Opening September 12th and closing September 27th, Front Row Centre Players presents Rock of Ages, produced by Haley Dorais and Directed by Stephen West. Kyle sits down to discuss the long development of this production and what 80s rock means to Haley and Stephen.

Link to Tickets: https://werklundcentre.ca/whats-on/rockofages

About the Show: It’s the tail end of the big, bad 1980s in Hollywood, and the party has been raging hard. Aqua Net, Lycra, lace and liquor flow freely at one of the Sunset Strip’s last legendary venues, a place where sex machine Stacee Jaxx takes the stage and scantily clad groupies line up to turn their fantasies into reality. Amidst the madness, aspiring rock star (and resident toilet cleaner) Drew longs to take the stage as the next big thing (and longs for small-town girl Sherri, fresh off the bus from Kansas with stars in her eyes). But the rock ’n’ roll fairy tale is about to end when German developers sweep into town with plans to turn the fabled Strip into just another capitalist strip mall. Can Drew, Sherri and the gang save the strip – and themselves – before it’s too late? Only the music of hit bands of the decade hold the answer.

Running July 5 through 12 in Hulls Wood in Fish Creek Park in Calgary, Incendiary Festival presents In the Water by Alyssa Short, directed by Beck and Jack Orion. Kyle sits down with Beck, Jack and Ruby Gaudet to discuss what this show means to them, and how it came to be.

About the Show: With everything ready for the campers’ arrival, the staff at Rainy Day only have one thing on their mind: having a good time. When a mysterious force threatens to tear them apart, they have to survive the night without losing each other or their sanity. They say there’s something in the water that makes summer camp so magical, and this something might just be a lake monster…

Opening at the West Village Theatre in Calgary June 19 through June 28, Full Circle Theatre presents Much Ado About Nothing. While the show has closed prior to the release of this episode, it was in fact recorded just as the show was beginning. Kyle sits down with producer and costumer Erin Weir to discuss the production's development and what Much Ado About Nothing's history and meaning brings to the stage even before Full Circle Theatre presents it. This is the first part of a two stage interview.

Program:

About the Show: In this witty, whip-smart tale of love, loyalty, and lies, Beatrice and Benedick find themselves caught in a battle of barbs, while Hero and Claudio’s picture-perfect romance threatens to unravel. Trust—both earned and broken—is at the heart of it all. Set in a world just beyond war’s end, this production explores what happens when the fighting stops but the real emotional stakes begin. Tension simmers beneath every joke, secret, and stolen glance, as friendships, reputations, and relationships are put to the test. Directed by longtime collaborator John Knight, and featuring Riverona alumni Megan Baldrey and CJ Gordon as Beatrice and Benedick, this Much Ado blends sharp comedy with a darker edge—revealing just how much trust can cost us. This production is presented in association with The Shakespeare Company, Calgary’s lean and mean classical theatre company, committed to bold, innovative approaches to the Bard’s work

Dewdney Players presented Squabbles at the Old Church Theatre in Okotoks from May 2 through May 17. Directed by Brad Snowden, Kyle sits down with Brad post production to talk about the successes of the production and the memorable events of the show.

About the show: Dewdney Players was proud to present the final play of the 2024-2025 season; ‘Squabbles’ by Marshall Karp. Featuring a cast of seasoned Dewdney veterans, this hilarious play had audiences rolling in the aisles!

Abe Dreyfus, a cantankerous widower, moves in with his daughter, Alice and her husband Jerry, a jingle writer. The plot twists when Alice and Jerry discover they are expecting their first child. Things get even more complicated when Mildred, Jerry’s mother, comes looking for a place to stay. Abe, the crusty retired New York City cab driver, is not impressed with this development, as he and Mildred had a disastrous meeting at Alice and Jerry’s wedding! The relationship between Abe and Mildred gets off to a rocky start, but sparks fly in more ways than one. Throw in Hector Lopez, the local Puerto Rican handyman, Sol Wasserman, Abe’s card-playing, coffee-loving neighbour and Mrs Fisher, the ‘stern’ Nanny and everything is in place for possibly the funniest play that Dewdney has ever presented! The play was actually performed by Dewdney Players at the old Station Art Gallery 25 years ago to appreciative audiences. Having performed the hilarious, ‘Noises Off’ in November, 2024, the production team felt that another comedy was a great way to close off the season and 'Squabbles' was top of mind for a reprise! Dewdney Players is known for its award-winning performances, being fresh off theatrical success at the Foothills Region One-Act Play Festival in High River at the end of March. Dewdney plays took first and second place for Outstanding Production (Three Little Words, I’ve Hit an Iceberg), as well as Outstanding Director (Sherene Seders), Outstanding Technical Merit (Matt Seders) and Outstanding New Work (Louise Moan) and Outstanding Performance (Melanie Swennumson). The play, ‘Lily’s’ by Caden Arsenault – which was included in the Okotoks’ One Act Play performances - received an Honourable Mention for New Work at the Festival. The play was directed by Brad Snowden (Arsenic & Old Lace, Lion in Winter, Bullshot Crummond) and produced by Jane Platt (Wizard of Oz, Plaza Suite, Bullshot Crummond) and featured veterans Daniel Rose, Kelly Kozak, Patrick Brown, Hollie Darel, Brad Fowler, Ed Sands and Debbie Sands. The play opened on May 2, 2025 at the Old Church Theatre and ran weekends to May 17, including matinees on May 10 & 17.

