I Don't Get It

We've pulled ourselves out of the winter doldrums to see a couple of real live shows! Paul and Fawnda have a hoot at Peter Pan Goes Wrong, and we enlist our pal Soni to check out Brian Webb Dance Company's presentation of Bboyizm's In My Body. Laughing and breathing with others in a theatre — it's a beautiful thing. We’re proud to be part of the Alberta Podcast Network. Thanks to this week’s sponsors: Park Power and Taproot Edmonton.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Nutcracker holds a special place in many dance hearts. It can be the first professional show for aspiring ballet students to appear on the big stage — usually as mice. And it's also often the most available ballet production for families during the holidays. This year, Fawnda was joined by Soni Dasmohapatra and seven-year-old Niya for their first experience with Shumka's Nutcracker. It was pretty magical, especially after 700+ days since the company had performed for public audiences. Stay tuned to the end for a special preview of the next podcast project Fawnda and Soni are working on in 2022: Kathak, Hopak, Hip-hop.We're proud to be part of the Alberta Podcast Network. Thanks to this week's sponsors: Park Power and Taproot Edmonton.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Colleen and Fawnda take in a real, live show! Northern Light Theatre's The Great Whorehouse Fire of 1921 is a delightful scorcher by Linda Wood Edwards, played out with sass by Sue Huff and Twilla MacLeod. The show runs at the Varscona Theatre until Nov. 28. I Don't Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network: Locally grown, community supported. Thanks to this episode's sponsors: RÜMI and Taproot Edmonton.Other bits: BE Merry, Ballet Edmonton's holiday showBrian Webb Dance Company's 43rd season announcedJason Kenney's Hotboy Summer extends its runShumka's Nutcracker is coming Dec. 17-18 ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We're back with a very special episode from CIFF! Colleen and Fawnda head down to Calgary to chat with the one and only Kyle Marshall, founder of Media Lab YYC and the mind behind Putting it Together, the podcast that examines the works of Stephen Sondheim. In this episode we chat about: > Kyle's many other podcasts: Creative Block, Kyle and Dave vs the Machine, Somebody Date Jenn & Kyle> CIFF: Calgary International Film Festival> Stephen Sondheim is working on a new musical called Square OneThanks to our sponsors ATB and Taproot Edmonton.I Don't Get It is proudly part of the Alberta Podcast Network.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We're back and fully vaxxed, baby! Colleen joins Fawnda on a trip to the Edmonton Expo Centre to catch the highly anticipated immersive exhibit, Imagine Van Gogh. Special thanks to our sponsors, RÜMI and Taproot Edmonton. Imagine Van Gogh runs until September 5th. Check out a dissection of how Van Gogh's The Starry Night depicts turbulence.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode, we cover how NorthwestFest is weathering the new world of online festivals, and about the history of the society, too. We commiserate on how volunteer roles have evaporated amid the pandemic, how certain things work really well online, and of course about the films at this year’s Northwestfest, which runs May 6 to 16 and is viewable all across Alberta. I Don't Get It is part of the Alberta Podcast Network: Locally grown, community supported. Links from the discussion: > NorthwestFest line-up and tickets> Book Women Podcast (thanks to Edmonton Community Foundation for the Pod Power shout-out!)  > The Pulse on Taproot Edmonton ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We chat with Nisha Patel and Sheri Somerville about BODY OF WORDS, the collaborative performance piece that is being streamed online as part of SkirtsAfire Reimagined. We cover how their collaboration came about, what audiences can expect, and also how the pandemic has effected them, from performing poetry for an audience of one to how a ballet company safely rehearses in this wild new world. Also discussed in this episode:• Nisha's open letter to Jason Kenney• SkirtsAFire, running March 4-14• Body of Words tickets• Ballet Edmonton• Writer in Residence (WiR) program at Strathcona LibraryWe are proud to be part of the Alberta Podcast Network. This episode is brought to you by NAIT's Career Essentials podcast and Edmonton Community Foundation.  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

·      The Look presented by Northern Light Theatre runs until January 31·      The Situation We Find Ourselves In Is This runs for one night only on January 30. And it's free! ·      Nathan Fillion provides the narration for a delightful new Virtual Forest Tour ·      Metro Cinema is running an online retrospective of the films of Wong Kar-Wai until February 19·      Tim Mikula continues to add to his collection of works for sale at ABLegGitShop. All for sale, too. ·      Theatre Network is running a book club (for plays!) