Nextfest program guide 2018

Edmonton’s Emerging Arts Festival

May 31 - June 10, 2018 nextfest.ca | #nxtfst

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How to Nextfest..... 4 Opening Night!...... 6 Nite Clubs.......... 8 Dance.............. 16 Theatre............ 22 Theatre Workshop Presentations...... 28 Schedule........... 34 Map................ 36

Play Readings......

Showcases..........

High School........

Collaboration Project............

Visual Art.........

Workshops..........

Credits............

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Illustrations by Ray Lam

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We acknowledge that Nextfest takes place on the territories of the Cree, Blackfoot, MĂŠtis, Nakota, Tsuu T'ina, and other indigenous peoples. As treaty people we are all affected by the ongoing colonization of these lands, with many of us still benefitting at the expense of others. We recognize that our engagement with these realities is a process that must be ongoing and collaborative as we strive to honor the sovereignty of the nations who signed this treaty to allow us to be here today.

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Welcome to Nextfest 2018. This program guide is your passport for the next eleven days of action-packed emerging art.

CHECK IT OUT

Get a festival pass and see everything - EVERY. SINGLE. THING. - in the festival for just $40. Individual tickets to events are $12. For tickets and passes call Theatre Network at (780) 453-2440 or purchase online at theatrenetwork.ca.

Our central box office at the Roxy on Gateway will open one hour prior to the first ticketed performance, and close at the start of the last performance that night. All other satellite box offices will be open 30 minutes prior to showtime for all ticketed events, and will close when the show

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SHOW US YOURS

Share your Nextfest experiences on the interwebs and all of the social medias.

Find us on Twitter and Instagram at @NextfestArtsCo, on Facebook as The Nextfest Arts Company, or just hashtag #nxtfst in all your zany posts. We’ll throw you some sweet RTs.

JOIN IN

Add your name to the 2018 Nextfest Arts Company by volunteering, or through Theatre Network’s Adopt-AnArtist campaign. For a $100 donation, you can pick an artist to adopt, and in return you’ll be recognized as a sponsor of The Nextfest Arts Company, and you’ll receive a handy charitable tax receipt.

GET EXPERIMENTAL

TAKE A CHANCE

Nextfest is programmed by a group of curators who believe in creating opportunities for emerging artists to experiment, grow and produce art without censorship. Embracing the experimental with us means you will see work that moves you in unexpected ways.

It also means you might see work that includes mature themes or content, nudity, and strong language.

Some of our events are one night only, and other events have very small audience capacities. If you have something on your must-see list, book early to avoid disappointment. Missed out on something? Check the schedule in this handy program, or online at nextfest.ca and take a chance on something else! Nextfest has more than 40 different events, performances, showcases, and parties you never know what will make you say “wow!�

SAY CHEESE!

The Nextfest Arts Company has official photographers on site capturing the spirit of of our fun-loving festival. This activity is permissible under the FOIP Act for promotional purposes, unless the subject of the photos or video (or the guardian of that individual) objects to having their image used in this manner. Don't want your photo taken? Please just let our photographers know! For further information, please contact the Nextfest Arts Company at hello@nextfest.ca.

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PARTY

Artists! Audiences!

Volunteers! Nextfest Super Fans! Everyone is welcome.

Join the party and help start the festival off with a bang! The Nextfest Opening Party feature dancing, music, performances, pizza, partying, and an introduction to your new best friends.

All ages event.

Featuring: DTP, Éva Victoria LaPrairie, NIUBOI + RAANI

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Performers. Storytellers.

Promoters.

There is a community of people just like you at MacEwan University – an active community passionate about the arts, engaged in research and innovators in their fields.

The Faculty of Fine Arts and Communications has seven unique programs in the fields of fine art, design, music, theatre, arts management and communications.

Don’t stop doing what you love. It’s about to take you places.

Learn more at MacEwan.ca/FFAC

Come Together

Moving the Arts Downtown

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NITE CLUB

Friday, June 1 at 9:30pm in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre Curators: Abbie Cogger + Katherine Semchuk

A movement-packed, interactive dance party full of experimentation and collaboration! Nextfest’s first dance-focused Nite Club explores what movement is and can be. Join the circuit of movers as we one-two-step our way through a night of mind and body bending performances! 18+ event.

