Theatre

Our intrepid Arts Development Consultant and luminary in Edmonton community theatre, Barb Mah is retiring from the Government of Alberta and the Alberta Foundation for the Arts (AFA). 

Her dance and theatre training combined with a formal business education means that she is equally at ease in a rehearsal studio or doing a forensic analysis of your latest financial statement. 

Here's a bit more about Barb as we bid her adieu as she seeks new adventures!

Artist profile

We asked Barb about her artistic practice and career:

How many shows have you worked on in your career?

Over 50 - too many to count...

If you could only do one: Directing, acting, choreography or teaching?

Teaching, followed closely by directing. (In community theatre, they’re much the same.)

What’s one of your favourite memories working in theatre?

A production of The Rocky Horror Show. The cast was so tight that we could have performed for no audience and would have been happy. At the cast party, we all slept over at the theatre as we were so reluctant to let it go. (I don’t even like that show that much, but that cast…)

What’s one of your proudest moments as a teacher?

So many good moments, but watching students suddenly “get it” (usually in movement, which for those that don’t have a movement/dance background, they can struggle with).

This is directing-related but, during one show, I hired a teen in a cast of otherwise adults (I didn’t realize he was that young). A quiet young man that, during the course of rehearsal and doing the show, came out of his shell. I received a heartfelt note at the end, telling me he had started the show in a depressed state of mind, and that the show had given him back his life. 

What show have you always wanted to work on, but haven’t yet had a chance?

Bucket list: Merrily We Roll Along (I came close: pre-pandemic, I had actually cast it. Then COVID. We did a “first/last” read on Zoom and then everyone went home and cried.) But I have been very lucky in being able to do shows that are dear to my heart. One of these days…

What will you be up to next?

Next show (also a bucket list item): Austentatious, by a local (Calgary) writer. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice gone completely off the rails. I became aware of this show over 15 years ago when the AFA funded its initial production. (It has since played Off Broadway and across the pond).

Anything to add? 

Other crazy interests: Star Trek and Regency cos-play. (I’m a costumer as well and am crazy about costumes, I’m a decent sewist – have been my whole life.)

Barb and the AFA

Early days

Barbara Mah started working for Alberta Culture and Multiculturalism In May of 1989. You will note that Barb's career pre-dates the establishment of the AFA in 1991, which was an amalgamation of three former government-funded arts foundations. (Learn more about the orgins of the AFA.)

She joined the Touring Section of the Performing Arts Branch, which occupied a space on the 11th floor of Edmonton's CN Tower, sharing space with the Music Section, Theatre and Dance section, administration, and the performing arts library. This was an arts resource owned by the ministry with a large collection of records, music scores, plays, and other lending materials. 

• The playscript library is now owned and operated by Theatre Alberta Society, and has since expanded to more than 23,000 titles!

While grants were an important part of what we did, equally important was the community programming and capacity building. This took the form of classes, conferences, live auditions, hands-on creation of support organizations, newsletters, etc.
~Barb Mah

The largest activity supported by Barb's section was the annual Alberta Showcase conference. Back then, it was a four-day affair where hundreds of presenters and artists were assembled to encourage bookings throughout Alberta. Performances were presented at the Citadel Theatre and the Library theatre in Edmonton. 

• Alberta Showcase is now operated by the Arts Touring Alliance of Alberta.

The AFA is born

In 1991, Barb was part of a four-person task force charged with creating a transition plan to support amalgamation to establish the AFA, and to create workable programs. There were huge changes associated with this transition, but Barb notes one significant move: 

One change we implemented was the introduction of outside adjudicators (our expert panels), based on a model that we had used with some granting on the government side prior to amalgamation – much of it based on the work done by the theatre, dance, and music sections of the former performing arts branch.

The Expert Panel model remains a cornerstone of AFA adjudication of project grants. Learn more about how the AFA adjudicates funding requests. Barb was also instrumental in the development of community support programs, which is now the Community Support Organziations operating funding program.

With the AFA throughout the years...

