The Scene
A snapshot of the cultural life of Alberta
Theatre
EDMONTON
Murder on the Orient Express
Based on the Agatha Christie novel,
adapted by Ken Ludwig,
Citadel Theatre, Shoctor Theatre,
Until Oct 11
Oh, Anne!
Based on the L.M. Montgomery novel,
co-produced with Carter-Ryan Theatre,
Theatre Network, Nancy Power Theatre,
Until Oct 18
Back to the ’80s: The Magic Mix Tape
Jubilations Dinner Theatre,
until Nov 1
The Tamer Tamed
By John Fletcher, adapted by Anne Marie Szucs and Joyanne Rudiak,
Walterdale Theatre, Playhouse,
Oct 14–24
Yaga
By Kat Sandler,
Shadow Theatre, Varscona Theatre,
Oct 14–Nov 1
Our Little Secret
By Noam Tomaschoff, directed by Adam Pascal,
Citadel Theatre, Maclab Theatre,
Oct 15–25
Iron Matron
By Trevor Schmidt,
Northern Light Theatre, Studio Theatre,
Oct 23–Nov 7
Rent
By Jonathan Larson,
MacEwan Theatre, Tim Ryan Theatre,
Oct 29–Nov 1
The Great Gatsby
Based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel,
adapted by Erin Shields,
Citadel Theatre, Shoctor Theatre,
Oct 31–Nov 22
A Christmas Carol
Based on the Charles Dickens novella, adapted by David van Belle, directed by Lianna Makuch,
Citadel Theatre, Maclab Theatre,
Nov 21–Dec 24
Hunchback
Based on the Victor Hugo novel, adapted by Jonathan Christenson,
MacEwan Theatre, Triffo Theatre,
Nov 25–29
CALGARY
Rock Around the Clock with Elvis and Friends
Jubilations Dinner Theatre,
until Oct 17
The Lodger
Based on the M.B. Lowndes novel,
adapted by Susie Moloney and Vern Thiessen,
Vertigo Theatre,
Until Oct 25
Little Shop of Horrors
By Howard Ashman,
Theatre Calgary, Max Bell Theatre,
Until Oct 25
A Concrete Jungle Book
Storybook Theatre, Beddington Theatre,
Oct 2–31
Ribstone
By Christopher Hunt,
Lunchbox Theatre, Studio Theatre,
Oct 7–17
Evil Dead: The Musical
Alberta Theatre Projects, Martha Cohen Theatre,
Oct 13–Nov 14
Top Secret Musical
Storybook Theatre, Beddington Theatre,
Oct 19
Dreaming Climate Consciousness
Downstage Theatre,
Motel Theatre,
Oct 23, 24
Sherlock Holmes: The Hunt for Moriarty
Based on the works of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle,
Vertigo Theatre, Tower Centre,
Nov 14–Dec 19
A Christmas Carol
Based on the Charles Dickens novella, directed by Stafford Arima,
Theatre Calgary, Max Bell Theatre,
Nov 26–Dec 27
RED DEER
And Then There Were None
By Agatha Christie,
Central Alberta Theatre, Studio Theatre,
Oct 16–31
A Christmas Carol
Central Alberta Theatre, The Studio Space,
Nov 26–Dec 6;
H.J. Cody High School Theatre, Sylvan Lake,
Dec 11–13
LETHBRIDGE
Strange Country
By Steele Prefontaine,
University of Lethbridge Drama,
Sterndale Bennett Theatre, Studio Theatre,
Oct 7–10
Flight Risk
By Meg Braem,
New West Theatre, Sterndale Bennett Theatre,
Oct 15–24
Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play
By Anne Washburn,
U of L Drama Department, University Theatre,
Oct 28–Nov 7
MEDICINE HAT
Come From Away
By Irene Sankoff and David Hein,
Medicine Hat Musical Theatre, MHMT Playhouse,
Oct 15–31
Bury the Hatchet
By Sasha Wilson,
Esplanade,
Oct 28
Jake’s Gift
By Julia Mackey, directed by Dirk Van Stralen, Esplanade,
Nov 3
The Mystery of Irma Vep
By Charles Ludlam,
Grande Prairie Live Theatre,
Oct 22–Nov 7
Clue
Based on the Jonathan Lynn screenplay, written by Sandy Rustin, directed by Linnea Fletcher,
