Touchstone Theatre and Pacific Theatre’s play of faith, family and sexuality, Prodigal Son by Shawn Macdonald, and Firehall Arts Centre’s neo-Brecthian absurdist melodrama Urinetown The Musical by Mark Hollmann and Greg Kotis, led the way with nine nominations each at the 24th annual Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards nomination party. The two plays will compete in the large theatre category for outstanding production along with The Diary of Anne Frank, Little Mercy’s First Murder and Studies in Motion. The nominees for large and small theatre categories and theatre for young audiences were announced at a red carpet mingler held at the Granville Island Revue Stage. Ruby Slippers’ The Leisure Society and Overdrive Productions’ How I Learned to Drive dominated the small theatre categories with five nominations each. Statues will be handed out June 19 at the Commodore Ballroom.

The Vancouver Opera closed the season on several high notes. First, 400 supporters of the acclaimed opera company checked out the kaleidoscope of sights and sounds at Bravo! The signature black tie soiree held at the Rocky Mountaineer Station featured a sumptuous sit-down dinner, live auction and the musical talents of I Cantori Cinque. Proceeds from the swish event benefited the company’s mainstage productions as well as their education and community programs.

Second, longtime opera supporter Martha Lou Henley pledged another leading gift of $1 million to the arts organization’s operating fund, foundation and the commission of a new opera. In 2002, Henley contributed $1 million to the Martha Lou Henley Orchestra Endowment. The new work, Lillian Alling, by composer John Estacio and librettist John Murrell, will receive its world premiere during the 2009-2010 Season.

The fat lady has sung.

Hong Kong shipping tycoon Simon K.Y. Lee gave UBC $4 million towards the creation of an international student residence and cultural centre.

Outgoing UBC president Martha Piper made the announcement at a luncheon on the Point Grey campus.

Olympic Gold Medalist Mark Tewksbury was recently in Vancouver to promote his latest book Inside Out: Straight Talk from a Gay Jock and to speak to high school students about homophobia.

French designer Sacha Lakic flew in from Paris to launch his inaugural line of ’60s inspired furniture at the Roche-Bobois showroom. Born from a collaboration and friendship between the furniture icon and Lakic, the dynamic and ultra-sleek Speed Up collection of furniture was revealed to local designers at an after hours cocktail reception.
There was no shortage of celebrity sightings in the city. Daryl Hannah has been seen making a splash while filming up here in Hollywood North.

At Brix Restaurant and Wine Bar Wedding Crashers Owen Wilson was dining with Ben Stiller and his wife Christine Taylor.

Have an event, opening or just plain gossip you’d like to share or something cool, hot or trendy you’d like to show off? Email me at yvrflee@hotmail.com. Fred’s weekly funcast Stepping Out can be heard every Monday morning on CBC’s The Early Edition.