The Rotting Donkeys is the name of the fictional band that the grants section created (despite the fact that nobody played any instrument or could sing), and we created several albums (complete with artwork and song titles, but never any actual songs). The name of the band came from a grant extension request: a film client needed an extension, as his film included a literal dead rotting donkey in it... and the decay had not gone far enough by the time the reporting deadline hit. You take your inspiration where you can get it...

Barb has been with the AFA through all of its major milestones:

• the AFA's first website, and eventually the adoption of the GATE Front Office online application system
• the move from Beaver House to Capital Arts Building
• Alberta Art Days (now Alberta Culture Days)
• Alberta at the Smithsonian
• introduction of Aboriginal Organization and Alboriginal Traditional Arts grants (now Indigenous Arts Individual Project Funding)
• The AFA's 25th Anniversary and the AFA Art Collection's 50th Anniversary

... and more. We will miss her very much!

Image provided by the Citadel Theatre

Alberta’s government is investing in the Citadel Theatre so that Albertans of all ages will be able to continue to enjoy the performing arts in Edmonton.

Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre is a performing arts hub in downtown Edmonton and an important partner in Alberta’s vibrant arts and culture scene. It draws both local and international visitors and productions to Edmonton while also offering programs to teach and encourage the next generation of creative voices.

As part of the Budget 2023 Capital Plan, Alberta’s government would provide the Citadel Theatre with $4 million to help fund its renewal project. Supporting the theatre’s renewal project will ensure it remains in top condition to provide a high-quality performance space for Alberta’s talented performers and continues to be a destination for world-renowned productions for years to come.

“The Citadel Theatre is a hub for the performing arts in Alberta. Through development of cultural infrastructure like the Citadel, we are creating jobs, helping to diversify our economy and building vibrant communities for all Albertans to enjoy.”

Jason Luan, Minister of Culture 

“This funding is absolutely transformational for the Citadel Theatre! As one of the gems of downtown Edmonton, the funds will be put towards capital infrastructure costs. We are really delighted, as this building has long needed this level of support. Thank you to the Government of Alberta for recognizing the Citadel Theatre and for their support of arts and culture in Edmonton.”

Sarah Pocklington, executive director, Citadel Theatre

Edmonton’s Citadel Theatre provides nearly 170,000 square feet of community space, and the project will see upgrades throughout the building.

Quick facts

•  The Citadel Theatre is one of the largest theatres in Canada and home to the Foote Theatre School.
• The Citadel Theatre renewal project includes: 
  • replacing elevators, window glazing and skylights, flooring and mechanical systems
  • renovating washrooms and adding stairlifts to increase accessibility
  • renovating the flexible hospitality venue

Related information

• The Citadel Theatre - Edmonton Theatre, Musicals & Plays
   

Title image credit: Photography by Heather Saitz.

Vivek Shraya’s How to Fail as a Popstar heads to CBC 

The theatrical one-person show, created by Albertan artist Vivek Shraya, will feature as an original series on CBC’s free streaming service, Gem. How to Fail as a Popstar is a comedic coming-of-age tale based on the artist’s life.

Shraya will write and star in the show, which will be filmed in Toronto and set for release later this year.

From stage to paperback to screen

The play was originally commissioned and produced by Canadian Stage in Toronto. Shraya’s play debuted in 2020 with a print edition of the script released in 2021. The show has appeared on several Canadian stages with upcoming tour dates in Quebec in February 2023 and played internationally in Ireland and Germany.

Multi-disciplinary artist

Shraya’s many talents are showcased in literature, music, film, visual art, theatre and fashion. The Edmonton-born artist has music featured in the HBO Max show Sort Of and her book, I’m Afraid of Men, was profiled in Vanity Fair.

Representation in the AFA Art Collection 

The AFA acquired Shraya’s work Trauma Clown in 2020, adding to our ever-growing and increasingly diverse collection.

Vivek Shraya  
Trauma Clown, 2019 
Photograph on paper 
Collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts is pleased to be a funding partner in this collaboration with Stone-Olafson and other community leaders to develop a long-term research investigation and evaluate how current conditions will reshape Albertans’ attitudes and behaviours towards social and group activities, across a variety of sectors. The purpose of this work is to give leaders of community sports, recreation, arts and culture, professional sports, active living, heritage, tourism or hospitality sectors relevant facts about local audiences that they will need to bring life back to our communities.