Image by Alex Gregory

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NITE CLUB

Thursday, June 7 at 9:30 pm in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre Curators: Steven Teeuwsen + Katrina Beatty

Fall in-line with the Shadow State as Nextfest marches you into new world order of light and projection. Shadow State is an empire of scratch animations, shadow play, technology glitching, projection art, and dance party! Think duality, the ghost in the machine, and hidden impulses. Presented

by Nextfest Film and Visual Art. 18+ event.

Image of Cameron Pickering

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NITE CLUB

Friday, June 8 at 9:30pm in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre Curators: Gennieve Edwards + Meagan Prus

Have you ever found yourself staring into t h e v o i d for so long that the darkness felt like a familiar friend? Ever dip your toe into the waters of your own mortality, thought that it was unsettlingly cold…and LOVED IT? Ever hook up at a funeral? Want to?

Modelled after the Cabaret du Néant in 1890’s Paris, h e l l s m u t promises to be a night of darkness, dapper debauchery, and consensual devilish delights. Dress code is victorian funeral or/and lack thereof. 18+ event. *Podsnapping: (outdated victorian slang) wilful determination to ignore the objectionable or inconvenient, at the same time assuming airs of superior virtue and noble resignation.

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NITE CLUB

Saturday, June 9 at 9:30pm in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre Curators: Soft Butch Cassidy + NIUBOI

Not your drag mother’s kiki. Celebrate PRIDE in style with the coolest kids in town. Dress to impress yourself in your Bauhaus Best*, see #yeg’s emerging queer artists take on the world, and end the night with a burn the roof down (sorry Roxy Theatre) dance party.

14+ event. *Bauhaus was a rebellious art and design movement which featured bold shapes, bright colours, and found fashion.

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DANCE

Friday, June 1 at 8:00pm Saturday, June 2 at 7:00pm (talkback to follow) Sunday, June 3 at 5:00pm in the Backstage Theatre

the belly of the whale

Choreographer: Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson Performers/Collaborators: Lindsay Bowman + Elizabeth Emond-Stevenson Music: Verso by Anenon Soundscape: Alex Pothier featuring Agnes de Mille interview

the belly of the whale is a journey through the layers we fabricate, cast off, regift to protect from others, ourselves and our environment, questioning and searching to reveal what lies underneath this mass so intertwined with personal identity/sense of self/belonging.

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Home

Choreographer: Alison Neuman Dancers: Angela Sekulic + Alison Neuman Home is an exploration of learning and companionship as we transition in life.

I MUST, I WILL, I AM? Choreographer/Performer: Robyn Learn

I MUST, I WILL, I AM? ponders the construction of the self.

Is there such a thing as the “true self�? Can one differentiate this from the influence of others? If these forces are in opposition with each other, how can one reconcile this?

#JustGirlyThings

Choreographer/Co-Director: Samantha Ketsa Playwright/Co-Director: Emily Sunderland Performers: Elizabeth Ferns, Megan Koch + Sarah Mitchell Set and Costume Designer: Myah Van Horn Sound/Projection Designers: Samantha Ketsa + Emily Sunderland Mentors: Melanie Kloetzel + Zach McKendrick “We are fascinated, but also repelled. They seem undressed. It has taken so little time to change our minds, about things like this.

Then I think: I used to dress like that. That was freedom.

Westernized, they used to call it.” - Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale

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DANCE

Sunday, June 3 at 7:00pm Wednesday, June 6 at 9:00pm (talkback to follow) Friday, June 8 at 5:00pm in the Backstage Theatre

Tip Off!

Choreographer: NIUBOI, in collaboration with the Dance Xtreme students of Victoria School of the Arts and choreography mentor Ainsley Hillyard Performers: Julianna Heft, Piper MacDonald, Jerica Hoskins-Turenne, Kaylna Howell-Matwichuk, Abby Hanson, Jessica Smith, Valaria Paproski, Emily Gwilt, Francesca Vergara, Kelsey Bertrand, Leilu Munro, Nicole Chebac, Alecia Hack, Aidan Collins, Olivia Johnson, Tyra Posty,Amelia Pierce, Miranda Hack, Kira Senger, Daniel Palladino, Nika Gildak, Amanda Proctor + Izabella Metz Snap back to the 90’s with this basketball inspired movement piece. Dribble, dunk, dance; it’s time to slam.

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Lay-by

Choreographer/ Performer: Kendra Shorter Slice, Breathe, Reach, Hold.

