Weezer

GET READY TO ROCK

“Geek” becomes chic when Californian alt-rock band Weezer plays GM Place (Oct. 10). The rockers with the nerdy-boy image craft catchy songs, such as chart-toppers “Beverly Hills” and “Buddy Holly.” Fellow alternative group Angels & Airwaves and Canadian indie-rock darling Tokyo Police Club kick off the night. ~Kristina Urquhart

Madonna

MADONNA

OCTOBER 30

The Material Girl turned 50 recently, but age isn’t stopping her from donning sexy costumes and touring the world. When she performs at BC Place Stadium this month, it will be Her Madgesty’s first concert ever in Vancouver. We’ve obviously been anxious to see her: the 60,000-seat stadium sold out in minutes.

The History Boys

Image © David Cooper

LIVE ON STAGE

Autumn is here, which means local theatres are filled with thespian delights. Alan Bennett’s award-winning The History Boys (pictured) crackles with deadpan humour at the Arts Club Granville Island Stage (to Oct 25). Cyrano de Bergerac, that classic tale of yearning, is revived at The Stanley (Oct. 23 to Nov. 23). And at the Vancouver Playhouse (to Oct. 4), Frost/Nixon recreates the fascinating interviews between Richard Nixon and journalist David Frost.

David Copperfield

A TOUCH OF MAGIC

David Copperfield returns this month for seven performances of magic and illusions at The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts (Oct. 23 to 26). He answered a few of our most burning question by email.

Where: Which is your favourite illusion?

DC: A lot of my illusions come from my dreams, some from nightmares and I am known to be partial to the beach, so one of my favourite illusions in this show is an illusion where I transport a very special person in the audience to a faraway tropical island right before everyone’s eyes, and they see it all happening LIVE via satellite when we arrive.

Where: Can you tell us about an illusion that went horribly wrong?

DC: Yes, I still have this vivid memory of the time I did one of the old standbys of magic, the cutting-the-rope-in-half trick. On this occasion I had a new and very sharp pair of scissors, and as I was cutting the rope, I snipped off the tip of my finger. I said to the audience, “Excuse me, I just cut off the end of my finger,” which got a huge laugh since they thought it was a part of the show. I headed off the stage to the hospital and had it sewn back on and returned an hour later to finish the performance.

Where: What motivates you to keep touring?

DC: I do over 500 shows a year so obviously I love the art of magic. Each show is always unique, with so many random members of the audience participating. The thrill of moving people emotionally, the way Steven Spielberg and George Lucas do with the art of film, always makes me strive to achieve the seemingly impossible.

Where: What are you looking forward to on this trip to Vancouver?

DC: It is such a gorgeous city and the audiences are just over-the-top enthusiastic for the magic I perform how can I NOT be eager to return year after year?

CATS

Image © Joan Marcus

CATS

OCTOBER 7 TO 12

Mr. Mistoffelees, Rum Tum Tugger, Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer - all of your favourite singing and dancing felines are back, looking just as graceful as when Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical debuted in London in 1981. It ran there for more than two decades. But don’t dally now: the talented kitties are here for just six days, at The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts.