The Birthing
When a play hits the stage for its first full production , it’s travelled a long way. Often a playwright begins showcasing her work by […]
The Guild presents Dedication
Terrence McNally’s Dedication or the Stuff of Dreams, playing at the Guild Hall until December 6, is a love letter to theatre in an era
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Playwrought
After hearing artistic director David Skelton talk about Nakai Theatre’s 24 – Hour Playwriting Competition on the radio, I decide to sign up. I’m not
1920s Silent Film Night
Halloween is over, but don’t stop dressing up . On Saturday November 8, Open Pit theatre is giving you another chance; it’s hosting a 1920s-themed
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Terror and Terpsichore – The Guild Haunted House
The thrills of the 2014 Guild Haunted House, featuring a unique music-and-dance show from Varietease this October.
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The Shape of all Sorts of Things
The Shape of Things, which runs every night at the Guild Hall in Porter Creek until October 11, continues playwright Neil Labute’s reputation for blunt
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Theatre in the Bush
Theatre in the Bush is held in the fall, and with a start time of around 8:45 pm, it’s held in the dark. The darkness
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It’s Your Story
The Open Pit theatre company is scouring the territory for stories.Genevive Doyon and Jessica Hickman are two playwrights, actors, and founders of Open Pit who
Do I look Enlightened to You?
I recently heard the term “supermarket spiritualism” to describe folks walking down the proverbial aisle picking and choosing bits and pieces from every spiritual practice
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David Skelton Nakai Theatre’s artistic director
A high-school excursion to a Toronto production of Peter Shaffer’s play, Equus, is what triggered David Skelton’s fascination with theatrical design. “The set and the
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Second Sunday Dance Shakes it Up in Whitehorse
The body is mysterious; it is intricately linked to all that we do, and the ways we think. I’m a dancer; this is my perspective.
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Jivin’ to the Jukebox
This week, 14 ambitious students from Vanier Catholic Secondary School will be belting out a raft of hit tunes their parents or grandparents probably danced
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Taxicab Theatre
Gab in a cab, do time in the hole, or ponder what lies behind schoolyard shootings. These are just some of the options available to
Statu Quo resists stereotypes of adolescent angst
A Vancouver play that earned four nominations for prestigious Jessie Richardson awards (Jessies), and won the category of best script by an emerging playwright, will
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It’s a Mad, Mad World
It might have been on John Lennon’s mind when he wrote “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” (so speculates Beatles biographer Bob Spitz). It was
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Strangely Funny, but True
Anthony Trombetta’s first act as new artistic director at the Guild Theatre was to throw out the rule book. Instead of a conventional play, the
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Thumbs Up Captain !
Superhero movies have become increasingly popular, and film studios seem to be pumping them out as quickly as they can. Unfortunately, not all of these
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A Testament to the Disappearances of Aboriginal Women
International Women’s Day is Saturday, March 8, it’s a day to pause and consider women’s health, dreams, and safety — worldwide, and in Canada. It’s
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Family, Change, and Acceptance
Torontonian Clinton Walker has flown into the Yukon to direct another play at The Guild Hall. The new production The Book of Esther, by Leanna
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L’Ark Brings Communal Experience (and fish) to Young Audiences
The creative spark for a new theatre company, L’Ark, took place at Yukon Educational Theatre’s (YET) presentation of Dean Eyre’s Diabetes, A Love Story nearly
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An Invitation to Experience the Thrill and the Grit
The mix of open-flowing creativity, with a dash of fear, makes for a high that’s addictive for theatre performers — and especially for playwrights who
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Playing Irish: The Guild Hall presents The Cripple of Inishmaan Nov. 21 to Dec. 7
The Guild is putting on one final show before the New Year: The Cripple of Inishmaan, by the respected Irish playwright Martin McDonagh. The comedy
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Broken Heads Down the Road
Brian Fidler’s latest one-person show, which he wrote and stars in, has an inclusive quality about it. Broken, which premiered in Whitehorse in the fall
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Courageously Putting your Voice into the World
Whitehorse-based theatre company Open Pit is on a mission. In addition to creating new performance works and fostering collaboration between local creators, Open Pit co-artistic
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Syphilis Spreads like Wildfire: Peter Jickling’s Play Syphilis: A Love Story wins comedy award
It’s difficult to resist making puns about the title of the award-winning play Syphilis: A Love Story by Whitehorse playwright, and What’s Up Yukon assistant
A Conversation With Colleen Murphy
If you are susceptible to the perception that we are a country of people who play it safe; Colleen Murphy is the kind of person
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Theatre Returns to The Guild Hall
The stage is set for another season of theatre at the Guild Hall in Whitehorse. The Guild is back with four genre-bending productions that aim
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The Power of Love: Gwaandak Theatre is committed to Aboriginal, northern and diverse voices
Running a theatre company is not for the faint of heart. Only those who work behind the scenes in theatre truly know the passion, work,
Amateurs and Professionals Share the Spotlight
Nakai Theatre’s upcoming season Nakai Theatre is back with a diverse season, showcasing fledgling Yukon talent as well as established professional shows from across Canada.