I can’t sit still

Choreographer: Katherine Semchuk Performers: Abbie Cogger, Robyn Learn + Bridget Jessome Composers: Dan Tansy, Moondog, Alva Noto + Ryuichi Sakamoto Lighting Designer: Julie Ferguson Costume Designer: Carol Semchuk Supported by: Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Good Women Dance Collective’s New Work Award

I can’t sit still is an exploration of idiomatic expressions relating to trying to do everything at once. With a compulsion to

say yes and an urge to remain occupied, three parts of one can very quickly diverge from focus.

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DANCE

ORIGINATE

Wednesday, June 6 at 7:00pm Thursday, June 7 at 9:00pm Saturday, June 9 at 8:00pm (talkback to follow)

Die Münze (The Coin)

Pushpanjali

In a coin toss, the only morality is chance. It is unbiased, unprejudiced, and fair. Chance gets the best of us. Winning or losing is 50/50/ There’s one side, there’s the other and there’s the...?

This is an introductory item in the bharata natyam repertoire and essentially means “an offering of flowers” by the dancer to the gods, gurus and audience. The shlokam in this item is in praise of Bhudda.

Choreographer/Performer: Jason Owin F. Galeos (J-SIK Movements)

Choreographer: Jai Govinda Performer: Kiruthika Rathanaswami

Translaaa-tions

Choreographer/Performer: Abbie Cogger The babbling, the intrusive thoughts, the rapid worries, the mundane, the expressive, the artistic, the logical here I am her am I am I am I am I am I her here here I am in space in time what time time time... time... Is it late.

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The Music Crept By Us

Choreographer: Rebecca Sadowski Composer: Dean Musani Performers: Rebecca Sadowski + Dean Musani Mentor: Gianna Vacirca “I would like to remind the management that the drinks are watered and the hat-check girl has syphilis and the band is composed of former SS monsters

However since it is New Year’s Eve and I have lip cancer I will place my paper hat on my concussion and dance.”

-The Music Crept By Us by Leonard Cohen

Mention you’re a performer, volunteer, or attendee of Next Fest and recieve 15% off regular priced items from May 31 to June 10.

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THEATRE

Thursday, May 31 at 5:30pm Saturday, June 2 at 3:00pm Thursday, June 7 at 5:30pm Saturday, June 9 at 3:00pm in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre Book and Lyrics: Mark Vetsch Composer: Stephanie Urquhart Additional Song: Matt Graham Director: Mark Vetsch

Pretty Boy brings the life of Charles Floyd, American Folk Hero, to the stage. A RobinHooding hero so charming it’s hard not to like him, even if he’s got you at gunpoint. From bank heists that make him rich, to the women who love him, find out how a man with a heart the size of Oklahoma became America’s Public Enemy No. 1.

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THEATRE

Friday, June 1 at 5:00pm Sunday, June 3 at 3:00pm Wednesday, June 6 at 7:00pm Saturday, June 9 at 6:00pm in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre

Playwright/Performer: Larissa Pohoreski Director: Molly MacKinnon

True stories and folk music merge in this multidisciplinary performance. Inspired by travels back to Ukraine and stories shared over shots of moonshine, a young woman explores the impact of searching for secrets, of knowing your roots. But what if you don’t know your roots? What about the stories that stay hidden?

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THEATRE

Friday, June 1 at 7:00pm Sunday, June 3 at 5:00pm Saturday, June 9 at 1:00pm Sunday, June 10 at 2:30pm in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre Creators/Performers: Lady Vanessa Cardona + Joanna Simon Sound Designer: Roya YazdanmehrÂ

Where do we begin? follows the story of Lady Vanessa and Joanna Simon, and their lived childhood experience of displacement and resilience both in the South and the North. Joanna Simon a Cree, Indigenous woman from Turtle Island and Lady Vanessa Cardona a Colombian refugee woman now living on Treaty 6 land. As they embark on their journey of healing, they wonder at which point in their lives they should begin to reconcile with. The complexities of their stories almost leave them speechless yet their undeniable solidarity for one another gives them the strength to share.

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THEATRE

Saturday, June 2 at 1:00pm Tuesday, June 5 at 7:00pm Wednesday, June 6 at 5:00pm Sunday, June 10 at 4:00pm in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre

Playwright: Juniper Wisniewski Director: Skye Hyndman

Marriage is hard, especially when you hate being married. Such is the life of Audrey who is throwing a dinner party, and her wife Zena who is trying to end a dinner party. Marriage is hard when you don’t filter your feelings at dinner, or around your friends, or ever. When taking revenge on your spouse, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander — and this dinner’s gonna be out of this world.

the search is over

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WORKSHOP PRESENTATION

Sunday, June 3 at 1:00 pm (talkback to follow) in the Roxy on Gateway PARKING LOT Playwright: Elise Jason Director: Kiidra Duhault Featuring: Alex Dawkins

Bow Valley Parkway, 1982. Jill sits alone in a car, in a forest, with nothing but an empty bottle of beer that isn’t hers.

