The attempt to cover two weeks of Edmonton theatre in the last Edmonton downstage worked pretty well the last time (giving me time to write two previews), so here we go again taking a look at what’s coming up in Edmonton theatre April 3 – 16!

Opening

• Gravity 2: A Celebration of Art and Politics runs at the Metro Cinema tonight only – doors at 6:00.
  • Curious? Check out my preview with Heather Inglis.
• Rapid Fire Theatre’s Bonfire Festival, which focuses on new ideas for long-form improv, runs April 4 – 8 at the Citadel.
• L’Unithéâtre’s latest, La Raccourcie by Jean-Rock Gaudreault, is at La Cité Francophone April 5 – 8 and 12 – 15.
• Gary Kirkham’s Queen Milli of Galt runs on Walterdale’s stage April 5 – 15.
• The Maggie Tree brings Heather Raffo’s 9 Parts of Desire to the Varscona Theatre April 6 – 15.
• Mark O’Rowe’s Terminus, directed by Jim Guedo, runs at the PCL Studio April 13 – 23.

Closing

• The world première of Colleen Murphy’s Bright Burning, developed as part of her three-year residency at the University of Alberta’s drama department, closes April 8.

Get listening!

• I really enjoyed American Theatre’s February 23 podcast episode, especially the conversation, especially the conversation about soldiers & theatre as therapy for PTSD, as well as the discussion of the ‘glass case’ classics are put in. Takeaway: Theatre lives in the minds of the viewers, but it is also a moment in time in terms of drawing from a rich history of the art form.
• What It Is Podcast’s 126th episode has landed. In it, they talk to Farren Timoteo and Andrea Rankin about Peter and the Starcatcher and Colleen Murphy about Bright Burning. 
  • By the way, how cool does the set for the Citadel’s Peter and the Starcatcher look? Megan Koshka’s work always impresses.
• Episode 6 of the Well-Endowed Podcast starts off with a discussion of The Maggie Tree’s upcoming 9 Parts of Desire.

Employment & space

• Edmonton Opera has a number of positions open right now.
• The Citadel Theatre’s search for an Executive Director is on, as Penny Ritco retires later this year.
• As Colleen Murphy’s residency at the University of Alberta’s drama department comes to a close, they are looking for a 2017 – 2020 Lee Playwright-In-Residence.
• Don’t forget about SpaceFinder Alberta, which is an awesome resource to post or look for available creative spaces.

Newsletters

• Workshop West’s latest newsletter gives more details on the run of Kenneth T. Williams’ Café Daughter at the National Art Centre in Ottawa, an update on the company’s #writesofpassage program, and recaps Alberta’s first Deaf Theatre Festival, Sound Off!
  • Speaking of Workshop West, the company still has a few more spots it needs volunteers for to round out its crew of casino volunteers on April 29 and 30.
• Theatre Network’s newsletter gives the news that the company’s upcoming show, Irma Voth, has started rehearsals. Irma Voth will run April 18 – May 7.