Author: Kristen Finlay

Even more 2018 Fringe Shows with Walterdale Members!

THE MANY LOVES OF IRENE SLOANE

The Description: The Varscona’s resident team of lawyer/actors, (instigators of last year’s The Charm Offensive ****) return with a brain-bending new comedy about competitive imaginations. Enthralled by a mysterious unfinished manuscript, members of a weekly book club find themselves increasingly implicated in its plot as they endeavor to envision its completion.

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THE GREAT GROMBOOLIAN PLAIN

The Description: Institutionalized by her sister to coerce her into revealing the location of their father’s last poems, Dinah is protecting a deep secret. She uses time-travel to escape the confines of the institution. On the institution grounds, Dinah meets Magellan. But as the two become closer, they learn neither is as they seem.

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ROCKO AND NAKOTA: TALES FROM THE LAND

The Description: Meet Nakota. A young boy trying to write the greatest story. When his grandfather Rocko comes for a visit, Nakota is whisked away into a world of stories from right below his feet – within the land. Local playwright Josh Languedoc weaves an oral storytelling show of finding inner strength. Ottawa Tonight: Top 10 Picks of the Fringe 2018. APT613: Top Picks of the Fringe 2018. “Masterful storyteller…Languedoc fills the entire stage with his performance and characters…run, don’t walk, to get tickets.” – APT613

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THE SOLDIER’S TALE

The Description: Premiered in the dying days of the Great War, The Soldier’s Tale is a gripping universal story of greed, loss and redemption. This unique multi-disciplinary presentation features three actors, a dancer and Igor Stravinsky’s brilliant musical score played by seven professional musicians.

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CULT CYCLE

The Description: There is a new spin studio in town! Welcome to Cult Cycle where you will burn fat and arise a new you from the ashes. This original musical gives a new meaning to the statement “That spin class was torture”. Be prepared to “Get FIT or DIE trying!”

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More 2018 Fringe shows featuring Walterdale Members! We are everywhere!

BUYER AND CELLAR

Description: Barbra Streisand has a mall in her basement (TRUTH!). Meet Alex, the man who has to work there (… not true). Don’t miss the Edmonton premiere of the outrageous off-Broadway smash hit about the price of fame, the cost of things, and the oddest of odd jobs.

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AN ANTHOLOGY OF GHASTLY TALES

Description: In the tradition of “Twilight Zone” and “Tales from the Crypt” comes stories too horrifying to tell an elementary class, told by a teacher on his last day of teaching. A new play from the demented mind behind “An Evening with the Heaven’s Gate Singers” – **** – EdmontonFringe.ca

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[TITLE OF SHOW]

Description: Who says four chairs and a keyboard can’t make a musical? In this hilarious Tony nominated musical, we join Jeff and Hunter, two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical. Witness four artists craft a love letter to musical theatre!

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FOR WHOM THE SOUTHERN BELLE TOLLS and BED BUG BOSSA NOVA

Description: DOUBLE FEATURE: Take one fading southern belle, her overly-sensitive son, his collection of glass cocktail stirrers, toss in a loudmouth “feminine” caller then watch as pandemonium ensues courtesy of playwright Christopher Durang. ALSO catch two horny bedbugs seeking love’n’lust between the sheets in an award-winning production by Gerald Osborn.

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Stay tuned for more shows featuring Walterdale members past and present!

More 2018 Fringe Shows featuring Walterdale Members!

ESCAPED ALONE

Description: Three old friends and a neighbor. A summer of afternoons in the backyard. Tea and catastrophe. The future. Domestic and wild. [Ms. Churchill is] “the most dazzlingly inventive living dramatist in the English language.” She is the author of Cloud Nine and Top Girls.

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THE GREAT WHOREHOUSE FIRE OF 1921

Description: Big Valley, Alberta 1921. An enterprising madame establishes a brothel, leading to conflict and unexpected friendship with a town matron. Tension turns to crisis when the brothel is burned down. This true story is reimagined with wit, sarcasm, and very good wigs.

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NONNA’S STORY

Description: An operatic & intergenerational yet bitter-sweet cross-section of an immigrant-Neapolitan-Italian-Canadian matriarch’s life, and that of her boisterous blue-collar working class family. Told through the lens of the formerly Edmontonian, queer, performing artist author of the story, it examines why it’s important to remember & honour who/where we came from…

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XANADU

Description: XANADU follows Greek muse Kira, who descends from Mount Olympus to Venice Beach in 1980 to inspire a struggling artist to strive for his greatest creative achievement ever – a ROLLER DISCO! But when Kira falls into forbidden love, her jealous sisters take advantage of the situation, and chaos abounds.

