City Opera Vancouver Presents The Vancouver Premiere Of The Book of My Shames

"A persistent emptiness of heart drives a youth
from a restrictive fundamentalist commune to a passion for bad men."

City Opera Vancouver (COV) will present the Vancouver premier of The Book of My Shames by Isaiah Bell and Sean Guist at the Firehall Arts Centre on May 18, 19 and 20, 2023. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m.

ABOUT THE SHOW … The Book of My Shames is a touring, original one-man theatre production performed by Victoria-based tenor Isaiah Bell, co-created by Isaiah and director Sean Guist, with original words and music by Isaiah, accompanied by a four-person band.

In The Book of My Shames, a persistent emptiness of heart drives a youth from a restrictive fundamentalist commune to a passion for bad men, and on to a successful but strangely hollow life on the stage. Combining rapid-fire monologues and personal stories with an array of original music — chansons and ballads, cleverly touching cabaret songs, and expansive operatic scenas — this “comic, wrenching, and personal tour-de-force” reminds us that desire, rejection, shame, and the longing to be loved are themes common to us all. Isaiah just does it with operatic pathos and a wink, and possibly the most memorable use of a red plastic bucket you have yet to see.

Reviews of The Book of My Shames describe an experience that is “impossibly beautiful”, “poignant, thoughtful, raw and honest”, “touching, very funny, disturbing and sometimes quite revolting”, and a “fascinating creation”.

Venue: The Firehall Arts Centre / 280 East Cordova
Dates & Times: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday May 18, 19 & 20 at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $40 (taxes and service charges included) here

ABOUT THE ARTIST... Canadian tenor Isaiah Bell began his professional career as tenor in City Opera’s production of Benjamin Britten's Curlew River (2010), in the role of Madwoman, which led to a national career including lead roles with the Canadian Opera Company. More recently, Isaiah led COV's new English adaptation of The Human Voice (2021). More about Isaiah at www.isaiahbell.com.

ABOUT CITY OPERA … Among City Opera’s critically acclaimed productions and commissions are: Sumidagawa and Curlew River (2010) and Fallujah (2012) at UBC’s Frederic Wood Theatre; Pauline (2014) at the York Theatre; The Lost Operas of Mozart (2016) at Christ Church Cathedral; Missing (2017) at the York Theatre; Nigredo Hotel (2018) at the Historic Cultch; Berlin 1934: The Last Cabaret (2020) at Performance Works in the PuSh International Festival; and Chinatown (2022) at the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre.

Founded in 2006, City Opera is a professional chamber opera company, a registered non-profit society with federal tax status, and is governed by an elected board of directors. COV is a member of the Community Arts Council of Vancouver and a Community Partner of the Canadian Music Centre.

To learn more about City Opera visit www.cityoperavancouver.com.