Catch a romantic, hilarious, or dramatic performance at one of these inspiring plays gracing the city’s stages this fall!
SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE — Through Oct 8
The course of true love never did run smooth in this fictionalized tale of forbidden romance! Up-and-coming playwright Will Shakespeare has a serious case of writer’s block and the deadline for his new play is fast approaching. When he falls in love with Viola, an engaged woman and his greatest admirer, their secret romance inspires the Bard to pen his most famous tragedy. You’re sure to enjoy good old-fashioned scheming and hilarious theatrics as this alternative Romeo & Juliet unfolds on-stage in a fresh and poignant comedy.
Citadel Theatre | 9828-101A Ave. | 780- 425-1820
SHOCKERS DELIGHT! — Sep 28 – Oct 14
From Edmonton playwright Stewart Lemoine comes an updated and bittersweet story of three university friends and their ever-evolving relationship. The comedy revolves around the struggles the friends face between emotional and intellectual attraction, with each of their perspectives influenced by their eclectic university studies: ballroom dancing, golf, and 19th-century furniture design. Ron Pederson, a former MADtv star who starred in the 2004 revival of this show, will make his Teatro la Quindicina directing debut.
Varscona Theatre | 10329- 83 Ave. | 780-433-3344
THE ALIENS — Oct 10–22
This play from award-winning playwright Annie Baker follows the story of two 30-something drifters who spend their days discussing poetry and music behind a Vermont coffee shop. When they decide to take the coffee shop’s newest employee under their wing and “teach him everything they know,” an unlikely trio of friends forms. Offbeat and thought-provoking, The Aliens tells a story of humour, heartbreak, and the challenges of growing up.
The Roxy on Gateway | 8529 Gateway Blvd. | 780-453- 2440
A DOLL’S HOUSE — Oct 11–21
In Henrik Ibsen’s famous play, Nora Helmer has secretly committed fraud and is desperate to keep the truth from her husband. Though she slyly covers her tracks, her husband still stands in the way of her success. Once a controversial work, this drama realistically portrays the dichotomy between the masculine and the feminine in society, and explores the disastrous results of social expectations. Be ready to watch on the edge of your seat: every scene builds tension until the iconic last moments of the play!
Walterdale Theatre | 10322-83 Ave. | 780-420-1757
UBUNTU (THE CAPE TOWN PROJECT) — Oct 11–22
Twelve years ago, Daryl Cloran—the Citadel’s artistic director—travelled to Cape Town to work with artists from another culture and learn how theatre can be approached in different ways. The product of this collaboration was a play about the interconnectedness we share with one another, or ubuntu, which means “I am because you are.” For the first time in Edmonton, Cloran will bring the show to the stage, and the original South African actors and project collaborators, Mbuelelo Grootbroom and Andile Nebulane, will return to their roles.
Citadel Theatre | 9828-101A Ave. | 780- 425-1820
A BRIGHT ROOM CALLED DAY — Oct 12–21
Politically driven and inspiring, the play juxtaposes two different times in history when taking a stand against authoritarianism was at its most critical. Set in 1930s Germany, a group of friends struggle to make sense of the world as Hitler rises to power. The friends dream of a great resistance against Hitler, yet find themselves unwilling to take an active part. Simultaneously, the play follows the story of a 1980s Long Island activist who is unwavering in her fight against repression. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner delivers an intense, realistic portrayal of the need for individual commitment in the face of adversity.
Timms Centre for the Arts | 87 Ave. & 112 St. | 780-492-2495
CONSTELLATIONS — Oct 25 – Nov 12
This is not your average love story! Science and romance intertwine in this play about two lovers and the infinite possibilities in life and love. Told in a series of vignettes, the story unfolds with quick changes in space and time—and parallel universes! This out-of-the-ordinary love story provides an intelligent and refreshing take on the fragile balance between our destiny and free will.
Varscona Theatre | 10329- 83 Ave. | 780-433-3344