A retrospective of her 25 years of life, Jill recites her own anecdotes, as well as other upsettingly real tales of loss of autonomy in the final hours before her own abduction and murder.

2018 — 2019

season

2018-2019 SEASON SUBSCRIPTIONS ON SALE NOW!

Student/senior subscriptions start at just $50 for three shows For more information, visit www.northernlighttheatre.com

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WORKSHOP PRESENTATION

Sunday June 3 at 2:00 pm (talkback to follow) in the Backstage Theatre Playwright: Emily Sunderland Directors: Emily Sunderland + Samantha Ketsa Featuring: Emily Sunderland, Samantha Kesta, Megan Koch, Nicole Logan + Myah Van Horne

Trilogy is an exploration of memory and trauma. Told through a kinaesthetic and verbal narrative the story revolves around a young woman trying to come to terms with her past events. As she mentally tries to put the pieces together her physical self attempts to fill in the gaps for her. “There are gaps. Big gaping holes. Like I have a puzzle missing all the blue pieces, which is fine because you can still make out the picture.

It’s just not complete.”

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For discerning readers AvenueEdmonton.com

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WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS

Tuesday, June 5 at 6:00pm (talkback to follow) in the Backstage Theatre Creator/Performer: Adam Dyck Director: Olivia Latta

Sunday, June 10 at 1:00pm (talkback to follow) in the Backstage Theatre Playwright: Mac Brock Dramaturge: Savanna Harvey Directors: Mac Brock + Savanna Harvey

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Adopted is a one-hour, oneman storytelling show about the realities of being adopted. What makes a family?

Is blood really thicker than water? And, most importantly, who are my parents anyway? Both hilarious and heart-wrenching, Adopted explores serious themes about childhood and family through both drama and comedy.

You write a message that you’ll never send. You connect to a stranger in the crowd. You finally get that off your chest.

Tracks is an immersive guided tour through the things we said, wish we’d said, and wonder if we’ll ever get a chance to say. You choose every step of how you take in this story of one question: is tearing oneself down from the inside the way to build back up?

The arts make our world limitless.

They captivate, amuse, provoke, inform and inspire. That’s why we’re proud sponsors of arts and cultural programs, including the Syncrude Fort McMurray Artist Program at Nextfest 2018. syncrude.ca

The Syncrude Project is a joint venture undertaking among Imperial Oil Resources Limited; Mocal Energy Limited; Nexen Oil Sands Partnership; Sinopec Oil Sands Partnership; and Suncor Energy Inc. (with the Suncor interest held by Canadian Oil Sands Partnership #1 and Suncor Energy Ventures Partnership, both wholly owned affiliates of Suncor Energy Inc.).

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Noon

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Thu May 31 Fri June 1 Sat June 2

THE LAST DAY OF JULY

WHAT HAPPENED THE GOOSEBERRY LAST NIGHT +

PHIL & ERIC’S JOURNEY +

PRETTY BOY:

TRILOGY

Sun June 3

ON THE MARGIN

MOONSHINE

Tue June 5 Wed June 6 CULT CYCLE

Thu June 7 Fri June 8 Sat June 9 Sun June 10

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ENGLISH BREAKFAST

THIS THING ABOUT YOU +

WHERE DO WE BEGIN?

THE UNDER RATED FOOD +

PRETTY BOY:

TRACKS WHERE DO WE BEGIN?

The Backstage Theatre

The Roxy on Gateway

The Yardbird Suite

Visual Art Venues Hours and locations on page 60

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PRETTY BOY: THE MUSICAL

MOONSHINE

THE MUSICAL

THE UNDER RATED FOOD +

DREAMS OF HOME

WHERE DO WE BEGIN?

WHERE DO WE BEGIN?

