The Threepenny Opera has begun!
Auditions have been held, casting is complete, and we are about to begin rehearsal work. We have been able to assemble a remarkably talented cast and crew, and I've no doubt this will be a very exciting production. A little edgy, a little twisted, a little subversive, and full of creative individuals who will bring Weill and Brecht's challenging work to life. The Threepenny Opera performs April 6-16, 2011, at Walterdale Playhouse. Tickets available through Tix on the Square.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Fringe 2010
Yes, the Fringe is back!
Rehearsals are done, programs have been dog-eared, starred, paper-clipped and highlighted, and folks are planning to make the most of 10 days of theatre spectacle and madness.
If you haven’t done so already, go buy a program. They’re only $6, and you can purchase them throughout Old Strathcona, and even at Safeway this year, so it’s not like you have to go out of your way or anything. This year there are 11 main venues and 28 BYOV’s this year, spread throughout the city. Yes folks, the Fringe is coming to YOUR neighbourhood! 118th Avenue, the U of A, downtown and Cite Francophone all host Fringe venues this year. You don’t even have to go down to Old Strathcona to Fringe anymore.
(Final bit of housekeeping: I haven’t seen any of these shows, and I am not affiliated with any of them, they just look interesting to me!)
Ok, down to business:
This year’s Festival is called "We’ll Show You Ours”. Thespians have always been on the daring side, and a couple of shows seem to be quite literally showing us theirs– “The Human Body Project” and “Hair”. They are certainly not the only ones, though. Check out the content legend in the program if you don’t want any nasty surprises when you take Great Auntie Mabel to see a show…
It just isn’t the Fringe without Shakespeare, and this year’s festival offers the ultimate in convenience for you, the theatre patron. “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” brings you 100% of your festival requirement of Vitamin Bard, while leaving you plenty of time to take in other shows and performances.
Fringe Favorites Chris Gibbs, Keir Cutler, TJ Dawe, Jem Rolls and Erik de Waal are all back with new one-man shows. These performers are always a good bet – get your tickets early! This year also we also have “7 (x1) Samurai”, the one-man telling of the epic “The Seven Samurai” (or for those of you who didn’t take Film Studies as an elective, it’s the one-man telling of the movie that “The Magnificent Seven” was based on.).
Local playwrights, including Gerald Osborn, David Belke, Stewart Lemoine, Kenneth Brown, and Tony Cashman all have new works playing. Pair one of these established artists with an up-and-coming young company, and you have a fantastic mix of youth and experience.
If you find theatre in actual theatres too conventional, this is your year. A book store, an art supply store, several churches of various denominations, and a number of nightclubs, bars and restaurants are all hosting shows. My favorite BYOV venue locations of the year have to be “The Old Shed Just South of the Railroad Tracks” (Venue #35), and “Walking Tour to Four Secret Locations” (Venue #30).
There are 2 productions which look particularly interesting to me, for very different reasons. “The Metamorphosis” is a chamber opera setting of Kafka’s epic work. “The Way of All Fish” is a one-act play by the brilliant writer Elaine May (of Nicholls and May fame.) If you’re too young to have heard of any of these people, you can look them up on Wikipedia.
Other trends that caught my eye:
Sequels! They’re not just for Jerry Bruckheimer movies anymore! This year’s theatrical sequels include “Word of Mouth is Killing Us 2”, “Spiral Dive III”, and “Twisted Themepark II”. In keeping with the movie blockbuster concept, Guys in Disguise are performing in 3D this year. And you thought the eyelashes looked big before....
Monsters!: Victorian Zombies in “Famished”, vampires in “Dragula”, and mad doctors in “Songs for Caligari”. As if that weren’t enough, they all have actual live musicians! It just does not get better than this.
Tenors! “The PreTenors” return, and “Il Duo” make their Fringe debut. Tenors for everyone this year!
Puppets! And not just at the Kids Fringe. “The Supervillan Monologues” features puppets and humans performing words “written by evil masterminds”. So far as I am aware, this is the first Fringe show to actually use the words MUAH HA HA HA in their program description.
