Lora Brovold in Dead Letter, Workshop West Playwrights Theatre. Photo by Marc J Chalifoux.

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca

In the terrific new Conni Massing play Dead Letter, premiering at Workshop West Playwrights Theatre we meet a woman who’s desperate for meaning, obsessed by the unaccountable, hyper-alert to any small sign from the universe that might connects the random dots of our existence. The play is funny and dark, and it wraps itself around a murder mystery with clues and heartbreak. It’s a lot for a play and a trio of top-flight actors (Lora Brovold, Collin Doyle, Maralyn Ryan) to do, and they all rise wonderfully to the occasion. You can read the 12thnight review here, and an interview with the playwright here. Dead Letter continues its run at the Gateway Theatre through June 2. Tickets: workshopwest.org.

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•And speaking as we are of omens and signs, the colour green has officially returned to the world, ergo it’s the moment for Sprouts. As the name hints, Concrete Theatre’s annual event is all about theatrical seedlings. Sprouts plants new and original playlets, from a writers of diverse backgrounds, for kids and their families. And over the years more than a few of them have grown into full-length plays for kids that tour and join the Canadian canon.

Sprouts 2024, Concrete Theatre.

This year’s 22nd spring edition happens Saturday at the Westbury Theatre (12:30 and 2:30 p.m.), with a trio of theatre sprouts. And you and your young companions (0 to 12, as billed) can see them all in about an hour.

What’s Sprout-ing? Two are by theatre artists Edmonton audiences have known so far mainly ias actors. Helen Belay’s The Dog and The Donkey That Brays chronicles the quest of the title companions who set forth in search of independence, “who must learn to think before they act and how to use their voice.” The mismatched title characters of Alex Ariate’s The Monkey and the Turtle, based on a classic Filipino fable, are also on a journey of discovery — through a forest in search of food. Solidarity is required.

The third of the Sprouts trio is Lucy, Alison Neuman’s story of a disabled girl passionate about dance. Her adventure is to join live dance classes, and challenge the commonplaces about what dancers look like and how they move. The Sprouts cast directed by Jenna Rodgers includes Julie Andrew, Mohamed Ahmed, and Chelo Ledesma.

Tickets: fringetheatre.ca.

MASKS!, Rising Sun Theatre. Photo supplied.

•It’s the 20th anniversary of Rising Sun Theatre, devoted to opening the doors of theatre to cognitively disabled people, and providing opportunities for them to practice the art of theatre. Their new show MASKS!, collectively created by the cast under the mentorship of professional theatre artists, focuses on the meaning and magic of the masks, how and why we wear them in life, and what’s underneath.

Most of the masks in the show, says director Becca Barrington, were created by the cast “to represent a character they wanted to explore…. The stories and scenes in the play were developed entirely by the group inspired by their mask characters — who they are, how they move, and what adventures they get up to.”

“We also have some scenes that explore how we use masks and movement in our daily lives to challenge and support our feelings. For example, how to move our mask from sad to happy, or how we can change a frustrated/chaotic mask to something even more powerful… a calm mask.”

MASKS! runs at the Nina Haggerty Centre (9225 118 Ave.) Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 3:30 p.m.  Tickets: eventbrite.ca

cast of Grease, Mayfield Dinner Theatre. Photo by Marc J. Chalifoux

•If You’re The One That I Want doesn’t stick in your brain when you see that song title written out in black and white, consider a sensory deprivation tank getaway for your holiday this summer. Continuing at the Mayfield through June 16, Kate Ryan’s big-cast high-spirited production of Grease, choreographed by Julio Fuentes, adds some urban grit to the nostalgia for our collective alma mater Rydell High. Fun fun fun. The 12thnight review is here. Tickets: mayfieldtheatre.ca.