Fringe Full of Stars - Word Of Mouth Friday, August 15th

In an effort to preserve the Line Culture of Fringe, I ask people I am in lines with about their recommendations for shows to see. There's no elaboration, just the title! So, if you see me on the grounds, let me know what you think people should go to based on what you've seen! Ideally the shows you tell me are other people's shows, not your own... 

Today's list is small because many of the people I saw today were at their first show of the year... but it will grow as I see more people and they see more shows!

Word of Mouth, Friday, August 15th

Chase Padgett: How To Play Guitar (Poorly)
Alice by Heart
Bruce Ryan Costella: Spooky & Gay-ER
Jem rolls ADVENTURES IN CANADIAN PARKING LOTS
Pepperoni and Cheese
Voldemort and the Teenage Hogwarts Musical Parody
'THE FAMILY CROW': A Murder Mystery
Sam's Clam and Oyster Bar

Happy Fringing everyone! See you on the Fringe Grounds!

Day Two - Fringe Full of Stars is off to a Great Start!

Carole of the Belles

This is a super fun show with all the quality that you would expect from this company. They presented the delightful and funny Mass Debating at last year's Fringe. When the Leader of the Silver Belles (Handbell Choir) is in an accident just before the big Christmas concert, the dynamic between the women (Michelle Todd, Kristin Johnston, Trevor Schmidt, Jason Hardwick, Cheryl Jameson) is upset. Barbara, played acerbically on point by Hardwick, challenges the other women (nervous replacement leader Francine, second-wife Shelley, and tell-it-like-it-is Violet) for various reasons. Schmidt as Mother Fowler is hysterical without saying a thing. A replacement bell-ringer, Carol (Jake Tkaczyk), joins the group and gently guides them to reconciliation and harmony. It’s very funny as they explore the various conflicts in the group, but also heartwarming and it asks the question "Who should be the first to start being kind?" It was fun to sing along to the Christmas carols before and after the show and like I said with Krampus a few years ago, I think this would make a nice Christmas tradition theatre experience not written by Dickins! 

How To Pack A Revolution In Your Suitcase

This show is for you if you absolutely love the music of Kurt Weill and the other composers of 1920s-30s Berlin. For me, it was a nice call-back to when I did the Three Penny Opera as several of the songs from the show were featured. Bremner Fletcher has a great voice for this style of singing, and he endeavours to connect the rise of the Nazis in Germany in the 1930s with current world events. It's easy to see the connections in history. I did wish more a little more of the history as I am a lover of obscure facts. It was his first time doing this show in front of an audience, and I think as he does it more, it will become more refined in the telling, and hopefully he can layer in more true stories to support the songs. But as I said, if you really like the music of Kurt Weill you will absolutely love this show.

Dead in the Water

This show was brilliantly performed by Ruth Alexander. I cannot imagine many who would be able to pull the story off as it requires you to be a consummate pianist, singer and actor, and Alexander is all three. I love the fact that it was not just someone talking and playing, but it was an actual play. This was a character, telling her story, and she just happened to be a pianist. Music was embedded within that story. In fact it was key. Alexander was adept at playing multiple characters, switching effortlessly with various accents and physicality, but never becoming gimmicky. You felt that she was Amanda Bridge telling us her life story.  It was a little sad at the ending, but that just shows I was invested. I was hoping for that major chord after the minor.

Kicking off Fringe Full of Stars with some Magical Musical Mayhem!

Voldemort and the Teenage Hogwarts Musical Parody

One show down and it was a terrific one! I started the Fringe last night with the Harry Potter prequel parody which tells the story of Voldemort (Jayden Leung) as a teen in Hogwarts. He has a Hufflepuff girlfriend Muffin (Carly Pettit) and their classmates include a young Hagrid (Jeremey Zimmerman), Genevieve Gryffindor (Katelyn Cabalo), Ravenclaw Mertle Warren (Alisha Breton), and Hufflepuff Derald Bacon (Stefan Sikanja). They are instructed by a young Dumbledore, played hilariously by Lucas Paterson. This was a very funny production, filled with Harry Potter Easter Eggs for the indoctrinated, wonderful singing and dancing throughout (Standout Songs: Pettit and Leung have a terrific duet, and Zimmerman shows some major vocal chops!). The Choreography (By Director David Son) is fabulous and all commit 100% to the moves and tone of this cheeky and saucy productions. There's also a major dig at the source material author, and the score makes it clear she's not seeing a dime from the show! I recommend! But buy soon as the opening show SOLD OUT and I can see there's another sold out show on the roster. 

Note: Despite the source material, this is NOT for the little ones. It's rated 14A in the program for a reason. 

Looking for some Music and Theatre (or Musical Theatre)? Here are some options! Fringe Full of Stars!

