I spoke with Christopher Hunt, one of the founders of Black Radish Theatre, to talk with him about his acting career, Black Radish Theatre, and the ageless appeal of Waiting for Godot.
The Blog
Interview with writer, composer, and musical director Joe Slabe: Crossing Swords
I interviewed musical director Joe Slabe about musical theatre and the journey his play Crossing Swords has taken to reach the stage.
Hamlet: A Ghost Story – Actor Ahad Raza Mir
I sat down with actor Ahad Raza Mir to talk with him about his approach to acting and in particular about returning to Calgary from his native Pakistan to play Hamlet.
Hamlet: A Ghost Story – An Interview with Director Craig Hall & Playwright Anna Cummer
I sat down with the director of Hamlet and Artistic Director of Vertigo Theatre Craig Hall and playwright Anna Cummer, who penned the adaptation, to discuss their unique take on Shakespeare’s most famous and most produced play.
Interview Natascha Girgis – A Foray into Silly
I sat down with actor Natascha Girgis to chat with her about the Stage West production of Drinking Habits 2 Caught in the Act and her approach to comedy.
Interview with the director of 500 bucks and a pack of smokes – Ruthie Dworin
I spoke to Ruthie Dworin from the University of Chicago about her approach to directing my one-act comedy 500 bucks and a pack of smokes.
Deathtrap at Vertigo Theatre: An Interview with director Jamie Dunsdon and actors Mark Bellamy and Tyrell Crews
I sat down with director Jamie Dunsdon and actors Mark Bellamy and Tyrell Crews to talk about weapons of choice and Vertigo Theatre’s production of Deathtrap.
Interview with playwright, screenwriter, blogger, and novelist: Maryanne Pope
I spoke with writer Maryanne Pope a playwright, screenwriter, blogger and novelist about her work and her company Pink Gazelle Productions.
Interview with Playwright Wendy Froberg: Queen of the Ring – The Story of Johnnie Mae Young
Interview with Playwright Wendy Froberg about her play Queen of the Ring – The Story of Wrestler Johnnie Mae Young.
Matt Dy: Director of Script Competitions Austin Film Festival
The Austin Film Festival is a celebration of film and television that focuses on story and the people who write the screenplays and teleplays. I gave Matt Dy, the Director of Competitions for The Austin Film Festival, a call to talk to him about how the festival began and what participants can expect.
Interview with Barb Mitchell – Do What You Love
You might know Barb Mitchell as the cohost of Calgary’s first morning show for Global back in the early nineties. Or you might remember her as Miss Calgary back in the early eighties. Or more recently you might have seen her on television as a judgmental church lady in the gritty Depression-era drama Damnation. I sat down with Barb, just after this year’s Calgary Stampede, to talk with her about her experiences as a broadcaster and her career as a stage and television actor.
Interview with Haysam Kadri: Artistic Director The Shakespeare Company
I sat down with the Artistic Director of the Shakespeare Company Haysam Kadri to talk about Hamlet, theatre, and just how the Shakespeare Company’s Madness in Great Ones season came about.
Interview with Artistic Director of Verb Theatre Jamie Dunsdon: The Wolves
The Wolves is being produced and directed by Jamie Dunsdon the Artistic Director and founder of Verb Theatre. I sat down with Jamie to talk about The Wolves, her experiences running a local theatre company and her approach to directing.
Red Rock Diner is Summertime fun at Stage West Calgary – Interview with Red Robinson & Ben Cookson
Red Rock Diner by Dean Regan is a rockabilly jukebox musical that celebrates the music of the fifties and features plenty of classic hits like Johnny B. Good, Who Wrote the Book of Love and Great Balls of Fire! The play is loosely based on the early career of Canada’s champion of rock ‘n’ roll music DJ Red Robinson who started spinning rock ‘n’ roll records on Vancouver’s CJOR while he was still in high school in 1954.
Newmarket National 10 Minute Play Festival Celebrates Canadian Theatre
“We’ve received submissions from every province in Canada and from Canadians from around the world. We’ve received scripts from China, Tasmania, Australia, Ireland, many states throughout the U.S., and so on, and I think that Canadians are catching on to the idea that this is their festival.”
Uncensored, Unexpected, Unforgettable Theatre: Calgary Fringe 2018 – Festival Director Michele Gallant
The Calgary Fringe has become part of the cultural fabric of the city and is a welcome addition to the theatre season providing Calgarians with the opportunity to see and experience local, national and international artists. I spoke with the current Festival Director and Producer of the Calgary Fringe Michele Gallant.
The Hemingway Solution, Parts Unknown, and Anthony Bourdain
We’re not supposed to talk about suicidal thoughts – that’s taboo. Especially if you’re a man. It means you’re weak, right? And unfortunately, if you don’t talk about it and you don’t get the help you need the end result could be deadly. And that’s why we need to talk about Anthony Bourdain.
Interview with Actor Braden Griffiths: 21st Annual Betty Mitchell Awards
On Monday, June 25th the Calgary Theatre community came together to celebrate the Twenty-first annual Betty Mitchell Awards. I sat down with actor, playwright, and current President of the Betty Mitchell Board Braden Griffiths, who was just finishing his run as Sherlock Holmes in the Vertigo Theatre production of Sherlock Holmes and the American Problem, to talk about the awards and theatre in Calgary.
Interview with Lunchbox Theatre Director of Marketing & Communications Lauren Thompson
“Have fun and be creative. If you won’t find it interesting to read why is your audience going to find it interesting to read? If you don’t like the way it looks, chances are your audience won’t like the way it looks. So, trust you and do what you want to do. Marketing is the place where you can be creative and do your own things. Financial people have to follow a budget – have to follow numbers, but marketing is that world where you can have your creative juices flow, if you will.”
Urban Stories: Social Justice Issues for the Stage
Helen Young is the Artistic Director and one of the founders of Urban Stories Theatre. Her theatre, film, and television work goes back more than 30 years and includes acting, singing, dancing, stunt work, writing, teaching, and directing. I spoke to Helen about her thoughts on theatre’s place in our culture and this year’s festival.