Category Archives: Previews

Musicals, comedies, and a mysterious experiment in contacting the dead: a week of choices on Edmonton stages

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca “There’s more to be seen than can ever be seen.” OK, Rafiki the shaman baboon isn’t singing about the week in Edmonton theatre at the start of The Lion King. But, heck, he could have been; … Continue reading

Posted in Previews | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Musicals, comedies, and a mysterious experiment in contacting the dead: a week of choices on Edmonton stages

The fascinating mystery of Mrs. Houdini: Louise Casemore’s Lucky Charm premieres at Found Fest

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca You know how a question slides into your brain at an oblique angle — and takes over — when you’re really supposed to be thinking about something else? Actor/playwright Louise Casemore has been there. And the … Continue reading

Posted in Previews | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The fascinating mystery of Mrs. Houdini: Louise Casemore’s Lucky Charm premieres at Found Fest

Putting the Find back in Found: the festival of unexpected encounters with art and artists is back

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca What will you Find at Found? Surprise! “Experiences you can’t find anywhere else,” says Whittyn Jason, the director of the festival of unexpected encounters with art and artists. Common Ground Arts Society’s Found Fest is back … Continue reading

Posted in Features, Previews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Putting the Find back in Found: the festival of unexpected encounters with art and artists is back

Troy O’Donnell has a history with the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, and this year’s As You Like It

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca The play that opens Friday in a park overlooking the river valley is all about finding yourself on an excursion to the great outdoors, “the green world.” No wonder the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, which has gone … Continue reading

Posted in Previews | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Troy O’Donnell has a history with the Freewill Shakespeare Festival, and this year’s As You Like It

Get festive: it’s a four-festival weekend on (and above and near) Edmonton stages

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca We sure do know how to get festive in this town. It’s a FOUR-festival weekend on (and above and near and beyond) Edmonton stages. So a toast is in order. •At the Exchange Theatre in Strathcona, … Continue reading

Posted in Features, Previews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Get festive: it’s a four-festival weekend on (and above and near) Edmonton stages

Play into opera: Darrin Hagen turns his hand to writing a libretto. And the rest is Silence, premiering at NUOVA Vocal Arts

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca Darrin Hagen has written plays, songs, stories, essays, queer histories, a memoir, an award-winning film documentary. He’s created drag cabarets (and sometimes starred in them too), devised queer tours, hosted web series, created music videos. He’s … Continue reading

Posted in Previews | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Play into opera: Darrin Hagen turns his hand to writing a libretto. And the rest is Silence, premiering at NUOVA Vocal Arts

New plays for size large stages: the Citadel’s Collider Festival is back

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca Think big. That’s the not-secret agenda of the festival that returns to the Citadel Friday. The Collider Fest, named for the collision of artists and forms, is all about developing new plays for size large and … Continue reading

Posted in Features, Previews | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on New plays for size large stages: the Citadel’s Collider Festival is back

Inside the punk rock scene: Televangelists, a door into the dark labyrinth of youth culture, at Nextfest

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca Televangelists, Nextfest’s biggest mainstage production — cast of eight, huge tech team, the festival’s longest list of warnings — found its way to the stage via an original route. One that’s not well marked on any … Continue reading

Posted in Features, Previews | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Inside the punk rock scene: Televangelists, a door into the dark labyrinth of youth culture, at Nextfest

Northern Light Theatre announces an upcoming 50th anniversary season

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca Northern Light, the adventurous Edmonton theatre company that’s had more eras, mandates, identities, logos, radical reinventions than any other in this theatre town, is turning 50 in the 2025-26 season. Its origins were modest half a … Continue reading

Posted in Previews | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Northern Light Theatre announces an upcoming 50th anniversary season

The rats are back in a new show! Rat Academy 2: Gnaw and Order at Nextfest, a preview

By Liz Nicholls, 12thnight.ca Here’s a way to have yourself an existential crisis (or at least an emotional breakdown): be a rat, in Alberta. When we last met the stars of Rat Academy, a pair of rats on the lam … Continue reading

Posted in Previews | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The rats are back in a new show! Rat Academy 2: Gnaw and Order at Nextfest, a preview