Opening June 13th and running until June 28th at the Pumphouse Theatre in Calgary, Untold Stories presents Heathers, The Musical. Kyle sits down with producer and apprentice director Nicole Dickinson and musical director Becky Salmond to talk abut the complexity of putting up this production, and how valuable community theatre is.

Tickets: https://untoldst.booktix.ca/dept/main/e/HTM

About the show:

Based on the classic 1989 film. Westerberg High is ruled by a shoulder-padded, scrunchie-wearing junta: Heather, Heather and Heather, the hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio. But misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend, the dark and sexy stranger J.D., who plans to put the Heathers in their place - six feet under.

Brought to you by the award-winning creative team of Kevin Murphy (Reefer Madness, “Desperate Housewives”), Laurence O’Keefe (Bat Boy, Legally Blonde) and Andy Fickman (Reefer Madness, She’s the Man). Heathers The Musical is a hilarious, heartfelt, and homicidal new show based on the greatest teen comedy of all time. With its moving love story, laugh-out-loud comedy, and unflinching look at the joys and anguish of high school, Heathers will be the most popular new musical. Are you in, or are you out? HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL CONTAINS CONTENT THAT MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE FOR YOUNGER AUDIENCES. PARENTAL DISCRETION IS ADVISED. SUGGESTED AGE: 16+

Opening May 15th and running through May 31st at the Pumphouse Theatre in Calgary, Front Row Centre Players presents Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, directed by Lindsay Kurtze. Kyle sits down with Lindsay on the day of opening to discuss the difficulties of putting up this gargantuan show, in size, scope, set and length and the difficulties inherent in presenting a modern American opera by a Community Theatre Company. Lindsay talks at length about the love of the show, the artform and what FRC has done to proudly bring this show before an audience.

Tickets: https://www.artscommons.ca/whats-on/sweeney-todd-frc?hs_preview=OpSTSmgp-171519437223

About the Show: Innocence twists into vengeance on the cobblestone streets of 19th century London. Come along on a sophisticated, macabre, and uncompromising tale as Benjamin Barker, a barber, becomes Sweeney Todd, the demon butcher, and his landlady, the local pie proprietress, goes from making The Worst Pies in London to creating a culinary crime described only as God that's Good. This barbarous ode to vengeance accomplishes the rare task of offering intense drama, darkly side-splitting humour and a ripping musical score.

Opening April 25th and closing May 10th at the Pumphouse in Calgary, Morpheus Theatre presents an adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan's The McAdo, directed by Sean Anderson. Kyle sits down with Sean to talk about what this production means to him given that this is Morpheus' 30th season and his favorite of all of the G&S operettas.

Tickets: https://www.morpheustheatre.ca/?page_id=7805

About the Show: It’s the show you love, in a brand new setting! The Mikado has been moved to the highlands of Scotland and becomes The McAdo. The McAdo, or “The Town of Ballydew”, a refreshing take on Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Mikado, featuring all the music and dialogue you know and love, but with a wee Scottish twist… This new production relocates the beloved comic opera from Japan to a fictional clan in the Scottish Highlands, where warriors and clansfolk combat love, death and obscure laws. With joyous songs, Scottish dances and Highland-inspired dress, this is The Mikado as you’ve never seen it before. In this adaptation by Gilbert & Sullivan Austin, Gilbert’s libretto and Sullivan’s score has been kept virtually intact, while the costumes will reflect the Scottish moors. It’s a farcical tale of a wand’ring minstrel, a cowardly executioner, an iron-fisted ruler, and some of the greatest songs in musical theatre!

Opening April 11th and running through April 18th at the Pumphouse in Calgary, Misfit Theatre presents Guys & Dolls directed by Jeremy Walker. Kyle sits down with Jeremy, Nimue Nova the choreographer and Donna Pearson, producer, to talk about the struggle in bringing this larger than life 1950s Broadway Musical to life.

Tickets: https://www.morpheustheatre.ca/?page_id=7805

About the Show: A co-production between MisFit Theatre YYC and Morpheus Theatre It's time to roll and beat those dice as the beloved musical takes a bow! A screwball romantic comedy, Guys and Dolls takes us into the heart of 1950s New York, as imagined by Damon Runyon and scored by Frank Loesser and includes toe-tapping musical theatre classics including "Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat" and "Luck Be a Lady". The story brings together a collection of colorful characters. First, there's Sarah Brown, the upright but uptight 'mission doll' out to reform the evil-doers of Times Square. Next up is Sky Masterson, the slick, high-rolling gambler who woos her on a bet and ends up falling in love. Adelaide is a chronically ill nightclub performer whose condition is brought on by the fact she's been engaged to the same man for fourteen long years. And last but not least there's her devoted fiance Nathan Detroit, desperate as ever to find a spot for his world-renowned floating crap game! Guys and Dolls takes us from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, Cuba, and even into the sewers of New York City, but eventually everyone ends up right where they belong.