Auditions for Much Ado About Nothing

We are halfway through auditions for Much Ado About Nothing. Last night was so much fun and it was terrific to see and hear so many good actors. Usually I am a little scared at auditions for Shakespeare. It's great when it goes well but it can be a train wreck when it goes wrong, but there were so many strong people and everyone was definitely bringing their A-Game! We are back tonight for the second round and I am definitely looking forward to it!

AGM and Open House

This September 18th, 2010, in conjunction with Alberta Art's Day, we will be having an Open House and AGM. Come out and check out the shows we are doing this season and sign up for something if you are interested in being a part of one of the teams. Come to the AGM and meet the new Board. We'd love to see you!

http://walterdaleplayhouse.com/?p=583

Perfect Pie

Our first show up on deck this season is Perfect Pie, by renowned Canadian playwright Judith Thompson. For more information on Thompson you can start with this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judith_Thompson

Perfect Pie tells the story of the childhoods of Patsy and Marie and the impact it had on their later lives. It is told in flashbacks as the adult Patsy and Marie (now Francesca) meet after many years to revisit their past and the event that led to their separation. The four characters onstage are amazing opportunities for any actress and the themes of changing friendships and survival are universal that are sure to appeal to a variety of audience members.

We hope you get a chance to check this work out on our stage.

And So Fringe 2010 Ends...

Thanks to all the performers and audiences who visited our building this year. I saw several shows in the space and was impressed by how you all used and played in it (Bash'd, This Lime Tree Bower, Social Sundays, Spin, and Night Sweats). There were a couple I didn't get to, but I am sure it all went well. Thank you to the wonderful Technicians who took care of the building (including dealing with a flood) and to the Front of House staff that welcomed all the visitors. We hope that many of you might return to Walterdale for a show or two this season!

Can't Wait to See the Shows!

Fringe is here! I hope to get to 3 shows tonight to kick off the Festival. So far I have 28 shows scheduled (I am waiting to buy tickets because I am coordinating with friends on a few shows). I also have 2 1/2 unscheduled days that I can fill as I choose. It is expensive, but it is technically my 'holiday' this year and it will be far less expensive than the 2 trips I took to Minnesota last summer! I will also get to see so much THEATRE! Yay! I do confess, I avoid the stand-up routines and I do focus on the shows from local performers, particularly those I know, but I have squeezed in a few interesting choices that are from far and wide merely because they intrigued me in their descriptions. I know that there are hits and misses, but I have rarely gone to a Fringe show where there wasn't something I liked/learned from the production (even that Tap Dance show a few years back...).

Anyhow, here goes... You show me yours!

Anxiously Awaiting...

I deliberately chose to do nothing for Fringe this year so that I could actually go and see some shows. I am so excited for all those artists who are taking risks on the Fringe stages to produce new works and test drive their skills in the 38 stage festival. Please take some time to check out those shows that have a Walterdale connection. I have highlighted as many as I could find in this blog. If you have a show and a Walterdale connection and you don't see yours here, let me know and I will do a write up for you! I am excited to see how those skills we have seen at Walterdale have translated to the Fringe!

Rules for the Heart...

Raw Meet Productions presents To HELL With The Rules!

Starring: Gregory Caswell, Megan MacDonald, Boris Derow, Erika Conway (Lend Me a Tenor), George Krissa, Lindsey Walker (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas)

Director:Melissa Barkman

Stage Manager:Ha Neul Kim

Greg and Amy are bigger than Oprah! They are a killer celebrity couple made famous by their love for each other and their commitment to helping "lost souls" find their way through love and Greg and Amy's "love rules". On the other side of things, Will has just come out of a divorce, and Eleanor has been broken up with on Facebook a staggering eight times. Greg bets Amy that he can make Will and Eleanor succeed as a couple. The only problem – Will has a secret that can shatter everything, including Eleanor’s chance at a happy ending. Can Greg save his marriage, fame, and fortune from public humiliation? Find out in this hilarious ride through the ups and downs of romance in the new decade.

Performances run nightly August 13 – 22 (excluding Monday, August 16) at the BYOVenue Cook County Saloon 8010 – 103 Street, Edmonton, AB.

Having Trouble Sleeping?

NIGHT SWEATS (a double feature) includes 2 one acts:

SKIN DEEP and RAVENOUS by Gerald Osborn

Fever dreams... sheets soaking wet... nightmares of mother love gone horribly wrong and a mid-life crisis that'll make your skin crawl. Don't miss this delirious double feature by the author of SCREAM PLAY and GOSSOMER FEAST.

NIGHT SWEATS - nasty award-winning comedy from the dark side of the Fringe....

Featuring: Nathan Coppens (Sea of Green, Antony & Cleopatra, Cellar Doors & Secrete Gardens - Playwright, Trial of Salome, You are Here), Crystal Jean (Pieces, Two Plays by Ives), Tiana Leonty (Hamlet, Mr. Twiddles - Dir., Mockingbird Close), Ruby Swekla (Pieces, Children of a Lesser God, Board of Directors, too, too many to list them all) and Cody Porter (You are Here, Antony & Cleopatra, Swimming with the Goldfish).

