1. PRINCESS TREATMENT: Arts Club Theatre Company’s Casey and Diana
When: Until May 25
Where: Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
Cost: From $29
Princess Diana walks into a Toronto AIDS hospice in 1991. No, it’s not The Crown—it’s a play about compassion, legacy and the power of a well-timed pastel suit.
2. GOOF TROUPE: QueerProv Improv Comedy
When: Every Wednesday
Where: The Junction
Cost: Pay what you can
Vancouver’s funniest queer improvisors are here to do the impossible: make you laugh. In this economy? That’s basically Nobel Prize-worthy. Come rediscover joy.
3. WHAT’S UP, DOC: Doxa Documentary Film Festival
When: May 1 to 11
Where: Various venues
Cost: From $16
Sure, finding a doctor here is tough—but finding docs? Easy. This fest brings world-class documentaries to town each May. Just what the doctor ordered. (Still, probably find a doctor though.)
4. SOUNDS GOOD: Avatar: The Last Airbender in Concert
When: May 4
Where: Orpheum Theatre
Cost: From $95
Maybe the only way you’ll get your kids to appreciate the symphony.
5. GOOD POINT: Ballet BC presents Dusk
When: May 8 to10
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Cost: From $19
Expect equisite existential dread from this avant-garde ballet show. Think: fewer tutus and tiaras, more deep sighs at sunset.
6. VAMP IT UP: Verboden Festival
When: May 8 to 11
Where: The Cobalt
Cost: From $149
The eighth annual Darkwave music festival. Never heard of Darkwave? Think The Cure—if they were vampires. Heartbroken vampires. Who just got dumped… in the rain.
7. HI FI SCI FI: Vancouver New Music: SlowPitchSound
When: May 10
Where: Annex
Cost: $35
Nature. Outer space. “Sci-fi turntablism.” If two out of three got your attention, this intergalactic turntable voyage could be for you.
8. SPACE JAM: VSO Kids Concerts: Daughter of the Inner Stars
When: May 11
Where: Orpheum Theatre
Cost: From $20
A musical space odyssey for kids (8 to 16) with a live narrator, original animation and a stellar VSO score. Basically Peter and the Wolf—but not boring, because SPACE!
9. LIP SERVICE: Molly Lewis
When: May 13
Where: Fox Cabaret
Cost: $27
If Ennio Morricone and a tropical breeze had a love child… Molly Lewis brings her hypnotic whistling to the Fox Cabaret.
10. BLADES OF GLORY: Stars on Ice
When: May 13
Where: Rogers Arena
Cost: From $47
Olympic-level jumps, spins and drama—figure skating’s best hit the ice. Just maybe don’t say “break a leg.”
11. DANCING QUEENS: Six: The Musical
When: May 13 to 18
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Cost: From $238
Divorced, beheaded, live at the Queen E. The six wives of Henry VIII reclaim their stories—through pop bangers.
12. THE FEELS: The Music of Hans Zimmer and Others: A Celebration of Film Music
When: May 14
Where: Chan Centre for the Performing Arts
Cost: From $40
Hans Zimmer makes everything feel epic—even your Wednesday night. Just try not to cry when the Interstellar score hits.
13. JINGLE ALL THE WAY: Sleigh Bells
When: May 17
Where: Hollywood Theatre
Cost: From $46
The Brooklyn noise-pop duo storms the Hollywood Theatre with their signature explosive energy and genre-blurring bangers—plus some fresh tracks that, yes, sleigh. And that sleigh? All. Day.
14. WHEEEEE-KEND: Playland Opening Weekend
When: May 17 to 19
Where: PNE Fairgrounds
Cost: From $34
The season of deep-fried everything, acrobatic dogs and questionable stomach decisions is back! Kick off summer with all the thrills (and snacks) at the fairgrounds.
15. MELLOW YELLOW: Dope Lemon
When: May 19
Where: Malkin Bowl
Cost: $60
Indie surf-rock, golden-hour glow and peak festival vibes. You: peak main character energy. Your actual headliner? The porta-potty queue.
16. MIND FREAK: Champions of Magic: Chasing the Unbelievable
When: May 20 to 22
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Cost: From $55
Mind-bending illusions. Thrilling feats of wonder. Your kids asking “how did they do that?” the whole car ride home.
17. SAD GIRL INDIE: Rilo Kiley Reunion Tour
When: May 21
Where: Commodore Ballroom
Cost: $50
Cue the existential quarter-life crisis—indie darlings Rilo Kiley are back (after a 17-year hiatus). And if you know who they are, it’s time to use a retinol.
18. ELECTRIC NILS: Nils Frahm
When: May 22
Where: Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts
Cost: From $91
German post-classical genius? Check. Hauntingly beautiful soundscapes? Check. An excellent excuse to dress like a Berlin art student? Ja.
19. STARS AND STRIPES: Jack White
When: May 22 and 23
Where: Commodore Ballroom
Cost: Resale prices vary
The White of White Stripes himself—indie rock’s very own Emo Sweeney Todd—brings his signature raven mop and blues-soaked riffs to the Ballroom. A seven-nation army couldn’t hold me back… but these ticket prices just might (starting at $700!).
20. MOM JOKES: Julie Kim Comedy
When: May 24
Where: Vogue Theatre
Cost: From $44
Stopping back home for her Doing Too Much tour, Vancouver-based comedian (and local hero) Julie Kim juggles it all—comedy, TV, motherhood. Too much? Maybe. Hilarious? Absolutely.
21. CHILD’S PLAY: Vancouver International Children’s Festival
When: May 26 to June 1
Where: Granville Island
Cost: Kids, $13.50; adults, $23
A week’s worth of performances, workshops and activities for the kiddos that isn’t the iPad.
22. WHATEVER FLOATS YOUR BOAT: Vessi 500 Championship Dragon Boat Race
When: May 31
Where: False Creek
Cost: Free to attend
Speed, splash and spectacle—join over 100 teams at one of B.C.’s biggest dragon boat races—a.k.a. the tandem bike of the sea!