The initiative is being funded by: 

• ActiveCITY Collective
• Alberta Foundation for the Arts 
• Angus Reid
• ATB
• Calgary Arts Development 
• Calgary Foundation
• Edmonton Arts Council
• Edmonton Community Foundation
• Rozsa Foundation
• Stone-Olafson
• Travel Alberta

​This research is being conducted in six waves over the course of the next year. This is a community resource that is FREE to access and results from the second wave of research are now available. The second wave of research builds on the baseline established in May and June by delving into attitudes on comfort, spending, the impact of media, and audience expectations.

Findings and implications for Alberta organizations through Wave 2 results include:

• Support for the pace of re-opening grows but there are still lingering pockets of disagreement.
• Comfort levels are creating a new baseline of engagement.
• Increasing gaps are appearing between audience segments on the pandemic.
• As restrictions lift, Albertans are pulled by their social motivations and perceptions of safety outdoors.
• Engagement is (potentially) perishable.
• Staying connected will mean the development of innovative and hybrid experiences.
• In a crowded media space, audiences are still listening.
• Spending is obviously being impacted

The report makes the following recommendations for organizations:

• Comfort levels are not rebounding just because restrictions are lifting. Organizations need to temper expectations about reconnecting with audiences. You will not be reengaging them in the same you used to. It will take time and it will look different. Plan on it and prepare.
• Getting audiences comfortable enough to attend is vital. Some of this will rebound over time, and some will be addressed by government, but there are opportunities to build confidence in what you are doing to safeguard their health. Show the steps you are taking and the tools being employed to protect audiences. Building confidence with what you are doing will help increase comfort and, in turn, consideration.
• Audiences and markets are changing. There are new barriers to address and consider. Organizations will need to understand shifting mindsets of different target audiences in order to engage effectively. This could be a deep opportunity to engage for many organizations who can capitalize on their motivations and expectations.
• Find your voice. Audiences are listening closely for news around the pandemic and are eager for updates, information or promotions. They want to know when experiences will be available again and are receptive to traditional marketing messages again. In fact, they expect it.
• Adapting means developing new product and experiences to consume. Staying put or offering what you used to won’t necessarily work. Organizations that can move into hybrid offers (not simply digital alone or in-person alone) that still leverage intrinsic motivations will be well positioned to protect their revenue from competition.

Download the reports:

• Alberta Report
• Calgary Report
• Edmonton Report

You can subscribe to receive notifications when the new reports are available by visiting stone-olafson.com. 

This research is being conducted in six waves over the course of the next year. This is a community resource that is FREE to access and results from the fourth wave of research are now available. 

Findings for Alberta organizations from Wave 4 results include:

• Public perceptions reflect the low point of the pandemic at this time.
• Albertans are adapting to and following the rules.
• Change in habits during the pandemic appears to be additive, not alternative
• Contexts frame marketing in this environment - messages will need to be shifted, media strategies evaluated, and some types of voices changed.
• Engagement is on hold.
• Travel within the province is an option. 

What are the implications for Alberta organizations?

• When conditions permit, recognize you will be reconnecting with a weary population who are more anxious than before. Messages and offers will need to adjust to reflect this reality.
• As Albertans accept and get used to the restrictions, they expect others to follow them too. A large percentage of those surveyed indicate others not following protocols will dissuade them from attending events/participating in activities. The same applies for not seeing sufficient safeguards in place.
• As restrictions start to lift, Albertans are likely to start figuring out how to balance a new set of activities they enjoy with their usual activities they want to get back to. And for organizations, that means breaking through a larger competitive set to capture the attention of their audiences. For those that offer registered or directed experiences this may be an even bigger challenge now that people are also adding in more self-directed experiences.
• Organizations are likely going to need a multi-layered media strategy that can reach influencers who can help propel the message. To be clear, an influencer strategy doesn’t mean a pure social media strategy. It means a strategy of messages and media that are repeatable to others.
• Organizations have to be prepared to re-engage in stages. When current restrictions lift there will be some appetite to explore and potential opportunities to meet them online or outdoors. In a post-pandemic environment, audiences are very likely to get active again.
• Focusing on broad messages that reflect a drive to escape everyday stresses and deliver on social motivations will work well to help motivate intra-provincial travel. Reinforcing these main messages with reassurances about flexibility in booking and safety will also be helpful to finalize a decision.

