Spring 2012 Issue

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SPRING 2012

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Presenting and Supporting Arts in the Community at the TransAlta Arts Barns

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As we hurtle towards the 2012 Edmonton

International Fringe Theatre Festival with the anticipation of another record-smashing edition, why not prepare for the merry madness of the Fringe with TransAlta Arts Barns’ year-round presentations? Whether it’s a dark comedy from Northern Light Theatre, a performance for young audiences by Concrete Theatre, a return to a Samuel Beckett classic with Wishbone Theatre or an exploration of dance with the Expanse Movement Arts Festival, we always have a lot of “Arts at the Barns.” The magic of Fringeopolis lives on between this wonderful community facility’s walls and in its theatre spaces.

If you haven’t already, please sign up for our regular e-newsletters to receive event listings and updates, and join us for thought-provoking and entertaining “Arts at the Barns” presentations throughout the theatre season. We congratulate Edmonton audiences for Fringeing in record numbers during our 2011 Festival, and we encourage you to keep up your amazing support of Edmonton’s theatre and art year-round. All hail the Citizens of Fringeopolis!

FTA Board of Directors Sam Jenkins, President Ed Picard, Vice President Donna Lemieux, Secretary Marc Carnes, Director Joseph Devaney, Director Laurie Fumagalli-Ryan, Director Karen Frost, Director Noël Papadopoulos, Director Dwight Sarabin, Treasurer

FTA Staff Julian Mayne, Executive Director Kate Bagnall, Technical Director Mike Ford, Operations Director Brendan Fraser, Event Services Coordinator Chris Kavanagh, Resident Technician Lauren Kinney, Event Services Manager Darcy Lipsey, Box Office Manager Leanne Millar, Accounting Manager Gerald Osborn, Office Manager Thomas Scott, Program Director Krystina Silva, Development Assistant /Volunteer Coordinator Bottom Line Productions, Marketing & Communications

Contact us Fringe Theatre Adventures 10330 84 Avenue Edmonton, AB T6E 2G9 Box Office: (780) 409-1910 Administration: (780) 448-9000 www.fringetheatre.ca

See you at the Barns!

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The Arts at the Barns Magazine is published twice a year by Playhouse Publications Ltd. The contents of The Arts at the Barns Magazine may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher.

All rights reserved by Playhouse Publications Ltd.

About FTA Fringe Theatre Adventures (FTA) is a community recognized for theatre evolution.

FTA produces the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival and showcases theatre year round in its south side performance arts facility, the TransAlta Arts Barns.

Our Mandate The mission of Fringe Theatre Adventures (FTA) is to support the creation of theatre that challenges and celebrates the cultural fabric of our communities and provide a home for developing new and emerging artists, audiences and forums.

Thanks Our season presentations would not be possible without generous contributions from our presenting partner:

Our funders:

And our media sponsors:

Fringe Theatre Adventures greatly appreciates support from the Government of Alberta’s Community Spirit Program.

Thank you all.

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Inquiries should be made to: Playhouse Publications Ltd. 950 Bell Tower 10104-103 Ave., Edmonton, Alberta T5J OH8 Ph: 780-423-5834 • Fax: 780-413-6185 www.playhousepublications.ca PLAYHOUSE PUBLICATIONS LTD. President & Publisher: Rob Suggitt Vice President: Stephen Kathnelson Art Director & Designer: Christine Kucher Advertising Sales: Barry Powis, Kerry Duperron Administration: Amber Grmek The Arts at the Barns Magazine is a product of Playhouse Publications Ltd., an affiliate of Suggitt Group Ltd. President & CEO: Tom Suggitt President & CFO: Rob Suggitt Playhouse Publications Ltd. also publishes The Citadel Theatre playbill, The Arden Theatre playbill, the Edmonton Opera playbill, the Hockey Edmonton Magazine and the Hockey Calgary Magazine.

the Art of Advertising

Bringing kids home for

YEARS

An Interview with

Lig & Bittle Director Tracy Carroll

by Gerald Osborn

So, Lig & Bittle, eh? That’s a very weird title. Almost looks like a typo.

What’s this play about anyway?

Lig is big and Bittle is little. They live in their own lands where they feel that they don’t belong. Lig is the biggest where he is from, and Bittle is the littlest where she is from. They are so frustrated with being different from everyone else, they each head out on a journey to the land of Perfeckt Phitt, where everyone is happy and no one feels that they don’t belong.

Along the way, Lig & Bittle become friends and fend off the evil Ooga Monster, landing happily at their destination. However, when they do arrive at Perfeckt Phitt, they realize that they would have to change themselves to fit with everyone else. Lig and Bittle have to make a decision whether they change to fit in, or accept the way that they are.