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A Guide to Good Laughs: Dissecting the Whitehorse comedy scene
Tired of doing the old smile-and-nod routine because your boss thinks he’s Jerry Seinfeld? Experience some real comedy in Whitehorse. Anthony Trombetta, Jenny Hamilton, and
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Dancing the fine line between reverence and irreverence
The Yukon Arts Centre will become a church Feb. 27 to 29. This may appear to blasphemous to some when you consider the name of
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Staging local talent
As the sunshine creeps into the evening and temperatures slowly rise toward double-digits, some art organizations’ seasons are winding down. One of the final accomplishments
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Fred Astaire, meet the street dancers
It’s Boys in the Hood and “Singin’ in the Rain” combined with what Nicolette Little describes as a “Sinatra-y feeling.” Little is an instructor for
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Grace under fire
The hands move as they do in Spain, the hips move as they do in Africa and the shoulders sway as in Cuba. It is
A lightbulb, a chair and a bowl
It must be a magic trick, because Andy Massingham is going to hold the attention of a Yukon Arts Centre audience for one hour with
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Leaping Feats: on stage and screen
Andrea Simpson-Fowler has a choice for audiences: if you want to see cute little kids and a mix of entertainment, come to the recreational show;
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Northern Scene
I am one of the lucky few who will be at Northern Scene for the entire 10 days. I’m here with the production of Leonard
Audiences get the story they ask for
Did you just say, “storysmithing”? “Yeah,” says Aaron Janke, his arms still stretched out in the telling of his upcoming introactive theatre project. But he
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The strength and grace of Irish dance
Irish dancing is known by its row of stiff upper bodies and crazy strong legs moving in quick union. But Andrew Vickers, lead male dancer
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A sex farce well told
Colin Heath was chatting online with Eric Epstein, the artistic director of The Guild. They were playing Scrabulous at the time because they both love
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Laughing at the unlaughable
Bruce Horak no longer needs the catharsis that his play, This is Cancer?, has been for him. But other people do and, so, he will
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Kidd Pivot Is the dance you want it to be
Crystal Pite knows that audiences will watch her contemporary dance company, Kidd Pivot, with trepidation. “They feel they don’t have enough knowledge to get something
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Varietease is so baaaad, it’s good
Burlesque cabaret uses psychology in such a delicious way: it is a naughty place and we feel naughty being there. So we throw decorum to
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Timber Rabbits has a big heart and flat feet
I push the potatoes around in my cup of Timber Rabbit Stew and find no timber rabbit meat. Oh, I get it. I’m supposed to
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Who Will Be The Last Comic Standing?
BY TARA McCARTHY It’s only Wednesday, but the tables at Coasters are packed as a constant flow of local comedians take the stage. And while
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The Shock and Awe That is ‘Timber Rabbits’
BY GEORGE MARATOS It is being described as Jack London meets Stephen King, an original northern mystery of man, murder, mutilation and mayhem. It begins
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We get the theatre we deserve
When you think of plays, you think of The Guild and Nakai Theatre. More and more people are thinking of Music Arts and Drama at
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A Shakespearean Celebration of the Solstice
Besides the regular fare of snow-covered sidewalks, holiday decorations and bundled-up pedestrians, this time of year signals the impending arrival of two familiar – and
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Puppet Workshop Leads to World Domination
BY GEORGE MARATOS As a high school student in Victoria, BC, Moira Sauer dreamt of rowing for Canada’s Olympic team. So, each day she would
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The very human story of Frankenstein
Just as the movie Twilight surprised the film industry, the success of Catalyst Theatre’s Frankenstein is surprising theatre watchers. Both are a hit with teenagers.