Download the reports:

• Alberta Report
• Calgary Report 
• Edmonton Report

You can subscribe to receive notifications when the new reports are available by visiting stone-olafson.com. 

About the project

The Alberta Foundation for the Arts is pleased to be a funding partner in this collaboration with Stone-Olafson and other community leaders to develop a long-term research investigation and evaluate how current conditions will reshape Albertans’ attitudes and behaviours towards social and group activities, across a variety of sectors. The purpose of this work is to give leaders of community sports, recreation, arts and culture, professional sports, active living, heritage, tourism or hospitality sectors relevant facts about local audiences that they will need to bring life back to our communities.

The initiative is being funded by: 

• ActiveCITY Collective
• Alberta Foundation for the Arts 
• Angus Reid
• ATB
• Calgary Arts Development 
• Calgary Foundation
• Edmonton Arts Council
• Edmonton Community Foundation
• Rozsa Foundation
• Stone-Olafson
• Travel Alberta

All the World’s a Stage is a documentary portrait and homage to revolutionary theatre artists Joyce Doolittle, Grant Reddick and John Murrell. These trailblazers, who have laid the foundation for the renowned eclectic theatre scene that thrives in Alberta today, look back on how their experiences have shaped their lives.

Through interviews, high-resolution projection and intricate camera work, the filmmakers Sandi Somers and Corey Lee present a textured portrait of these artists, to peek behind the curtain to catch a glimpse into their soul and their creative process and touch the bricks that have laid the foundation for their legacy in theatre. This project was supported by an AFA 25th Anniversary Commemorative Art Project grant.

The short film received three nominations for the 2018 Alberta Media Production Industry Association (AMPIA) awards:

• Best Non-fiction Short - Corey Lee and Sandi Somers
• Best Director, Non-fiction under 30 mins - Sandi Somers and Corey Lee
• Best Original Musical Score, Non-fiction under 30 mins - Alec Harrison

Pumphouse Theatre's Winter Drama Classes Ages 6-11: registration now open!

Looking for a creative outlet for your young artist?

The Pumphouse Theatre is back with a brand new set of drama classes for the 2024-2025 year, now moving into our Winter semester from January to March.

From preschool to teenagers, we have a class that is suited for everyone!

Register today at www.pumphousetheatre.ca.

Playful Drama

Who: Gr 1-2 (6-8yrs)
What: This course is a great introduction to the drama basics, and covers a variety of topics including: story-telling, character, sharing, movement, and theatre games. This is a wonderful way to help your child explore their imagination, learn new skills, and have fun! No experience is required!
When: Saturday January 11 – Saturday March 22, 2025 | 10:30am-11:30am | @ The Pumphouse Theatre
How much: $125.00

Theatre Arts Exploration

Who: Gr 3-5 (8-11yrs)
What: This course is an all-inclusive exploration of the theatre arts. Students will be encouraged to discover a variety of dramatic techniques such as character creation, improvisation, movement, scene study, and more. Have a blast creating and performing an original final presentation for friends and family. No previous experience is required!
When: Saturday January 11 – Saturday March 22, 2025 | 10:00am-12:00pm | @ The Pumphouse Theatre
How much: $300.00

Acting Fun-dementals

Who: Gr 3-5 (8-11yrs)
What: This course is designed to get students feeling confident and comfortable being on stage while learning the fundamentals of acting and collaborating with others. Focus will be on exploring scripted work that students will either choose or be given, rehearse and workshop, and then perform in a final showcase. No previous experience is required!
When: Sunday January 12 – Sunday March 23, 2025 | 10:00am-12:00pm | @ The Pumphouse Theatre
How much: $300.00

There are no classes scheduled over the Family Day Long weekend. 

