Al Zylstra

Neighbourhood Block Party

Alex and I have started a tradition – an annual block party – which is held on the long weekend in July or the one in August. We had a great event this year with over 30 people in attendance. Phantom and Beau were in their glory!

Everyone who came to the party had to meet the gatekeepers and offer them a bribe to allow safe passage to the event – bribes were gleefully accepted.

Protected: Al and Alex’s 2nd annual get together

2023 Dragon Boat Festival

I cannot believe that the Dragon Boat Festival came and went so quickly! I didn’t get a chance to take a lot of photos or video this year. I was running between two stages, the indigenous pavilion, the Kid’s zone and all the while rushing to make sure that my performers were on stage in a timely manner. I had a glorious time! Put on almost 100,000 steps over three days!

Even the local fauna took in the event! This troupe was fearless! Ignoring every sign and just plowed through the crowds.

Every year, there is a ceremony to celebrate breast cancer survivors and this who lost their battle. Every year, the song, Meet you at the Light by Desiree Dawson is played and every year, you can find me crying. It is such an emotional song and so poignant. The quality of the video is not great as I was recording it off a giant video monitor. But, still truly moving.

This was my home for three amazing days! The weather was glorious and the crowds had so much fun! This is what a great festival is all about!

I can’t wait for next year! In the meantime, however, I have been hired as the Stage Manager for the Steveston Dragon Boat Festival on Saturday, August 19. Hope to see everyone down there!

It looks like it will be a fun filled day again with great music and exciting races.

Mixed week ….

This past week has been a true roller coaster of stuff.

The final performances of the show I am currently working on: Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun are happening this week. There are still tickets available for tonight, Friday’s Saturday and Sunday. If you want to see a great show with truly talented actors, this is it. If you want to buy tickets, click here.

I am stage managing the performances on Thursday and Friday.

Saturday and Sunday, I will be working at the Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival. This year marks my 15th year as the Stage Manager for the Music Festival which runs during the weekend.

Saturday, June 24

Sunday, June 25

I encourage anyone who is in the Lower Mainland to come down and check out what has become, one of Vancouver’s best and diverse festivals.

I had to say goodbye this week to three of our finned friends. They struggled with health issues for a while and no treatments, medication or rehabilitation attempts seemed to improve their overall health. I am sad about their passing but, I know that they are no longer suffering.

Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun

This is my latest project as a Stage Manager and I am so proud of this production. What an amazing cast and Crew!

Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun by Norm Foster is our final show of the season, a tender look at how real people can endure hardships with humour and kindness.

A thirty-five-year-old man with the mental capacity of a seven-year-old, meets a pregnant young woman in crisis, and the two form a lasting friendship. A story about people finding the nerve to take responsibility, and about persevering against the odds. One of Norm Foster’s most touching plays, about a man who must learn to let go to move on.

Directed by Don Briard. Don directs at many theatres around the lower mainland and has directed several shows on our stage, including most recently Over the River and Through the Woods, in which he also performed.

I hope you can get out and see this show. https://www.whiterockplayers.ca/kissthemoontickets

Mom and Dad’s anniversary

Today is my parent’s wedding anniversary. They were married on June 8, 1949

It was a grand affair. Family members from both sides put on their finest and celebrated what would be a marriage that lasted 53 years before my dad passed in 2003.

April Blues

Today is April 21 – my father was born on this day in 1920 –

Tomorrow – April 22 is the day that my mom passed away. She was born February 12, 1928.

There are so many times that I wish I could just call them just one more time to tell them how much they are missed.

My newest project

I have been working with Vagabond Players Society since just before the pandemic hit and I have to tell you that working with this group has been a real treat. I have been able to learn so much at this theatre from running sound and lighting boards, to learning about producing. It has all been there for me to absorb and revel in.

My newest project is one that I have been looking forward to for three years.

“Laughter on the 23rd Floor” is Neil Simon’s homage to his days as a writer for Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows,” where he worked alongside Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Larry Gelbart, and other zanies of television’s Golden Age.

Set in 1953, this Simon play explodes with “colorful” language (“f” bombs), verbal assaults and wicked office pranks.

Warning: Contains mature content and coarse language.

Directed by Miles Lavkulich

To order tickets: Click here

One brief taste of how absolutely hilarious this show is

Hope to see you all there!

My last Stage Managing Gig

I just finished my latest Stage Managing gig with Delta Stageworks – What a great time. The show only had four performances but, each one was well attended. The cast was so much fun to work with, the crew was AMAZING. I learned so much from each of them. Hope I get to work with all of them again in the future. Check out the closing credits of the show