OCCUPY

OCCUPY (TALKBACK)

OVERTAKE

CONDUIT: A MEANS TO MOVE NÊHIYAWAK W/ SHIVERETTES + YES NICE

WORLDS COLIDE WORD FIGHT

OCCUPY BLENDER JUICE

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OPENING CEREMONIES

ADOPTED

THE GOOSEBERRY

A VARIETY SHOW LIGHTSPEED DATING +

THE GOOSEBERRY

MOONSHINE

ODD WEDNESDAY

THIS THING ABOUT YOU +

ORIGINATE

OVERTAKE (TALKBACK) SHADOW STATE

PRETTY BOY: THE MUSICAL DREAMS OF HOME ROOM 801

ORIGINATE

WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT +

NUMUSIC

A FOOL SPECTACLE

OVERTAKE THE MUSICAL

MOONSHINE

LIGHTSPEED DATING +

PHIL & ERIC’S JOURNEY +

THE GOOSEBERRY

NEXTFEST NEXTFEST COLLABORATION COLLABORATION PROJECT PROJECT

ORIGINATE (TALKBACK)

WELCOME TO HELLSUMT QUEERS ON QUEERZ

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1. The Yardbird Suite 10203 86 Avenue 2. The Roxy on Gateway Theatre 8529 103 Street 3. The Backstage Theatre 10330 84 Avenue 4. Fringe Theatre 10330 84 Avenue 5. Strathcona Library 8331 104 Street 6. The Next Act 8224 104 Street 7. The Varscona Theatre 10329 83 Avenue 8. Roots on Whyte 8135 102 Street 9. The Paint Spot 10032 81 Avenue

86 AVE

1 2

85 AVE

84 AVE

3

4 5 83 AVE

100 ST

101 ST

102 ST

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82 AVE

BLVD

TRAIL

81 AVE

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GATEWAY

CALGARY

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EDMONTON’S NEWS WEATHER TRAFFIC PEOPLE PLACES &STORIES

EDMONTON HEAR IT ON

AM AM EDMONTON WITH

WITH

MARK MARK CONNOLLY CONNOLLY

WEEKDAYS 5:30AM WEEKDAYS 5:30AM

CBC Edmonton

cbc.ca/edmonton

@CBCEdmonton

@MarkConnollyCBC @EdmAMCBC

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PLAY READINGS

Saturday, June 2 at 10:00am (talkback to follow) in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre Playwright: Ashleigh Hicks Director: Philip Geller

Tuesday, June 5 at 4:00pm (talkback to follow) in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre Playwright: Emma Wilmott Director: Caitlin Kelly

All Nextfest Play Readings will be available online in audio format - at the discretion of the artists involved. Visit nextfest. ca during the fest to hear all of these outstanding new words

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Everybody’s gotta bleed. Misha and Miska are alone together on the wing of an airplane. Sticks and stones may break their bones and pins may pierce their skin.

As humans, we are naturally drawn to routine...however, what happens when that routine becomes ritual, and what if it ever breaks? Based on a true story, Blender Juice follows the relationship of an elderly married couple, a past lover and their unique, present living situation in which they are now accustomed.

from some of Alberta’s upcoming playwrights.

The Nextfest Play Reading Recordings are produced by What It Is Podcast.

PLAY READINGS

Thursday, June 7 at 2:00pm (talkback to follow) in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre Book/Lyrics: Stephen Allred, Bethany Hughes + Seth Gilfillan Composer: Daniel Belland Director: Bethany Hughes Featuring: Erika Noot, Geoff Ryzuk, Jaimi Reese, Mark Sinongco, Nadine Veroba + Stephen Allred

bruch by day, dinner til late cocktails & wine always

There is a new spin studio in town! Welcome to Cult Cycle where you will watch the fat burn and a new you will rise from the ashes.

We strive for divine bodily perfection. This is no ordinary spin class. This new, original musical gives a new meaning to the phrase “that spin class was torture.”

Do you have what it takes to “Get Fit or DIE Trying?”

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PLAY READINGS

Friday, June 8 at 5:00pm (talkback to follow) in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre Playwright/Performer: Dylan Thomas Bouchier

Life is never as easy as it seems. This is what Jack must learn.

Jack must challenge his understanding of what is safe, worthwhile and even real. Will he fight for what he thinks is right? Or is even the “right thing” not so easy to accept?

Saturday, June 9 at 10:00am (talkback to follow) in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre

Playwright: Morgan Grau Director: Eric Smith

Edmonton, 1919. Bolshevism is public enemy number one.

