Rainbow Youth Active Listener Call
Author: Dave Deveau
Rainbow Youth Storyteller Call
Big Beaded Bling Workshop
With Indigenous Community Engagement Manager Alysha Collie!
Saturday, June 8th | 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM PST
Green Thumb Theatre, Studio A
5522 McKinnon St.
Vancouver, BC
V5R 0B6
Presented by Zee Zee Theatre
Thank you to our Community Sponsors: Rise Consulting, Improv for Work and Wellness, Nerd Nite,
Come celebrate National Indigenous People’s Month and Pride Month in this hands-on ‘Big Beaded Bling’ beading workshop with Alysha Collie (Soowahlie First Nation). Whether you’re wanting to update your drag wardrobe, celebrate contemporary Indigenous beadwork, or build allyship and connections with Indigenous community members, this is the place to celebrate our intersectionalities through common appreciation for sparkly earrings.
In this workshop, you will be guided by Alysha Collie, Zee Zee Theatre’s new Indigenous Community Engagement Manager, as you create your own show stopping pair of beaded earrings. All supplies needed to complete the earrings will be provided in a beading kit. Light refreshments of bannock with jams and Indigenous teas will be offered to all participants.
Come out to kick off Indigenous People’s Month and Pride Month with your own new stunning pair of earrings.
ABOUT ALYSHA COLLIE
Alysha Collie is a Coast Salish artist, storyteller and filmmaker from the Soowahlie First Nation mixed with European settler and African ancestry. In 2019 Collie graduated from the University of the Fraser Valley with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Biology and minoring in Fine Arts. Under the guidance from Indigenous Elders and knowledge-keepers at her university she studied traditional plant medicines and applied that knowledge to help create the first Reconciliation Shakespeare Garden at UFV. This unique garden brings Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities together through plants and storytelling.
While completing her degree, Collie began working with 3 Crows Productions filming documentaries, performing as “Qwalena” and storytelling. Her passion for change helped steer Collie in a direction of educating those directly responsible for change in Indigenous student’s lives.
Collie is a multi-disciplinary artist and owner of her own company called The Collie Collective (@Collie.Collective on Instagram) where she focuses on decolonization and reclaiming her ancestral roots through her beaded jewelry, Salish art and weavings. She is a professional storyteller performing on stage in live theatre productions and improv workshops at The Flame, Surrey Civic Theatres and Tightrope Theatre. She is a filmmaker and has produced over 20 documentaries uplifting Indigenous artists, families, and Residential School Survivors. She also uses her graphic design skills to vectorize other artist’s artwork for murals in museums and galleries, including the works of Coast Salish artists Les Wells, Joann Williams, and Roxanne Charles. “Having our ancestral art forms in visible spaces is important for our current and future generations of Coast Salish Peoples to feel a sense of pride and belonging in our own territories”, Collie says.
She also works with Zee Zee Theatre, a Queer based theatre located in Vancouver, as a Curator, Storyteller and Indigenous Community Engagement Coordinator. Her exemplary activism within the 2SLGBTQ+ community was recognized when she won the 2021 Honourable Mention of the Marie Lapuz Youth Leadership Award from SHER Vancouver.
Since 2022, Collie in collaboration with Tightrope Theatre, have raised over $3500 for local Indigenous non-profits who support healing initiatives for the multi-generations that have been affected by the Residential School system in some of the most underserved parts of Vancouver.
When Collie is not working, you can usually find her creating in one of her many disciplines of art beside her cat or nestled in the living room of her grandparent’s house.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Previous beading experience a benefit but not necessary.
- We will be learning the two needle beading method, however you are welcome to use your own method if you prefer the one needle method.
- Limited bead colours will be provided. You are welcome to bring your own beads if you have a personal preference.
- Ages recommended are 13+. There will be a use of strong adhesives, needles, scissors and other sharp metal tools. Caution is advised.
- Unfortunately there will be no childcare available on site. Please plan accordingly
- Space limited to 15 participants. An additional 5 kits available for pick up for folks who would like to complete the earrings in their own space at their own time.
- Masks are not mandatory and will be a personal choice in this space (OR)
- Masks are not mandatory in this space, and your personal choice to wear.
- If this event is not something you feel comfortable attending in person, a limit of 5 beading kits are available for those who wish to take part in the beading at their own pace.
- Green Thumb theatre and their bathroom is accessible for folks who use mobility devices.