German Punk Rock! “Die Roten Punkte” return with “Kunst Rock”. If you are a fan of comedy, punk rock, musical satire or German art in any form (and frankly, who isn’t a fan of at least 2 of these), this is the show for you.
Finally, who do you suppose the Journal will send to review “Liz Nicholls: The Musical”. Hmmm, I wonder….
Have a great Fringe everyone!
Rehearsals are done, programs have been dog-eared, starred, paper-clipped and highlighted, and folks are planning to make the most of 10 days of theatre spectacle and madness.
If you haven’t done so already, go buy a program. They’re only $6, and you can purchase them throughout Old Strathcona, and even at Safeway this year, so it’s not like you have to go out of your way or anything. This year there are 11 main venues and 28 BYOV’s this year, spread throughout the city. Yes folks, the Fringe is coming to YOUR neighbourhood! 118th Avenue, the U of A, downtown and Cite Francophone all host Fringe venues this year. You don’t even have to go down to Old Strathcona to Fringe anymore.
(Final bit of housekeeping: I haven’t seen any of these shows, and I am not affiliated with any of them, they just look interesting to me!)
Ok, down to business:
This year’s Festival is called "We’ll Show You Ours”. Thespians have always been on the daring side, and a couple of shows seem to be quite literally showing us theirs– “The Human Body Project” and “Hair”. They are certainly not the only ones, though. Check out the content legend in the program if you don’t want any nasty surprises when you take Great Auntie Mabel to see a show…
It just isn’t the Fringe without Shakespeare, and this year’s festival offers the ultimate in convenience for you, the theatre patron. “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)” brings you 100% of your festival requirement of Vitamin Bard, while leaving you plenty of time to take in other shows and performances.
Fringe Favorites Chris Gibbs, Keir Cutler, TJ Dawe, Jem Rolls and Erik de Waal are all back with new one-man shows. These performers are always a good bet – get your tickets early! This year also we also have “7 (x1) Samurai”, the one-man telling of the epic “The Seven Samurai” (or for those of you who didn’t take Film Studies as an elective, it’s the one-man telling of the movie that “The Magnificent Seven” was based on.).
Local playwrights, including Gerald Osborn, David Belke, Stewart Lemoine, Kenneth Brown, and Tony Cashman all have new works playing. Pair one of these established artists with an up-and-coming young company, and you have a fantastic mix of youth and experience.
If you find theatre in actual theatres too conventional, this is your year. A book store, an art supply store, several churches of various denominations, and a number of nightclubs, bars and restaurants are all hosting shows. My favorite BYOV venue locations of the year have to be “The Old Shed Just South of the Railroad Tracks” (Venue #35), and “Walking Tour to Four Secret Locations” (Venue #30).
There are 2 productions which look particularly interesting to me, for very different reasons. “The Metamorphosis” is a chamber opera setting of Kafka’s epic work. “The Way of All Fish” is a one-act play by the brilliant writer Elaine May (of Nicholls and May fame.) If you’re too young to have heard of any of these people, you can look them up on Wikipedia.
Other trends that caught my eye:
Sequels! They’re not just for Jerry Bruckheimer movies anymore! This year’s theatrical sequels include “Word of Mouth is Killing Us 2”, “Spiral Dive III”, and “Twisted Themepark II”. In keeping with the movie blockbuster concept, Guys in Disguise are performing in 3D this year. And you thought the eyelashes looked big before....
Monsters!: Victorian Zombies in “Famished”, vampires in “Dragula”, and mad doctors in “Songs for Caligari”. As if that weren’t enough, they all have actual live musicians! It just does not get better than this.
Tenors! “The PreTenors” return, and “Il Duo” make their Fringe debut. Tenors for everyone this year!
Puppets! And not just at the Kids Fringe. “The Supervillan Monologues” features puppets and humans performing words “written by evil masterminds”. So far as I am aware, this is the first Fringe show to actually use the words MUAH HA HA HA in their program description.