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We're back! And a little rusty. But we're here to warm the cockles of your isolated hearts with a chat about what it means for performing arts companies to lose their big-box, holiday cash cows this year. We're proud to be part of the Alberta Podcast Network. Locally grown, community supported. This week our sponsors are Edmonton Heritage Council's ECAMP Podcast and Park Power. Additional reading/viewing: • Dance Magazine: Land of the Bittersweet: COVID's Effect on Nutcracker• Sarah Kaufman in Washington Post: Breaking pointe: 'The Nutcracker' takes more than it gives to world of ballet• New York Times: Toning Down Asian Stereotypes to Make ‘The Nutcracker’ Fit the Times• The new, freaky versions of other Tchaikovsky classic ballets: Alexander Ekman's A Swan Lake and Mats Ek's Sleeping Beauty• Stream local holiday shows like Citadel's A Christmas Carol, Shumka's Nutcracker, and Alberta Ballet's A Sugar Plum Dream ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Paul and Fawnda take in the Sterling Awards remotely, and reflect on the shortened theatre year in their season finale episode. The winds of change keep blowing. What's next for Edmonton's arts scene? Will we start another podcast while we wait for performances to resume? Have you washed your mask lately? Let us know how you're doing out there, and we'll do our best to keep you posted on all the YEGartsy happenings. I Don’t Get It is a member of the Alberta Podcast Network. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Actor Natércia Napoleão has shared a number of public letters that call attention to the lack of BIPOC representation in Edmonton’s theatres. Photo by Brandon Hart.In the form of open letters on social media, actor Natércia Napoleão has been asking Edmonton’s theatre companies directly what their BIPOC representation looks like not only onstage, but off as well. In this chat we cover how social media can be used to call in — not necessarily call out — and how Edmonton theatre companies are responding to public questions about representation in their casts, staff, boards, and otherwise.Links• Makram Ayache’s post about the Sterling nominations• Sterling Nominations Full List• Internal Analysis of Inclusion & Diversity in The Sterling Awards report• Natercia’s letters to the Sterlings, Citadel Theatre, Theatre Network, Teatro la Quindicina, Grant MacEwan Theatre Arts, and Freewill Shakespeare Festival• The 3.7% Initiative in Edmonton (hosted in Edmonton by Concrete Theatre)• Natércia’s Stuck in the House video (with Balki!)• Globe & Mail article on a wave of Black female Artistic Leadership in Canadian Theatre ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

A selection of books by Black writers discussed in this episode, including Christina Sharpe, NASRA, and Dionne Brand. Photo by Jason Purcell. We’re starting with something different this week. Off the top you’ll hear the voice of NASRA, an artist, poet, and producer in Edmonton, which was recorded live back in February. Listen up. The guests on this episode are the founders of Glass Bookshop: Jason Purcell and Matthew Stepanic. In this chat we cover what they wanted to achieve in opening a bookstore, what it means to hold space when physical space is not a feasible option, and what you should be reading and doing to support Black artists now. The events of the past days must be followed with continued action. Anti-Black racism is a terrible reality, and it is not spoken about enough, especially in white communities. Now is the time to listen, to educate yourself, and to take action.Here’s the reading list discussed on the show (buy them here): A God Dance in Human Cloth by NASRAThis is How We Disappear by Titilope SonugaAn Autobiography of the Autobiography of Reading by Dionne BrandIn the Wake: On Blackness and Being by Christina SharpePolicing Black Lives by Robyn MaynardThe Skin We’re In by Desmond ColeSo You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma OluoIndigenous Rights by Chelsea VowelFifteen Dogs and Days By Moonlight by Andre Alexis LinksGlassbookshop.comGlass Bookshop’s Reading & ResourcesBlack Voices Podcast PlaylistAPN’s From the Archive: Listening for our TimeWhat’s The Tsismis? episode with Gina PuntilSterling Awards Nominations full list I Don’t Get It is a member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Ellen Chorley (centre) enjoys a typical night at Nextfest. This year’s festival goes online June 4-14. (Photo by Mat Simpson) This year’s Nextfest—its 25th anniversary—goes entirely online. We caught up with Festival Director Ellen Chorley to talk about her career path and the wonders of the beautiful, multidisciplinary beast that is Edmonton’s festival for emerging artists. We also cover how she and Fawnda met a decade ago on the dancefloor at one of the legendary Nextfest nite clubs. I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. Links discussed in this episode: Nextfest.orgEllen Chorley at Playwrights Guild of CanadaSend in the Girls Burlesque ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The entry image for Tracks, by Vena Amoris Productions It’s been a while, but we actually caught a local show to review! Vena Amoris Productions offered an online choose-you-own-route experience with Tracks. Fawnda and Colleen take the trip together—virtually, of course. Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Along with the rest of us, playwright Vern Thiessen has been a lot of baking bread lately. Vern Thiessen published an open letter to the nation’s professional theatre associations last week, encouraging them to seriously consider what they could be doing during the Great Pause, including reassessing their collective agreements and lobbying for changes to the Status of the Artist legislation. We cover his letter, the meaning of these agreements for working artists in Canada, and what post-pandemic theatre could look like for the foreseeable future (likely, it’s “G” houses). The Governor General Award-winning playwright also offers some advice on letter-writing—which we should all be doing more. Links discussed in this episode:• Vern Thiessen’s publications at Playwright’s Guild of Canada• EPL’s Writer in Residence Susie Moloney• Tracks, the final show of Fringe’s Off Season series, running May 19-24• The Georgia Straight profile on Canada Council CEO Simon Brault • The Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, MA, is busily planning a summer season of live theatre with substantially reduced seats, no intermissions, audience face masks, and one-person shows.  Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Nisha Patel is Edmonton’s current Poet Laureate. (Ye Fan) YEG Poet Laureate and PoFest Executive Director Nisha Patel chats about taking literary events online, her #CanadaPerforms stint, the realities of being an artist and festival producer in the gig economy, and emerging standards for compensating artists for online content. Links discussed in this episode:• Nisha Patel’s website• Moon Jelly House, publisher for diverse chapbooks• Vena Amoris Projects are taking their show Tracks online from May 19-24• The Globe and Mail talked with several Fringe and festival organizers on the impacts of this summer’s cancellations• Found Festival has issued a call for proposals for the 2020 festival• The Revisionist History episode where Malcolm Gladwell slams golf courses Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Alexis Hillyard on the set of the web series Stump Kitchen. (KTB Photography) While the rest of us had to get used to this new era of online connecting when the pandemic was declared, Alexis Hillyard was already an internet star in her own right with her Youtube series, Stump Kitchen. In our chat she covers favourite pandemic meals, how artists can leverage putting their work online, and bringing authenticity to digital space—plus, how a stump comes in handy in the kitchen! Links discussed in this episode: • Stump Kitchen on Youtube• The Avocado Pie Episode• The Lucky Fin Project• Alexis’ advice for massaging kale• Paul’s go-to recipe for buns• The Stage on what we can learn from South Korea’s theatres, which remained open throughout most of the lockdown• NY Times on how theatre has to think small after the return• Shumka’s Isolation Hopak Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

A scene from Confessions of A Reluctant Caregiver, Northern Light Theatre’s final show selection of the season, cancelled due to COVID-19 complications. Pictured left to right: Davina Stewart, Cheryl Jameson, Brian Dooley. Photo: Ian Jackson/Epic Photography What week are we in again? Seven? Seventeen? Artistic Director of Northern Light Theatre Trevor Schmidt expands on the acceptance of this Great Pause, impacts on small versus large theatre companies, sucker-punch play structure, and staring down a summer without the Fringe. Links discussed: • Northern Light Theatre• Mile Zero Dance’s 3-hour online Dance Blitz for International Dance Day • Gurdeep Pandher’s Youtube channel of joyful Yukon Bhangra goodness.• Freewill Shakespeare Festival announces Dave Horak as artistic director• Stratford Festival is running an online Shakespeare on Film Festival Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Peter Brown (top) captured in-improv with Die Nasty cast members Stephanie Wolfe, Jesse Gervais, and Mark Meer. (Photos by Jana Hove) Week five of no live shows, and we’re all still commiserating about it. Funnyman Peter Brown talks with us about the nature of laughter, improv online, creative feelings, and unique uses for toilet paper rolls. Enjoy, all. Stay well! Here are your links referred to in this episode:• Die Nasty’s weekly radio show: https://www.dienastyimprov.com/• Hop on Die Nasty’s facebook page on April 27 at 4pm MT for a live stream recording as part of National Arts Centre’s Canada Performs• Peter Brown’s website, where you can see what he’s up to (and hire him!)  Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Our pal Liz Nicholls joins us to commiserate on the current dearth of liveness on Edmonton’s stages. It took a pandemic, but we finally caught her! This week, we talk bread-making, online performances, and the surreal weirdness of Edmonton sans live theatre with the one and only Liz Nicholls. Some links discussed in this episode:• Liz Nicholls’ blog: 12thnight.ca• Die-Nasty’s weekly improvised Radio Hour, new episodes out every Monday • Citadel Theatre’s Stuck in the House web series• Paul’s sketch on The Great Gatsby• Nick Cave’s The Red Hand Files• Cancellation of the Ediburgh Fringe will be felt around the world• The Wooster Group’s Hamlet from the Edinburgh Fringe in 2013 • Gia Kourlas, dance critic for the New York Times, on how we navigate the pandemic with our bodies I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★