Podcasts – I Don't Get It

We've pulled ourselves out of the winter doldrums to see a couple of real live shows! Paul and Fawnda have a hoot at Peter Pan Goes Wrong, and we enlist our pal Soni to check out Brian Webb Dance Company's presentation of Bboyizm's In My Body. Laughing and breathing with others in a theatre — it's a beautiful thing. We're proud to be part of the Alberta Podcast Network. Thanks to this week's sponsors: Park Power and Taproot Edmonton. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

The Nutcracker holds a special place in many dance hearts. It can be the first professional show for aspiring ballet students to appear on the big stage — usually as mice. And it's also often the most available ballet production for families during the holidays. This year, Fawnda was joined by Soni Dasmohapatra and seven-year-old Niya for their first experience with Shumka's Nutcracker. It was pretty magical, especially after 700+ days since the company had performed for public audiences. Stay tuned to the end for a special preview of the next podcast project Fawnda and Soni are working on in 2022: Kathak, Hopak, Hip-hop.We're proud to be part of the Alberta Podcast Network. Thanks to this week's sponsors: Park Power and Taproot Edmonton. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Colleen and Fawnda take in a real, live show! Northern Light Theatre's The Great Whorehouse Fire of 1921 is a delightful scorcher by Linda Wood Edwards, played out with sass by Sue Huff and Twilla MacLeod. The show runs at the Varscona Theatre until Nov. 28. I Don't Get It is a proud member of the Alberta Podcast Network: Locally grown, community supported. Thanks to this episode's sponsors: RÜMI and Taproot Edmonton.Other bits: BE Merry, Ballet Edmonton's holiday showBrian Webb Dance Company's 43rd season announcedJason Kenney's Hotboy Summer extends its runShumka's Nutcracker is coming Dec. 17-18★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We're back with a very special episode from CIFF! Colleen and Fawnda head down to Calgary to chat with the one and only Kyle Marshall, founder of Media Lab YYC and the mind behind Putting it Together, the podcast that examines the works of Stephen Sondheim. In this episode we chat about: > Kyle's many other podcasts: Creative Block, Kyle and Dave vs the Machine, Somebody Date Jenn & Kyle> CIFF: Calgary International Film Festival> Stephen Sondheim is working on a new musical called Square OneThanks to our sponsors ATB and Taproot Edmonton.I Don't Get It is proudly part of the Alberta Podcast Network. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We're back and fully vaxxed, baby! Colleen joins Fawnda on a trip to the Edmonton Expo Centre to catch the highly anticipated immersive exhibit, Imagine Van Gogh. Special thanks to our sponsors, RÜMI and Taproot Edmonton. Imagine Van Gogh runs until September 5th. Check out a dissection of how Van Gogh's The Starry Night depicts turbulence. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In this episode, we cover how NorthwestFest is weathering the new world of online festivals, and about the history of the society, too. We commiserate on how volunteer roles have evaporated amid the pandemic, how certain things work really well online, and of course about the films at this year's Northwestfest, which runs May 6 to 16 and is viewable all across Alberta. I Don't Get It is part of the Alberta Podcast Network: Locally grown, community supported. Links from the discussion: > NorthwestFest line-up and tickets> Book Women Podcast (thanks to Edmonton Community Foundation for the Pod Power shout-out!)  > The Pulse on Taproot Edmonton★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We chat with Nisha Patel and Sheri Somerville about BODY OF WORDS, the collaborative performance piece that is being streamed online as part of SkirtsAfire Reimagined. We cover how their collaboration came about, what audiences can expect, and also how the pandemic has effected them, from performing poetry for an audience of one to how a ballet company safely rehearses in this wild new world. Also discussed in this episode:• Nisha's open letter to Jason Kenney• SkirtsAFire, running March 4-14• Body of Words tickets• Ballet Edmonton• Writer in Residence (WiR) program at Strathcona LibraryWe are proud to be part of the Alberta Podcast Network. This episode is brought to you by NAIT's Career Essentials podcast and Edmonton Community Foundation. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

·      The Look presented by Northern Light Theatre runs until January 31·      The Situation We Find Ourselves In Is This runs for one night only on January 30. And it's free! ·      Nathan Fillion provides the narration for a delightful new Virtual Forest Tour ·      Metro Cinema is running an online retrospective of the films of Wong Kar-Wai until February 19·      Tim Mikula continues to add to his collection of works for sale at ABLegGitShop. All for sale, too. ·      Theatre Network is running a book club (for plays!)★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

We're back! And a little rusty. But we're here to warm the cockles of your isolated hearts with a chat about what it means for performing arts companies to lose their big-box, holiday cash cows this year. We're proud to be part of the Alberta Podcast Network. Locally grown, community supported. This week our sponsors are Edmonton Heritage Council's ECAMP Podcast and Park Power. Additional reading/viewing: • Dance Magazine: Land of the Bittersweet: COVID's Effect on Nutcracker• Sarah Kaufman in Washington Post: Breaking pointe: 'The Nutcracker' takes more than it gives to world of ballet• New York Times: Toning Down Asian Stereotypes to Make ‘The Nutcracker' Fit the Times• The new, freaky versions of other Tchaikovsky classic ballets: Alexander Ekman's A Swan Lake and Mats Ek's Sleeping Beauty• Stream local holiday shows like Citadel's A Christmas Carol, Shumka's Nutcracker, and Alberta Ballet's A Sugar Plum Dream★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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 […]

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? Let us know how you're doing out there, and we'll do our best to keep you posted on all the YEGartsy happenings. I Don't Get It is a member of the Alberta Podcast Network.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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 […]

Lilla Solymos and Nicola Elbro in Teatro la Quindicina's The Bad Seed. Photo credit Mat Busby Photography. 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.★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

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, […]