Welcome to Theatre Alberta’s staff blog – our little corner of the web where share some insight into the inner workings of Theatre Alberta and tidbits of what’s happening out in the community. We hope you enjoy!
REELING: Dance on Screen is a series of film screenings presented by Mile Zero Dance, every second year. Each time the breadth, scope, and quality improves greatly along with technical knowhow, as the form expands and more filmmakers become aware of dance as a viable medium.
Dancers across the planet have been working within constraints as they make work, alone at home or in vast locations. This year’s curation has a strong theme of cultural representation, and many of the selected pieces carry support for Black Lives Matter or involve dancers existing and occupying city spaces, and are from countries including Brazil, Cuba, Tokyo, Nigeria and more!
With over 1,000 international submissions received in 2021, our judges and curators are very excited to share their favorite selection of dance films that celebrate diverse bodies and abilities, dances that take over buildings and environments, and dances that take minimalism and the body to new artistic levels.
Also as part of the festival, local film maker Shawn Tse will host two open panel discussions on Facebook to discuss the evolving medium of dance on film. Everyone is welcome!
Schedule of Events
MAY 13 at 12PM Panel Discussion Dance Film Organizer Panel What is Dance Film and where do organizers think it is going? A discussion about making space with Dance Film. Join the Event on Facebook.
MAY 20 at 6PM Panel Discussion Dynamite screening and Conversation With Creators (Leila Jarman & Maceo Paisley) and Edmonton/Canadian Artists Join the Event on Facebook.
MAY 14, 21 at 7PM Screenings | CO-PRESENTED BY METRO CINEMA Online Different screenings each day! Free or by donation
MAY 29 at 10 PM Finale | CO-PRESENTED BY BONNIE DOON MALL A socially distanced drive-in movie screening $25 per car
The Rosebud performing arts cohort is excited to share with you Leanna Brodie’s For Home and Country.
“An unlikely friendship between a modern, urban single mother trying to start a new life and a farmwife in rural Ontario, is highlighted by a patchwork quilt of stories and songs honoring the Women’s Institute of Canada throughout the last century.”
You can stream this performance live from the Opera House stage beginning April 30th.
And by the way, we miss our patrons! Our hearts yearn to gather again and share story. We look forward to the day when we will throw open the doors of our theatre, dining room and small arts town to welcome you back in person! Until then, enjoy this beautiful story, remain hopeful, and stay tuned for our exciting outdoor summer plans.
Sticks and Stones – The Stories We Carry Beneath Our Skin, a devised movement show with live music. This collaborative offering features our first year students and their original choreography.
Catch the live-stream, April 22-24, or see it on demand between April 27 – May 1. More information at: Rosebudschoolofthearts.com
Rosebud Alive!, features the Rosebud School of the Arts choir and will be live-streamed Wednesday, April 14th at 7:30pm. In addition to lively choral music, this event will include small ensembles, dance, and story to bring joy and reflection in this transitional time. Join us by going to rosebudtheatre.com and clicking “support-us”. All proceeds are tax deductible and go directly to supporting Rosebud School of the Arts.
Saturday, April 17 & Sunday, April 18, 2021 1:00 – 4:00 PM both days
In this hands-on workshop participants will explore the role of the director in taking a production from the page to the stage. Participants will investigate creating a director’s vision, auditioning and casting a show, and developing their own rehearsal process. No previous directing experience is required! Just show up ready to play and have fun.
About the instructor:
Jacqueline (she/her) is a director, performer, creator and clown. With her co-conspirator Jed Tomlinson she has created and toured two full-length clown shows, The Sama Kutra & Hushabye, to festivals across the country. She was the Artistic Producer of Urban Curvz Theatre from 2011-2015, the 2013-14 RBC Emerging Director at Lunchbox Theatre, and the Artistic Producer for Evergreen Theatre from 2008-2013. She has directed for Evergreen Theatre, Calgary Opera, New West Theatre, Lunchbox Theatre, Urban Curvz, Keyano College, Calgary Young People’s Theatre, the University of Calgary, and Inside Out Theatre. She recently completed her MFA in Theatre Studies at the University of Calgary and is currently teaching clown and mask at Ambrose University.