Stage Manager: Chandra Kirn Ashton (Mail Order Bride)

Set Design: Alexandra Armstrong

Photography: GypsyMoon Photography & Russ Hewitt

Artist: Scott Meunier

Video Editor: Paul Bezaire

Poster Design: Sarah Van Tassel (You Are Here - Dir., Selection - Dir., Board of directors)

Sat Aug 14, 2010 - NOON

Mon Aug 16, 2010 - 02:00 PM

Tue Aug 17, 2010 - 04:15 PM

Wed Aug 18, 2010 - 06:45 PM

Thu Aug 19, 2010 - MIDNIGHT

Sat Aug 21, 2010 - 08:15 PM

Summary of Fringe 2010 Shows with Walterdale Connections...

Nightsweats http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137654072940244&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=134143473293582&ref=ts

Mary's Wedding

To Hell with the Rules! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137654072940244&ref=ts#!/event.php?eid=142414785779780&ref=ts

Fortress Mentality
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=135566559812170&ref=ts

Canadian Gothic http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137654072940244&ref=ts

Fake Life http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=138155652876057&ref=ts

Europe: The Savvy Girl's Guide
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=108042992582522&ref=ts

The Way of All Fish
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=122347421144509&ref=ts

That Greek Thing
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=133068846734425&ref=ts

Serial http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=138102866199988&ref=ts

Shoot/get treasure/Repeat
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=142821295743200&ref=ts

15 Minutes http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=115998435115446&ref=ts

Our Man Tommy Douglas
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=141461445878370&ref=ts

Drive http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=137876676243617&ref=ts

Spin http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=127901980557861&ref=ts

Happy Whackin' Jim McCrackin
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=132813863423356&ref=ts

The Fairy Cather's Companion
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=141371002554471&ref=ts

Simple Simon
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=136926173007474&ref=ts

Where Have all the Lightning Bugs Gone?
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=135940483099319&ref=ts

Game Face http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=141700525856658&ref=ts
Famished: the Musical
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=130105317022277&ref=ts

Some Canadian Goodness...

Europe on a Budget!

How much is too much to pack for your first month long European trip? What do you do when your hostel has bedbugs and humping roomies? Do you really need that turnip you packed? Based on the popular novel 'Europe: A Savvy Girl's Guide', this musical is the perfect cure for the travel bug! With singing, humour and useful tips, this funny look at going overseas is perfect for both travel mavens and armchair adventurers. Learn to pack, bargain and come sing along!

Starring: Melanie Gall, Marsha Amanova (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Cellar Doors & Secrete Gardens - Dir., Pieces - Dir., Lunatic, King Lear), Erin Craig, Trish van Doornum (Sinbad).

Venue 11 - The Yardbird Jazz Suite

Friday, August 13 - 8:30pm

Saturday, August 14 - 4:00pm

Sunday, August 15 - 12:00am (Midnight)

Tuesday, August 17 - 2:15pm

Wednesday, August 18 - 6:45pm

Friday, August 20 - 12:00pm (Noon)

An August Wedding...

It's all Greek to me!

THAT GREEK THING A No Snowcones Production

After Pandora opens her box a discharge of EVILS are leaked upon the world. Follow four story tellers as they uncover the mysteries behind those evils and the truth about Ancient Greece.

STARRING:Brennan Campbell, Michael Davidson (Crew - Steel Magnolias), Daniel Stilwell, Kayla Whittingham

August 13 8:00 PM

August 16 4:30 PM

August 17 10:15 PM

August 19 12:30 PM

August 20 2:15 PM

August 22 6:00 PM

On This Island...

K.I.A. Productions presents SERIAL
The indescribable horror, unbearable lust, and impending mortal peril of a mysterious island and its ghastly inhabitants awaits in this viscerally encompassing and masterfully crafted new work in iambic pentameter

Transalta Stage 1 (The Westbury Theatre)

Friday, August 13 - 4:15pm
Sunday, August 15 - 2:00pm
Monday, August 16 - 7:15pm
Wednesday, August 18 - 12:15pm
Thursday, August 19 - 7:45pm
Friday, August 20 - 10:15pm

Starring:Brendan Thompson, Blake Mayan, Owen Bishop (Sea of Green, Come Back to the Five and Dime...), Olukayode Sonuga, Alexander Forsyth
Written by Alexander Forsyth
Directed by Joel Taras (Sea of Green, Beautiful Thing)
Stage Managed by Habiba Alli

A Little Action for the Crowd...

HELL YES presents:

SHOOT / GET TREASURE / REPEAT by Mark Ravenhill

...Winner 2007 Edinburgh Fringe First Award

Wars hell is a world away! Or is it? Take the walking tour and bear witness to 4 super-charged scenes exposing the creeping toll of war on our privileged western lives as we export freedom and democracy to the world while retreating to the safety of our homes and gated communities.

Directed by Heather Inglis

Designed by Brian Bast (Steel Magnolias - Set/Costume Design)

Featuring Lora Brovold, Ntara Curry, Julie Golosky, Sandra Nicholls, Laura Raboud, Michele Vance Hehir (in upcoming Perfect Pie), Murray Cullen (Hamlet), Patrick Lundeen, Alex D. Mackie, Troy O'Donnell

WARNING: BLOOD, GUN SHOTS, VIOLENCE, FOUL LANGUAGE - TASTEFULLY EXECUTED. ONLY 20 TICKETS PER SHOW. NO SEATING, MUST CLIMB STAIRS TO REACH VENUES

BYOV #30 MEET AT THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE OLD STRATHCONA FARMERS' MARKET.

FOR MORE INFO, VISIT http://www.theatre-yes.ca/