A Celebration of the life of Lloyd Nicholson

The Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company, Royal City Musical Theatre and Studio 58 will lead the Vancouver arts community in a Memorial and Celebration of the life of Lloyd Nicholson on Monday, October 26 at the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre (Hamilton & Dunsmuir) beginning at 7pm. 

Lloyd Nicholson passed away unexpectedly on October 14 in Ottawa. He was working on the remount of the Playhouse’s production of The Drowsy Chaperone at the National Arts Centre.

In addition to his many productions with the Playhouse, Mr. Nicholson was Artistic Director of Royal City Musical Theatre and was on the faculty of Studio 58, where he also served as musical director for many productions.

October 14, 2009, Vancovuer, BC

…Max Reimer, Artistic Managing Director, announced with deep regret today that musical director Lloyd Nicholson passed away unexpectedly this morning in Ottawa. Mr. Nicholson was working on the remount of the Playhouse's production of The Drowsy Chaperone at the National Arts Centre, which is scheduled to open on Friday, October 16. Mr. Nicholson was set to musical direct Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on his return to Vancouver later this month

Lloyd was the personification of musical theatre in Vancouver, said Mr. Reimer, a longtime colleague and friend of Mr. Nicholson.  I've known and worked with him for 25 years and his knowledge of and passion for the artform was a continual source of inspiration for me.

In addition to his many productions with the Playhouse, including Oliver! and Fiddler on the Roof,  Mr. Nicholson was Artistic Director of Royal City Musical Theatre and was on the faculty of Studio 58, where he also served as musical director for many productions.

The Drowsy Chaperone, which earned multiple Jessie Richardson awards this June and a nomination for Mr. Nicholson for significant achievement in musical direction, marked a pinnacle in his exceptional career. Lisa Lambert, who wrote the music and lyrics for The Drowsy Chaperone, was so impressed with his musical arrangements that she recommended that the Melbourne Theatre Company contact Mr. Nicholson for advice on the Australian premiere. As well, the NAC/Citadel remount gave him a triumphant return to Edmonton, where he began his life in theatre at the University of Alberta.

As great a loss as this is to our community, Mr. Reimer said, I am so grateful that Lloyd was doing what he loved most and having a wonderful time with the Drowsy Chaperone company when he passed away. I've never seen him so happy and relaxed, and I'm thrilled that he lived long enough to receive this national and international recognition for his work.