This workshop is FREE to attend and will take place via Zoom. If you are interested in registering for this workshop, please email [email protected].
** Participants should be prepared to do a bit of work outside of class between the Saturday and Sunday session.
Playwrights Projects 2021: First Reading NEXT WEEK!
A series of live virtual workshop readings of new Canadian plays in development April 16 – May 28
Playwrights Projects 2021 kicks off NEXT WEEK! Seven weeks of concurrent digital workshops (from April 16 to May 28) featuring seven online workshop readings of plays by members of the 2021 Playwrights Unit.
Tickets are only $10 per reading – this is an incredible opportunity to get in on the ground floor of some outstanding new Canadian plays!
The first workshop reading is next Friday, April 16: Ten by Jason Maghanoy!
Join us on Dirty Laundry’s first foray into the world of online improv with our miniseries, Dirty Laundry Goes to Space!
About this Event
Houston, we have a problem! Dirty Laundry is going to space and who knows what that means for the sake of the human race. Our talented Improvisers will be sent out into the black void of space in search for adventure. Will they finally find new life, how many intergalactic battles will be fought and is the moon actually made out of cheese? Whether you’re watching from earth or light years away, you won’t want to miss this.
Dirty Laundry’s launch date is set for April 5th at 7:00 and will be broadcasted across the galaxy through Zoom. Be sure to catch all our episodes every Monday April 5th-May 3rd.
Since we’re testing this format out, we’d love you to join us for any episodes you can make from wherever you are in the universe. Tickets are free or by donation. The Zoom link will be sent to you no later than 1 hour before the event.
Seventh Anniversary Playwright Readings April 11 at 7:30pm
We’re celebrating another year! April is our seventh anniversary, so we’ve gathered the following fabulous Edmonton playwrights to help us celebrate. Please welcome to our online stage: Belinda Cornish, Althea Cunningham, Blaine Newton, Liam Salmon, and the writing team of May Kharaghani and Eric Rice.
In addition we’ll be saying thank you and best wishes to Tracy Carroll, who is leaving Script Salon after four wonderful years. Tracy is now co-Artistic Director of Concrete Theatre. We will miss you, Tracy!
These playwright readings are sponsored by and with thanks to the Play Connects program at the Playwrights Guild of Canada, supported by the Canada Council for the Arts.
Belinda Cornish
Belinda is an actor and playwright based in Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton). Her previously produced plays include Little Elephants (Shadow Theatre) and Category E (The Maggie Tree Theatre, The Coal Mine Theatre), both of which won Sterling Awards for Outstanding New Play; Category E was subsequently published by Playwrights’ Canada Press. Her most recent play, The Garneau Block (based on Todd Babiak’s beloved novel) was due to be produced at the Citadel Theatre in March 2020, and is currently on hold – the set is still standing on the Maclab stage, waiting…She is currently working on a new play – Hiraeth – with director Rachel Peake, which will hopefully go into production later this year. Belinda is also the co-Artistic Producer of Teatro La Quindicina. In her spare time, she volunteers with WILDNorth wildlife rescue, and encourages you to check out their website – wildnorth.ca – they do amazing work!
Althea Cunningham
Althea Cunningham is a seasoned performer and graduate of the Theatre Arts Program at Grant MacEwan University. She is an established actor with appearances in theatres across Canada. She also does television and film. She is interarts and works in; writing, acting, producing and music.
Sunkiss To Death, the (full length) version of Sunkiss. Sunkiss, was produced in Chicago at the Snapshots 10 minute play Festival in the summer of 2017. Sweet An Nice, is her other full- length work currently in development it’s had two readings. The first reading was at DaPoPo Script Series in Halifax, and the second reading was at Script Salon in Edmonton in 2017.
Her short plays Brown Suga and Colour Blind have been produced by Workshop West Playwrights Theatre. Excerpts from Sweet An Nice and The System have been produced by Sarasvati Productions in Winnipeg between 2017 and 2019. The System is a (one act) play; the themes are marginalized youth and child care services. The System employs spoken-word poetry and hip hop as part of the narrative and is in development. Althea is also a contract playwriting and acting instructor.
