I Don't Get It

Paul and Fawnda take in the Sterling Awards remotely, and reflect on the shortened theatre year in their season finale episode. The winds of change keep blowing. What’s next for Edmonton’s arts scene? Will we start another podcast while we wait for performances to resume? Have you washed your mask lately? I Don’t Get It is a […]

In the form of open letters on social media, actor Natércia Napoleão has been asking Edmonton’s theatre companies directly what their BIPOC representation looks like not only onstage, but off as well. In this chat we cover how social media can be used to call in — not necessarily call out — and how Edmonton […]

We’re starting with something different this week. Off the top you’ll hear the voice of NASRA, an artist, poet, and producer in Edmonton, which was recorded live back in February. Listen up. The guests on this episode are the founders of Glass Bookshop: Jason Purcell and Matthew Stepanic. In this chat we cover what they […]

This year’s Nextfest—its 25th anniversary—goes entirely online. We caught up with Festival Director Ellen Chorley to talk about her career path and the wonders of the beautiful, multidisciplinary beast that is Edmonton’s festival for emerging artists. We also cover how she and Fawnda met a decade ago on the dancefloor at one of the legendary […]

It’s been a while, but we actually caught a local show to review! Vena Amoris Productions offered an online choose-you-own-route experience with Tracks. Fawnda and Colleen take the trip together—virtually, of course. Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

Vern Thiessen published an open letter to the nation’s professional theatre associations last week, encouraging them to seriously consider what they could be doing during the Great Pause, including reassessing their collective agreements and lobbying for changes to the Status of the Artist legislation. We cover his letter, the meaning of these agreements for working […]

YEG Poet Laureate and PoFest Executive Director Nisha Patel chats about taking literary events online, her #CanadaPerforms stint, the realities of being an artist and festival producer in the gig economy, and emerging standards for compensating artists for online content. Links discussed in this episode:• Nisha Patel’s website• Moon Jelly House, publisher for diverse chapbooks• Vena Amoris Projects […]

While the rest of us had to get used to this new era of online connecting when the pandemic was declared, Alexis Hillyard was already an internet star in her own right with her Youtube series, Stump Kitchen. In our chat she covers favourite pandemic meals, how artists can leverage putting their work online, and […]

Links discussed: • Northern Light Theatre• Mile Zero Dance’s 3-hour online Dance Blitz for International Dance Day • Gurdeep Pandher’s Youtube channel of joyful Yukon Bhangra goodness.• Freewill Shakespeare Festival announces Dave Horak as artistic director• Stratford Festival is running an online Shakespeare on Film Festival Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered […]

Week five of no live shows, and we’re all still commiserating about it. Funnyman Peter Brown talks with us about the nature of laughter, improv online, creative feelings, and unique uses for toilet paper rolls. Enjoy, all. Stay well! Here are your links referred to in this episode:• Die Nasty’s weekly radio show: https://www.dienastyimprov.com/• Hop […]

It took a pandemic, but we finally caught her! This week, we talk bread-making, online performances, and the surreal weirdness of Edmonton sans live theatre with the one and only Liz Nicholls. Some links discussed in this episode:• Liz Nicholls’ blog: 12thnight.ca• Die-Nasty’s weekly improvised Radio Hour, new episodes out every Monday • Citadel Theatre’s Stuck in […]

It’s our first foray into remote recording! We tracked down Ben Gorodetsky to talk about Biblioteka, which was cancelled (among everything else) with the order to shutdown gathering spaces. We cover the ideas behind his show, how artists are coping these days, and plans for Ben’s future creative output. Also, many recommendations for things to […]

Here we go, all: It’s a pandemic. We managed to catch The Children in preview, and sat a healthy distance from each other while discussing the impacts of COVID-19 on the arts community. We provide some tips and pointers for making the best of this challenging time, including what you can do for your local […]

Our fears of the end times are quelled with a soothing soak at AGA’s Nests For the End of the World exhibit with curator Lindsay Sharman, followed by a trippy dip into the über-immersive visuals of Bustle & Beast’s Girl in the Machine at Telus World of Science. Finally, we catch the documentary Cunningham at […]

An articulate and insightful discussion on the themes of the award-winning play, The Blue Hour, by Michele Vance Hehir. Our panelists in this episode are:• Michele Vance Hehir – Playwright of The Blue Hour• Candace Fehr – Co-chair of the Family Advisory Council with Child Adolescent and Family Mental Health • Clare Gallant – Vice President […]

Guest Breanne Byrne of Emily Missed Out drops by for the Citadel’s oh-so-satisfying hippie trip in As You Like It, and Colleen Feehan returns to for a night on the town at Alberta Ballet’s triple-bill, Unleashed (featuring two intermissions!). To claim your $5 discount to The Blue Hour at SkirtsAFire, enter panelfive at checkout when you purchase your tickets at the […]

An insightful conversation with an incredible panel of artists discussing lived experience in art creation, featuring SOUND OFF founder and playwright/performer Chris Dodd, Polish choreographer Marynia Fekecz, Can-theatre legend Allan Morgan, and NASRA, former YEG Youth Poet Laureate and Director of Black Arts Matter. This episode was recorded from a live salon session at Chinook […]

