2023 Chutzpah! Festival

The Chutzpah Festival is a performing arts festival hosted by the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver at the Norman Rothstein Theatre each year.

In 2023 the festival takes place between November 2nd and November 23rd.

For the event’s official website, click Vancouver Chutzpah Festival.

Avia Moore-Krakow (Photo by Michał Ramus)

The Chutzpah! Festival

Pronounced with a silent “C” and featuring theatre, music and dance, the Chutzpah Festival, in recent years, has taken place between mid-February and mid-March. As of 2019, however, its dates have shifted from its usual spring season to the fall.

In 2023 the festival runs for three weeks from Thursday, November 2nd, until Thursday, November 23rd.

Chutzpah Festival Location

Chutzpah Festival performances take place primarily at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver’s 318-seat Norman Rothstein Theatre.

The Norman Rothstein Theatre is located at 950 West 41st Avenue in Vancouver.

Vancouver Jewish Community Centre — Norman Rothstein Theatre

About the Chutzpah Festival

The Chutzpah Festival draws talented musicians, comedians, dancers and actors from around the world including from Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States. Ticket prices range from $20 to around $75 depending on the show.

The Main Festival

Comedy, dance, music, theatre and multi-disciplinary performances for the 2023 season are listed below. In addition to the following events, there are also various workshops and special community programming for families to enjoy.

Note: Show times and details are subject to change.

Comedy Performances in 2023

The list of Chutzpah Festival comedy shows in 2023 is as follows:

The Debaters – a stand-up comedy debate starring Jacob Samuel, Charlie Demers and Kate Davis takes place at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre on November 2nd.
The Best of Israeli Comedy – this closing night event showcases some of the best stand-up comedians from Israel including Benji Lovitt, Yossi Tarablus, Deborah Kaye and Dana Perry Segal. It’s held at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre on November 23rd.

Dance Performances in 2023

Dance performances at the Chutzpah Festival in 2023 include the following:

Klezmer Dance Party – an event featuring Michael Winograd & The Honorable Mentshn (from the United States) as well as dance leader Avia Moore (from Canada) on November 5th.
Dance//Novella: When the Walls Come Down – a new dance and deaf theatre collaboration inspired by Caroline Hebert takes place at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre on November 8th and 10th.
Dance Double Bill – a double show featuring Maybe We Land by Meghann Michalsky and Katherine Semchuk, plus Edictum by Juan Villegas and Vanessa Goodman. Both take the stage back-to-back on November 15th and 16th at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.
DWELL – a new piece by All Bodies Dance Project about “home” through a Jewish lens shows at the Wosk Auditorium on November 19th.

Edictum - Juan Villegas — Edictum – Juan Villegas (photo by Camara Lucida)

Musical Performances in 2023

Concerts and musical performances at the Chutzpah Festival in 2023 include the following:

The Honorable Mentshn with Socalled – Michael Winograd and The Honorable Mentshn perform with special guest Josh “Socalled” Dolgin. The show runs on November 4th at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.
Nani Noam Vazana – the Israeli singer and songwriter performs songs in the endangered Ladino language on November 11th at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.
I Have My Mother’s Eyes – a new chamber opera about Chiune Sugihara by composer Rita Ueda premieres at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre on November 18th and 19th.
Taraf Syriana – Sergiu Popa, Naeem Shanwar, Omar Abou Afach and Noémy Braun are the master musicians performing at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre on November 21st.

For tickets and the event’s official website, click Vancouver Chutzpah Festival.

Theatre & Multi-Disciplinary in 2023

Theatre and multi-disciplinary performances at the Chutzpah Festival in 2023 include the following:

The Flame – Home Again at Chutzpah! – part of The Flame storytelling series, this event features Bukkie Adewuyi, Ying Ling, Spencer Danco and more on November 6th at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.
Where Do Stories Come From? – a live interdisciplinary collaboration featuring poetry, visual art, music and storytelling on November 12th.
FORGE – a multi-day performance piece by Rachel Mars at ie Creative Artworks. Rachel builds a new replica of the gate at Dachau in front of guests from November 16th to 19th.
Love Gets a Room – a film screening inspired by true events during 1942 takes place on November 20th at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.
The Narrow Bridge – a world premiere of an immersive theatre piece by the Pomarantz collective shows at the Zack Gallery from November 20th to 22nd.
Whistle – a monodrama theatre piece by Yaakov Buchan, Hanna Vazana Grunwald and Hadar Galron premieres at the Firehall Arts Centre on November 14th and 15th.