On Staging

Discussion Opening November 1 and running through November 8th at The Pumphouse Theatre in Calgary, MisFit Theatre YYC presents, Dads, The Musical directed by Nicola Payton. Kyle welcomes Nicola back to the podcast for the third time to talk about the relevancy of this Canadian made musical about 3 stay at home dads, and how relevant the show is 35 years after it first debuted. Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/dad-the-musical About the Show: DADS! The Musical.  Written by Robert More and Tom Doyle. Directed by Nicola Payton & Clark Adams Music Direction by Krista Willott DADS! The Musical is an uproariously funny and poignant look at three first time dads, suddenly without jobs, choosing to stay at home and take charge of fatherhood. DADS! is witty, clever, relevant, and shows the nature of a changing society – it’s where social viewpoint and entertainment meet. The show features loveable characters, hilarious scenes, four puppet babies, and high energy musical numbers! A must see - not to be missed!

Discussion Opening October 17th and running through October 25th at the Pumphouse in Calgary, Scorpio Theatre presents The Affections of May directed by Stuart Bentley and Nicole Dickinson. Kyle sits down with Stuart and Nicole to talk at length about how this production came to be along with Stuart's history with the production and the inextricable link between comedy and tragedy on stage. Tickets: https://www.morpheustheatre.ca/?page_id=7805 About the Show: After being deserted by her husband, a woman suddenly finds herself the centre of attention in a small resort town.

Discussion Opening October 17th and running through November 1st at the Old Church Theatre in Okotoks, Dewdney Players presents The Woman in Black, directed by Claire Hoyer. Kyle sits down with Claire and performer Paarth Kelkar to discuss how important this play is to Claire, how hard it is to direct for the first time, and the differences between live theatre and film. Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/s/events/Okotoks,AB,Canada/?search_string=dewdney About the Show: The framework of this spine-tingler is unusual: a retired lawyer hires an actor to tutor him in recounting to family and friends a story that has long troubled him concerning events that transpired when he attended the funeral of an elderly recluse. There, he caught sight of the woman in black, the mere mention of whom terrifies the locals, for she is a spectre who haunts the neighbourhood. Terrible things occur when anyone sees her! The lawyer has invited some friends and family to watch as he and the actor recreate the events of that dark and stormy night. A classic of the genre. <h6>The Woman in Black, by Stephen Mallatratt and Susan Hill, based on the novel by Susan Hill, presented by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals</h6> *Warning: Implied child death, strobe lights, loud noises, and potentially frightening moments.

Discussion Opening October 17th and running through October 26 at the Swamp Donkey Theatre in Bragg Creek, Swamp Donkey Musical Theatre presents String, directed by Juleta Severson-Baker. Kyle sits down with Juleta to talk about this new musical and what it took to bring it to life under lights. Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/s/events/all/?search_string=string+the+musical About the Show: String is a captivating musical where myth and modernity intertwine.  After angering Zeus, the Fates, the goddess sisters who spin, measure, and snip the strings of life for every human on Earth, find themselves banished to a modern office building in the mortal world, where they continue their work hidden among the mortals whose destinies they weave into one giant, glorious tapestry.  When eldest sister Atropos accidentally loses her pair of scissors in the building, she meets Mickey, the building’s overnight security guard.  Soon love gets the better of her, and she finds herself falling for him, stealing his string to keep him immortal and defying all of the rules she has to follow as a goddess.  This exception to the rules begins to disrupt the natural order—can the tapestry of the Universe and her sisters stand this flaw?  Fall for this original, uplifting, and belty musical about fate, love, and the imperfections that make us human (synopsis from broadwaylicensing.com).

Discussion Opening on October 8 in Calgary at The Legion #275 Express Entertainers presents an original "Northern Nights." Kyle sits down with co-founder Wayne Arsenault, Media Manager Abby Carey and performer Megan Kerrigan to discuss how this show was created and what it takes these days to attract the attention of potential audiences. Tickets: https://www.expressentertainers.ca/ About the show: Come back with us to the 1800s to a wild west saloon where the whiskey flows and if you fight your horse, you do it outside. The Wild Rose of the West herself, Shania McQueen, is returning to her hometown to put on a show and everyone is coming to see it. Everyone, including a murderer! Lock the doors and watch your sidearm as a classic "Who dunnit" unfolds. Will the hapless deputy Garth Eastwood be able to catch the criminal? Has British newcomer Waylon Wayne sipped his last tea? Can Shania McQueen keep the rowdy crowd entertained? And does the bartender Hank Bronson have enough whiskey to get through the night?  Will you solve the murder or become the next victim? Find out in Northern Nights: A Comedy Country Musical!