Ilse, the daughter of a German immigrant taken by the Canadian government during the Great War, works hard to keep her family’s cafe afloat in hopes that one day her father will be returned. A federal agent and

local businessman meet there to discuss the nation-wide labour strike, Ilse’s socialist neighbour drops by for some tea, and a mob encroaches upon the cafe as the four inside try to negotiate who among them can be trusted.

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ENABLING THE

FUTURE OF

INNOVATIVE COMMUNICATIONS

RRD.COM

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MUSIC SHOWCASE

nêhiyawak

with The Shiverettes and Yes Nice Saturday, June 2 at 9:00pm in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre

Curators: Jesse Dandelion + Mustafa Rafiq

nêhiyawak hails from amiskwaciy (Edmonton) on Treaty 6 territory. Comprised of Kris Harper, Matthew Cardinal, and Marek Tyler - three Indigenous musicians coalescing at the intersection between traditional and contemporary music.

Hailing from Calgary/Treaty 7 territory, The Shiverettes come equipped with gnarly riffs, snotty attitude and brash honesty. The four-piece push their Feminist AgendaTM with a heavy dose of sass, side eye and shade. Gathering comparisons to The Stooges, Seven Year Bitch and MC5, The Shiverettes are here for a good time and, Goddess willing, a long time.

Yes Nice are an indie act from Edmonton whose music is a mixture of lush harmony, folkie guitars, and slightelectronic flourishes; a beautifullycomposed sonic stew captured on computer but sounding timeless.

Scott McKellar — the live bassist/vocalist who serves as the band’s producer/arranger on recordings— calls such sound “creating landscapes.”

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SHOWCASE: FILM

WORLDS COLLIDE

Sunday, June 3 at 8:00pm in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre Curator: Katrina Beatty

Remember When Director: Daina Zachariah

Sophia

Director: Zsófia Opra-Szabó

Trees Say Words: The Untold Story Director: Nicole Thorsley

The Family Farm Director: Anna Kuelken

A selection of short films from Alberta’s up-and-coming filmmakers.

Another Dimension Man Director: Sylvia Douglas

The Calling

Director: Demmi Dupri

Nice Try Narcs Director: Ryan Dupas

This is Not a Passport Photo

Director: Stephanie Simpson

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SHOWCASE: SPOKEN WORD

WORD FIGHT

Sunday, June 3 at 9:00pm in the Backstage Theatre Curator: Tab CA

Some of Edmonton’s finest Spoken Word Heavyweights go toe to toe in a one night only, no holds barred literary assault. Watch them wage words in a poetic battle of the ages. This is not your average Poetry Slam, folks. There will be nonsense and mayhem aplenty in what promises to be a night of immersive poetry and theatrics.

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SHOWCASE: VARIETY SHOW

Tuesday, June 5 at 9:00pm in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre

iHuman is coming to present and represent to make some sense and make our presence known. iHuman's bringing b-boys + b-girls + MCs we will walk the walk we will spit the word iHuman presents iHuman represents.

Free admission.

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SHOWCASE: COMEDY

Wednesday, June 6 at 9:00pm in the Roxy on Gateway Theatre Odd Wednesday is Edmonton’s best/ only biweekly sketch comedy showcase.

Produced and hosted by local sketch darlings The Debutantes, Odd Wednesday is intended to be a home for all different types of alternative comedy.

Over the course of its two-year run, Odd Wednesday has hosted live sketch comedy, short films, character pieces, performance art, musical comedy, escape artistry, milk debauchery, nude kite antics, and Santa Claus burlesque, to name a few. At this special Nextfest edition, the Debutantes will be presenting a selection of our all-time favourite performers.

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SHOWCASE: NUMUSIC

Matthew Cardinal

Matthew Cardinal is a multi-instrumentalist in many diverse projects, including the shoegaze-infused Slow Girl Walking and the thunderous rock trio nêhiyawak. With his solo material, Cardinal steps away from roaring guitars and produces ambient soundscapes that quietly scream with emotion. He leaves most of his tracks untitled, allowing his audience to fill in the blanks themselves.

Rage Radtke

Harsh and cutting and loving and often too honest, Rage Radtke boldly embodies the stories that bubble under the surface of their host. Eclectic in style, unpredictable in form, the music unfolds in much the same way their narrator’s unlikely life.

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LN Baba

LN Baba is a real estate agent. Let them sell you a song, hand crafted and honest.

Hersilia

Ever wanted to hear the “Edmonton as F•ck” lovechild of The Smiths, Neutral Milk Hotel, and The Front Bottoms?