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Stay posted for more!

 

Check out these Fringe Shows that Feature Walterdale Members!

MISCAST

Miscast is a Cabaret of epic proportions. Forget everything you know about Broadway! Gender Bending. Mind bending. Body bending. Guaranteed to entertain, inspire and elate. MisCast has it all, from the romantic ballads to roaring tap. MisCast is one you don’t want to miss.

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GUENEVERE

Written as a Greek tragedy and imparted in poetry, Guenevere is a reflection of the life of its titular character and the Camelot legend. The story is told from the feminine perspective and is unlike any other version of the legend you have seen.

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TRAGEDY: A TRAGEDY

A local news team bravely stands in front of an unfolding catastrophe prepared to bring unflinching coverage. But as the night wears on and answers can’t be found… they flinch. From the Sterling Award-winning company behind “Never Swim Alone” (*****) and held-over hit, “Legoland.”

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SOFIE’S WILD RIDE

Wise-cracking Golden Gal Sofie Palermo has gone to the great beyond…or so she thinks. Join Sofie’s trip down memory lane with daughter Doralee (a square), best friends Brooke (a sexpot) and Rowe (a nitwit). Does Sofie learn a lesson? Maybe; maybe not. Either way, this 83-year-old is wickedly funny!

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Stay tuned for more!

The Cast and Creative Team of THE TRIANGLE FACTORY FIRE PROJECT!

Introducing the Cast and Creative Team of The Triangle Factory Fire Project, up first in our 60th Season!

CAST:

AHMED ALMOKDAD – Abe Gordon, Samuel Gompers
ALLIE CONNOP – Dinah Lifschitz
DANIELLE YU – Rose Friedman, Ida Mittleman
DUSTIN  BERUBE – William Shepherd
EARL DANGWA – William Bernstein/Thug 2
ERIC RICE – Issac Harris
HEATHER MORROW – Bertha Schwartz
JAMES TOUPIN – Fire Chief Crocker
JESSICA RAMISCH – Ensemble
KENT SUTHERLAND –  Max Blanck
KINGSLEY LEUNG – Eddie Markowitz, John Moore
MARC TRILLANES – Max Schwartz
MARIAM GILL – Kate Alterman
MATT BEAIRSTO – Max Steuer, John Meehan
MEGHAN SCHRITT – Margaret Schwartz, May Lavantini
REBECCA BISSONNETTE – Rose Schneiderman, Yetta Lubitz
RUDY SMITH – Charles Bostwick
SAMANTHA WOOLSEY – Mrs. Belmont, Mary Alter
STEPHANIE SWENSRUDE – Ethel Monick
TAHA RIZVI – Samuel Bernstein

CREATIVE TEAM:

BARBARA MAH – Director/Choreographer
MARY ELLEN PERLEY – Stage Manager
M.J. KREISEL – Production Manager
KARIN LAUDERDALE – Costume Designer
LELAND STELCK – Set Designer
PHIL KREISEL – Sound Designer
BRAD MELROSE – Lighting Designer
DEBBIE TYSON – Properties Manager
ROBIN SHINA – Assistant Stage ManagerASM
BROOKE  EMBERLY – Master Painter
JOAN HAWKINS – Assistant Painter
RICHARD HATFIELD – Set Builder
JODE TOEWS – Light Operator
LOUISE MALLORY – Sound Operator
SALLY HUNT – Music Advisor

The Triangle Factory Fire Project runs from October 10-20, 2018.

Click here for tickets! 

Five Fast Qs with Sally Hunt, Music Director of NEXT TO NORMAL!

What is your role on the show?Music Director — basically, preparing the actors and band for performance.  I also play piano and conduct the band for this production.

What is your background with Walterdale?I’ve been involved, mostly from the music end, for a number of years.  I believe my first Walterdale show was in the 1990’s, playing piano for an evening of Canadian songs and poems.  My most recent show at Walterdale was Chess, in 2016.  I also assisted with some musical elements on two other productions this season.

Favourite thing about rehearsal for Next to Normal? There are some utterly beautiful vocal moments in this show.  Hearing them come to life has been lovely.  Overall, though, the first time we put band and vocalists together – called Sitzprobe – is my favourite day in the rehearsal schedule. 

Someone new visits Edmonton, what do you recommend they check out (other than Walterdale Theatre)? Get out of your car and away from the mall!  The River Valley is spectacular, and there are great local neighbourhoods to check out on foot — Glenora, Highlands, French Quarter, and so on. 