A Season Launch Message
To those of you joining us for the first time, thank you! To those of you who have been with us for a while, welcome home to the sweet 16th season of Zee Zee Theatre.
A dear friend and mentor of mine always talks about organizational life cycles being 5 years. Well, we are now entering our fourth cycle. And, true to this idea, so much has happened, so much has changed and we stand at the next major juncture.
With the departure of my brilliant long-time collaborator (and husband), Associate Artistic Director Dave Deveau, which timed out with the departure of our incomparable Operations & Development Manager Sabah Haque, Zee Zee is once more at a moment of great possibility. We are starting something new with someone new.
It is my great pleasure to officially welcome someone who has been a part of the Zee Zee family and our own family for many years. From first serving as my student Assistant Director in 2015 during the development of Elbow Room Cafe: The Musical at Studio 58, all the way to being the brilliant playwright whose work we premiered last season with Unexpecting, the incredible Bronwyn Carradine joins the team in the new role of Artistic Managing Producer. I am thrilled for what the future of this new Zee Zee looks like.
After our biggest season to date – our mammoth crystal anniversary season, we are focussing on development in all its forms this season at Zee Zee: new play development, new partnerships, new community connections.
We open this season with the final stage of my passion project that’s been in the works since early 2020. The Public Reading Series, which is the culmination of 10 months of paid writing in our National Queer & Trans Playwriting Unit. Five new plays, written by five exciting writers from across the country will happen in real life in five cities across Canada and streamed through our Presenting Partner The Cultch’s RE/PLAY digital playground. Starting in Vancouver at the Cultch, continuing to Halifax, Saskatoon, Lethbridge, and finishing in Montreal. I am so thrilled that we have been able to support these writers with something more sustainable than the current commissioning rates in Canada while connecting us all to the eight other partner companies in this initiative. I can’t wait to see the fruits of this labour.
Our annual storytelling project is back with our long time partner the Vancouver Public Library, to celebrate Queer Asian Stories curated by the mother of the House of Rice Shay Dior, event producer and co-founder of Theatre as a Second Language Society Yanting Qiu, and theatre maker and storyteller Jaylon Han.
We are continuing the development of what started as TERF Wars now renamed You Could Be My Safe Space written by JD Derbyshire and Dave Deveau in consultation with Morgane Oger and Jessie Anderson. With the protesting of drag queen story hours and attack on trans rights and trans children in this country and to the south, this work couldn’t be more vital.
We wrap the season with a new partnership that continues our work of providing queer families opportunities to see themselves reflected on stage. We will be producing in association with Carousel Theatre for Young People and the Vancouver International Children’s Festival the world premier of Dave Deveau’s The Papa Penguin Play, a family musical all about gay penguins who happen to be drag queens who happen to be parents. Sound familiar?
We have had lofty ambitions for this organization from day one, and we are thankful that so many of those dreams and goals have been realized. This season is about creating the blueprint for those next lofty ambitions, those artistic dreams that make the impossible suddenly possible. And we can’t wait to reveal them to you in the coming seasons. As I’ve said, this is an exciting time for Zee Zee and I am so thankful and honoured that you are joining us.
Thank you for your support.
Let’s change the world!!
Artistic & Executive Director
September 2023
Welcome Bronwyn Carradine!
We are so pleased to welcome Bronwyn Carradine as our new Artistic Managing Producer.
Bronwyn Carradine is a queer administrator, theatre creator and playwright. As an artist, she’s collaborated with Zee Zee since 2015 when she was the Assistant Director of Elbow Room Café: The Musical at Studio 58, since then she’s Assistant Directed Elbow Room Café: The Musical (The Cultch), My Funny Valentine (Buddies in Bad Times), written for Nyet: Again (2017) and most recently wrote Unexpecting (2023). She’s beyond thrilled to be joining the team of this company whose mandate is so close to her heart.
As an arts administrator she has focused much of her work on building community connections and furthering equity for artists in terms of safe working conditions, clear & concise contracting, deliberate hiring, inspiring auditioning, and more robust on-boarding. In her most recent role as Company Manager & Assistant to the Artistic Director at the Arts Club Theatre Company, Carradine worked to open doors for artists by implemented programs such as: Arts Worker Rush Tickets, Industry Nights, Relaxed Auditions, Audition Childcare, as well as Write from the Wings, and the Incubator Series.
When she’s not at the theatre, you can find her either on the couch with her partner and their cat watching Below Deck, or running in the mountains.
