[e-drive][TICKETS: EQUITY DISCOUNT]

[Patricia Joyce]

~~~~~~~~~~ e-drive ~~~~~~~~~~

New Play Showcase Series in Vancouver

We just wanted to take this opportunity to update you all on the "New Plays
for a New Century" project currently underway at the Arts Club Theatre
Company.  As you may know, New Plays for a New Century is our 2nd annual new
play development project exemplifying the Arts Club's continued commitment
to the development and production of new Canadian work. This year's workshop
series will run this week until January 26, 2002 and showcases the work of
three local
emerging and mid-career playwrights. All shows will be at the Granville
Island Stage and workshops will include a reading of each artist's
work-in-progress followed by a discussion with the cast of actors, director
and playwright about the play and the process of script development. Tickets
for all workshops are $10 however,  ALL EQUITY MEMBERS WILL RECEIVE A
SPECIAL DISCOUNTED RATE of $5 per ticket. Call the BOX OFFICE at
604.687.1644

This year's event will be an exciting behind-the-scenes look at the process
of play development and will showcase the following original works of local
artists:

A LITTLE PRINCESS
By Bruce Kellett
Saturday January 26, 8pm

Bruce Kellett has been a musical director, pianist, and composer with the
Arts Club Theatre Company for 30 seasons. A winner of four Jessie awards,
Bruce composed scores for Only in Vancouver and Easy Money.  He also
conducted several shows at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton and a season at
the Shaw Festival.  Most recently, Bruce was musical director and pianist
for the sold out Arts Club production of My Fair Lady.

Bruce is developing the book, music and lyrics for A Little Princess, a
musical inspired by the beloved book of the same name by Frances Hodgson
Burnett (author of The Secret Garden). The story follows the adventures of
Sara Crewe, a wealthy English girl from India who is placed in an exclusive
girls school in London. When her father suddenly dies and leaves her
penniless, she is forced to work as a scullery maid under the watchful eye
of a vengeful schoolmistress. The story chronicles Sara's life lessons and
twists of fate as her future unfolds. Directed by Gillian Barber. Dramaturg
is Paddy Campbell.  Cast includes Tom McBeath, Martin Evans, David Marr,
Karin Konoval, Annabel Kershaw, Gillian Barber and Julia Arkos.


CAROL'S CHRISTMAS
By Kathleen Oliver
Saturday January 26, 1pm

Kathleen Oliver is a published poet and short fiction writer who teaches
creative writing at the Emily Carr Institute. She is the co-author of the
script for Fire.Where There's Smoke.  Her first play, Swollen Tongues, won
the 1997 National Playwriting Competition and has been produced in Vancouver
and London with a UK tour planned for next spring.

This seasonal romantic comedy is a modern adaptation of Dickens' A Christmas
Carol with some contemporary twists. Mistakenly assuming that she has been
fired from her job, Carol finds herself alone and unhappy at Christmas. She
then experiences a series of personal encounters with spirits who come to
illustrate the personal cost of her emotional miserliness. In a manner more
comic than supernatural, Carol begins to embrace the Christmas spirit and
romance kindles in surprising ways. Directed by DD Kugler.  Dramaturg is
also DD Kugler.  Cast features Kerry Sandomirsky as Carol, Susinn McFarlane,
Tiffany Lyndall-Knight, Ted Cole, Paul Anthony and Alvin Sanders.


THE MATKA KING
By Anosh Irani
Thursday January 24, 1pm
Friday January 25, 8pm

Anosh Irani moved to Vancouver from Bombay, India where he worked as an
advertising copywriter.  Since arriving in Canada, Anosh's writing has been
published in the Vancouver Sun and will appear in the upcoming issue of The
Fiddlehead.  He is also currently completing work on his debut novel, The
Cripple and his Talismans.

The Matka King will take you on a lyrical ride through a landscape of
betrayal and redemption in a story that pits human nature against chance.
Imagine. it is the red light district of Bombay, a colorful community of
gamblers, prostitut