Blog – Page 3 – Alberta Theatre Projects

February 21st, 2020 | 2019-20 Season, Actually

Tiptoes and anxiety: developing character in Actually

By Carson Schmidt

At the heart of two very outwardly confident characters lie deep-rooted insecurities – in themselves and the systems around them.

January 31st, 2020 | 2019-20 Season, Old Stock

World-wide love for Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story

by Aaron Chatha

Not just Canada, not just North America, but all over the world critics have fallen in love with Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story.

Some praise the humour, some feel deeply for brave, astonishing story, and other simply can’t stop singing the songs, most of which were composed by Ben Caplan specifically for the play.
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November 22nd, 2019 | 2019-20 Season, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

Pulleys, levers and magic – bringing Aslan to life

By Aaron Chatha

Aslan is the kind of larger-than-life puppet that puts every other larger-than-life puppet to shame.

Operated by two very talented actors and puppeteers, Bruce Horak and Jarod Blake, the lion sits on both their shoulders and is operated by a series of interlocked pulleys and levers. Created by the Stratford Festival, it’s graciously been rented to Alberta Theatre Projects for the current production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

November 15th, 2019 | 2019-20 Season, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

Finding your inner bad guy with the White Witch and Fenris Ulf

By Aaron Chatha

To get into character as Fenris Ulf, actor David Sklar spent a day living among actual wolves at the wolf sanctuary outside of Calgary.

“As I drove up I thought about what could go wrong – because they take us into the middle of them,” laughed Sklar.

Fenris Ulf is the captain of the White Witch’s Secret Police, and an enemy to the peaceful creatures of Narnia. Together, David Sklar and Brianna Johnston, who plays the Witch, are the root of evil in Narnia – and some of the most dastardly characters to ever visit the Alberta Theatre Projects stage.

November 8th, 2019 | 2019-20 Season, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe

From tires to tails – creating Narnia from scratch

Designer relishes opportunity to tackle iconic The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

By Jamie Zachary

The stage is a second home of sorts for Hanne Loosen.

Trained in costume design in her native Belgium and later scenic design in Berlin, she has spent a lifetime embracing “the magic that theatre can bring.”

“I’m fascinated by how the curtain can go up and it can be dream-like – and how everything you see visually that helps support the story,” said Loosen, who moved to Canada nearly six years ago and now calls Calgary home.

Her most recent vision will come to life later this month when Alberta Theatre Projects lifts the curtain on The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

October 29th, 2019 | 2019-20 Season, Disgraced

Taking on Everest – Shawn Lall on playing Amir in ‘Disgraced’

Interview by Aliyah Mohamed

Entering its final week in the Martha Cohen Theatre this month is the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Disgraced, a “taut, engrossing and powerful” dinner party debate about race, privilege, politics and identity.

The second play of the 2019-20 season for Alberta Theatre Projects follows Amir Kapoor (Shawn Lall), a successful Pakistani-American lawyer living on the Upper East side of Manhattan. He has also turned his back on his Muslim heritage.

Amir Kapoor is an emotional, challenging role, with a boiling anger that explodes on stage. Luckily, actor Shawn Lall was more than up for the task.

October 23rd, 2019 | 2019-20 Season, Disgraced

Five questions with Hamed Dar of ‘Disgraced’

By Jamie Zachary

New to the Martha Cohen Theatre this month is the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Disgraced, a “taut, engrossing and powerful” dinner party debate about race, privilege, politics and identity.

The second play of the 2019-20 season for Alberta Theatre Projects follows Amir Kapoor (Shawn Lall), a successful Pakistani-American lawyer living on the Upper East side of Manhattan. He has also turned his back on his Muslim heritage.

October 21st, 2019 | 2019-20 Season, Disgraced

An Interview with Director Nigel Shawn Williams

An immediate focus on identity and racial politics has skyrocketed Ayad Akhtar’s Disgraced to becoming one of the most produced plays in North America. Cultures clash during an ill-fated dinner party, during which the character of Amir sees his fear, resentment and hostility to his Muslim upbringing come spilling out.

Writer Aliyah Mohamed had the chance to explore the themes of the play deeper during an interview with Disgraced director Nigel Shawn Williams.

October 21st, 2019 | 2019-20 Season, Disgraced

Setting the Scene – Design Elements of Disgraced

By Elizabeth Chorney-Booth

Alberta Theatre Projects’ new production of Ayad Akhtar’s 2013 play Disgraced is a thought-provoking and bitingly funny study of modern-day characters, with the entire show taking place within an apartment on Manhattan’s posh Upper East Side, primarily over the course of an emotionally-charged dinner party.

September 23rd, 2019 | 2019-20 Season, The Wedding Party

Planning Your Outfit for The Wedding Party

By Tanisha Cherry

Regardless of how much planning goes in, weddings are the most unpredictable occasion one can attend!

The calling off of the wedding, a fight, or party crashers can all occur on someone’s big day. And because of FOMO, you just can’t turn down an invitation! So, if you like an entertaining evening of funny moments and drama, then you have to see Alberta Theatre Projects’ The Wedding Party.

The cabaret-style seated show encourages attendees to dress up as wedding guests.

Below are my suggestions on what to wear as a family member of either the bride or groom, an outrageous wedding guest or a regular attendee.