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

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

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 2022 the festival runs from Thursday, November 3rd, until Thursday, November 24th.

Chutzpah Festival Location

In years when there isn’t a global pandemic, 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 usually range from $24 to around $60.

The Main Festival

Comedy, dance, music, theatre and multi-disciplinary performances for the 2022 season are listed below. In addition to the following events, there are also various public outreach programs and special daytime performances for families to enjoy.

Note: Show times and details are subject to change.

Comedy Performances in 2022

The list of Chutzpah Festival comedy shows in 2022 are as follows:

Joel Chasnoff – a clever Israeli-American comedian who has performed at over one thousand events and has opened for Jon Stewart. The show features special guest Talia Reese and takes place at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre on November 16th.
Celebrating Queer Jewish Comedy – this show features Liz Glazer with “THE HOLY SISTERS” Drag Queens from Israel. The celebration of pride and diversity is hosted by Yenta on November 24th at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.

Dance Performances in 2022

Dance performances at the Chutzpah Festival in 2022 include the following:

Ne.Sans Opera and Dance – a world premiere of Hourglass set to a Phillip Glass composition at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre. Shows run on November 5th and 6th.
Alexis Fletcher & Arash Khakpour – a collaborative performance combining literature, visual arts and dance premieres on November 9th and 10th at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.
Dance Double Bill – a double show featuring Ghost Scripts by Shay Kuebler and James Proudfoot, plus the world premiere of Echo Chamber by Vanessa Goodman and Action at a Distance. Both take the stage back to back on November 21st and 22nd at the Norman Rothstein Theatre.

Drag Queens Ziona Patriot & Talula Bonet (The Holy Sisters) — The Holy Sisters Drag Queens

Musical Performances in 2022

Concerts and musical performances at the Chutzpah Festival in 2022 include the following:

Joan Beckow Legacy Project – Jessica and Wendy Bross Stuart direct a Canadian ensemble in a tribute to Joan Beckow. The show runs on November 13th at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.
Music at the Center of the River – David Buchbinder, Mark Rubin and Michael Ward-Bergeman are the Canadian and American master musicians performing at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre on November 17th.
Liraz – Israeli singer and songwriter Liraz Charhi performs modern music with Persian sounds on November 23rd at Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.

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

Theatre & Multi-Disciplinary in 2022

Theatre and multi-disciplinary performances at the Chutzpah Festival in 2022 include the following:

Yanki & Der Beanstalk – a holiday-themed pantomime co-created by Tamara Micner with rice & beans theatre as part of the DBLSPK program. The show is on November 7th at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.
Home Again at Chutzpah! – part of The Flame storytelling series, this special event features Mark Leiren-Young, Dallas Yellowfly, Panthea Vatandoost and more on November 12th at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre.
Wild Country – a Canadian premiere of Edith Tankus’ Wild Country on November 20th and 21st at the SFU Goldcorp Centre for Arts.
Site: Yizkor – a multimedia collaboration by Maya Ciarrocchi and Andrew Conkin features a musical performance at the Norman & Annette Rothstein Theatre on November 19th. There are also various workshops and an art installation at the Sidney & Gertrude Zack Gallery from November 10th to the 19th.

Special Early Performances in 2022

While the official dates for the 2022 festival are November 3rd to 24th, there were two shows at the Norman Rothstein Theatre that kicked off the fall season in September.

The first was Take This Waltz which showed on September 10th and 11th at 8:00 pm. This production was done in partnership with both the Vancouver Opera and Pacific Opera Victoria and included singing, dancing and visual effects. The show was the brainchild of Idan Cohen of Ne. Sans Opera & Dance and was a celebration of the work of Canadian artist Leonard Cohen.

The second special event starred Gili Yalo on September 24th at 8:00 pm. He is an Israel-based musician who combines English, Hebrew and Amharic into his music with Ethiopian influences. Expect a fusion of reggae, funk, soul and jazz.

Tickets to both of these shows cost $40 for adults and around $35 for seniors and students.