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Last Comic Standing Takes the Next Step
The first time I saw Rob Stalkie take the stage, I could tell he was a natural. And now, only one short year later, this
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Music Teacher Gets the Entire Family Involved
Squinting her left eye a little in emphasis, Danette Readman says she started her introduction to the Suzuki Method of musical instruction with a grain
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Living Another Life
“Like all actors, I enjoy the spotlight. So if there’s an opportunity, I like to break out.” That is how 21-year-old Winluck Wong explains his
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Memories, though invisible, are very real
“Go easy on the references to the Holocaust,” Jonathon Young says to me over the phone. “People will go into the theatre expecting it. “This
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Yukon Fashion to Swarm Ottawa Runway
When you live in a place where it is winter for half the year you would expect fashion to be restricted to parkas and boots.
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The comfort and joy of Fred Penner
Adults of all ages will be thrilled to hear that Nakai Theatre is bringing Fred Penner to Whitehorse. Sadly, many children today haven’t had the
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The many ‘faces’ of the Pivot Festival
When David Skelton discusses the upcoming Pivot Festival, he keeps coming back to the example of Joseph Tisiga. The young Yukon First Nations artist is
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Julius Caesar: A very Shakespearean Shakespeare
“Et tu, Brute?” A famous line uttered by even those who don’t know it is Shakespeare. It is spoken when one friend betrays another. Does
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Brian Fidler did it!
There is a moment in Becky Mode’s Fully Committed when Brian Fidler’s character, Sam, gives his father some disappointing news over the telephone. The entire
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One actor, 37 characters
“I don’t want someone who can do 37 voices,” says director David Mackay. “I want 37 characters.” Therein lies the magic he hopes to capture
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One of many moving parts
Theatre isn’t just about the actors on stage. And while Moving Parts Theatre concentrates on methods and techniques for its players, it also provides community
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Brian Fidler
For Whitehorse-based theatre artist Brian Fidler, the desire to perform dates way back. “I can trace it to third grade,” he says. “Our teacher would
Notes on The Dude
There are Lebowski-Fests and books about the Dude’s laidback ethos. Its popularity isn’t surprising, after all, the Dude abides.
Chicago Comes North
The Guild Hall aims to dazzle audiences with popular musical The longest running American musical in Broadway history opens this week at the Guild Hall’s
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Montréal Danse: Up close and personal
It will be an unusual connection between the audience at the Yukon Arts Centre and the dancers of Montréal Danse when it presents On the
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Where sex meets the ice
There are four corners of a net that hockey players shoot for to score a goal. The ‘Five Hole’ is that other spot that could
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An Evening With The Carlins
Empty cans of beer dot the surface of a kitchen table positioned centre stage. And only minutes into The Mighty Carlins it becomes evident that
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Get Out and Guild
Imagine you are sitting at your computer at home, one evening. Despite the fact that it’s minus 27 outside, it’s snowing – again. As if
Earnestly seeking that second dimension
We are familiar with the concept of “a face only a mother could love”. Well, The Mighty Carlins has three characters that, possibly, only the
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Stories of the scientific nude
Yes, they know it is cold in the Yukon. The cast of Studies in Motion has been checking out the temperatures here daily. Yet they
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An artistic director returns with a dream cast
He had been in Baked Café for only one minute and had already said hi to three people, and one of them got a hug.
