All in Alberta Theatre Projects
In 1970, three women set to work making the dream for a performing arts centre in Calgary a reality. Today, Arts Commons is a top destination for arts and culture in North America. Learn more about the exciting history of Arts Commons—from the 1988 Olympic Games to the world famous Carthy Organ—and discover what the future holds!
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.
Can you really call yourself Canadian if you’re not familiar with the hit TV Show Kim’s Convenience? The sitcom is about a Korean Canadian shopkeeper Mr. Kim /“Appa,” his wife, Mrs. Kim/“Umma” – Korean for dad and mom - along with their daughter Janet, and estranged son Jung. It won hearts as it became a runaway hit on national television. It rose to international acclaim, aided by pickup by streaming company Netflix. Most people don’t realize that Kim's Convenience started as a stage production before it was a celebrated and award-winning television show and now you can see it live at the Martha Cohen Theatre at Arts Commons, April 13 - May 1, 2022.
A couple of short years back, kitchen parties could be found in homes across the country. As friends gather, inevitably, they end up in the kitchen – casual and joyous gatherings, surrounded by food, drink, and music. Alberta Theatre Projects’ new show, Alberta Kitchen Party, calls upon these familiar and longed-for days - running March 2 - 19, 2022 at Arts Commons.
It’s a well-known story, beloved by generations: a clever young girl spends the day with her siblings and her cherished cat, when, in a state of drowsy boredom, she spies a rabbit in a waistcoat who checks his pocket watch, and then runs off. What else is a curious child to do but follow him down the rabbit hole?
Long-time patrons of Arts Commons, as well as avid supporters of the arts, Rodney and Karen McCann along with their family, wanted to find a meaningful way to give back to our essential workers who have given so much to get us safely through the pandemic. The idea that they came up with, in collaboration with Arts Commons, is the Season of Gratitude program which aims to bring essential workers to productions by the Resident Companies of Arts Commons.
Artistic producer of The Shakespeare Company, Haysam Kadri was recently was appointed as Alberta Theatre Projects' interim artistic director. A well-respected Canadian artist, Haysam has been a creative force both on stage and behind-the-scenes, winning numerous awards and accolades for his stage direction, fight direction, and acting. In addition, he’s also an accomplished teacher and has mentored many young artists in our community.
This December, Alberta Theatre Projects embarks on the first event of their reimagined 2020-2021 season with a virtual behind-the-scenes glimpse into the workshopping process of a new play. This livestream reading of The Wizard of Oz, adapted by Andrew Scanlon, will take place live on the Martha Cohen Theatre stage as actors read through its draft format.
