EDMONTON THEATRE 2018: The Colin MacLean Awards
If the Alberta economy is in tatters, it would be hard to tell from the number of plays and musicals to grace our stages this year. Theatre budgets may be suffering and costs ballooning, but we fortunate Edmonton theatre-goers have enjoyed a mountain range of productions. Like our Rockies, some were high, others not so […]
PLAYBOT: Once upon a romance
He’s a street musician who’s starting to have doubts about his chosen career path. She’s a beautiful young passer-by who becomes his muse. What could possibly go wrong? Why, nothing, of course – aside from life and, possibly, love. In this multiple-Tony winning musical at the Citadel Theatre Sept. 22-Oct. 14, Julien Arnold and Ruth […]
Win passes to Edmonton Expo!
It’s fun to imagine that the celebrity guests at the Edmonton Comic and Entertainment Expo this weekend could come as their real characters – and have a battle! If Darth Maul (Ray Park) had a fight with Data (Brent Spiner), who would win? No contest. Phaser beats light sabre. Could Aquaman (Jason Momoa from DC […]
REVIEW: Classic Canadians thrive at Rock Fest
Edmontonians waking up yesterday morning to head down to Hawrelak Park for Day 2 of the eighth annual Edmonton Rock Music Festival might have felt a bit of relief: While they knew they’d be losing a bit more of their hearing throughout the day, at least they’d be able to breathe without putting themselves at […]
First Nations acts big at stormy Interstellar Rodeo
Most of the people who attend Interstellar Rodeo are not fair-weather fans. They know that Mother Nature may not be on their side. Indeed, this year the festival almost lived up to the dreaded “Friday night curse” – as some call it – hearkening back to an earlier year when the Friday night had to […]
The Cult of Corporate Cannabis
There’s a smell in air – of change. As we all know, as of October 17, 2018, our legislators will jump on the cannabis bus to cash in on some sweet, pungent tax revenue. Yes, we Canadians will join the Dutch in not getting arrested for possession of a plant, and there is MONEY MONEY […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Time for 2000s nostalgia!
Two of Canada’s biggest alternative rock acts of the early 2000s have joined forces for two nights in Edmonton. Playing at the Jubilee Auditorium next Monday and Tuesday, Our Lady Peace and Matthew Good are in the midst of a 20-date co-headlining tour that spans the breadth of Canada, from St. John’s to Vancouver. Good […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Temple of the Starlite
The historic Starlite Room – originally constructed as a “citadel” for the Salvation Army before becoming the headquarters for the Citadel Theatre in 1965, and then a TV studio where the late Chuck Chandler hosted Disco Daze – first started running live music in 1978. It was later a popular underground club called the Bronx, […]
PLAYBILL: Ever been to sea?
If it weren’t for a certain Victorian-era creative team’s fascination with all things nautical, musical theatre as we know it today might be far different. Imagine if H.M.S. Pinafore had been set in the Canadian prairies: Ranch boss’s daughter falls in love with a lowly ranchhand, cue “Come away with me on my tractor, Buttercup.” […]
PLAYBILL: Havana cigar for company birth
A new Edmonton theatre company has crawled out of its cocoon – though it’s pretty much been here the whole time. Say hello to The Varscona Theatre Ensemble – with longtime local actor Jeff Haslam at the executive producer’s wheel. This is a new brand for what he and in fact most of the people […]
REVIEW: Halloween Scream a place of belonging
The sidewalks along Jasper Avenue were alive on the night of Scream Edmonton – one of the biggest Halloween raves in Western Canada. The line-up for entry to the sold-out Shaw Conference Centre on Saturday night was long, and you could sense that everyone was preparing themselves for the night of their lives. The fans […]
MUSIC PREVIEW: Forever Rock
Classic rock is on its way to becoming the new classical music. Think about it: Life is a Highway will be remembered long after it’s been forgotten as “that cool Rascal Flatts song.” Melodies will become more famous than their composers. Quick: Who wrote Raise a Little Hell? Took you a second, didn’t it? In […]