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In the ‘language’ of belly dancing, Raqs rocks
It’s not I Dream of Jeannie—not even close. “The North American image of I Dream of Jeannie is so ‘Hollywood’,” Nita Collins chuckles, but acknowledges
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A case of questionable identity
It is in the fall, off-season for a ski chalet, yet there is still excitement. A woman has disappeared. She returns, but it is not
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On this stage, everyone is ‘Ynkluded’
It was like walking onto the set of High School Musical … there are people milling about, laughing and joking around, spinning playfully in wheelchairs
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Bold, dark theatre returns
After a decade of collecting dust in the Guild Society office, the script for Cabaret is finally being used and will be presented at the
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Cam & Legs are ready for their closeup
Cam, that breakdancing Brownie Hawkeye camera; and Legs, the glove that struts and dances like a DJ, have returned to Whitehorse. Cam & Legs creator
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A French Kiss With an English Twist
Whitehorse is known to have an active French community. “You guys are everywhere,” some say in a more-or-less enthusiastic way. Some birds of a feather
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Grease is the time, is the place, is the motion
The Music Arts Drama students swirled in their dresses in the Wood Street Centre hallway and they laughed at the newness of it. Just a
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Still funny after 500 years
In Italy, about 500 years ago, the lower classes liked to present plays that made fun of the higher classes. And the higher classes enjoyed
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Theatre Where You Stand, and In Your Ear
Imagine trudging up the terribly endless flight of stairs at the end of Black Street only to be greeted by a small but brilliantly coloured
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Supporting the art of dance
As far as this paper’s mandate reaches – arts, culture, entertainment and recreation – the biggest news of the week is the creation of the
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Dancing Under an Umbrella
Jude Wong had an elegant epiphany last October. Perhaps the constant query she’d heard from fellow dance artists, “Why should I have to leave in
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Dance Yukon
Scores of Yukoners have come in contact with Groundwork Sessions (GWS) on some spot-lit Yukon stage where its young members can be found spinning the
Breakdancing on the Move
Fog rises from the Teslin recreational centre stage where the Rock-C Rollers jump and shriek their way across the blacklit platform. A guitarist grasps the
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Act like they do in New York
Posters around town advertise the Actors Intensive Weekend Workshop as “From New York to the Yukon”. Why is “New York” in the headline? “Classically, we
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When First People’s Perform …
When Gary Sidney Johnson bows low beneath head feathers, beads and delicately embroidered black-and-red regalia, the Dakhkahwaan (First Peoples Performance) dancer doesn’t quite feel like
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A love that made the gods weep
“It is a space of no expectations,” says Carol Prieur, a dancer in the upcoming presentation, Orpheus and Eurydice. Since Yukon audiences probably remember the
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Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue
With both the Nakai and Moving Parts theatres scaling back on productions for a season of development, Eric Epstein sees the role of the Guild
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It’s a ‘building year’ for Nakai
This year, Nakai Theatre will not be producing any plays. David Skelton, Nakai’s artistic director, says the company will be concentrating, instead, on developing local
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Stop … and listen to Mike Daisey
Mike Daisey talks. He is a monologist; it’s what he does. In a day when we watch our videos in one- and two-minute clips and
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The Bob Couchman Yukon Theatre Award
Each and every one of us at What’s Up Yukon finds local theatre to be a fantastic entertainment value. We like to think that covering
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No one can shock with such delight
In 1962, it was shocking and titillating. Though the Pulitzer Prize committee handed it a Pulitzer, it was revoked for language, for sexual situations. When
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Yukon Dancers Are Here to Stay
Jude Wong and I sit facing each other, sipping our coffees. She is nibbling on toast, and I am picking at a muffin – two
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Dance explores pain and pleasure
Hélène Blackburn is looking forward to bringing her contemporary dance company, Cas Public, to the Yukon next week. Long ago, she dismissed the notion that
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A room with a current
It is fall of 2005. I have just arrived in the Yukon. I am amazed to be accepted into an advanced playwriting course with the
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Round 1 goes to the Guild, and what a fight
4 out of 5 Stars The Guild pulled no punches with its first production of the season, dragging Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
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Theatre reviews go interactive
There are two types of people who read play reviews: those who want to see if the reviewer agrees with them and those who want
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Dance Gathering
“A dance gathering?” you ask. Yes, that is exactly what it is: people gathering together to dance. I attended the Yukon’s first dance gathering on
The return of jazz dance
Kimberley Cooper retraced the rise and descent of North American jazz dance: It is primarily a folk dance mixed by African slaves and the Europeans
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Romantic Christmas comedy had a long journey
Patti Flather is sitting at a coffee shop talking about how much fun it is to write strong roles for actors over 40. “There’s just
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