The first time I went to a dinner party at Itai’s was more than 20 years ago. I knew Itai Erdal from the theatre community, I’d been impressed by his beautiful work as a lighting designer, had been introduced by mutual friends, and we would say hi in the lobby at opening nights, but we had never hung out. At the dinner party, there was a mix of people I knew slightly and people I didn’t know at all, but at the end of an evening of delicious food, lively conversation and an impromptu screening of a film school project of Itai’s—a visually sumptuous montage of candy production in a chocolate factory—I made a mental note to always say yes to any future invitation from this amazing host.
Fortunately, I’ve had plenty of opportunities in the intervening decades. Itai’s dinner parties are legendary, not because they are fancy or glamorous, but because you never know who you might meet there. Itai knows everyone, and he’s eager to introduce people to each other—whether they’re a theatre legend from out of town or an emerging arts administrator fresh out of school.
Many of us have watched our kids grow up at these parties—have, in fact, relied on Itai’s dinner parties to provide a social life for us in the early years of parenting when it was impossible to organize one for ourselves. And now Itai and Susan’s son, Ilan, is the little one running around among the adults, making friends with everyone. Just like his dad.
-Written by Kathleen Oliver, friend
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Which neighbourhood are you in?
Fairview (Granville and 12th). I work a lot on Granville Island and at the Stanley Theatre and my partner works at Bard on the Beach so this is a perfect location for us. I was on Commercial Drive for 19 years and I will always be an East Van guy but this is home now.
What do you do?
I am a lighting designer, a writer and a performer. Mostly – I design lights for theatre, dance and opera. I’ve designed over 350 shows in 44 different cities.
What are you currently working on?
Today I am designing The Prop Master’s Dream for Vancouver Cantonese Opera at the Playhouse.
Where can we find your work?
I work all over town. I have three Arts Club shows coming up in the next few months and I am also designing two shows at the Cultch this season and performing in one. For more info, check here.