Hersilia’s here, queer, and sampling the sounds of our winter city. The real question: mandolin or trumpet?

Our answer: BOTH.

Ben Fitzpatrick + Zia B

Avante Garde and Baroque had a lovechild, from the brain of hip hop artist Big Ben + violinist Zia Zia

SHOWCASE: CLOWN

DON’T RUN AWAY TO JOIN THE

CIRCUS

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COME WATCH

≥ LET THERE BE HEIGHT: JUNE 7TH & 8TH ≥ INFERNO: JANUARY 17TH - 27TH, 2019 ≥ SUPER$TITION: APRIL 12TH - 21ST, 2019

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HIGHSCHOOL: THEATRE Friday, June 1 at 6:00pm Saturday, June 9 at 2:00pm in the Backstage Theatre

FORGET ME NOT

Director/Playwright: Lucia Rodriguez-Cavanaugh Featuring: Declan Baker, Aryana Donovan, Alexis Burns, Emily Levine, Leah Ferber + Tierra Weslake Technicians: Josh Kowalchuk + Roxie Dutertre Stage Manager/Assistant

An exploration of the wonderful but consuming coincidental love between two young people, Forget Me Not walks the fragile line between love and hate, and questions our breaking points in this story about two people joined by fate.

The Underrated Food

Director/Playwright Calista Fladager Featuring: Lora Sliman, Jordan Sopiwnyk, Isaac White + Mady Gillett Lighting Technician: Erin Tetreau Sound Technician: Grace Li

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A DAY AT THE OFFICE

Playwright: Max Kortzman + Anna Grindey Featuring: Max Kortzman, Anna Grindey, Peter Kuhn, Lauren Claydon, Alexa Smith + Zeliha Yigit In a container company office, Sharron, a middle aged mother who works endless hours to satisfy her life’s needs, gets into an argument with Martha, the company’s manager. The argument takes a strange and horrible turn when Martha confesses something to Larry, the boss, about Sharron.

A teenage boy eats a sandwich and a family loses their breadwinner. Find out what happens to the rest of them!

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HIGHSCHOOL: THEATRE Tuesday, June 5 at 9:00pm Saturday, June 9 at 4:00pm in the Backstage Theatre

LIGHT SPEED DATING

Playwright/Director: Grace Li Featuring: Calista Fladager, Ben Yip, Mady Gillet, Jordan Sopiwnyk, Braedyn Hamaliuk + Xavier Swanstrom Technician: Erin Tetreau Year 3,000 A.C.R (After Cheesus Rice), humanity has learned to travel and has colonized all across space. Thanks to the advancement of technology, one human’s quest for love can be achieved. Join Morgan as he visits The Galaxy Bar™, a swanky hotspot for aliens all across the galaxies, for their signature event: The Single Pringle Mingle!

CRAZED HOTEL

Director/Playwright: Levi Bowling Featuring: Katie Chapman, Teio Suyal, Levi Bowling, Jack Walker + Emily Cortes Technician: Jayden Buchanan Stage Manager: Jessie Gustafson

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Four youths telling you about their lives. Love, music, bullying, and abuse. Everything is going fine until one of the four is mysteriously killed, and no one knowing the culprit, everyone scrambles to stay safe, and stay alive.

HIGHSCHOOL: THEATRE

Saturday, June 2 at 5:15pm Thursday, June 7 at 5:15pm in the Backstage Theatre Director: Medline Vogt Featuring: an Ensemble of Bellerose Composite Highschool Students A project dramatizing the real stories of residential school survivors.

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HIGHSCHOOL: THEATRE Saturday, June 2 at 2:00pm Saturday, June 9 at 6:00pm in the Backstage Theatre

SHELTER

Playwright/Director: Zachary Jericho Couture Featuring: Zaheen Mahmoud, Gauri Pathak, Gurjot (G) Hothi + Yeganeh Molazem Originally written to raise money for institutions such as YESS, the Edmonton Youth Shelter, Shelter revolves around the family dynamics of second generation siblings. This is the story of a college age brother who has become estranged from his family for dealing drugs, and his high school age sister who has been kicked out of the house for being gay. This play centres around the issues faced by homeless teenagers, as well as the struggles of minority gay youth.

