of their new logo in their program guide, and I was sad to not see this plumage advertising this event to this city at large at this building or across the street at the Crystal Gardens.

Although my interests for this show have faded, to wonder if they chose wisely for which food trucks to bring can make for some interesting allusions. Do gamers need more grease for those late night munchies? When I didn’t spot or smell these operations running on a Friday evening before Geekenders‘ Star Wars Burlesque Show, I suspect not. They might have been running, but there was no spotlight on them to let curiousity seekers know. The same can be said for GottaCon’s presence. Without a huge banner, many passers-by will pass them by. Sandwich boards just will not do. Not many people really take a bite at that kind of street advertising.

During a beautiful sunny day (Saturday) when the air is crisp and I was nearby, my nostrils certainly wanted to sniff out the operations. Thankfully, the trucks were advertising their hours. But I did notice a particular trend: of the three trucks, two of them were serving mostly burgers. Thankfully, James and I provided a more robust listing of various eateries around the area so attendees can grab sandwiches or sushi if they wanted to.

Continue reading “Tracking GottaCon’s Foodie & Game A-Fair? It’s a Deadbeetz.”

GottaCon Foodie Survival Guide 2015

By James Robert Shaw (The Wind up Geek) and Ed Sum (The Vintage Tempest)

gottacon2015In less than two weeks Victoria will be flooded with people from all over Vancouver Island and the Pacific Northwest with obsessive gaming habits. Cards will be dealt and dice will be rolled but if you think I’m speaking of a convention for those with gambling habits, think again. I speak of gamers, people who show up (sometimes in costume) with their card games (Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering), their table top books (Pathfinder, Dungeons & Dragons), their customized PCs and their mini figurines (Warhammer). And to quote a Trooper song, they’re here for a good time, not a long time.

And when you convention hop on a budget it is important to maintain your energy levels with some nourishing food. Cheap is good too. Presented to you is James and Ed’s list of top eats.

Continue reading “GottaCon Foodie Survival Guide 2015”

GottaCon 2015 Update

Gottacon2015GottaCon announced the official hotels for their 2015 convention. Both Quality Inn Downtown Victoria and The Fairmont Empress are returning as official hotel sponsors for Vancouver Island’s largest gaming convention that’ll take place from Feb 27th to March 1st, 2015 at the Victoria Conference Center.

Convention-goers should book early to avoid disappointment.

For more information on what amenities are offered for each hotel, click here.

In addition, the Community Applications are now open for all gaming groups and clubs. To apply for a booth at GottaCon, click here.

The Winter/Spring Conventions of the Pacific Northwest

Beginning in late January 2014 will be the great Pacific Northwest Convention face-off.

supers over the PN

Beginning in late January 2014 will be the great Pacific Northwest Convention face-off. Fans of everything geek who think they can attend most of the conventions may well consider this season to be the great pan-pacific drain instead. All that hard earned money will be spent for some interesting goodies and fun times, but as for which cons are worth attending will be based on personal interests.

Fans hoping for another opportunity to get an autograph or photo with their favourite stars can get another chance at another nearby show. For example, Cassandra Peterson, Stan Lee and Bruce Campbell most likely have contracts for the 2014 year with organizations like Hobbystar Entertainment and similar businesses like Heroes for Hire or Creation Con to appear at more shows to bring fans in. So, the chances are good to see them at another con, if people are willing to travel farther to get their nerd on.

Online purchasing of tickets are available for all these shows, and here is a rundown of the contenders and what they offer:

Continue reading “The Winter/Spring Conventions of the Pacific Northwest”