Opening December 17th and closing on December 20th at the West Village Theatre, Full Circle Theatre presents A Full Circle Holiday Special of Riverona Actually and Holding. Kyle sits down with directors Danielle Baker and Kendra Hutchinson to talk about what a holiday special means and the complications of directing not only performers during the holidays but for performers who also wrote the work they are directing. Kyle ends with a quote from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol about the meaning of the Holiday Season and hopes that you will find time to take in this delightful production.
Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/a-very-full-circle-holiday-show
About the shows:
A Very Full Circle Holiday Show turns a late-December slot into a brand-new festive tradition — a double feature of romance, chaos, and Riverona-style mischief. Featuring Holding, a brand-new rom-com, and Riverona Actually, a lost holiday special packed with fan favourites and holiday shenanigans.
Opening December 18th and running until December 21st, Swamp Donkey Musical Theatre presents Nuncrackers, directed by Trisha Gizen. Kyle sits down with Trisha to discuss what putting up the show a second Christmas in a row means and the complications, and easements, that happen when you do something again.
Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/s/events/all/?search_string=nuncrackers
About the Show:
The Nunsense Christmas musical, Nuncrackers, is the first TV special taped in the Cable Access Studio built by Reverend Mother in the convent basement. It stars the nuns you love, plus Father Virgil and Mount Saint Helen’s most talented students. This show is filled with wacky Nunsense humour! Certain to tickle your funny bone and likely to tug at your heartstrings, Nuncrackers is the perfect way to make your holiday season merry and bright (synopsis from concordtheatricals.com)!
Opening December 12 and running through the 20th at the Pumphouse Theatre in Calgary, Morpheus Theatre presents Peter Pan: An Awfully Big Pantomime, directed by Janos Zeller. Kyle sits down with Janos to discuss the scope of a pantomime, the labour involved in theatrical comedy and and in depth discussion about how this project came to be. A must listen.
Tickets are Limited: https://www.morpheustheatre.ca/?portfolio=peter-pan-2025
About the Show:
All children, except one, grow up… On the hunt for his pesky shadow, Peter Pan meets the Darling children in their Nursery. With a sprinkling of Tinkerbell’s fairy dust, Wendy, John and Michael leave Nana the Dog behind on a flight to Neverland – a magical place home to lost boys, mermaids and the most villainous pirate of them all; Captain Hook! With Mrs Starkey and her bumbling son Smee by his side, Hook seeks revenge against Peter Pan who fed his hand to a tick-tocking crocodile. Will the boy who never grew-up rid Neverland of Captain Hook forever? Will the Darlings find their way home to London? And, most importantly, do you believe in fairies? Find out in this swashbuckling pantomime that will have you ‘hooked’!
With only four shows - December 11, 12 and 13th at the Glenmore Christian Academy in Calgary, Small Time Theatre presents the Junior production of The Sound of Music, directed by Lena Chalmers. Kyle sits down with Lena and Ingrid Koller (part of the set design team) to talk about the meaning of this Rogers and Hammerstein musical, and what theatre for young people with Small Time has meant to them and their families.
Tickets: https://smalltimetheatre.shop/
(as of publishing the performance is sold out)
About the Show:
The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world’s most beloved musical. Featuring a trove of cherished songs, including “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do Re Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and the title number, The Sound of Music won the hearts of audiences worldwide, earning five Tony Awards and five Oscars. The inspirational story, based on the memoir of Maria Augusta Trapp, follows Maria, an ebullient postulant who serves as governess to the seven children of the imperious Captain von Trapp, bringing music and joy to the household. But as the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria, the von Trapp family must make a moral decision.
Opening November 28th and closing December 7th at the Cochrane Ranchehouse, Take a Bow Community Theatre presents Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a Pantomime by Ron Hall and directed by Anita McDonald. Kyle sits down with Anita to discuss bringing a pantomime to life and trying to keep a production marching towards the same goal.