Is Lig & Bittle your first directing job?

L & B wasn’t my first directing job, but certainly was one of the most fun of them all.

As far as awards go, a show I directed at the Citadel called A Giraffe in Paris won a Sterling Award for Outstanding Theatre for Young Audiences production in 2005, and last Spring, I was honoured to receive a directing Sterling for a play called Beneath The Ice that I also produced.

Who wrote Lig & Bittle and by any chance are they big and little like the characters?

The play was co-written by Elyne Quan and Jared Matsunaga-Turnbull. And yes, they are just like their characters. Elyne is 5'2" and Jared is 6'4". They were also in the first two productions of the play together.

Where did the writers get the idea for Lig & Bittle?

I believe that it all started when Jared and Elyne were working together in an office and they couldn’t find chairs that fit either of them What other shows have you directed? properly: Jared was too big for the chairs and Have you won any awards?

Elyne was too small. They started talking about I was fortunate enough to run a series of plays size and how it’s challenging to fit into the way for kids at the Citadel a few years ago and our society is built. Elyne is never tall enough to directed shows like The Sword in The Stone, reach the top shelf; Jared has a hard time finding New Canadian Kid and Penelope vs. The Aliens clothes that fit properly. And it grew from there there. I’ve also directed some adult shows with the creation of these kids, Lig and Bittle, such as The Anger in Ernest and Ernestine, who get so frustrated with not fitting in, that and The Mercurial Times of Kevin Grimes. they decide to find a place where they do.

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Are you a perfect fit? If you could change anything about yourself what would it be?

For this production, just how big is your Lig? And how little is your Bittle?

Oh my goodness, I am far from being a perfect fit. The funny thing is I’ve always been pretty average – 5'5" in height, size 7 shoes etc., and that always seemed very bland to me. Growing up, I always wanted to be a little bit taller to lengthen my legs out, and I always wanted to get rid of my freckles. I used to cover my face with a towel when I would lie in the sun.

Paul Welch is the 6'7" Lig and Ming Hudson is the wee 5' Bittle… Should be fun!

But, the older I get, the more I am accepting of who I am and what I look like. We are born with certain qualities, and we need to make the most of what we’ve got.

I totally agree. I’ve already booked my tickets. Thanks so much for talking to us today.

My complete pleasure, Gerald. It’s great to talk about a show that I know has such a positive impact on kids and is fun for parents too. I’m looking forward to getting into rehearsals and then presenting the play to Edmonton audiences. Thank you!

Don’t miss Concrete Theatre’s Lig & Bittle, a perfect fit for anyone aged three and up, playing in the TransAlta Arts Barns January 27 and 28. See page 10 for details.

Equipment Showroom Get the Advantage 16604 - 109 Avenue 780-452-8877 www.applefitness.com

ACCREDITED BUSINESS

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COMING UP AT THE BARNS Northern Light Theatre presents The Ecstatics February 9 – 18 Studio B

Aviv Folk Dance Association Performance May 24 Westbury Theatre

Rapid Fire Theatre presents the 2012 WildFire Improv Festival February 13 & February 26 Westbury Theatre

Cecchetti Dance Theatre’s Spring Show June 9 Westbury Theatre

Rapid Fire Theatre presents the 2012 WildFire Junior Improv Festival February 27 – March 4 PCL Studio Theatre

Edmonton Musical Theatre June 11 - 24 Westbury Theatre

Alberta International Band Festival March 12 - 16 Westbury Theatre Western Canada Fashion Week March 29 - April 5 Westbury Theatre Paul Simon’s Graceland: A Tribute Concert April 7 Westbury Theatre

Rapid Fire Theatre presents Improvaganza June 13 - 23 PCL Studio Big Rock presents The Eddies June 25 Westbury Theatre Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival August 16 – 26 Venues throughout the TransAlta Arts Barns and beyond!

Edmonton Kiwanis Singers May 11 - 13 Westbury Theatre

For additional details about upcoming events at the TransAlta Arts Barns, please visit www.fringetheatre.ca.