Grande Prairie Live Theatre,
Nov 26–Dec 12
ROSEBUD
Dear Johnny Deere
Rosebud Theatre, Opera House,
Until Oct 24
Music
ALBERTA BAROQUE ENSEMBLE
18th Century Music from Central Europe
Robertson–Wesley United Church,
Oct 25
EDMONTON CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY
Busch Trio
Trinity Lutheran Church,
Oct 15
EDMONTON OPERA
The Barber of Seville
Jubilee Auditorium,
Nov 5, 7
Rumbold Vocal Prize
Myer Horowitz Theatre,
Nov 20
EDMONTON RECITAL SOCIETY
In Remembrance
Brett Polegato, baritone, Sarah Ho, piano,
First Baptist Church,
Nov 10
EDMONTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Winspear Centre
Beethoven and Vivaldi
Oct 3, 4
Rachmaninoff Festival
Oct 22–24
Baroque’s Greatest Hits
Oct 29
Mahler Meets Mozart
Nov 14, 15
Sibelius: Nordic Landscapes
Nov 26, 28
NEW MOON FOLK CLUB
Generations
Oct 2
Lloyd Spiegel
Oct 16
Colin Linden
Oct 30
Mia Kelly, Eliza Mary Doyle Band
Nov 20
Sultans of String
Nov 27
NORTHERN LIGHTS FOLK CLUB
Generations
Oct 3
Jared Sowan, Cory Danyluk
Oct 17
Matthew Byrne
Nov 7
Irish Mythen
Nov 21
PRO CORO CANADA
Songs of the Harvest Moon
First Presbyterian Church,
Oct 16
YARDBIRD SUITE
Samuel Bonnet
Oct 4
Madeleine Elkins Trio
Oct 16
Gentiane MG: Can You Hear the Birds?
Nov 6
Mauro Sigura and Andrea Manzoni: Migrantes
Nov 27
CALGARY
CALGARY BACH CHOIR
Songs for St. Cecilia
Knox United Church,
Nov 22
CALGARY CIVIC SYMPHONY
Brahms, Elgar and Estacio
Jack Singer Concert Hall,
Oct 25
CALGARY FOLK CLUB
Connie Kaldor
Oct 2
The Black Feathers
Oct 16
Christie Lenée
Oct 30
Martin Kerr
Nov 13
KITCHINPARTI
Nov 27
CALGARY OPERA
Tosca
Jubilee Auditorium,
Oct 16–24
Pied Piper
Mamdani Opera Centre,
Nov 13–22
CALGARY PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Jack Singer, unless noted
Baroque at Bella with Nicholas McGegan
Bella Concert Hall,
Oct 23
Schumann, Strings + Soundscapes
Oct 30
Tchaikovsky’s Sixth: The Final Symphony
Nov 6, 7
Mozart + Mahler
Nov 20, 21
CALGARY PRO MUSICA
Poiesis Quartet with Anastasia Vorotnaya
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall,
Nov 22, 23
LUMINOUS VOICES
Chrysanthemum
Bella Concert Hall,
Oct 18
RED DEER SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
A Symphonic Celebration
RDP Arts Centre,
Oct 17
LETHBRIDGE
LETHBRIDGE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Southminster United Church
Symphony I: The Hebrides Cave of Melody
Oct 5
Cinema Paradiso
Nov 7
Blue Fire: Bruckner’s Symphony 7
Nov 16
CANMORE
ARTSPLACE
Cara Luft
Oct 6
Quartetto Gelato
Oct 8
Mysterium Duo & Vaughan String Quartet
Oct 17
Rising Stars Canmore–Sedona
Oct 24
ChamberFest West: Rachmaninoff Two Pianos
Oct 30
Dance
CALGARY
ALBERTA BALLET
Peer Gynt
Jubilee Auditorium,
Oct 29–31
CANMORE
ARTSPLACE
Edmonton Dance Project
Oct 2, 3
Film
CALGARY
CALGARY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
Various venues,
Until Oct 4
CUFF.DOCS DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL
Globe Cinema,
Nov 18–22
RED DEER
Central Alberta Film Festival
Gameland Laser Tag & VRcade,
Oct 7–10
BANFF
Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival
Banff Centre,
Oct 31–Nov 8
Literary
CALGARY
WORDFEST
Memorial Park Library, Central Library, DJD Centre, Bella,
Oct 13–18
BANFF
BANFF CENTRE
Banff Summer Arts Festival
