Edmonton

The 6th Annual Grindstone Comedy Festival comes out swinging with Kenny vs Spenny, Jon Dore, Robby Hoffman & more at four Edmonton venues 
Catch a curated lineup of Stand-Up, Improv and Sketch from across Canada at Grindstone’s 6th Annual Comedy Festival, plus comedy competitions, workshops, parties and more.

Performances from July 2-6 at The Grindstone Theatre, the Howl & Roar Outdoor Stage (100st 81Ave), Maki Maki, and The Orange Hub Theatre.

Tickets starting at $15 at www.grindstonecomedyfest.com 

dhARTworld is delighted to present Kyle Beal’s debut solo exhibition with the gallery … Double Fantasy, from May 8th to May 30th, 2025.  The opening will take place on Thursday, May 8th from 6 to 9 pm.

Keep your eyes open and ready to twinkle. Edmonton artist Kyle Beal conjures from reflection and shine with a dazzling array of works realized on paper, glass and aluminum that speaks to celebration.

Beal’s new and recent works in the exhibition centre on his obsession with mirrors and mirrored surfaces, exploring the nature of reflection, the omnipresence of self-image and subsequent construction/deconstruction of identity.  In this digital age of social media where our focus is at an all-time low and the pressure to perform mounts, we are drawn farther and farther away from reality and the present moment.

Working in concert with Beal’s mirror pieces are a grouping of exquisite pastel drawings of theatrical curtains called Approval Stage.  These curtain pairs consume their foreground with voluminous dramatic undulations, drawing the viewer hither and thither, into a conceptual world behind and in front of the closed curtain call.  From behind emanates the joyous hidden energy of the performer’s finale, and from the front, a demonstration of approval and elation.  Confetti anyone?

Beal’s work humorously asks- Would the real you act this way? Here and now? Or maybe just later? We put on a face, play the part, and rehearse for the life we want (or think we want). So put on a show, preferably to great acclaim, sold-out audiences and standing ovations. Or maybe just to an audience of one (in your living room). 

Act out and act up! Come out and see your self for yourself, a Double Fantasy.

For further information or to arrange a preview, please contact Dana Holst by calling or texting (780) 953-3859.

www.dhartworld.com/double-fantasy-beal-2025 

Shaking it Up: Improvising Shakespeare 

Shakespeare is hilarious. His plays are packed with sharp wit, clever wordplay, and some of the best sex jokes in history. He made poetry sound natural, which is why he’s still the most famous playwright in the world.

If you do improv, you’re going to run into Shakespeare scenes—a lot. This workshop is all about making them fun, easy, and believable. You’ll learn how to decode the language, find the rhythm, and bring out the comedy, so your Shakespearean improv scenes feel effortless and engaging.

Taught by Mat Mailandt, a trained theatre actor and professional comedian (Hamlet: Improvised (2012), Macbeth: Improvised (2025), Second City Faculty, this two-hour session will break down Shakespeare’s tricks and give you practical tools to confidently play in his style.

​Come ready to shake things up, experiment, and have fun with the Bard!

• Dates: June 4, 2025 from 7 - 9 pm 

• Location:  Grindstone Studio (9562 82 Ave NW) 

• Instructor: Mat Mailandt 

• Prerequisite:  Intermediate or Advanced Improvisers 

• Showcase:  There is no showcase for this class 

• Cost:  $150 (there is no early bird for this workshop) 

Loose Change – An Art Show by Dale Kalbfleisch

Coins in the pocket, subtle shifts or evolving perspectives; discovering unexpected value in what might seem ordinary or forgotten.

"Interesting, satisfying and rewarding isn't it, to intentionally, or mistakenly find the reins loosened and see where a project or relationship leads. Accepting 'two steps forward, one step sideways or back' mentally, physically, spiritually and with intuition most often allows for beneficial loose change to come about. May our clearest and best intentions and hopes reveal goodness, kindness, growth and welcome in our lives." Dale Kalbfleisch

Using a mix of wood veneers, ink, and intricate routing, Dale creates striking prairie and mountain scenes that capture the interplay of nature, perspective, and the ever-evolving landscape, inviting viewers into a quiet contemplation of change.

Opening Reception: Friday, May 30, 7 – 9 pm
Live music, Cash bar, Light Bites
Artists in Attendance: Saturday, May 31, 11 am – 2 pm
A quieter time with the artist, complementary espresso, cash bar
Exhibition Dates: May 30 – June 15, 2025

See FULL AGENDA of EVENTS on our Event Brite link: www.eventbrite.com/e/loose-change-tickets 

RSVP through eventbrite or email at info@bay1gallery.com 

Edmonton International Jazz Festival runs for nine days of live performances from Saturday, June 21 until Sunday, June 29 in some of the finest music venues throughout Edmonton. 

This packed schedule full of sounds and experiences is brought to you in part by presenting sponsor TD Bank Group through the TD Ready Commitment.

Tickets range from free indoor and outdoor performances and up to $69.99 for some international headliner shows.

“Our Edmonton International Jazz Festival remains committed to featuring international, national, and Edmonton-based jazz musicians,” says Festival Producer Kent Sangster. “As jazz music, as with any music, has the power to unite us in the shared experience of live performance. We hope you will join us in discovering your jazz as music brings us all together during our annual Jazzfest."

Tickets and schedules here: www.edmontonjazz.com

Orcas: Our Shared Future is an immersive, interactive exhibition featuring life-size Orca replicas, fossils, films, objects from popular culture, and original artwork from the Indigenous peoples of the North American west coast.

Highlights include:

• 140 original objects and specimens, including an articulated adult female orca skeleton, and a life-size family of three replica orcas.
• Digital and physical interactives including orca sounds, orca anatomy, and whale/human brain comparisons
• Films featuring orca research, Indigenous art, and orca rights.
• Indigenous artworks including a carved wooden screen by renowned Haida artist and master carver Bill Reid.

Visit us on opening day, May 16 and be among the first to dive deep into this exciting new exhibition, plus you’ll take home a special souvenir pin to mark the occasion! (While supplies last)

Orcas: Our Shared Future runs until October 19, 2025 at Royal Alberta Museum!

Learn more
 

Dates: Jun 25, 2025 - Jul 30, 2025
Total of 6 sessions
Starts Jun 25
Cost: $381.60
Location: Orange Hub Black Box Theatre (10045 156 St, NW Edmonton)

Learn the fundamentals of improv in a fun and supportive environment. Students will build a strong foundation of self-acceptance, spontaneity, and playfulness as they learn to make up scenes on the spot. This class will focus on the basics of improv and how to get started as a performer. Join long-practicing improviser and teacher Cayley McConaghy for an engaging and high-energy experience.

www.grindstonetheatre.ca/service-page/improv-101b