Discussion Opening October 3rd and running through October 11th at the Pumphouse Theatre in Calgary, Morpheus Theatre presents There Goes the Bride, directed by Wayne Hunter. Wayne sits down with Kyle for the second time to talk about how different a farce is to direct from a radio play and the obstacles that come with directing Fall shows after summer holidays. Link to Tickets: https://www.morpheustheatre.ca/?page_id=7805 About the Show: When beleaguered advertising executive Timothy Westerby hits his head on the morning of his daughter’s society wedding, he awakes to find himself in the company of Polly Perkins, a 1920’s Flapper girl straight out of his current advertising campaign. It soon becomes all too clear that no-one else can see or hear her, and when another bump on the head transports Timothy back to 1926 and the Savoy hotel, the carefully planned wedding preparations disintegrate into chaos as friends and family attempt to lead Timothy back to reality and his daughter down the aisle before the newly arrived ‘In-Laws’ abandon the wedding.  From the duo that wrote Move Over, Mrs. Markham, and Ray Cooney’s Run For Your Wife, this farce is sure to delight.

Discussion 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.

Discussion 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…

Discussion 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

Discussion 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.

Discussion 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+

Discussion 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.

Discussion 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!

Discussion 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.

Discussion Kyle sits down with Charlotte Loeppky and Harold Squire to discuss their creation of The Horse and His Boy for the stage for Imagine YYC Theatre opening April 4th and running through April 12th at the Lantern Church in Calgary. Tickets: https://www.ticketor.com/Account/Events?searchTerm=imagine%20theatre About the show: Far away from Narnia, across a vast desert, lies Calormen where the animals don’t talk, the rulers are tyrants, and poor boys like Shasta are slaves to mean old fishermen. But when a stranger’s mighty warhorse takes a chance and reveals to Shasta that he can talk, Shasta learns that not all is as it seems in Calormen. The Horse and His Boy is a grand tale of mistaken identity, escape, adventure, and self-discovery. Join Imagine Theatre at the historic Lantern Church in Inglewood as we follow Shasta and Bree on their journey to freedom!

Discussion Opening March 27th and running through April 5th at the New West Theatre in Calgary, Full Circle Theatre presents Porcelain Dolls. Kyle sits down with director Danielle Baker and performer, co-writer and intimacy coordinator Gillian Klassen to discuss what it takes to present this original work for the second time after an 8 year gap and some integral re-writes to the production. Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/porcelain-dolls About the Show: Get ready for Porcelain Dolls, an all-new, reimagined version of the bold, original play that’s back with fresh dialogue, a new era, and the perfect cast to bring it all to life. Originally created in 2017, Porcelain Dolls has been completely rewritten to capture the dynamic energy and unique talent that Full Circle Theatre saw during last season’s auditions. Now reimagined and set in 2012, this production captures the unique energy of the era—before social media became ever-present, when a night out was just about being in the moment. This edgy and emotionally charged production immerses you in the women’s washroom at Sage nightclub, where friendship, love, grief, and life’s messy moments take center stage. As the characters deal with the chaos of a bachelorette party, secrets are revealed, emotions are laid bare, and everything changes. Prepare for a theatrical experience that’s funny, raw, and real. With stunning performances and a story that balances humor and heart, Porcelain Dolls explores the complexity of female friendships, examining how these relationships shape who we are and who we become.

Discussion Kyle sits down with Maren Ord Burnham to discuss her approach to the creation of a musical and in particular how she found her way to creating, and now staging, The Night of the Murder, opening at the Glenmore Christian Academy March 28th through April 5th. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.ca/cc/the-night-of-the-murder-4065193 About the Show: Get ready for laughs, gasps, and mishaps — come aboard and help Steve and Kate crack the case before they’re the next suspects!

Discussion Kyle sits down with Robert Cole over Zoom to discuss the forthcoming Strathmore Theatre Players production of The Addams Family Musical at the Hope Church running March 21st through April 5th with a special subtitled production on March 29th. Robert Cole directs and Kyle discusses the labour of direction along with the particular difficulties of putting up a large scale musical in a small town in the middle of the winter. Tickets: https://thevaultonline.ca/collections/strathmore-theatre-players-guild About the Show: THE ADDAMS FAMILY, a comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family. Featuring an original story complete with every father’s nightmare: Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family– a man her parents have never met. And if that wasn’t upsetting enough, Wednesday confides in her father and begs him not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must do something he’s never done before– keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on that fateful night when they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents. Join the extended Family to watch and laugh as Chaos reigns supreme!

Discussion Kyle sits down with Tannis Gross and Myra Gross to discuss Small Time Theatre's production of Fiddler on the Roof, Jr. opening March 13, 2025 and running through March 15th at the Glenmore Christian Academy in Calgary. Myra stars at Golde and Tannis is the director. Tickets: About the Show: The special adaptation of the nine-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Fiddler on the Roof Jr. follows Tevye the milkman as he tries to protect his five daughters and his way of life from a changing world. The play deals with the universal theme of tradition in ways that reach across barriers of race, class, nationality and religion. This production is sure to delight audiences with its poignant music and its endearing characters.

Discussion Kyle sits down with Marian Hamilton, Artistic Director of Painted Fish and Musical Director of The Wizard of Oz to discuss their production which ran at the Cite des Rocheuses Theatre in Calgary from February 13th through February 23rd. Link to Painted Fish: https://www.paintedfish.ca/ About the Show: Join us for an enchanting journey down the yellow brick road! Painted Fish Performing Arts is thrilled to announce our upcoming production of The Wizard of Oz!