Alberta Theatre Projects setting the stage for a dynamic and provocative 2022-23 Season
Alberta Theatre Projects’ 2021-22 season saw us celebrate many successes on and off the stage, including welcoming new leadership, and a record-breaking year for audience attendance! The theatre community acknowledged and honoured our reopening efforts by nominating ATP productions for 14 Betty Mitchell Awards, which recognize and celebrate outstanding achievements in Calgary professional theatre.
In this exciting time of change and growth, ATP’s 2022-23 season promises to build on this momentum. The first season programmed by Artistic and Executive Director Rohit Chokhani, who was appointed to the position in October of 2021, reflects ATP’s intention to be the creator, curator and presenter of stories told by many unique voices that promise to provoke as much as they entertain. The lineup of shows will take us all on journeys of discovery, seeing our lives reflected on the stage, and connecting us with different perspectives, worldviews, and experiences. These shows bring a mix of beloved classics and boundary-pushing narratives for which ATP is known. We cannot wait to welcome audiences back to the beautiful Martha Cohen Theatre to help make it one of our best seasons ever!
“This season is a balancing of energies,” says Chokhani. “There is the energy of finally being able to share shows put on hold during the pandemic, mixed with the reveal of new Canadian works and an international sensation. It represents the energy of who we are as a company today, and the kind of programming you can expect from ATP moving forward. We are proud to say that this season reflects where ATP has come from, and where we are going in the years ahead. A season that promises to break down the barriers to theatre, and increase accessibility through stories and narratives that feature the diverse demographics of Alberta. It offers opportunities for artists with unique perspectives, and features a broad range of characters not frequently seen on Canadian mainstages.”
The season starts with a familiar title, as it was originally programmed for the 2019-20 Season, the World Premiere of Cowgirl Up, on October 18 – 30. Written by Anna Chatterton, and co-created with Meg Braem and Christine Brubaker, the script was incubated and workshopped at ATP. It features three cowgirl goddesses lamenting that it’s a cowboy’s world, and that the heroines of rodeos past are all but forgotten. The goddesses decide to use their considerable supernatural powers to give rise to a cowgirl revolution. When they discover Cassidy Clark, they know they have found the barrel racer poised to lead their cause, and offer her all the gifts she will need to earn her first buckle at the Canadian Finals Rodeo championship. We follow Cassidy as she rises to the top of the circuit, wrestles with her newfound fame, and just how far she will push herself and her trusty mare Starbright in pursuit of their dream.
ATP’s family-friendly holiday offering will continue the tradition of sharing familiar stories, reimagined in a whole new way. The Jungle Book, running November 29 – December 31, is based on the books of Rudyard Kipling. Adapted by Rohit Chokhani, the show will offer audiences an escape into the jungles of India with this vibrant reimagining of the legend of the boy raised by wild animals. When a confrontation with a dangerous tiger isolates Mowgli, he is forced to confront the truth: is he a man-cub or a human? Caught between two worlds, with the support of his friends, Mowgli must search for his sense of self in a quest to discover where he truly belongs. Experience this timeless fable where a cast of familiar characters comes to life through puppetry, stylized props, masks and movement. Exploring themes of courage, identity, and seeking to understand our place in the world – The Jungle Book’s coming-of-age story is as relevant today as it was when the stories were originally written.
For the third show, and first of 2023, ATP is proud to present our third World Premiere, The F Word, from February 9 – 19, co-created and performed by Keshia Cheesman & Bianca Miranda, presented by Alberta Theatre Projects, a Downstage production in association with Theatre Calgary. This hilarious and heartfelt production boldly confronts the word FAT, as it reflects society’s instruction to deflect, avoid and distance ourselves from the word. Keshia and Bianca are in the midst of a revolution to unearth the deeply ingrained shame, blame and fear associated with fatness. Fairytales, lectures, dance, and song are infused with wild whimsy as two fat women explore their friendship on a journey to self-acceptance and fat liberation.
Next is a reimagined production of Bombay Black, presenting March 7 – 19. The award-winning show, written by Anosh Irani took Vancouver by storm, and was picked by the Georgia Straight amongst the 20 best shows on Vancouver stages in 2017. Set in present-day India, Bombay Black is a powerful love story of vengeance, betrayal, and seduction. Funny, violent and humane, the story explores the question: Why would a blind man visit an exotic dancer? Apsara resides in Bombay with her mother Padma, making a living by selling erotic dances to wealthy men. When Kamal, a blind man, arrives for an appointment, the lives of Apsara and her embittered mother are altered as their complex and brutal past rise to the surface. Mythic, brave and featuring a remarkable poetic text, bold theatrical imagery and contemporary Bombay bar dancing, Bombay Black is a thought-provoking work by one of Canada’s leading playwriting voices.
To close the 2022-23 season, the long-awaited presentation of another show delayed due to the pandemic, Teenage Dick, presenting April 18 – 30, produced in association with The Shakespeare Company and Hit & Myth Productions. Written by Mike Lew, the high-stakes tragedy and political drama of Shakespeare’s Richard III is transported to the hallways of a contemporary high school in this darkly comedic adaptation. Richard, or “Dick” as his nemesis labels him, is bullied because of his disability, and is determined to have his revenge. He plots a ruthless path to power in a dramatic student council election. Aided by his quick-witted best friend Buck, Richard seeks to overthrow the bullish star quarterback Eddie to become student council president while charming the most popular girl in school. But as Richard falls deeper into a pattern of manipulation and greed, he is faced with an unexpected choice: Is it better to be feared or loved?
None of this would be possible without the support of our audiences and donors, and our incredible artists, volunteers, board of directors and staff. Thank you for continuing to trust us to be your hosts for these transformational encounters.
Subscriptions and single tickets are now on sale! Get yours by visiting albertatheatreprojects.com or by calling the box office at 403-294-7402.