Assassins

Stephen Sondheim's Assassins is a bold, chilling, and darkly funny journey through the minds of America's four successful and five would-be presidential assassins. This Tony-Award winning musical explores celebrity culture and the violent means that some will use to obtain the American Dream.

Playwright: Stephen Sondheim, John Weidman
Director: Sarah Dowling
Music Direction: Mackenzie Tennessen, Choreographer: Samantha Ketsa
Cast: Cameron Chapman, Brian Christensen, Alyson Horne, Anthony Hurst, Bella King, Nico Maionara, Damon Pitcher, Dustyn Tennessen, Michael Vetsch, Aran Wilson-McAnally
Stage Manager: Kandice Laurie

Uniform Theatre is bringing Sondheim to the 2025 Fringe! They're a company with an excellent record of producing high quality musical theatre and looking at their cast I have no doubt this one will also be brilliantly executed. Assassins is also an interesting vehicle featuring one of my favourite Sondheim songs, Unworthy of Your Love. Their first performance is SOLD OUT so this might be one to grab tickets earlier rather than later! 

Dead in the Water

Edmonton-based British actor/musician Ruth Alexander (from TV’s Coronation Street and Les Miserables, UK) performs this darkly comedic musical inspired by her travels across Europe as a lounge singer/pianist. One woman. One piano. One last chance to be heard.

Playwright: Ruth Alexander
Director: Max Rubin
Cast: Ruth Alexander

I've enjoyed local artist Alexander in everything I have seen her in and friends have also recommended this show to me. I am looking forward to her showing her stuff onstage at this year's Fringe. 

Pair of Guys Lost: A New Musical

A queer, irreverent, sinfully original satirical biblical musical comedy with new original music and book by local playwright, David Son. Angels spill tea, snakes offer wisdom, and a Trump-like administration struggles to control Eden, where truth and knowledge are elusive. Wickedly funny, catchy and heartfelt.

Playwright: David Son
Director: Director/Choreography: David Son
Assistant Director: Rachel Whipple
Cast: Sika Clarke, Andrew Cormier, Nicole Gaskell, Jack Hunting, Erin Mclean, Kaitlyn Power, David Son, and Zack Siezmagraff
Designers: Debo Gunning
Stage Manager: Rachel Whipple
Website/Socials: darkstageproductions.com

I've spent the last 5 months or so working with the amazing David Son. I am so looking forward to seeing this brand new original musical that he has written, directed and choreographed. I was so very impressed with the show Lizardboy: The Musical that this company presented in the 2023 Fringe, and Stranger Sings from the 2024-2025 regular theatre season. This company knows what they are doing when it comes to parody and musical theatre. 

Undiscovered Country

The story of the rise and fall of country star Tyler Wainwright Jr., as told by Sterling Award-winner Chris Bullough, takes you on a mind-bending journey through one man's quest to find a song that could save us all. Featuring original music, UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY presents a darkly humerous vision for the end of the world.

Playwright: Chris Bullough
Director: David Kennedy
Cast: Chris Bullough
Designers: Even Gilchrist

I caught an earlier incarnation of this show in 2023 when it was a last minute replacement. I enjoyed it then and still think more people should see it. Bullough is great as musical storyteller Tyler Wainwright Jr. and the music is captivating. It's also darkly humorous and reflects on our relationship to the planet we live on. 

I'll Be Here: a musical cabaret

Elena Porter, one of Edmonton Musical Theatre’s most evocative voices, shares the joy and pain of the past decade in a heartfelt cabaret. Accompanied by her friend, the incomparable Steven Greenfield on piano, she shows how music helped her survive when life came at her with two closed hands—one holding joy, the other heartbreak

Playwright: Elena Porter
Director: Clinton Carew
Cast: Elena Porter, Steven Greenfield
Website/Socials: @brokentoysyeg

I caught Elena Porter onstage this summer in Freewill Players Shakespeare in the Park presentation of As You Like It. It reminded me that I hadn't seen her onstage in a while and it was lovely to see her up there. I have always loved her stage presence and voice, and Broken Toys always presents interesting thought-provoking work, so I am looking forward to catching this one!

Happy Fringing! I hope you all have found some great shows to see! Stay tuned for more recommendations!

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More Shows to Consider As You Plan your Fringe.... MORE!

The Program is a lot of fun to search through... Here's a few more shows that have caught my eye... 

Low-Budget Narnia: Now With 50% Less Wardrobe!

Step through the wardrobe into an irreverent (and occasionally offensive) parody of C.S. Lewis' classic novel. Four siblings stumble into Narnia, a frozen world ruled by the neon yellow White Witch. To defeat her, they must team up with disturbingly amorous anteaters, a spandex-clad lion, and a particularly musical beagle.

