Fighting Chance Productions

Join Us!

rentinvancouver — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:01:22 +0000

Join us at our NEW URL:

http://www.fightingchanceproductions.ca

See you there!

Suggestions, Please!

rentinvancouver — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:22:17 +0000

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.

One Good Marriage – Audience Contest

rentinvancouver — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:04:32 +0000

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.

Our 2009/2010 Season – Continued

rentinvancouver — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 18:28:16 +0000

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!

A Final Good Bye – RENT

rentinvancouver — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 08:00:55 +0000

As many of you may know we filmed the entire process of creating RENT and did weekly YouTube episodes… they’re all available here at http://www.youtube.com/user/rentatph however, here’s the last one… a fitting goodbye for a beautiful experience.

Audition Notice – The Wedding Singer

rentinvancouver — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 23:40:37 +0000

Audition Notice

Company: Fighting Chance Productions
Playwright: Matthew Sklar, Chad Beguelin, Tim Herlihy
Director: Ryan Mooney
Musical Director: Mark Reid
Choreographer: Anna Hassard
Audition Date: November 16th & 17th
Callbacks: November 24th
Run Dates: April 27th, 2010 – May 22nd, 2010
Requires: 10 Men and 10 Women for lead and ensemble roles. We are looking for people from 19-80 years of age, and encourage all people interested to come audition. Please note, the role of ROBBIE HART has already been cast.
Notes: We will be asking for one up tempo musical theatre song from a show post-1960. There will be a dance call at the callbacks, but the initial audition will simply be for singing. Please e-mail us and we’ll set you up with an audition time, please let us know if you would prefer to audition on November 16th or November 17th.
Contact: fightingchanceauditions@gmail.com

One Good Marriage – Cast & Crew

rentinvancouver — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 01:34:07 +0000

Jeff McMahan (Stewart)

For Fighting Chance Jeff has appeared in some girl(s) and The Laramie Project. Jeff McMahan’s acting credits include Cymbeline, The Comedy of Errors and The Merchant of Venice (Bard on the Beach), Salt Water Moon (Jupiter Theatre), the BC tour of Night Light and North American tour of See Saw (Green Thumb Theatre) for which he received a Jessie Nomination. He has participated in staged readings with Playwrights Theatre Centre and Savage God’s Shakespeare Project. As a musician, Jeff has worked at Fort Steele Heritage Town and Precipice Theatre in Banff where he was also the Musical Director. Jeff is a graduate of Studio 58 and Selkirk College’s Music Program. He also premiered his own piece, The Man Who Couldn’t Deliver, in September as part of the Vancouver International Fringe Festival.

Becky Shrimpton (Steph)

Becky Shrimpton is pleased to be performing as Steph in her post scholastic stage debut. As a recent graduate of the University of British Columbia’s Bachelor of Fine Arts Program, Becky had the privilege of portraying Constance Garnett in The Idiots Karamazov (directed by Chris McGregor), The Nurse in Medea (Directed by Lois Anderson), and Victorine Taillefer in Old Goriot (Directed by James Fagan Tait). She would like to thank you, the audience, for coming out to support independent Canadian theatre.

Ryan Mooney (Director)

Ryan is thrilled to return to the director’s chair after recently playing CB in Fighting Chance’s Pick of the Fringe hit Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead. Recent directing credits include the Canadian Regional Theatre Premiere of Rent, some girl(s), tick… tick… BOOM!, The Laramie Project, and the 2008 Pick of the Fringe show The Musical of Musicals: The Musical. Ryan has also had the opportunity to direct for other groups around town and favourite shows include Little Shop of Horrors (MKH Productions), The Mystery of Edwin Drood and Flower Drum Song (APPLAUSE! Musicals in Concert), The Mikado (Fraser Valley Gilbert & Sullivan Society) and The Pirates of Penzance (Gilbert & Sullivan Society of UBC.) He’s been twice nominated as Best Director at the Ovation Awards and once been nominated for a Best Director CTC Awards. Fighting Chance has also won a Xtra West Hero award for their production of The Laramie Project. Ryan will also be directing Fighting Chance’s next show Forbidden Broadway this January at the PAL Theatre.