2020 was the year of her first commissioned (2 Metres) play by Hip Hop In The Park. 2 Metres is about our global pandemic.
In 2010, she independently released a debut soul music ep On The Verge,which received international airplay and critical acclaim. You can visit her at nappyrootsconsolidated.ca.
May Kharaghani and Eric Rice
The Dance is the second play completed by playwriting and life partners Hengameh (May) and Eric Rice. Their first play, Anahita’s Republic, received professional development through Workshop West Playwrights Theatre, and was read at Script Salon in Edmonton and Tarragon Theatre in Toronto. Cross-cultural awareness is a critical part of their life and their writing projects, and both are deeply involved in a variety of theatre projects that promote inclusion and equity in theatre.
Blaine Newton
A playwright, sketch writer, actor, improvisor and sometime engineer, Blaine’s plays have been seen by well under a million people. Recent productions include Bravo (Shadow Theatre); The Thin Grey Line, (Cursive Writing Productions); Oral Fixations – co-written with Leslie Greentree (Ignition Theatre) and Five Stages of Death (Cursive Writing Productions). Several of his plays have also received readings through the Script Salon series.
As a performer, he is currently with the cast of Edmonton’s Rapid Fire Theatre, although his most recent appearances have been at Safeway for the early-morning shopping, and in vaccine line-ups.
His writing has been described by the late Pope Benedict as “filled with warmth, particularly when burned.” His subtle “windmill” approach to physical comedy has won him the much coveted “Ichabod Crane of the Stage” award three years running.
Liam Salmon
Liam Salmon is a queer playwright, dramaturge, producer, and educator based out of Amiskwacîwâskahikan (Edmonton, Alberta) (He/Him, They/Them). They are a graduate of the National Theatre School of Canada and their works have been performed across the country. Most recently, Liam worked as a producer on the Alberta Queer Calendar Project (queercalendar.ca). Currently, Liam is playwright in residence at Workshop West Playwright’s Theatre working on the new works: Subscribe or Like, ARKANGEL, and others. (salmliam.com)
Theatre in Fort McMurray, a TELUS documentary produced by Bamboo Shoots, celebrates the local theatre scene and the companies and venues that make it possible. The documentary profiles three companies: Keyano Theatre, the Suncor Energy Centre for the Performing Arts, and Theatre; Just Because. Theatre in Fort McMurray premiered on March 27, in celebration of World Theatre Day.
“This documentary emphasizes the crucial role theatre plays in our community and the incredible impact it has to transform this region from a transient place you move to for work, to a home,” says the Artistic Director for Theatre; Just Because, Hanna Fridhed. “The theatre here is a vibrant tapestry of voices and stories from all walks of life and corners of the world. Together, it tells the story of where we have been and where we are going. Performing Arts are crucial to the Wood Buffalo region, and we are proud to be able to share the journeys of local artists in this documentary.”
Theatre in Fort McMurray premiered over one year into the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent shutdowns, which have taken a toll on the entertainment industry, both locally and across the globe. In September 2020, entertainment venues across Canada lit up with red lights to raise awareness for the impact COVID-19 has had on the industry. #LightUpLiveCanada included participation from three local venues and occurred the same week as interviews for Theatre in Fort McMurray.
Theatre in Fort McMurray is available for viewing on the Theatre; Just Because Facebook page and YouTube channel.
As a part of our World Theatre Day celebration, NLT is pleased to announce extra streaming dates for our production of THE LOOK by Alexa Wyatt, staring Linda Grass. Now you can catch the show for yourself — all from the comfort of your own living room! Streaming tickets are available for $30 per household.