22/23 Season Launch & Annual Glamour Meeting!
September 8th, 2022
The Cultch’s Historic Theatre, 1895 Venables St
Official AGM 5:15pm-5:45pm
Season Launch 6:00pm-6:45pm
Our favourite Zee Zee tradition is back: the Annual Glamour Meeting! Part society business, part season sneak peek, part drag show, all good fun!
Join us for our official AGM then stick around as we launch our entire season with another sneak peak of our show in development “Cool Moms” by Thanks Jem.
Tickets $5 at the door which includes a one year membership to Zee Zee!
This is a limited capacity, distanced and masked event. All will need to show a record of their vaccine status and must stay in the seats unless going to the bar or bathroom and remain masked unless they are consuming food or drink and only then while in their seats.
Featuring Thanks Jem
The following business will be considered by the membership:
- Acceptance of agenda (motion required).
- Approval of minutes of 2020 AGM (motion required).
- Report by management to the members with financial statements presented (motion required).
- Election of directors of the Society (motion required)
- Any further information respecting the society required by the bylaws or the regulations.
CASTING CALL
Zee Zee Theatre is inviting submissions for our upcoming production of
Men Express Their Feelings
By Sunny Drake
CREATIVE TEAM:
Director: Cameron Mackenzie
Stage Manager: Jenny Kim
Creative Consultant: Paneet Singh
Intimacy Coach / Choreographer: Tara Cheyenne Friedenberg
Design Team: Kimira Reddy, Donnie Tejani, Sara Vickruck, Carol Macdonald
Technical Director: Ash Shotton
Other Cast Members: Munish Sharma, Jeff Gladstone
AUDITION DATES & LOCATION:
November 24, 11-3pm, location TBC
DATES:
Preliminary Cast Reading: December 9, 2021
Rehearsals begin: February 22, 2022 at The Greenhouse Rehearsal Hall (1885 Venables St, beside The Cultch)
Performances : March 17-April 3, 2022 at Firehall Arts Centre (280 East Cordova Street)
Artists will be engaged under the Equity DOT Contract
THE ROLE:
RAJ SHARMA, 17, male, hockey player and star goalie, first generation Indo-Canadian, beginning to explore his pansexuality.
Zee Zee is committed to equity, diversity, and representation. With regard to cultural specificity, for this role we will only be seeing male identified actors of South Asian descent.
TRIGGER WARNING:
The show deals with race-based bullying and implied sexual activity. The role will require kissing another male actor four times. Intimacy coach will be provided.
TO SUBMIT:
Please send headshot and resume and any questions to Associate Artistic Director Dave Deveau at dave@zeezeetheatre.ca
Please note:
In order to better serve our local community we will only be seeing actors based in the Lower Mainland.
In accordance with our COVID-19 Safety Plan all artists, staff and contractors must be double vaccinated except for those who have a verifiable medication condition or religious exemption based on a prohibited ground in human rights legislation. Artists will be required to provide proof of vaccination to Zee Zee prior to commencing work. Other COVID-19 protocols, such as masking, are also in place and evolve to reflect best recommended practices at the time of production. These protocols will be communicated clearly to artists at the time of offer, and be included in the rider to their contract.
PLAY SYNOPSIS:
A comedy about culture, hockey, relationships and sex. Two dads and their sons are sentenced to stay in the hockey locker room until they’ve talked through their feelings about a violent incident. In 90 hilarious minutes, these guys get to know each other and themselves a whole lot better, while redefining what it means to WIN. Men Express Their Feelings enriches, instigates, and empowers questions of gender, sexuality, identity and the cultural impact on all of these.
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT:
November 22, 5 pm
For questions or accommodation requests related to the submission process, please email Associate Artistic Director Dave Deveau dave@zeezeetheatre.ca
21/22 Season Launch & AGM
September 18th, 2021
The Cultch’s Historic Theatre, 1895 Venables St
Official AGM 5:15pm-5:45pm
Season Launch 6:00pm-6:45pm
OMG WE’RE LIVE!
Welcome back to your favourite tradition: our Annual Glamour Meeting.
Part society business, part season sneak peek, part drag show, all good fun.
Join us for our official AGM then stick around as we launch our entire season.
With a sneak-peak scene from our Spring main stage production, drag performance from our playwright-in-residence and story by one of the curators and storytellers from this past year’s Virtual Humanity.