Liz Wilton-McMahan (Stage Manager)

Liz is thrilled to be involved with this production. For Fighting Chance she has stage managed Rent, The Laramie Project (XTRA West Hero Award – Best Live Performance), tick, tick…BOOM!, some girl(s) and designed sound for some girl(s) and The Distance From Here. She also recently stage managed The Man Who Couldn’t Deliver at the Vancouver International Fringe Festival, which also starred her brand new husband, Jeff McMahan.

Dog Sees God: Holdover Information

rentinvancouver — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:33:34 +0000

Here’s the information for the Dog Sees God holdover! Hopefully you’ll be able to come and see it… or if you’ve seen it, please feel free to pass the information on!

Location: Waterfront Theatre, Granville Island, BC

Times/Dates: Friday September 25th @ 10pm / Saturday September 26th @ 4:45pm / Sunday September 27th @ 2:30pm

Cost: $16.00

Tickets Available: at the door or on-line at http://www.vancouverfringe.com

Hope to see you at the show!

Dog Sees God nets Fighting Chance ANOTHER Pick of the Fringe Award!

rentinvancouver — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:44:40 +0000

Last night the Pick of the Fringe 2009 was announced and we’re pleased to share the fact that Fighting Chance Productions was picked for the second year in a row, this year for their production of Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead.

The Pick of the Fringe is voted on by audience members who attend the Fringe Festival. There were 68 productions this year, which means this is an incredible honour for Dog Sees God. What it means is that we will have the opportunity to perform the show three more times at a larger (and less alley-like) theatre on Granville Island. The Pick of the Fringe will run from September 24th – 27th at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island. Tickets will be available shortly at http://www.vancouverfringe.com

Our 2009/2010 Season

rentinvancouver — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:38:54 +0000

I am really very excited about our 2009/2010 season. To the best of my knowledge it is the first time that these four shows will be presented in BC by a semi-professional company such as Fighting Chance Productions. For those of you who don’t know, what we ended up doing this year was allowed our season to be chosen by our audience – this is, to my knowledge, incredibly rare. As a company we chose four plays and four musicals – and we announced them to the general public. Then we threw a big party and performed songs & scenes from the shows. From there we had a vote and here’s the first two of our season:

One Good Marriage

by Sean Reycraft

directed by Ryan Mooney

October 20th – 25th, 2009

Chevalier Room at the Rosedale on Robson Hotel

One Good Marriage finds Steph and Stewart celebrating their first anniversary. Shes an English teacher; hes a high school librarian. As they revisit their first year of marriage, they cannot escape the terrible sorrow that looms over them. They returned from their delightful honeymoon to find the unthinkable had happened. It’s darkly comic, and yet incredibly touching.

From Ryan: We’ll be setting the show at Steph & Stewart’s one year anniversary party – where the audience will be the guests. It’s a very cool idea and will give us the opportunity to work with the Rosedale on Robson who has been an incredible support for us over the past year. However, this means that seating for the performances will be very limited – you’ll want to book your tickets soon!

Forbidden Broadway

by Gerard Alessandrini

directed by Ryan Mooney

musical direction by Sarah Jaysmith

January 6th – 16th, 2010

PAL Theatre

Forbidden Broadway brings musical theatre to its knees. All the big shows are spoofed in this hysterical valentine to the Great White Way. Everything from the Phantom of the Opera to Les Miserables to Hairspray to Wicked are lampooned in Forbidden Broadway. Musical theatre starlets Julie Andrews, Patti Lupone, Carol Channing and Liza Minelli are sent up as well. If you enjoyed The Musical of Musicals: The Musical you will love Forbidden Broadway, one of the longest running off-Broadway shows of all time.

From Ryan: I saw this show in New York and had tears in my eyes. It’s hysterical, and I have no doubt that we’ll be able to pull it off splendidly with some of Vancouver’s brightest (and funniest) musical theatre performers.