THE LOOK Streaming Dates
Friday March 26 at 7pm Friday March 26 at 8:30 pm
Saturday March 27 at 1 pm Saturday March 27 at 3 pm Saturday March 27 at 7 pm Saturday March 27 at 8:30 pm
Sunday March 28 at 1 pm Sunday March 28 at 3 pm
Wednesday March 31 at 7 pm
Thursday April 1 at 7 pm
Friday April 2 at 7 pm Friday April 2 at 8:30 pm
Saturday April 3 at 1 pm Saturday April 3 at 3 pm Saturday April 3 at 7 pm Saturday April 3 at 8:30 pm
Sunday April 4 at 1 pm Sunday April 4 at 3 pm Sunday April 4 at 7 pm
HOW TO BOOK YOUR TICKET
Booking your ticket to see the performance online is the same as booking for a live presentation.
Choose the date and time you would like to see the show, and NLT will send you a link with password to view the performance.
Going online allows NLT to keep our artist employed while still being able to celebrate the intimacy of our productions with you – our audience. And there are some small benefits – being able to watch from the comfort of your own home, not having to find parking, and being able to hit pause for bathroom breaks.
The link for the performance will only last until midnight, so if your plans change, and you are unable to watch the play or “attend” on the date/time you chose, just let us know and we can update your reservation.
If you need to rebook we request that you cancel your reservation at least 24 hours in advance.
Digital tickets are available now. Streaming tickets are available for $30 per household.
Nuestras Voces/ Nossas Vozes A Conversation with Latinx Artists
Sunday, March 28 at 5:30pm MST LIVE on Zoom (link to be provided)
Come join an in-depth conversation with Latinx artists based in amiskwacîwâskahikan, Treaty 6 Territory. This panel will discuss practices and contributions to the local arts scene, the challenges faced with identities and industry, and our future vision for the Latinx community.
Co-curated and facilitated by Andrés Moreno and Natércia Napoleão.
Going onto our 5th year, SOUND OFF: A Deaf Theatre Festival is a collaboration with Edmonton’s Chinook Series.
SOUND OFF is Canada’s national festival dedicated to the Deaf performing arts. SOUND OFF brings Deaf artists from across the country to share their stories, their talents and the beauty of American Sign Language on stage. The festival returns March 31st to April 4th, 2021, fully accessible online from the comfort of your home. Visit soundofffestival.com for more info.
Also occurring alongside SOUND OFF, the Chinook Series Festival is a collaboratively curated performance experience, bringing artists and communities together to share and celebrate through live art.
Feel that change in the air? Chinook Series is back for #2HotWeeks! From March 25 – April 4, 2021, enjoy digital delights from the comfort of wherever you are. With a mix of on-demand and live content, feel free to mix it up and make Chinook your own! The 2021 Chinook lineup is now LIVE! Schedule, tickets & more at chinookseries.ca!
Bonfireis Rapid Fire Theatre’s annual romp of new ideas in improv. Starring the members of the Rapid Fire Theatre ensemble, each show at Bonfire has been created by one of RFT’s own. Every show at Bonfire is a new idea that we’ve never tried before; it might work, it might not, but either way it’ll be a joy to witness. The best part? All shows are pay-what-you-can!
All through April, Bonfire is coming from our improviser’s cameras to a screen near you.
The IGNITE! Festival is accepting project proposals and scripts as part of the Performance Series, as well as looking for individual emerging theatre and performance artists who can be matched with these proposals.
Deadline to apply is midnight, April 9, 2021.
We are looking for 10-minute original works, either created for the festival or as an excerpt from a longer work. We will pair scripts/project proposals with other applicant directors and designers, to allow for a collective audition process.
IGNITE! is a festival dedicated to supporting, mentoring and presenting early career artists of all disciplines. IGNITE! allows artists to embrace risks in a supportive environment while providing resources, a bridge to the professional arts community, and meaningful opportunities for collaboration and community building with their peers.
Projects by IBPOC artists, artists who identify as living with a disability, LGBQTIA2S+, and artists who identify as being part of a minority are specifically encouraged.
Every year in June, Sage Theatre presents the IGNITE! Festival of Emerging Artists – a multi-disciplinary, 4-day festival of emerging art and artists. It’s big, it’s bold, it’s beautiful! With about 100 artists programmed each year, IGNITE! is a fantastic development, networking, and presentation opportunity for Calgary’s artists. The 2021 festival runs June 16 – 19, 2021.
Visit sagetheatre.com and follow the links to learn more and submit your work!
