Arts Club Theatre Company’s Presentation of You’re Just A Place That I Know

YOU’RE JUST A PLACE THAT I KNOW  

By Adrian Glynn McMorran
with Beverly Dobrinsky, Marlene Ginader,
Chelsea Rose Winsby and Sally Zori
Music and Lyrics by Adrian Glynn McMorran

January 21–February 1, 2026

The Arts Club Theatre Company’s presentation of You’re Just a Place That I Know, a theatrical concert by JUNO-nominated singer-songwriter Adrian Glynn McMorran, kicks off the new year at the intimate Olympic Village Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre.

Conceived by McMorran, You’re Just a Place That I Know is a remarkable theatrical concert based on his album of the same name. It traces the history of McMorran’s Ukrainian grandparents, who left their homeland during World War II to begin life anew in Montreal. The show powerfully evokes questions of ancestry and generational connection through song and story, both from McMorran and other members of the diverse 7-piece band, while a multigenerational choir fills the stage.

McMorran leans into the details of his grandparents’ story, from his 16-year-old grandmother being forced by Germans from her Carpathian village into indentured labour a thousand kilometers away to his grandfather folk-dancing to win cigarettes from impressed Allied soldiers in a refugee camp. But he realizes there was more to tell than just his own family’s narrative.

“It dawned on me that this band around me had their own incredible stories of ancestry and familial connections, so we branched out beyond just my own storytelling to look at ancestry through a broader lens, through some of their stories, too,” said McMorran. “These include stories about broken connections with parents and a search for innate ancestry, how some talents lie in the blood, and how our ancestors’ early lives have an effect on our relationships.”

Part theatrical work, part concert experience, this production presents the entire album as a song cycle with moments of storytelling and memories. The show is a tapestry of stories and songs examining ancestry and the immigrant experience, with music brought to life by guitars, strings, drums, piano, traditional Ukrainian instruments and the power of a full choir.

“This work beautifully combines music, storytelling, and raw emotion, highlighting Adrian’s incredible songwriting and lyrical craft,” said Ashlie Corcoran, Arts Club Theatre Company Artistic Director. “Adrian’s music speaks to universal human experiences; with its introspective themes, the piece touches on love, memory, ancestry, and the significance of the places we hold close. I’m excited to offer our audiences something fresh and different that pushes the boundaries of traditional theatre. Our Olympic Village Stage gives us an intimate, immersive environment that enhances the emotional depth of this piece.”

The production begins previews at the Olympic Village Stage on January 21, opens on January 23 and runs until February 1. Tickets are available through the Arts Club Theatre Company Box Office with prices starting at $29. Purchase tickets online or through the Box Office Call Line at 604.687.1644.

ABOUT THE CREATOR

Adrian Glynn McMorran is a songwriter based in Vancouver and has released more than 8 critically acclaimed albums, both solo and with his folk band, The Fugitives. He has been nominated for a Juno Award, multiple Western Canadian Music Awards, and multiple Canadian Folk Music Awards. Raised in Vancouver, McMorran received a BA in Theatre from the University of British Columbia and studied acting at New York’s Atlantic Theatre School. His first full-length record, Bruise, won him a nomination for Emerging Artist of the Year at the Canadian Independent Music Awards. He has been featured at many festivals across Canada and the UK and has opened for shows by artists including Glen Hansard, the Barr Brothers, and Joe Pug.

CAST

Adrian Glynn McMorran (Guitars/Vocals/Stories), Beverly Dobrinsky (Hurdy-Gurdy/Vocals/Stories), Marlene Ginader (Violin/Vocals/Stories), Cat Hiltz (Bass/Vocals), Martin Reisle (Cello/Banjo/Guitar/Vocals), Chelsea Rose Winsby (Vocals/Stories), Sally Zori (Drums/Vocals/Stories), Adam Kozak (Choir Conductor), Madeline Brown (Choir Captain), Sara Ramsay (Choir Captain), and The Righteous Ramshackle Chorus

CREATIVE

Marcus Youssef (Director & Dramaturg), Adrian Glynn McMorran (Creator & Musical Director), Parjad Sharifi (Lighting & Set Designer), Emma Hammond (Stage Manager)

ABOUT THE ARTS CLUB THEATRE COMPANY

The Arts Club Theatre Company is situated on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, in particular the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations, We invite you to reflect on your relationship to these lands.

The Arts Club is one of the largest not-for-profit theatre organizations in the country and is the principal gathering place for the theatrical arts in British Columbia. Comprising three unique venues across Vancouver, the Arts Club welcomes more than a quarter million guests annually, tours provincially and nationally, and engages students and artists alike through educational and professional programs.

Above all, the Arts Club is dedicated to the advancement of local artists telling stories from around the globe and, in particular, those of our region. From this, we believe that culture expands, an understanding of differences is nurtured, and art bursts forth. The Arts Club was founded in 1964 and is currently led by Artistic Director Ashlie Corcoran and Executive Director Peter Cathie White.

A not-for-profit registered charity · No., 11921 3551 RR0001

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