Playwright: Joel Mendenhall
Director: Joel Mendenhall
Cast: Jack Bizuk, Sam Creighton, Laura Dahl, Phil Haverkamp, Aidan Jones, Lee Lamanes, Rena Rachar, Francesca Scarpella, Kynan Sorochan, Daniel Summers, Mya Tse, Kiyang Wajo
Stage Manager: Sam Papirnik
Website/Socials: psychopomptheatre.com

I've been seeing clips and photos from their rehearsals on Instagram for the last month or so and they look ridiculous (in a *good* way). I love the Narnia Chronicles and a good parody! I also know there are some powerhouse singers in this cast so I am intrigued... 

Quiz Icarus

In 2024, Nam & Aaron both competed on Jeopardy! and returned with prize money & a permanent monkey on their backs. Now they're here to tell you their stories of growing up nerdy & striving for trivia glory. If you feel brave, step on stage - they'll put their pride (and $$$) on the line to prove they're still smarter than you.

Cast: Nam Nguyen & Aaron Brown
Website/Socials: torontotrivia.com

For those of you who know me or follow me on Instagram, you could probably guess I have a passionate attachment to Jeopardy and all things trivia. The idea that I could get onstage and compete is actually more exciting. I told my husband about this show and he too wants to go (mostly to try to get onstage). Weird how I'd rather get onstage and do trivia than get onstage and clown around! ha ha ha

Bomb

Dora Award winning director Lianna Makuch helms the Canadian premiere of Bomb by Ukrainian playwright Natalia Blok, featuring a star-studded cast (Anna Kuman, Geoffrey Simon Brown, Mariya Khomutova, and James MacDonald). Explosively funny and razor sharp, Bomb is a dark absurdist comedy that detonates with wit and strikes deep.

Playwright: Natalia Blok
Director: Lianna Makuch
Cast: Anna Kuman, Geoffrey Simon Brown, Mariya Khomutova, James MacDonald
Designers: Stephanie Bahniuk (Production), Bernardo Pacheco (Sound)
Stage Manager: Lore Green | Producer Sheiny Satanove
Website/Socials: pyreticproductions.ca | @pyretic.theatre

Okay - so this one drew me is because of the incredible cast. I love seeing James MacDonald onstage and we haven't been able to for the last 5 years or so because he was gone from our city. The rest of the cast is pretty amazing too! I also like a Fringe experience that challenges me to do more than just laugh, and while I have a feeling I will laugh at this show I think it will be for very different reasons than some of the other things I am seeing.

The Peter Pan Cometh

Hook, Tinker, and Smee all dreamed of a life outside of their Neverland. Then along came Peter. From those who brought 2024's "Who's Afraid of Winnie the Pooh?"; it's The Ice Man Cometh, but Peter Pan. "Clever, smart, ridiculous, and well executed" - Cherry & Spoon. "Another triumph for the company" - The Stages of MN.

Director: Alexander Gerchak
Cast: Alec Berchem; Thomas Buan; Nick Hill; Isabelle Hopewell
Designers: Genevieve Kafka; Connor McEvoy
Stage Manager: Karina Hunt
Website/Socials: IG @clevernametheatre

Last year my friends raved about Who's Afraid of Winnie the Pooh... but they did it too late in the Fringe for me to get a ticket to see it! I am determined not to miss this one. 

The Pansy Cabaret

Take a step back in time to when queer artists ruled Vaudeville stages, and frivolity was the fashion. Featuring songs and monologues from up to a hundred years ago, as performed by Sterling Award WINNER Lilith Fair ("Outstanding Fringe Performance by an Individual" - The Pansy Cabaret - 2023).

Playwright: Darrin Hagen
Director: Darrin Hagen
Cast: Zachary Parsons-Lozinski aka Lilith Fair, Daniel Belland

I saw this a few years ago when it premiered at the Fringe and I LOVED IT. It is such an excellent show - for content and performance. It's classy, but thoughtful and very relevant today even though many of the stories and songs are from long ago. If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend. And if you have seen it, you might want to check it out again as it's relevance seems even greater today than 3 years ago. 

Final Girl: A New Musical

Ugh, teens are so dramatic. Always screaming when they get stabbed, and crying and flailing around when they get choked. Weekend trip? Next time, I think I'll skip. It's Scream meets Mean Girls, and this musical, from the creators of Krampus and Cult Cycle, is one to die for... The real question is "Who will be the Final Girl?"

Playwright: Seth Gilfillan and Stephen Allred
Director: Stephen Allred
Cast: Alyson Horne, Bella King, Jaimi Reese, Josh Travnik, Liz Janzen
Designers: Amanda Neufeld and Stephen Allred
Stage Manager: Amanda Neufeld

I'm not likely to miss a show from this company particularly when it is one of their new works. Their original musical Krampus, which I saw in it's original version at the Fringe and it's updated version in the regular season, raked in a Sterling Award this past season. Cult Cycle was hysterical (I still have the tank top!). They have a penchant for the macabre and ALWAYS have amazing actor/vocalists in their casts! Needless to say, I will be in the audience for this one!