If you are registering more than 30 days prior to the first day of classes, receive $25.00 off the registration fee. 

If you are registering more than one immediate family member, receive $25.00 off the registration fee.

If you do not see a homeschool program that works for you, contact us about our Customizable Cohort Classroom option. We will work with you to create a program that meets your and your children’s needs.

All courses will adhere to all COVID-19 health and safety protocols.

All classes, with the exception of our customized programs, are 10 weeks in length.

All in-person course will take place at the Pumphouse Theatre (2140 Pumphouse Ave SW)

If you have questions or concerns about any of our programs, contact kelly@pumphousetheatre.ca or 403.263.0079 ext 100

Thank you very much! We look forward to seeing you at the theatre!

Get ready for laughs and life lessons with Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Musical at StoryBook Theatre!

Featuring a book by Kevin Del Aguila, music and lyrics by Michael Mahler & Alan Schmuckler, and based on Jeff Kinney’s beloved book series and the 20th Century Fox films, this musical brings Greg Heffley cartoon character to life. Middle school is tough, but Greg is determined to climb the popularity ladder—no matter what it takes.

Will his quest for coolness cost him his best friend, Rowley Jefferson? This hilarious and heartfelt show is a must-see for anyone who has braved the trials of middle school. Don't miss out on this fun-filled adventure!

Photo credit: Tim Nguyen, @timnguyen.co

Recommended for ages 6+

Ticket Prices:

General:  $28 child, $33 adult
Premium:  $33 child, $38 adult
Children are aged 3 to 17

When: Oct 11th -Nov 2nd, 2024
Time: Thursdays to Saturdays at 7pm
Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm
Where: StoryBook Theatre
Address: 375 Bermuda Dr NW, Calgary, AB T3K 2J5

Phone: 403-216-0808

Website: www.storybooktheatre.org
Tickets: tickets.storybooktheatre.org/TheatreManager/159/online

Experience the magic of Disney's Beauty and the Beast on stage! With music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice, and a book by Linda Woolverton, this timeless Broadway classic has captivated audiences in 37 countries.

Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature, the show features beloved songs like “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast,” along with new songs that add even more enchantment to this "Tale as Old as Time."

Follow the journey of Belle, a bright and independent young woman, as she discovers that true beauty lies within. Trapped in his enchanted castle, the Beast must learn to love and be loved to break the curse before time runs out. Nominated for nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical, this spellbinding production is a must-see for audiences of all ages.

Photo credit: Tim Nguyen, @timnguyen.co

Recommended for ages

Ticket Prices:

General:  $28 child, $33 adult
Premium:  $33 child, $38 adult
Children are aged 3 to 17

When: Nov 22 - Dec 29, 2024
Time: Thursdays to Saturdays at 7pm
Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm

Where: StoryBook Theatre
Address: 375 Bermuda Dr NW, Calgary, AB T3K 2J5

Phone: 403-216-0808

Website: www.storybooktheatre.org
Tickets:tickets.storybooktheatre.org/TheatreManager/159/online

Join us for MisCast, StoryBook Theatre’s annual musical fundraiser, where local theatre artists take the stage to perform Broadway’s hottest hits—in roles they would never traditionally be cast! This one-of-a-kind, entertaining event celebrates creativity and inclusivity, with all funds raised supporting SBT’s Ellie Tims Project. Dedicated to the mantra, "Never say no to a child," this initiative ensures that every child, regardless of socioeconomic status, has the opportunity to participate in Theatre School Programming. Don’t miss this spectacular night of music and support a great cause!

Photo credit: Tim Nguyen, @timnguyen.co

Recommended for ages

12+

adult themes & language

Ticket Prices:

$55 - Fundraiser

When: April 25th, 2025 - 7:00 pm
Where: StoryBook Theatre
Address: 375 Bermuda Dr NW, Calgary, AB T3K 2J5

Phone: 403-216-0808

Website: https://www.storybooktheatre.org
Tickets:https://tickets.storybooktheatre.org/TheatreManager/159/online