In a wide ranging chat, Jerry Wasserman, theatre critic for The Province, actor, professor of English and Theatre at the University of British Columbia, and editor of Vancouverplays.com, talked with Joseph Planta about his website, being a theatre critic, and the vibrancy of the arts scene in Vancouver.

Noted historian and bestselling author Jean Barman talked with Joseph Planta about her latest book Stanley Park’s Secret: The Forgotten Families of Whoi Whoi, Kanaka Ranch and Brockton Point (Harbour, 2005), a fascinating book about inhabitants of the park who were displaced in order to create the constructed ideal of an urban oasis.

Jonathan Ross of TDH Strategies, a communciations and public policy firm, talked with Joseph Planta about all matter of politics–from Christy Clark’s political future after losing the NPA mayoralty nomination, to the future of Larry Campbell as a senator, to the federal scene about a Martin cabinet shuffle, Pierre Pettigrew, and Stephen Harper’s grasp of the leadership of the Conservative Party.

One Day/One Life is the latest production from the folks at The Broadway Chorus. They’re director Ashley Lambert-Maberly talked to Joseph Planta about what to expect when the show runs from Wednesday, June 29th to Saturday, July 2nd at the Waterfront Theatre on Granville Island; as well as the state of Broadway musicals in New York and beyond. For tickets and information visit http://www.onceupon.org, or call 778.322.7182.

Independent journalist John Twigg from BCPOLITICS.COM joined Joseph Planta again to look at politics in British Columbia and federally as we head into the summer season. Topics discussed include: the future of electoral reform, Gordon Campbell’s cabinet, the NDP caucus, the appointment of Jessica McDonald as head of the provincial civil service, and Stephen Harper and his leadership of the Conservative Party.

Co-creator, producer, and head writer of the new CTV series Robson Arms, Susin Nielsen talked with Joseph Planta, about the locally set and shot series with a remarkable cast of Canadian talent, including such stars as John Cassini, William B. Davis, Shirley Douglas, Alisen Down, Fred Ewanuick, Perry Finnbogason, Megan Follows, Colin Foo, Margot Kidder, Mark McKinney, Kevin McNulty, Jane McGregor, Tobias Mehler, Gabrielle Miller, David Richmond-Peck, Zak Santiago, and more.

Steven Wong was a gangster who walked the streets of Vancouver’s Chinatown with impunity, and throughout Asia even after he supposedly died in 1992. Bestselling author Terry Gould tells Joseph Planta the fascinating story of how he befriended Wong, and how for the past decade or so he’s tried to find Wong in a hunt that’s stretched from Canada to Macau, to Cambodia, to The Philippines, where Wong staged his death. Gould’s remarkable book is Paper Fan: The Hunt for Triad Gangster Steven Wong (Vintage, 2005).

Theatre in the Raw’s Artistic Director Jay Hamburger talks to Joseph Planta about their latest production, The Inspector General. Listen to Jay talk about the show, which opens June 15th to the 18th, and the 22nd to the 26th at the Ukrainian Hall, as well as his thoughts on the local theatre scene. (For more information call: 604.708.5448.)

Christopher Gaze, the Artistic Director of Bard on the Beach, talked with Joseph Planta about William Shakespeare, and the forthcoming 16th season which bows under the tents at Vanier Park in Vancouver, June 2nd to September 25th, 2005.

Vancouver comedian and performer Tom Chin talked with Joseph Planta about the Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre’s 3rd Annual Asian Sketch Comedy Competition, Sketchoff!#$!!, which is on at the Roundhouse this Friday and Saturday night. The performers include three of North America’s finest ‘hyphenated-Asian’ comedy teams: LA OPM, The Kupps, and Assaulted Fish. Call 604.713.1800 for more information; or check out http://www.vact.ca.