Valentines, Galentines, and mom-love: Evan’s mother steals the show in Dear Evan Hansen, Shakespeare’s wife wins in Shakespeare’s Dog, and Shay Kuebler’s Radical System Art gets heady and physical in Epilogos. Special thanks to our guests Colleen and Laura for hopping on board this week, and to the moms who prove that love can truly […]

Buckle up, folks: Content warnings abound in this one! Colleen returns with thoughts on Catalyst Theatre’s anticipated all-female musical, The Invisible: Agents of Ungentlemanly Warfare. Then our pal Laura drops in to chat about the Citadel’s surprising Every Brilliant Thing and Theatre Network’s ketchup-heavy production of The Society for the Destitute Presents: Titus Bouffonius. (Note: […]

It’s a loaded ep this week: First up we catch Edmonton Opera’s delightful The Marriage of Figaro, followed by thoughts on Shadow Theatre’s Happy Birthday Baby J, and The Crucible at MacEwan University. Plus, we discuss the 2020-21 season announcements from Edmonton Opera and Citadel Theatre, the Alberta Queer Calendar Project, details on two LIVE […]

We saunter out to the Jube once more to catch Alberta Ballet’s recent guest troupe: Diavolo. Athletic dancers, abstract moving sets, and one very buoyant artistic director (Jacques Heim). Think Cirque du Soleil meets I.M. Pei. I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. You can find, subscribe, and listen to […]

It may be a cold as hell, but YEG stages are blazing with activity. We cover all manner of January offerings this week, including Northern Light Theatre’s Everybody Loves Robbie, the Citadel’s Cost of Living, and StoneMarrow Theatre’s Crave. Finally, mom-and-daughter team Karen and Elizabeth from That’s a Thing?! step in to finish off the […]

Paul and Fawnda look back on the 2010s in #YEGtheatre, going back to their early days at Vue and how contemporary dance kicked off this whole podcasting habit. I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. You can find, subscribe, and listen to our new podcast, A Tale of Two Weeklies, at taleoftwoweeklies.com.

Our bestie guests Laura Raboud and Colleen Feehan take a trip to Spazio Performativo for Sara Does A Solo, and then Fawnda does a solo of her own to see Shumka’s Nutcracker (thanks to Andrew for asking questions!). Happy holidays. Every. One. I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. You […]

We head to the Citadel to preview the shiny new production of A Christmas Carol, and then to another memory-soaked romp through The Simpsons’ greatest hits in Mr. Burns: a post-electric play. It’s a nostalgic time of the decade, isn’t it? Become a Patron! I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered […]

We have been working for the past year to produce a brand new limited-run podcast series: A Tale of Two Weeklies is about the historical rivalry of Edmonton’s two alternative weekly papers, SEE Magazine and Vue Weekly. You can subscribe to the series at http://taleoftwoweeklies.ca. But for now, we wanted to share a piece of it […]

Paul and Fawnda attempt to make the “award-winning” pie recipe handed out at the Jube for Broadway Across Canada’s Waitress as they discuss the hyper-sweet and delightfully raunchy sentiments of the show. And they can’t stop thinking about the language-lashing in Studio Theatre’s Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. In fact, they might just go see […]

Paul is back! We take a trip to cottage country with Theatre Network’s charming season opener, Bed and Breakfast by Mark Crawford. The episode ends with a special announcement about our new limited-run podcast series: A Tale of Two Weeklies. I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. You can find, […]

So many women! So much whiteness! Fawnda and Colleen head to the Good Women Dance Collective’s annual Convergence showcase, which featured Cheers and Tears: A Journey into Whiteness by choreographer Pam Tzeng, and Ruminate—an exploration of giraffes’ necking—by Meredith Kalaman. I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

This week we get a crack at the hotly anticipated musical Six and its pop-concert tribute to the tragic — yet funny and empowered and glitzy — lives of Henry VIII’s sextet of wives. Then we settle in the mysterious and unsettling world of The Ballad of Peachtree Rose at Workshop West Playwrights Theatre (be […]

We’re joined by two of our favourite baby mamas in this episode! First, Raina (Fawnda’s sister) pops in to review Alberta Ballet’s newest cinematic venture in Frankenstein, and Colleen briefly escapes her newborn to weigh in on Punctuate! Theatre’s The Particulars. I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

This weekend featured a hot take on the work of Isabelle Van Grimde and her stunning Corps Secrets, with special guest reviewer Raina Mithrush (Fawnda’s sister finally sees a show!). I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

Guests abound this episode! Laura Raboud joins us for Brian Webb Dance Company‘s season kickoff with the marvellous visuals of Ralph Escamillan’s Hinkypunk. Then, we receive a very special drop-in review of Studio Theatre’s Richard III from our Alberta Podcast Network pals, mom ‘n’ daughter team Karen Unland and Elizabeth of That’s A Thing?!. I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta […]

