Season Anouncement

VERB THEATRE ANNOUNCES 2ND SEASON AND CHANGE TO ARTISTIC TEAM

Following Verb's spectacularly successful inaugural season, we're back!  In addition to another full season of theatre in action, we are excited to announce our company is growing and evolving once more.  Verb Theatre Artistic Associate Col Cseke will be stepping into the role of Co-Artistic Director at the start of the season.  "This has been a long time coming," says current Artistic Director Jamie Dunsdon. "Col and I do our best work as a team, so I couldn't be happier that we can finally make that partnership official.  It's exactly what Verb needs at this point in our company's development." "I'm constantly astounded at how quickly Verb Theatre is growing," says Cseke, "and Jamie and I have a pretty great vision for where we'll take the company over the next few years. I'm just excited for the season to start and for us to start showing everyone what we've been building towards."

VERB THEATRE, SEASON TWO

Season Two is all about hearts, pulsing and dripping.  We can't wait to spend the year reaching into your chest, ripping out your heart, and serving it back to you in a buffet of theatrical dishes!  Bon appetit!

2nd Annual Pretty, Witty, And GAY!

Celebrating Sexuality, Gender Diversity, and Equality on Stage.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

The Arrata Opera Centre, 1315 7^th St SW

Following last year's overwhelming success, we are thrilled to announce Pretty, Witty, and Gay! is now an annual event. This fundraiser cabaret is filled with theatre, music, comedy, dancing, drag, drinks, a silent auction, and much more, all followed by one of the hottest parties of the year.

"Last year's event sold out in minutes, so we're very excited to bring this event back in 2010 to a bigger venue.  It's one of the most positive and affirming nights of performance you can experience.  Just a huge celebration of voice."  ~AD, Jamie Dunsdon

If you are interested in performing in this one night only cabaret, please contact jamie@verbtheatre.com for more details.  Whether you are gay, straight, bi-sexual, transsexual, transgendered, two-spirited, or anything in-between, Verb invites you to celebrate the stories of these communities.

John and Beatrice

By Carole Frechette

An imaginative and subversive comedy from the writer of Helen's Necklace, Governor General Award winner Carole Frechette.

Directed by Jamie Dunsdon

October 19 - 30, 2010

Motel in the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts

Beatrice has locked herself in a small room on the 33rd floor of an high-rise tower, waiting for the man who will answer her challenge: Well to do heiress seeks "a man who will interest, move, and seduce her."  Bounty Hunter John will do anything for a reward, so the games begin... but what reward does Beatrice really offer?  A hilarious and twisted comedy about the hazards of romantic delusion.

" This is one of Carole Frechette's most adventurous and relevant comedies, and we feel very lucky to be the first company to bring this play to Alberta.  I've been looking forward to directing this play for years, and I can't wait for Calgary audiences to share in the obscure reality that Beatrice has created for herself and for all women.  She's a kind of urban Rapunzel...with narcolepsy."  ~AD, Jamie Dunsdon

Verb Theatre and The PBC present

The Opposite of Dismal, a Show and Tell

Devised by Col Cseke and Aviva Zimmerman

Homeless Calgarians present photos of all the best things past, present, and future.

November 24^th-27^th, 7:30

Motel in the EPCOR Centre for the Performing Arts

Part of Downstage’s Uprising Festival of New Political Work

For tickets contact EPCOR Centre’s ticket office 403-294-9494 or epcorcentre.org

After last seasons sold out run of Oedipus Evolving, an adaptation of the classic tragedy remimagined with members of the Mustard Seed drama club, artists Col Cseke and Aviva Zimmerman reunite with homeless Calgarians for The Opposite of Dismal. Cseke and Zimmerman will spend the fall months working with members of the homeless community to explore the question “what is the best part about…” This show and tell is a chance for an audience to get a glimpse of the humor, love, and humanity that exists in the homeless community.

“Working with these folks has changed who I am as a Calgarian and we're going to keep sharing that with Calgary audiences. Last year I think every audience member left Oedipus Evolving feeling like they met a pretty amazing group of people, and I think anyone who sees Opposite of Dismal will leave feeling the same way. We had to cram people into the aisles and along the floors last year for Oedipus Evolving, so if you want a seat this time around book your tickets early." ~AD, Col Cseke

Marg Szkaluba (Pissy’s Wife)

By Ron Chambers with music by Paul Morgan Donald

One of Canada’s theatre legends tells one hell of a story.

Starring Sharon Pollock*

March 3rd-13th, 2011

Ironwood Stage and Grill

While playing a country blues set at a local honky tonk, Marg tells the crowd her vivid and wryly funny story. This self-proclaimed “hard woman” tells of her abusive marriage to “Pissy” and her eventual escape through a surprising new career as a country blues singer. A bitterly funny night of songs and stories told by one of Calgary’s most loved and respected theatre.

"When I moved to Calgary the very first show I did was a Sharon Pollock play, and one of the best nights of my first year in town was sitting in a pub with the cast, listening to Sharon tell these outlandish and hilrious stories. I'm thrilled that with Marg Szkaluba (Pissy’s Wife) we're giving our audience that same experience, a chance to sit in a pub, have a pint, and watch Sharon tell a story with stunning wit and candor." ~AD, Col Cseke

*Appears with the permission of Canadian Actors' Equity Association, pending confirmation.