WHAT’S GOING ON: Is Live Theatre Back In Business In Edmonton?

Posted on November 16, 2021 By Mike Ross Entertainment, entertainment, Front Slider, Music, Theatre

The Law of Headlines states that if a news-paper headline is a question, the answer is always no.
In this case, it’s a yes.
Yes, live theatre appears to be back in business in Edmonton. Seems like all the major local theatre companies survived the pandemic and are running hot and heavy. Theatre Network is off the queue, but they’re getting their new building ready (after the old place burned down) for the New Year. Elsewhere, restrictions are relaxed for vaccinated bums in seats, more demand, more shows, and so on in the great circle of arts life. Why, the upcoming sked almost looks like it did in the Beforetimes.

Northern Light Theatre presents The Great Whorehouse Fire of 1921 – a title that speaks for itself based on true events that happened 100 years ago in Big Valley, Alberta. No charges were ever laid, but there was apparently a lot of speculation amongst the locals. No, not a musical. It plays Nov. 18-28 at the Varscona Theatre.

Now here’s a musical: Jason Kenney’s Hot Boy Summer has SOLD OUT its entire run at the Grindstone Theatre Nov. 10-21. The show stars veteran comic actor Donovan Workun as Jason Kenney mocking his own words. In song. This just in: The show returns for an encore run Dec. 9-16!

The Citadel Theatre, meanwhile, has mounted a farce of the classic door-slamming variety: The Fiancee until Nov. 28, in which a young woman gets engaged to three different men during World War II, and who all come to her house at the same time when the War ends.

Metronome is the latest play by writer-actor-producer Darrin Hagen, starring (not as a drag queen for a change) in an autobiographical play inspired by his life-long love affair with the piano. It plays until Nov. 21 at the Backstage Theatre.

Can we get enough of Buddy Holly? We can not. The dependable Mayfield Dinner Theatre is currently running its socially-distanced holiday show Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story until January 2022.

There have been many several cancellations and postponements in the touring business, but City and Colour’s double-header at the Jubilee Auditorium Nov. 24-25 still appears to be a go. As is July Talk’s Dec. 20 show, also at the Jube – I believe their first appearance in that venue? Fun fact: singer Peter Dreimanis went to Victoria School of the Arts. So we claim this band as Edmontonian. And the clever and talented duo USS comes to Midway Dec. 2 as part of the Freakquency Tour.

Locals are busy, too. Most also seemed to have prevailed over the pandemic like weeds in a hurricane. Not to compare local artists to weeds, but here we are.

And looky here: An Edmonton band that has survived many a hurricane in its … what?! 40 year history is thriving: Jr. Gone Wild (above) hosts its album release show Saturday night at the Starlite. The title of the new record is Still Got the Jacket – and they do!