Whatever you get to this Fringe - Enjoy! Happy Fringing! Stay tuned for more recommendations!

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A Show to Consider as You Plan Your Fringe - Hearts Left Opn

Hearts Left Open - #3 Nordic Theatre in the TransAlta Arts Barn

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Who's Involved? 

Cast includes: Marisa Scarbeau, Karen Huntley, Ryan Mattila, Sara Gibson, & Dave Breakenridge

Marisa, Karen, Dave and Ryan have previously been seen at Walterdale Theatre's From Cradle To Stage Festivals. Marisa, Karen, Ryan, Sara and Dave recently performed in Ballad of Marie Marten with Leduc Drama Society. Ryan and Sarah have both performed in recent Walterdale productions, Stag and Doe,  A Party to Murder and Harvey.

Behind the Scenes: Laura Eschak is Stage Manager and has performed and crewed numerous productions in and around Edmonton. Mike Leoppky (Assistant Director) was recently seen in Shakespeare in Love at Walterdale and Ballad of Marie Martin with Leduc Drama Society. 

Hearts Left Open is written and directed by local artist Lee-Anne Smenyna. Lee-Anna based the story on her personal experience of growing up with a family member diagnosed and surviving cancer. An earlier draft of Hearts Left Open was performed as a staged reading at Walterdale's From Cradle To Stage 2025, and it was named one of three finalists in Script Awards Los Angeles competition recognizing powerful stories across stage and screen.  

Why should you see this show? It explores the tragedy, anger and healing that families experience when a member is diagnosed with cancer and may or may not survive. Audience members will recognize and relate to the anguish, fear, hope, heartbreak and if lucky, celebration that occurs in hospital wards; where families can be torn apart and/or rebuilt. Where hallway neighbors can become friends or chosen family.  Bring tissues. If you want a Fringe experience that pulls strongly on the heart strings and leave you emotionally changed, this is a terrific choice!

Hearts Left Open is supported by Canadian Blood Services, Alberta Cancer Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities. On August 15, RMHC will be celebrating 40 years of supporting families dealing with kids in medical facilities. 

Shows to Consider as You Plan Your Fringe - Fringe Full Of Stars!

Planning a Fringe Schedule is Hard! So, I thought I would share some of the shows I am seeing (or would like to see if I can fit them all in) so if you're new to the game, this will give you some good suggestions! There might be a few of these posts as I am not all the way through the Program yet!

Flora & Fawna Face Their Fears - Varscona Theatre

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Flora & Fawna are back in a brand new backyard slumber party presentation! From the award-winning team that brought you Flora & Fawna's Field Trip, Flora & Fawna Have Beaver Fever, Microwave Coven, Crack In The Mirror, Puck Bunnies, Dragula, Prepare for the Worst, Don't Frown at the Gown, Psychobabble and Klondykes!

Playwright: Darrin Hagen & Trevor Schmidt
Director: Trevor Schmidt
Cast: Jason Hardwick, Trevor Schmidt, Jake Tkaczyk

I fell in LOVE with Flora & Fawna with their first show many years ago and have not missed one since, dragging my husband and other friends to see them because they are funny and heart-warming. I have a paper bag puppet from one of them (still), and a Beaver Fever sticker. You might say I am a real fan. I cannot wait to see this year's continuation of their story, and based on the title I'm very hopeful we will get to sing the song, Face Your Fears, a song that my husband and I still periodically sing to each other! Warning: One of their performances was already SOLD OUT when I wrote this blog, so it's one of those shows you need to buy early for!

"SPEED!" A 1940's Radio Drama - Sugar Swing Ballroom

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From the minds that brought you 2024’s The Silence of The Lambs Jr. comes the auditory event of the summer. “SPEED!” A 1940’s Radio Drama. A re-imagining of the classic Hollywood action thriller about a bus that couldn't slow down. Tune into the Denton Dayco Radio Hour for “SPEED!”. It’s a visual feast for the ears

Playwright: Andrew Boyd, Jesse Harlton
Director: Lauren Boyd
Cast: The Denton Dayco Radio Hour Players

I saw this company's Fringe production last year and it was one of the funniest shows I have ever seen (The Silence of the Lambs Jr.) so when I saw they had another parody production on the docket I added it to my wish list! Based on last years, I assuming it is not child-friendly and it pays to be familiar with the source material for the complete experience, so if you haven't seen Speed, maybe watch it first (hmmm... I wonder if they reference the sequel?)... 

I'll be back for more recommendations later! Happy Fringing!