Curtain's Up! Another Exciting Year at Arts Commons
Every September, the kids go back to school, while actors, writers, directors – and symphony orchestras – go back to rehearsal.
All of that changes the vibe at Arts Commons, which houses four resident theatre companies, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and one major international performing arts festival – the High Performance Rodeo, which turns Calgary into the cultural capital of Canada every January – in addition to an assortment of concerts, comedy shows, art shows and speakers, that primarily take place between September and the end of May every year.
If I had to map an outline of shows to see at Arts Commons in 2024-25, it would have to start with a very special world premiere presentation that Theatre Calgary is presenting: a new comedy called Awowakii by local playwright Sable Sweetgrass.
The play, which tells the story of a Chrissy TwoGuns, a Blackfoot woman whose father shows up in her life again after years of estrangement, only to mistake her friend Toni for Chrissy.
The play was originally given staged readings in Toronto and Edmonton, and there was buzz about doing productions there, but for Sweetgrass – who grew up on the Blood Reserve and in Calgary – there was only one possible spot to have a world premiere.
“I would really like it to be shown in Calgary,” she said in a 2018 interview. “The few native plays that have happened in Calgary and Southern Alberta packed audiences – native people came out for that.
“They’ll come off the reserve and come into the city.”
In 2025, on April 25, they get the chance, when Awowakii has its World Premiere at the Big Secret Theatre in a special presentation by Theatre Calgary.
“It’s so exciting, I can’t wait for the whole process of rehearsals to begin,” Sweetgrass says. “Still a whole year away from opening – so the anticipation will be with me for the next 12 months.”
And while Awowakii is brand new, Theatre Calgary has at least a couple more hotly-anticipated shows on its season lineup, including Pulitzer Prize-winner The Lehman Trilogy, A Streetcar Named Desire, Blithe Spirit, the return of A Christmas Carol and Legally Blonde–The Musical.
A decade ago, Theatre Calgary found a way to make energy traders entertaining in Enron and now the history of a legendary Wall Street private banker gets its closeup. The Lehman Trilogy is tells an epic story about one family’s immigration to America all the way to its rise and fall as a multi-billion dollar Wall Street firm
A Streetcar Named Desire, Tennessee Williams’ siren song of New Orleans, featuring Stanley Kowalski, Blanche Dubois and a few naked, lonely light bulbs making everything that much sadder, is full of the street poetry of New Orleans in the 1940s and Williams’ unique stage style that has made him beloved around the theatre world for eight decades.
“Theatre Calgary’s upcoming season takes our audience on a joyous ride with some familiar faces, classic titles, and a little dog named Bruiser Woods (hint, hint Legally Blonde),” says Theatre Calgary artistic director Stafford Arima. “I have faith that this season’s plays will not only entertain, but rejuvenate our audiences to why going to the theatre creates vivid and long-lasting memories.”
Alberta Theatre Projects is celebrating its 50th birthday in 2024-25, which is amazing for a theatre that has featured world premieres of over 100 Canadian plays during its half-century in existence.
Considering that in theatre, there is no tougher ticket to sell than one to a show written by a new playwright in an art form where the most popular writers are usually dead for a century or four, how ATP managed to last that long is a bit of a miracle but also a credit to Calgary audiences and sponsors such as Enbridge, whose sponsorship helped pay for an awful lot of cigarettes and drinks at the Auburn Saloon over the years for anxious playwrights trying to figure out the third act twist in time to save opening night of the Enbridge PlayRites Festival.
Artistic director Haysam Kadri, who is a Calgary arts icon himself, has programmed a sizzler of a 50th anniversary season, including The Seafarer, featuring Calgary and Canadian icon Paul Gross which opens the season in October.
Kadri said he understood the significance of being entrusted to program ATP’s 50th season.
“Programming the 50th season at ATP carries special significance and responsibility,” Kadri said. “It represents a celebration of the organization's history, achievements, and contributions to the country.
“It's a great opportunity to reflect on the journey that has led to this milestone and to honour the artists, staff, and audiences who have been part of the ATP’s legacy.”
The one I can’t wait for is King James, which explores a fans’ relationship with baseball legend Lebron James, who just played a huge role in the U.S. winning the gold medal in men’s basketball at the Paris Olympics.
King James is by Ravi Joseph, whose play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo was the last time Robin Williams played Broadway, and Kadri is directing.