Literary Cabarets
Until Sep 17
LETHBRIDGE
WORD ON THE STREET
Library Main Branch,
Sep 19
Visual Arts
EDMONTON
ALBERTA CRAFT COUNCIL
ENVIRON
Until Oct 17
ART GALLERY OF ALBERTA
In Whose Eyes;
Zoe Ann Cardinal Cire
Funny Bone, Wish Bone, Back Bone
Both until Oct 11
The Reciprocity Garden ᐋᐧᐦᑰᐦᑐᐃᐧᐣ (wâhkôhtowin)
Until Dec 31
Sports! The Art of Competing
Until Jan 3, 2027
The Light Fantastic
Until Feb 21, 2027
What Shapes Us
Until Apr 4, 2027
Plans and Prototypes
Until Apr 11, 2027
Nahanni McKay
Spirit
Until May 2, 2027
Kim Parrent
Ring A Ding Dong Dandy;
Make way for magic! Les Automatistes and Automatic Painting in Alberta
Both Oct 31–Jan 24, 2027
BOREALIS GALLERY
Your Alberta Legislature: The Story of a Place
Until Apr 2027
HARCOURT HOUSE
Wenda Salomons
gesture
Raymond Thériault
Urban Portraits
Both until Nov 21
SNAP GALLERY
Gracie Safranovich
above below beneath beside;
Noelle Wharton-Ayer
A Night Garden
Both Oct 10–Nov 7
CALGARY
CONTEMPORARY CALGARY
Adelita Husni Bey
Agency;
Ghazaleh Avarzamani
Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return
Both until Nov 8
Curtis Talwst Santiago
worlds, worlds, worlds
Sep 17–Jan 3, 2027
Jane Jin Kaisen
Burial of This Order
Until Jan 10, 2027
ESKER FOUNDATION
Johnathan Onyschuk
Old Growth
Until Oct 18
Brendan Fernandes
Other Moves;
Arthur Jafa
Love is the Message, the Message is Death;
Bárbara Wagner and Benjamin de Burca
Swinguerra
All until Dec 20
STRIDE GALLERY
AJ LaRiviere
Healthy Appetite
Until Oct 9
RED DEER MUSEUM + ART GALLERY
Trudy Golley and Company
Moving Forward
Until Nov 14
Studio Art Quilt Associates
Renewal
Until Nov 21
LETHBRIDGE
SAAG
Don Gill
DETAIN
Trade and Convention Centre,
Until Oct 17
Rachael Chaisson and Rita McKeough
Asterisms: Water Ways
SAAG Acadia,
Until Nov 14
MEDICINE HAT
ESPLANADE
Caprice Hogg
Time After Time
Until Oct 10
ST. ALBERT
ART GALLERY OF ST. ALBERT
Lauren Chipeur
What on Earth is Holding the Loop Up?
Until Oct 17
Kim McCollum
Grid Makers
Oct 22–Nov 21
BANFF
WALTER PHILLIPS GALLERY
Diane Borsato
A Clean Place to Swim
Until Dec 13
WHYTE MUSEUM
Thick as Thieves
On tour from MacKenzie Art Gallery, curator Crystal Mowry;
When our eyes touch
Portraiture by Peter Whyte and Catharine Robb Whyte from the Whyte’s collection.
Both until Nov 8
Must-See Exhibition
Churn, Earn, Burn and then Return
Ghazaleh Avarzamani
Contemporary Calgary, until Nov 8
The centrepiece of this exhibition from Iranian-born Canadian multidisciplinary artist Ghazaleh Avarzamani is a 500-pound butter sculpture of a cowboy on horseback. Fans are aimed at the sculpture to slow its melting, but its inevitable degradation over the course of the five-month exhibition symbolizes how power diminishes. The history and significance of butter is playfully engaged, here referencing the 1924–1925 display of a 3,000-pound butter sculpture of the Prince of Wales by Canada at the British Empire Exhibition.
The rest of the exhibition examines nursery rhymes, playgrounds and games such as Monopoly to further examine structures of power. In one circular section of the exhibit, viewers move through the space like a game piece, learning in real time how the rules are stacked against them, highlighting the endless grind and churn of labour in capitalist societies.