Tickets: https://www.takeabow.ca/calendar/goldilocks-pantomime
About the Show:
Join Goldilocks and her family as they work together with three bears to stop the Squire's evil plan! A silly, topsy-turvy re-telling of the classic story that the whole family will enjoy!
opening November 28th and running until December 13 at the Hope Community Church in Strathmore, the Strathmore Theatre Players Guild presents A Christmas Carol, adapted by Lynn Stevens, directed by Angela Woodford-Reeves and Jeanette Brown, produced by Lauren Nelson and starring Courtney Nelson as Scrooge. Kyle sits down with Courtney and Lauren to discuss how important this work is not only in general, but to Strathmore itself and how many groups have come together to bring this show to life to inspire audiences this Holiday Season.
Tickets: https://thevaultonline.ca/collections/strathmore-theatre-players-guild
About the Show:
By suggesting famous Christmas carols, this talented author incorporates appropriate music for the re-telling of this classic story. You’ll meet all the great characters: Christmases Past, Present, and Future; Tiny Tim; Bob Cratchit; and, of course, Ebenezer Scrooge! This is an inspiring musical that captures the essence of the great tale, and of the meaning of Christmas.
Opening November 29th and running through December 7 at the Bnai Tikvah Temple in Calgary, Chai Life Theatre presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, directed by Sean Anderson. Kyle sits down with Sean and producer Laura Shuler to discuss the creation of a new theatre company in Calgary and the difficulties in bringing this massive musical to the stage.
Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/joseph-and-the-amazing-technicolor-dreamcoat-5
About the show:
This show is an uplifting and vibrant musical that tells the story of Joseph, a young man with dreams and aspirations. Set in a colourful, fantastical world, it captures his journey of hope, resilience, and self-discovery as he navigates challenges and triumphs. With catchy songs, lively choreography, and a joyous spirit, the show celebrates the power of dreams, family bonds, and the importance of believing in oneself. The dazzling technicolor coat symbolizes Joseph’s uniqueness and the message that everyone has something special to offer.
Opening November 7 through November 8 at Theatre 1308, The Unicorn Collective presents The War Brides Are Coming, written and directed by Gail Whiteford. Kyle sits down with Gail to discuss the importance of this work, at this time of year and why audiences should take the time to recognize their own immigrant history and some specific Canadiana of the War Brides of the second world war's arrival in Canada for the first time.
About the Show: This year is the 80th anniversary of the end of the war in Europe and the 80th anniversary of the War Brides arriving in Canada. Over 65,000 came to Canada with their husbands and their children. The War Brides came from all over the United Kingdom and from nearly every country on the European continent. The women represented a diversity of experiences and backgrounds. The Unicorn Collective is proud to celebrate the arrival of the War Brides by presenting their production of “The War Brides Are Coming”, a play based on the arrival of two war brides about to start a whole new life in Canada. Come celebrate with us.
Opening November 1 and running through November 8th at The Pumphouse Theatre in Calgary, MisFit Theatre YYC presents, Dads, The Musical directed by Nicola Payton. Kyle welcomes Nicola back to the podcast for the third time to talk about the relevancy of this Canadian made musical about 3 stay at home dads, and how relevant the show is 35 years after it first debuted.
Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/dad-the-musical
About the Show: DADS! The Musical. Written by Robert More and Tom Doyle. Directed by Nicola Payton & Clark Adams Music Direction by Krista Willott
DADS! The Musical is an uproariously funny and poignant look at three first time dads, suddenly without jobs, choosing to stay at home and take charge of fatherhood. DADS! is witty, clever, relevant, and shows the nature of a changing society – it’s where social viewpoint and entertainment meet. The show features loveable characters, hilarious scenes, four puppet babies, and high energy musical numbers! A must see - not to be missed!
Opening October 17th and running through October 25th at the Pumphouse in Calgary, Scorpio Theatre presents The Affections of May directed by Stuart Bentley and Nicole Dickinson. Kyle sits down with Stuart and Nicole to talk at length about how this production came to be along with Stuart's history with the production and the inextricable link between comedy and tragedy on stage.
Tickets: https://www.morpheustheatre.ca/?page_id=7805
About the Show: After being deserted by her husband, a woman suddenly finds herself the centre of attention in a small resort town.