German Punk Rock! “Die Roten Punkte” return with “Kunst Rock”. If you are a fan of comedy, punk rock, musical satire or German art in any form (and frankly, who isn’t a fan of at least 2 of these), this is the show for you.
Finally, who do you suppose the Journal will send to review “Liz Nicholls: The Musical”. Hmmm, I wonder….
Have a great Fringe everyone!
Monday, May 31, 2010
I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE!
I Love You, You're Perfect, Now CHANGE!
Opens June 17th at the Catalyst Theatre.
A humorous music look at relationships, from first-date-from-hell to love after being widowed.
This is a fantastic show -- hilarious at times, and poignant and moving at others. Beautifully performed by a superb cast, this show is guaranteed to have you laughing and crying. You're sure to recognize your friends, your spouse, possibly even yourself...
Tickets available at Tix on the Square: http://www.tixonthesquare.ca/event/detail/1974/
See you there!
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Give Peas a Chance
Even though it feels like summer already, it is officially spring. And what a busy spring it will be:
First up is Give Peas a Chance, the latest cabaret offering from the Three Peas. We perform April 23rd & 24th at the Catalyst Theatre. Show time is 8:00 pm, tickets at Tix on the Square, or at the door (cash only at the door). This year's show features music from Jacques Brel, Stephen Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown, Kander & Ebb, Ashman & Menken, Goldrich & Heisler, Noel Coward and others. The show is sounding SUPERB -- hope to see you all there!!!
Next, also at the Catalyst Theatre is I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. Presented by ELOPE Musical Theatre, this is a delightfully witty show about the good, the bad and the downright hilarious aspects of dating and relationships. Performs June 17, 18 19,24, 25, 26.
Finally, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas is cast and starting rehearsals. Walterdale Playhouse presents this as it's final production of the season -- performs July 7-17.
See you at the theatre!
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Happy 2010!!
It's a new year and a new decade, and with it comes a very busy performance season.
First up is Jaimi and Evan's Inaugural Cabaret. Jaimi Reese and Evan Westfal will be performing at the Upper Crust Cafe, January 31st, and I will be assisting on piano. The evening will be a mix of pop tunes, jazz standards and show tunes. Be sure to come out and support young talent.
The Three Peas return to the stage in April. We will be raising the roof at the Catalyst Theatre, April 23 & 24. The set list is again fantastically diverse, and will include music from Goldrich & Heisler, Kander & Ebb, Noel Coward, Frank Loesser, Leonard Bernstein and others. Ticket details will be available soon -- tickets will, as always, be available at Tix on the Square.
ELOPE presents I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at the Catalyst Theatre, in June. This is a delightful look at modern relationships, from first dates through marriage, children and love in later years. Audition information will be available shortly.
Finally,The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas will romp and stomp across the Walterdale Theatre stage in July. A very entertaining show with a cast of quirky characters, toe-tapping music , and a football sequence to rival "Glee". Don't miss it!
I guess I have a few tunes to practice... better get to it. See you all at the theatre -- I'll be the one at the piano!
First up is Jaimi and Evan's Inaugural Cabaret. Jaimi Reese and Evan Westfal will be performing at the Upper Crust Cafe, January 31st, and I will be assisting on piano. The evening will be a mix of pop tunes, jazz standards and show tunes. Be sure to come out and support young talent.
The Three Peas return to the stage in April. We will be raising the roof at the Catalyst Theatre, April 23 & 24. The set list is again fantastically diverse, and will include music from Goldrich & Heisler, Kander & Ebb, Noel Coward, Frank Loesser, Leonard Bernstein and others. Ticket details will be available soon -- tickets will, as always, be available at Tix on the Square.
ELOPE presents I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at the Catalyst Theatre, in June. This is a delightful look at modern relationships, from first dates through marriage, children and love in later years. Audition information will be available shortly.
Finally,The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas will romp and stomp across the Walterdale Theatre stage in July. A very entertaining show with a cast of quirky characters, toe-tapping music , and a football sequence to rival "Glee". Don't miss it!
I guess I have a few tunes to practice... better get to it. See you all at the theatre -- I'll be the one at the piano!
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