This is a limited capacity, distanced and masked event. All will need to show a record of their vaccine status and must stay in the seats unless going to the bar or bathroom and remain masked unless they are consuming food or drink and only then while in their seats.
Tickets $5 at the door which includes a one year membership to Zee Zee.
Featuring Alysha Collie, Thanks Jem, Munish Sharma, Jeff Gladstone
The following business will be considered by the membership:
- Acceptance of agenda (motion required).
- Approval of minutes of 2020 AGM (motion required).
- Report by management to the members with financial statements presented (motion required).
- Election of directors of the Society (motion required)
- Any further information respecting the society required by the bylaws or the regulations.
It’s Here! Our 2020-2021 Season!
We are living through extraordinary times of global complexity, uncertainty, and a sea of question marks within many sectors.
As live event makers, we create the unexpected, we respond in the immediate, we investigate community building in new ways that are still heartwarming, eye opening, challenging, and subversive. Artists create beauty and we create opportunities to reflect and we create moments of communal laughter and joy.
Our question for this, our 13th season, in the midst of a pandemic and a revolution dismantling white supremacy is “How do we share our humanity now?” Please join us on this journey.
Thank you for believing in Zee Zee and the arts as a force for positive change.
The Season:
Curated by Dave Deveau & Cameron Mackenzie
October 4, 2020, 11am via Zoom
Part of Transform: A Cabaret Festival
Presented with the Cultch & Urban Ink
With DJ O Show
Featuring Celestial Seasons, Jaylene Tyme, Karmella Barr, Thanks Jem
Hosted by Isolde N. Barron & Peach Cobblah
by JD Derbyshire & Dave Deveau
In consultation with Jessie Anderson & Morgane Oger
October 25, 2020 3 pm via Zoom (Reading)
April 2021 (Workshop)
Featuring JD Derbyshire, Andrew McIlroy, Deborah Williams
Trans Scripts, Part I: The Women
by Paul Lucas
November 14, 2020, 7 pm Streaming Online
Part of Trans Awareness Week
Originally produced with the frank theatre
in association with the Firehall Arts Centre
by Dave Deveau
Based on Elbow Room Café: The Musical by Dave Deveau & Anton Lipovetsky
December 12, 2020 on Zoom
Presented with The Cultch
curated by Zee Zee Theatre
Inspired the Human Library created by Stop The Violence (Copenhagen)
March 2021 via Zoom
On Tour:
by Dave Deveau & Cameron Mackenzie
(On Virtual Tour)
Part of Children’s Festivals, Conferences, and Pride Celebrations throughout the year including Campbell River Pride, Burnaby Pride, Pender Island Price, Nutrient Children’s Festival (Saskatoon), BC Teachers’ Federation Conference
by Dave Deveau & Cameron Mackenzie
Touring (maybe) Spring 2021
Originally commissioned by the Vancouver International Children’s Festival
In Development:
by Charlee Sideen aka Thanks Jem
A new Zee Zee commission
Launching Summer 2021
A National Queer & Trans Virtual Playwriting Unit
A Zee Zee Theatre initiative in partnership with:
Gwaandak Theatre (Whitehorse)
The Frank Theatre (Vancouver)
Theatre Outré (Lethbridge)
Theatre Projects Manitoba (Winnipeg)
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre (Toronto)
Native Earth Performing Arts (Toronto)
Imago Theatre (Montreal)
Neptune Theatre (Halifax)
Season art by Isa Rodrigues
20/21 Season Launch & AGM
With DJ Slade
September 13th, 2020, via Zoom meeting link
Official AGM 5:00-5:30pm
Season Launch 5:30-6pm ish
Join us for a Locktail Hour, Annual General (aka GLAMOUR) Meeting and show off YOUR lock-down glamour while we report on the financial statements.
Maybe it’s your fave mask, maybe it’s the giant necklace you put on over your PJ’s for those 8 am Zoom meetings.
Let’s enjoy those quaratinis together apart enjoying the soothing soulful sounds of DJ Slade, while looking back at 2019 and toward the future of 2021.
And this AGM is a special one! We’ll be amending our society bylaws.
The following business will be considered by the membership:
- Acceptance of agenda (motion required).
- Approval of minutes of 2019 AGM (motion required).
- Approval of Amendment to Society Bylaws (motion required)
- Report by management to the members (financial statements will be presented).
- Election of directors of the Society.
- Any further information respecting the society required by the bylaws or the regulations.