Get ready for a night at the fabulous Tyrant Studios at the historic Penthouse club on Seymour Street in downtown Vancouver. The Penthouse was home to some incredible and legendary talent back in the day. If you missed Ella Fitzgerald or Sammy David Jr. you have another chance to say "I was there when".

For two nights only, Pi Provocateurs Performance Presentation series is bringing you Velvet in the Gallows: Starring Donnie Nice Guy, Frank and Mama Blues.

Meeting these folks is like engaging in a wild collision of clown, bouffon, solo sketch, stand-up musical comedy. It could change your life. Or at least your night!

This is all happening at Tyrant Studios a jazz venue located on the second floor of the Penthouse Club. In fact, we'd like to mix and mingle so Pi and Tyrants are offering a special ticket price if you'd like to see Velvet in the Gallows as well as the fantastic jazz starting immediately after. Buy a double-feature ticket for both Velvet in the Gallows and Tyrant Studio’s jazz for just $35!

Both performances begin at 7:30 PM, with an approximate run time of 65 minutes.

Cast and Creative Team

Priscilla Costa, Frank

Priscilla Costa is a Vancouver-based clown-theatre artist raised — and still raising hell — in the soggy gutters of East Van. She transforms a life of hard knocks into absurd, heartfelt, and hilarious subversive performance. An internationally trained performer in clown, bouffon, sketch, improv, and acting, her work walks the tightrope between absurdity and emotional truth.

With over 25 years of training in clown, improvisation, and character-based performance, her screen and stage work is informed by film and television acting with Julian Paul and by the teachings of Keith Johnstone (Impro Theatresports), Kevin McDonald (Kids in the Hall), Philippe Gaulier (Master Clown Teacher), Massimo Agostinelli (Cirque du Soleil), Gina Bastone, and David MacMurray-Smith and Ian Wallace (Richard Pochinko Technique).

She is the creator of the solo ‘clown’ shows Mona Monaé and I’m Gonna Be Frank, and the sole founder and producer of Vancouver’s sold-out GutterClown Cabaret, what started as a cult-favourite night celebrating fearless, adults-only clown and comedy performance at a punk bar in East Vancouver. As a comedic performer and MC, she commands the room through a rotating cast of alter egos that turn any variety show into a wild, unruly ride.

Priscilla teaches clown and bouffon in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island and offers private coaching for artists developing original work and embodied stage presence. She brings an explosive mix of mischief, vulnerability, and rebellion to every stage she touches.

Colin Cowan, Donnie Nice Guy

Colin Cowan is a comedian, actor, writer & producer that's been going since 2001. Residing in Vancouver, yet born and raised in New Brunswick, his high energy sets can include anything from family, parenthood, age, dumb jokes, obscure observations, adolescent memories, crowd work, Canadian lore, to sex, drugs, identity, Trump, American politics, and dead-on deep cut impressions. Some past credits include every year of Just For Laughs Vancouver, NBC's Trial & Error, The Second City (Toronto), CBC's This Is That, The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Hubcap Comedy Festival, & Yuk Yuk’s On Tour.

An avid shape-shifter, he can be found performing standup comedy and obscure-character comedy regularly onstage at clubs & revues around Vancouver when he is not on the road. Colin is also the creator/owner of Vancouver's renowned comedy venue China Cloud Studios (est.2009) and the host of Vancouver's popular standup show Comedy World. You can find his most recent clips and debut comedy special 'Live to Tape' (2024) on YouTube and Instagram. He also recently produced upcoming specials for comedians Dylan Rhymer, Sophia Johnson, and Jacob Samuel's 2025 release 'Big Talk.

Jamie Dale Dickinson, Mama Blues

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