If you could ask Walterdale’s resident ghost “Walter” a question, what would you ask him? What’s the most surprising theatrical moment you’ve ever seen on this stage?

Five Fast Q’s with Mike Harding – Dan in NEXT TO NORMAL!

What is your role in the show? I play the character Dan, husband and father of the Goodman family.  

What is your background with Walterdale? For years I had the pleasure of being an audience member at many Walterdale productions. This is the second show that I’ve done with Walterdale – the first was Chess a couple of years ago!

Favourite thing about rehearsal for Next to Normal? Well, actually I have two favourite things… #1) Being in the company of such awesome humans! It’s been a true delight working/rehearsing in an incredibly supportive environment. #2) The Music – For years I’ve loved the music from Next to Normal. What an honour it is to be able to rehearse and perform it.

Someone new visits Edmonton, what do you recommend they check out (other than Walterdale Theatre)? There is such a vibrant arts scene in this city!! Check out a choir, a play, a musical, a dance performance, a street performer, or live music! There is always something exciting happening!

If you could ask Walterdale’s resident ghost “Walter” a question, what would you ask him? So, have you seen my blue sock?

Five Fast Qs with Monica Roberts – Diana Goodman in NEXT TO NORMAL!

What is your role in the show? I have the honour of playing Diana Goodman, the maelstrom at the center of the story. 

What is your background with Walterdale? I have been around Walterdale for a long, long time. First in a technical role (costume design) but then on stage as Cleopatra in Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra. 

Favourite thing about rehearsal for Next to Normal? The cast and crew. This show deals with very emotional subjects and everyone has been so open, vulnerable, respectful and honouring of everyone’s story. Without this group of talented performers and supportive crew the show would be an awful experience. 

Someone new visits Edmonton, what do you recommend they check out (other than Walterdale Theatre)? Depends on what you like – hike the river valley, find a great food shop, drink local beer, visit a museum. Edmonton has something for everyone.

If you could ask Walterdale’s resident ghost “Walter” a question, what would you ask him? Not really a question but a message. Thanks for the blue sock. 

 

Photo Credit: Scott Henderson, Henderson Images

Meet the Cast of WATER BENEATH HER FEET – Brittany Hinse is Janey

What is your role in this production? I play Janey in Water Beneath Her Feet. Some of the play takes place in her memories, so it’s been kind of a fun challenge to maneuver the switches between past and present. Janey is a very stubborn character, but a sweet one too, she’s been fun to get to know.

What is your background in theatre? At Walterdale? I have a diploma in Musical Theatre from MacEwan University, and this is my fourth Walterdale show. My other Walterdale productions were Ravenscroft, Lady Windermere’s Fan, and Shatter from earlier this season.

What brought you out for this show? I love doing New Works, I think it’s fun to be a part of something completely new and exciting.

What has been the biggest challenge about working on the show? think the biggest challenge, again, has been the switches between time frames, especially as Janey never leaves the stage in between the switches, she just steps into and out of memories whenever!

What do you think audiences will take away from the show? Why should they come and see it? Water Beneath Her Feet is an interesting show –  the audience never knows more than Janey does at any given moment, so you kind of have to piece together the puzzle as you watch. It’s a little bit of a mystery!

From Cradle to Stage runs May 14-19 on the Walterdale Stage.

Meet the Playwrights of FROM CRADLE TO STAGE 2018 – Sharon Reichert

 What is your role in this production? I am reading the roles of two very different men in Incorruptible. One is a teenage boy, the other the younger brother of the main revolutionary. So I am getting to practice doing different voices! lol
 
I am also the playwright of Inaccurate Conceptions, another of the plays being read. I am so excited and blessed that they chose my play to be a part of this festival! I am excited to have it read for a completely new audience! Inaccurate Conceptions started as a seven-minute movie short when I first wrote it back in 1993. In 2014 I developed it further, resulting in a 15-minute one act play, which I directed it for the Yellowhead Region Adult One Act Play Festival in 2015, where the production was named the runner up for the provincial festival. 
 
What do you think audiences will take away from the show? Why should they come and see it?
Inaccurate Conceptions is a funny play that proves, when it comes to relationships, things are not always what they seem. I believe the other plays that are being read are much deeper than mine and have the potential to really make audiences think. In other words, the complete opposite of Inaccurate Conceptions! OK, that isn’t completely true, but I do really hope that audiences can sit back and enjoy a few laughs with Owen, Angela, Lisa and Joanne. Also, I have to add, the title of this play is such a good play on words that it might just be my favourite part of the whole thing! lol