2024 will mark the return of Charlotte’s Web to ATP. It’s a beloved children’s show, directed this year by Blind Date creator Rebecca Northan, so look for a Charlotte’s Web that has a lot of great laughs as well.
One Yellow Rabbit returns in January with The High Performance Rodeo, and while the final lineup won’t be announced until November, producer Oliver Armstrong says expect the unexpected.
“Over here in Rodeo-land, we’re putting the finishing touches on the 2025 High Performance Rodeo announcement. Here’s the teaser: iconic characters, major magic, legendary puppetry, dance parties, not-so-basic book clubs, and virtuosic solos. We’re debuting some wildly talented artists who’ve never appeared in Calgary, showcasing local stars, and bringing home a few legends who’ve gone on to put Calgary on the map.”
Downstage’s season kicks off with The Strategy of War from Mera Reyes, a solo show described as, “a journey through realms of Aztec mythology, where storytelling and oral tradition intertwine to create a mesmerizing experience. The Strategy Of War emerges as a concept for a solo performance, accompanied by the rhythmic pulse of live percussion.”
It will also include Hot Dyke Party, a theatrical concert co-presented with Arts Commons Presents that will be part of the 2025 High Performance Rodeo.
"Downstage's 2024-25 season takes audiences on a thrilling ride both thematically and in terms of form,” says Downstage Artistic Director Clare Preuss. “We invite you to imagine alternate realities, question assumptions and enjoy a playful approach to challenging topics. I love how each piece is so unique and has so many layers! It's a lineup of brilliant local and national artists ready to move you. This is a rich season filled with opportunities for passion, growth and joy!"
The Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra hosts dozens of concerts a season, mostly at Jack Singer Concert Hall, and they’ll be back in 2024-25 making beautiful music to drown out all the construction work going on the outside of the building, where a massive $600 million Arts Commons overhaul is underway that will transform downtown and Olympic Plaza.
I reached out to longtime CPO bassoonist Michael Hope and asked what shows he’s excited about, which produced at least one admittedly bassoon-centric response – but why not bassoons in 2025?
CPO Bassoonist Michael Hope’s best bets for 2024-25
Carmina Burana – there’s something about the raw passion of this simple piece that I find to be quite perfect. It has such a wide range of emotion that it doesn’t surprise me that it gets used in films all the time. Best of all - with all of the saucy lyrics written into the text -it’s really fun to play and even more fun to listen to.
Symphonie Fantastique – aside from the fact that this piece uses not two, not three, but four bassoons (which makes it epic in that fact alone), this really is a thrilling piece. I’m fascinated that Berlioz wrote it describing someone in an altered state. Love, dancing, a trip to the gallows and a witches’s sabbath: Which other piece on the symphonic repertoire can give you all of that in one neat and tidy 40-minute package?
Two picks from Resident Conductor Juliane Gallant:
“The Symphony Sunday for Kids performances are always such a joy to conduct, and this season I’m especially looking forward to Babar the Elephant. Francis Poulenc, who wrote magically surprising harmonies and some truly quirky bits of music, has long been a favourite composer of mine. The narration for this performance will be fully bilingual, which makes my New Brunswick heart so happy!
“Sci-fi Spectacular has everything you could ever want from a concert and more! Do you like heroic brass tunes? We got you. How about a chorus? Check. Organ? Absolutely. Minimalist music for strings? There’s some of that, too. Instantly recognizable melodies that will unlock an entire universe? There are so many of those. Some of the most exceptional symphonic music from the past century was composed for film, and I can’t wait for us all to go on this journey together!”
There’s much more, too. Arts Commons Presents brings Led Zeppelin II with Classic Albums Live to life on October 24, followed by Social Tango as part of the BD&P World Stage series on November 3, and Nalini Nadkarni: Roots to Canopy, as part of the National Geographic Live speaker series, on November 17 and 18.
One of the highlights will undoubtedly be the Taylor Mac film screening and conversation, which will be presented with the High Performance Rodeo in January.
In 2025, watch for tributes to Bob Marley, Michael Feinstein’s ode to Tony Bennett, wild moves with the 360 ALLSTARS, boiling rivers and wild wolves with National Geographic Live, and a Christmas special featuring one Calgary (and Canada’s) most beloved musicians.
There might be scaffolding outside the building, but inside, the joint will be jumping!
