Tag: theatre alberta

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The Roxy theatre burned down yesterday.

My play Body Language was done there, during NextFest, in 2000.

It was directed by Amy DeFelice, who has since been nominated for five Sterling Awards, and directed Take a Bite for me.  In it were Aaron Talbot, who’s now the Communications Coordinator at Theatre Alberta.  And Shannon Blanchett, who’s in New York City this minute. And Adam Blocka, my stage manager for The Ugly Princess right now! People were posting about the loss of this theatre from New Brunswick, Montreal, and Australia.

I went to see what was left last night.  To see that it was real.

There was an elegant lady in smashing, long coat standing there, also looking at what was left.  She said she’d been a season-ticket-holder for years, and that she had a ticket for Cheerleader!, the show that was meant to begin that night.  I told her I’d had a show done there once.

Before she left, she squeezed my arm and said “I’m so sorry.”

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Pulling the plug.

This weekend, I gave up on something.

It hadn’t gotten very far, but it was something I’d been very excited about, and I was forced to admit that I simply don’t have the time or wherewithal to be a producer anymore. It sucks. But I decided I would rather pull the plug now, before too many people had invested a lot of time in something that I couldn’t do well. And I really don’t have the means to do what this project deserves.

Phoo.

I have something much smaller, hopefully more manageable, in the offing. And there’s Playworks Ink to look forward to. So. Much MUCH better news shortly.

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Great news on the Alberta theatre scene!

Absolutely, insanely good news this week on the theatre scene from Theatre Alberta and Alberta Playwrights Network. Bonkers, really.

Just now, on CBC Radio Daybreak Alberta, the world met the winner of the Alberta Playwriting Competition’s grand prize, Katherine Koller. I’m especially giddy about this one because a scene from her winning play, Last Chance Leduc, was presented at Peep Show at the first Skirts Afire festival earlier this year, so I’ve already heard some of it, and it’s amazing. Katherine is a terrific writer — I’m so happy for her!

AND. As part of her prize, Katherine’s play will getting a public reading at this year’s Playworks Ink conference, which for the first time will be held at the Banff Centre. AND. One of our guests, giving a masterclass, will be Christopher Plummer.

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Read that again. Please. I had to.

Registrations aren’t open just yet. Please keep on eye on Theatre Alberta’s site for when they are, and book right away. But not before me. I’ve booked the time off work and I’m getting in first.