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Sluggo’s Free Kick Specializing in Custom Teamwear & Uniforms Please contact: Tel: 780 467 8499 • Fax: 780 467 8994 • Email: sluggo@sluggosfreekick.ca • www.sluggosfreekick.ca

Personal & Professional Service

January 27 - 28, 2012

Westbury Theatre – TransAlta Arts Barns Concrete Theatre presents

Lig & Bittle

By Elyne Quan & Jared Matsunaga-Turnbull

Starring: Ming Hudson and Paul Welch

Director: Tracy Carroll Production Designer: Marissa Kochanski

Sound Designer: Jay Lind

Stage Manager: Betty Hushlak

Director Shadow: Carmela Sison

January 27, 2012 | 7pm

January 28, 2012 | 11am & 2pm Westbury Theatre – TransAlta Arts Barns

Runtime: 50 minutes

Rating: Suitable for ages three and up

Ming Hudson & Paul Welch, Photo by Epic Photography

L ig & Bittle is about two people trying to find their place in a hard-to-fit-into world. Lig, who

is big, and Bittle, who is little, are invited to Perfeckt Phitt — a mysterious place where they will fit in. On their adventure, they discover many things about themselves, friendship and what it means to be different from those around you.

This engaging and energetic production celebrates the diversity in everyone.

“Lig & Bittle is a charmer of a physical comedy about the desire to blend in. The writing is deft, light, non-preachy and knowing.”

Adults: $18 Student/Senior: $15 Children: $12.50

-Liz Nicholls, Edmonton Journal

Fringe Theatre Box Office: (780) 409-1910 | www.fringetheatre.ca | 10330 84 Avenue 10 ARTS at THE BARNS

Volvo of Edmonton

THE NEW 2012 S60: FIND OUT MORE AT VOLVO OF EDMONTON Ellerslie Road & 101 Street | 780-486-5100 | www.volvoedmonton.com Volvo for life

February 1 – 11, 2012

Westbury Theatre – TransAlta Arts Barns

Featuring:

Director:

Designer:

Movement:

Stage Manager:

Wishbone Theatre presents

Nathan Cuckow, Farren Timoteo, Glen Nelson, George Szilagyi & Ty Hatt Chris Bullough Michael Peng Amber Borotsik Lisa Dalmazzi

February 1 – 11, 2012 8pm nightly 2pm February 4 & 11

Westbury Theatre – TransAlta Arts Barns

Runtime: 120 minutes Rating: PG

Image by Laura O’Connor

T

wo old friends, alone on a road, wait for someone who is sure to arrive today. Or tomorrow.

Most definitely tomorrow. If not today.

A tree. A mound. A turnip.

Eat. Argue. Embrace. Repent. Sleep. Dance. Forget.

Remember. Forget. Search one’s hat. Smell one’s boots.

Repeat.

It’s funny.... In an existential way Waiting for Godot, the most influential play of the last century, not produced in Edmonton since 1974, is mounted by wishbone theatre, the Sterling award winning company behind criticallyacclaimed productions of SHIMMER, Bashir Lazhar, and Falling: A Wake. In our accelerated culture, does Beckett’s masterpiece matter anymore? Do we...?

“Engrossing” (VUE Weekly, on Falling: A Wake) “Haunting... Downright exhilarating” (The Edmonton Journal, on SHIMMER) “A passionate performance... Chilling.” (The Edmonton Sun, on Bashir Lazhar) “I don’t know of Wishbone Theatre...

I will forever watch for anything they do” (Facebook post, on Falling: A Wake) February 1 & 7: Pay What You Can Adults: $23 Students/Seniors/Equity members: $19 Fringe Theatre Box Office: (780) 409-1910 | www.fringetheatre.ca | 10330 84 Avenue 12 ARTS at THE BARNS

The Scona Theatre Company Strathcona High School

$15 Fine Silver Lunar Lotus Coin

$15 Fine Silver Classic Chinese Zodiac Coin

For advertising exposure in the fringe theatre adventures arts at the barns magazine, contact Kerry Duperron at: Ph: 780-701-1951 or e-mail: kerry@playhousepublications.ca www.playhousepublications.ca AT THE colour

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MAGAZINE

March 8 – 11, 2012

Westbury Theatre – TransAlta Arts Barns Azimuth Theatre presents

Expanse Realtors® Expanse Movement Arts Festival

March 8 – 11, 2012 Westbury Theatre – TransAlta Arts Barns

Rating: General

E

xpanse is a dance – and body–based performance festival produced and presented by Azimuth Theatre. Expanse exists to inspire, investigate and showcase new work in dance – and body– based performance, bringing artists and audiences from diverse backgrounds together in the spirit of innovation.

© Marc J Chalifoux Photography

Expanse defines a movement art as any art form that approaches the physical body as the main site of creation and/or inspiration. Dance certainly falls into this category, as do dance theatre, aerial and circus arts, mime, slapstick comedy, performance art and dance for film.

Single tickets: $15 Day pass: $25 Festival pass: $70 Fringe Theatre Box Office: (780) 409-1910 | www.fringetheatre.ca | 10330 84 Avenue 14 ARTS at THE BARNS

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