About Us

Jurgen Gothe

Jurgen Gothe is one of Canada’s best-known media personalities and one of the country’s foremost commentators on food and drink. He explores wines and spirits, food and restaurants, music and leisure in all media — locally, nationally and internationally.

He is best known to a vast number of Canadians (and even more American listeners who tune in regularly, along the 49th paralell and on the Internet) for his award-winning afternoon drive-home program DiscDrive, now in its 22nd consecutive year on CBC Radio Two. He remains the network’s only three-time gold medal-winning host, with awards from the New York International Radio Festival.

He has spent three full seasons co-hosting the national food and wine television program Simply Wine & Cheese and its sequel series A Taste of Home. He also wrote the first season of the successful Food Network program New Classics with Chef Rob Feenie.

He remains actively involved in various corporate endeavours including video production, corporate identity make-over projects, importing and the marketing of organic condiments and food products. He also continues to be in demand as a judge at wine competitions at the international level.

Jurgen Gothe has published four books, including two cookbooks and four compilation CDs, and is currently the wine and spirits columnist for The Georgia Straight and Food & Wine Editor for NUVO Magazine, as well as being heard twice daily, seven days a week, on CKBD Radio with his lifestyle capsules Vancouver Flavours.

Kirk Elliott

Kirk Elliott is a musician and composer from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He has composed, recorded and performed music for the National Ballet, the National Film Board, the Discovery Channel, Danny Grossman Dance, the Toronto Consort, and CBC radio and television.

Kirk traveled throughout Canada and the United States for 15 years playing fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, accordion, flute, harp, bass, bagpipes, percussion and trombone with Sharon, Lois and Bram's Elephant Show, appearing at such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Palace Theatre on Broadway, and Paramount Studios in Los Angeles.

As musical director of GYNTY, a Theatre Columbus production, he was nominated for a DORA AWARD. Last year, Kirk and his friend Magoo received an INDIE AWARD for best children's album. Most recently, Kirk has written music for The Miracle Worker (Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People), and Celesta Found (Wild Zone Films for CBC TV).

Kirk has a Bachelor of Music degree from Queen's University in Kingston Ontario, where he studied violin, electronic and early music.

Photo: Donna Griffith

Andy Toth

Having directed/co-directed Quintessence Musical Theatre Projects critical successes Assassins and The Fantasticks, Andy has been busy with his voiceover career, several writing and directing projects, and the development of Quintessence Musical Theatre.

Past local shows include Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins (QMTP) The Rocky Horror Show (Arts Club) Faces of Love (Stepping Stones) and as Charlie Brown in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown as a guest artist at Capilano College.

With Horse Raven Theatre, Andy has had the rewarding experience of performing for over 1 year in the 10-year smash hit Tony ‘n Tina's Wedding, and also in Terrence McNally's Corpus Christi and as Balthazaar in Balthazaar and the Mojo Star.

Andy is originally from Hamilton, Ontario where he began his training at the Theatre Aquarius Summer Theatre School. He went on to study musical theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.

Rachel Bland

Thrilled to be part of UYG, a production outside of her usual theatre realm. Rachel is returning fresh from Europe where she took in some fine wines herself.

Most recently Rachel has Assistant Stage Managed the Shear Madness Tour and Cookin’ at the Cookery with the Arts Club Theatre. Last year she kept herself busy with Cabaret at the Arts Club Theatre and Don Giovanni with Vancouver Opera.

Other favorite credits include: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Arts Club), Turandot (VOA), Hamlet and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Bard on the Beach), Streetcar Named Desire (CTF), Ruthless (Ophidian Entertainment).

Rachel also completed a 13 month apprenticeship program at Chemainus Theatre Festival.

Stephen Bulat

Stephen is a producer, musical director, composer, musician, recording engineer, guitar technician, sound and lighting designer - and also runs Mix Media Productions.

Credits include, as a musical director: The Rocky Horror Show, West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Jessie Richardson Awards, Godspell, The Wiz and the Vancouver premiere of Hedwig & The Angry Inch.

He has sound designed for such theatre companies as Bard on the Beach, The Stanley Theatre, The Arts Club Theatre, Hoarse Raven Theatre, The Shameless Hussies and Pacific Theatre. He has been nominated for a Jessie Richardson Award 3 times.

As a sound engineer and producer he has recorded a diverse range of ensembles including the barbershop quartet “Realtime”, the progressive metal band “Apnea” the Balanese group “Gita Gat Amela”, “The Melodious Mandolins” and “The Vancouver Cast Recording of The Rocky Horror Show”.

He has written original music for various documentaries and films, including the feature films Bar None and Subhuman. Stephen has also written the music for two musical adaptations of classic children’s tales, Peter Pan and Cinderella.

Derek Mack

Derek has spent the last ten years working in the live entrainment industry as a Production Manager and Technical Director.

Derek occupies his time as the Technical Director at The Norman Rothstein Theatre in Vancouver, and was most recently the Production Manager and Technical Director for In the Company Of… productions of “Night of the Iguana” and “Summer and Smoke”.

Born in Scotland, Derek moved to Canada at an early age, spending his formative years in Red Deer AB. After graduating with a diploma in Theatrical Stage Arts from Red Deer College, Derek set out seeking adventure and a career.

He eventually moved to Vancouver and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of British Columbia.

A confessed workaholic, Derek continues to seek out opportunities at every turn.

David Evans

Born and raised in the lower mainland, David can often be found providing creative services to clients via his design & portfolio site, www.davevans.ca.

Working with Grapes of Gothe Productions, he helped designed the Up Your Glass! logo, magazine and cinema ads, poster, postcards, website, and numerous other promotional pieces for the event.

In addition to graphic / web design, David's other passions include video production, music composition, voiceover, playing & teaching drums, performing live with bands, weight training, sports, and much more.

In 2003, David won the JTTP award for his electro-acoustic music piece "The Voice of Angels", and in 2005 his 48hr Great Canadian Commercial Contest submission entitled "Tied Up" was selected by the BC SPCA for public broadcast.

David holds a Senior Certificate in Applied New Media from BCIT and a BA in Communications (Publishing Minor) from Simon Fraser University.

Looking forward, he hopes to pursue further creative partnerships and career avenues in advertising, film, music, and new media.

Bridge Communications

Bridge Communications specializes in developing customized strategies and tools to fit each client’s unique needs and aspirations.

We offer an array of professional services that are innovative and thought provoking. We are not boring men in suits! Ok we are not men!

What we are is a team of creative, experienced people who will help put your show on the map.

Our approach is direct, understandable and action-oriented. We are focused on producing results And having fun while we are doing it.

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