Guest reviewer Soni Dasmohapatra joins Fawnda for a rollicking review of Alberta Ballet’s presentation of Taj Express, a straight-from-Mumbai Bollywood ballet/musical sorta show. Also: We get the crash course in Indian dance styles that we’ve always wanted. Thanks Soni! I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB. More on the screening […]

Paul’s had a busy week! In addition to some reflections on being part of Play the Fool’s cabaret spectacular, he also caught Teatro’s season closer, Vidalia. Did you know that onions have layers? Enjoy! I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

Fawnda and Paul kick off our sixth season with a review of Broadway Across Canada’s production of Rent and look ahead to what’s coming up in Edmonton’s 2019/20 performance season. I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

It’s closing weekend of Where the Wild things Fringe, and Fawnda is joined by a panel of writers from Beer Tent Reviews to discuss highlights, lowlights, and happenings at this year’s festival grounds. Their discussion includes: holdovers, Sterling Award bets, star-rating bell curves, classics vs. new works, audience participation issues, and other monsters. It’s a […]

Fawnda and Paul venture downtown to try out Carmen (again)! Following their road trip to the Badlands last summer, this year’s Mercury Opera production was set in two historic haunts: Act one was set at everyone’s favourite greasy spoon, The Commodore, followed by Act two at Chez Pierre. Also, the official Fringe fuss has begun—all […]

The Citadel Theatre’s summer experiment, Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash, is up and running, and Andrew joined in to notice that the titular song wasn’t even written by Cash—among other things. Also, Paul gives a full report of his time as a performer at the Toronto Fringe. Bring the heat! I Don’t […]

Fawnda and Colleen brave the Streetfest crowds outside the Varscona to catch Teatro la Quindicina’s remount of The Bad Seed, a 1950s psychological thriller/melodrama/creepy comedy. What a twist ending! (No spoilers either!) I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

It’s the end of the theatre season—which means it’s time for Paul to join the Fringe circuit! On the way to the airport we re-cap favourite moments and winners from the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award show, and other happenings throughout the #YEG performance year. I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, […]

It’s an all-Italian Summer for the Freewill Shakespeare Festival this year. Fawnda takes guests Matthew Stepanic and Andrea Anderson on a jaunt to the (very damp) Hawrelak Park for the company’s re-imagined Two Gentlemen of Verona, and the endearing pastoral clime of The Winter’s Tale. Do the ladies make it out okay? With ol’ Bill, […]

It’s an extravaganza of improvised delights this week as Fawnda takes guest Andrea Anderson on her very first foray into contemporary dance at BWDC‘s The Liminal. And, it wouldn’t be an improv episode without taking in a night at Improvaganza, Rapid Fire Theatre‘s annual fete of the comedic form (also, that’s where you can find […]

In this episode we step into the quirky, continent-traversing world of Stewart Lemoine’s latest play, A Likely Story. Then, Paul takes in a bit of #NXTFST, and Fawnda takes a road trip to see Marienbad at TDT (Toronto Dance Theatre), and we muse on the Sterling Awards’ new non-gendered acting categories. Oh, and that new […]

Pip-pip, we’re back, and off to Pinterland! Classical correspondent Colleen Feehan visits to discuss Broken Toys Theatre’s mounting of Betrayal, while Paul and Fawnda venture out to cake their shoes in hair and salt at Zero Gravity, a new performance art festival held in collaboration between dc3 Art Projects and Mile Zero Dance. I Don’t […]

‘Twas a night of saluting Billy Shakes, moving storytellers, and also lovers/haters of whatever you think iambic pentameter is, was, or could be. We took in the Citadel Theatre’s The Tempest this week, which boggled and delighted all the senses. I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

On the heels of last week’s election, we go on aptly timed flashback tour to 1969 as drag queen activist ted northe rubs shoulders with an ambitious Pierre Trudeau in Darrin Hagen’s The Empress and the Prime Minister. Then, to wrap up Easter Weekend we’re joined by multidisciplinary performer (and famed pysanky painter) Larissa Pohoreski […]

Paul returns to the co-hosting chair to discuss Plain Jane Theatre‘s production of Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home. And Fawnda is joined by her belle soeur to recount their fiery experience at the Edmonton Flamenco Festival featuring Tierra Flamenca. I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.

Colleen Feehan joins Fawnda for a whole week of theatre; please enjoy as we mess up character names, toss aside our election fatigue, and try really hard—so darn hard—to not give away anything that happens in The Party/The Candidate. And then we sob our way through the incredible and deeply affecting performance by Vanessa Sabourin […]

We’ve been off for a while, so we thought it’d be fun to do a nice fat episode this week! Guests abound, too: First, Matthew Stepanic comes in to cover MAN UP!‘s boy-lesque extravanganza in Heroes at Spazio Performativo. Then, Colleen Feehan offers some quick thoughts on The Party at the Citadel (first of a […]

Spring has sprung! Snow is melting! Paul and guest Beth Dart got out to see Alberta Ballet’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and all of the well-costumed spinny-spinny dance dance it contained. Recorded in ultra luxurious lo-fi. I Don’t Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network, powered by ATB.