One of the busiest theatre seasons in Fredericton history brings multiple performances to stages and screens during October and November.
There is an enormous amount of theatre happening over the next several weeks. So much in fact, that the list may prove overwhelming for some. There are multiple events from Theatre New Brunswick, Spearhead Theatre, Theatre St. Thomas and Solo Chicken Productions, plus a new musical being workshopped at the Fredericton Playhouse and an in-person/live streamed musical production from Branch Out Productions. With seven groups or companies hosting more than 25 events combined, we thought a quick-view breakdown would prove helpful.
Here’s a look at what’s on tap:
Theatre New Brunswick presents Boca del Lupo’s Red Phone at Picaroons Roundhouse | Oct. 14-17
Red Phone is an audience-to-audience performance that utilizes the intimacy of a phone call and the technology of a teleprompter. It takes place between two hand-crafted, fully enclosed phone booths outfitted with a vintage red phone and an integrated teleprompter.
Two at a time, audience members engage each other in a five-minute conversation written by a Canadian writer. The act of having the conversation with an unseen partner provides an anonymity that adds to the intimacy of the performance, encouraging participants to be the actor in their own theatrical experience. Red Phone is a one-of-a-kind performance that has been described as the theatrical equivalent to singing in the shower.
Free of charge (donations welcome) and open October 14-17 at Picaroons Roundhouse, anyone can walk up and into the booths with a friend or family member and spend 5 minutes engaging in some of the most urgent, touching, thought provoking conversations written by some of Canada’s most exciting writers including New Brunswick playwright Ryan Griffith. Learn more about Red Phone.
Fall Festival of New Plays Streaming Online | Oct. 15 – Nov. 26
Theatre New Brunswick’s Fall Festival brings together new, emerging and established playwrights from across the province. Each playwright is assigned a dramaturg, a director and a cast of actors to bring their stories to life. The resulting new scripts will be presented through a series of live, online readings offered to audiences free of charge. Enjoy first-time public readings of work by Norm Foster, Ryan Griffith, Jena McLean, Caroline Coon and many more. Learn more about TNB’s Fall Festival of New Plays.
Solo Chicken Productions’ Groundworks Online Training | Oct. 16-18
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the interruption of theatre as we know it, Fredericton based theatre company, Solo Chicken Productions is hosting Groundworks; a fully online weekend of performance training workshops aimed at offering artists access to world class instructors in a diverse array of performing arts – all from the safety of their homes. Groundworks offerings are intended to spur creative challenges, ignite disruption and create space for the mind and body of the performer to grow. Lots of events happening October 16-18. Find all the details here.
Plain Site Theatre Festival at St. Thomas University | Oct. 28-31
Theatre St. Thomas in partnership with Solo Chicken has announced the lineup for the second annual Plain Site Theatre Festival running October 28 -31, featuring an entirely digital lineup of new plays, readings, performances and workshops. The Plain Site Festival was established to foster emerging LGBTQ2+ talent and carve out a space for the stories and the voices of those artists. Learn more about the Plain Site Theatre Festival.
Spearhead Theatre’s Dinner Theatre Series at Maxwell’s (Crowne Plaza) | Oct. 17, 20 & Nov. 3
Oct. 17: Let’s Fall in Love, will feature local performers Jacob Martin and Kelly McAllister, with live accompaniment by Keegan Manson-Curry. Inspired in part by recent events, Let’s Fall in Love tells the story of two friends who met through a dating app before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Framed around the question – How do you meet your soulmate during a pandemic? – the show will unfold alongside a selection of popular jazz standards.
Oct. 20 and Nov. 3: We’ll Meet Again, tells the story of two sisters – one career driven, one happily engaged- separated as a result of COVID-19. Will the wedding go as planned? Will they ever be in the same city or the same country again? We’ll Meet Again features Kelly McAllister and Nikki Vigneault with live accompaniment by Keegan Manson-Curry. Learn more about both shows.
Sweet Dreams: A Workshop Performance at the Playhouse | Oct. 22-23
Sweet Dreams is a comedic, modern day adaptation of William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream set to the timeless music of Air Supply. Co-written by and starring Fredericton’s own Tony LePage (Broadway – Come From Away and Rock of Ages) and a cast of Fredericton performers and musicians, Impulse Productions is thrilled to present a socially distanced workshop performance of this exciting new musical, October 22 and 23 at 7:30 p.m. Learn more about Sweet Dreams.
Branch Out Productions presents The Marvelous Wonderettes | Nov. 12
Rat your hair and order your corsage and welcome the Marvelous Wonderettes back to the BOP stage! Join Missy, Suzy, Betty Jean, and Cindy Lou as they perform classic hits of the 1950’s at their senior prom in act 1 and then flash forward to 1968 in act 2 , where the girls reunite at their 10 year reunion and drop all your favourite songs from the 1960’s. Branch Out Productions is offering this show in person at their studio with a limited audience, and also via livestream to be enjoyed in the comfort of your own living room! November 12 at 7:30 p.m. Learn more about The Marvelous Wonderettes.