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PHIL & ERIC’S JOURNEY THROUGH LIGHTING AND SOUND

Director/Playwright: Ben Haney Featuring: Ben Yip, Braedyn Hamaliuk + Erin Tetreau Lights: Calista Fladager Sound: Gareth Verhagen Phil and Eric are just your average teenage best friends, living it up in their hometown. Phil: an angsty romantic, and Eric: a trouble making trickster. Their lives will get turned upside down when Eric discovers a mysterious box with strange abilities. Watch as these two teens navigate new worlds, teenage angst, and resenting one’s creator. It’s a wacky time to be had.

Would like to congratulate the Nextfest Arts Company and all of the artists who visit The Roxy on Gateway to create outstanding new creations during the festival!

We are honoured to be a host and supporter of Nextfest for over 20 years.

Have an awesome fest!

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HIGHSCHOOL: THEATRE + MUSIC Saturday, June 2 at 12:00pm Thursday, June 7 at 7:00pm in the Backstage Theatre

WHAT HAPPENED LAST NIGHT?

Playwright/Director: Olivia Stover Featuring: Teio Suyal, Jack Walker, Jessie Gustafson, Ariana Kundlas + Katie Chapman Sound Technician: Kija Lado Lighting Technician: Harjot Bassi

THE BLAME GAME

Playwright/Director: Meghan Bunn Featuring: Maya Parkins + Eric Miracle Stage Manager: Casey Irwin Lighting Designer/Technician: Jillian Gerke Recent exes Sophia and Luke are having trouble deciding who gets custody of their dog Scott, and more importantly who is at fault for the breakup. In an elaborate scheme set up by Sophie, the two recount the ups and downs of their relationship, and enlist the audience’s help to decide who’s really to blame.

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When Connor wakes up next to Jonah, the star quarterback, together they try to figure out how they got here and what exactly happened the night before.

KYLIE JEWEL

Kylie Jewel is a Canadian emerging indie/pop/alternative singer and multiinstrumentalist. At just the age of 15 she has already established her identity with her unique mature soulful vocals.

HIGHSCHOOL: THEATRE + DANCE Wednesday, June 6 at 5:00pm Saturday, June 9 at 12:00pm in the Backstage Theatre

GROUNDBREAKING

Choreographer: Jerica Hoskins-Turenne Featuring: Maia Camus, Fiona Donnelly, Nadia Funaro, Abby Hanson, Ana Murgu + Chantel Nadeau

STELLAR

Choreographer: Jessie Gustafson-Walter Featuring: Jack Walker, Teio Suyal, Julianna Heft, Eric Miracle, Malika Shourie, Gen Krushelnycky, Naiah Bean, Julianna Schmaus, Gil Luning, Nadia Funaro + Hamdi Noor

“When everything is moving and shifting the only way to counteract the chaos is stillness” -Katherine Armstrong

Most humans are never fully present in the now, because unconsciously they believe that the next moment must be more important than this one. But then you miss your whole life, which is never not now” -Eckhart Tolle.

MOTHER’S DAUGHTER

THIS THING ABOUT YOU

Playwright/Performer: Spinelli Teleski Lauren, a teenage girl shares her experience of taking on raising her Mother; a woman with a laundry list of disorders and illnesses including rapid cycling bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, dissociative identity disorder and post traumatic stress disorder. After four rounds of shock therapy Lauren has decided to visit her Mother in the psych ward; where there is a horrific surprise waiting for her behind a mint green door.

Director/Playwright: Sydney Cogan-Grahn Featuring: Trentin Legault + Emily Lizotte Sound Technician: William Gosse Lighting Technician: Josch Ongchango Sixteen year old Sara deals with the complications of young love and the beginnings of what may be an abusive relationship. How much is she willing to overlook in order to make it work?

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Sunday, June 10 at 6:00pm at the Roxy on Gateway Theatre Sunday, June 10 at 7:00pm at the Backstage Theatre Mentors: Ainsley Hillyard + Bradley Moss The Nextfest Arts Company is delighted to announce our new Collaboration Projects as part of

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Nextfest 2018. We’ve brought together emerging artists from different artistic disciplines to collaborate throughout the festival.

On the last day of Nextfest, each creation group will showcase the fruits of their labours: a performance, an exhibit, an installation, whatever they choose. We can’t wait to see what they come up with!

Where does creativity take you?

For 33 years, we’ve supported visual artists. Visit us soon!

Whyte Avenue Art Walk July 6 - 8, 2018 www.art-walk.ca 10032 81 Ave

www.paintspot.ca

Edmonton AB 59

VISUAL ART

Curator: Steven Teeuwsen The six Visual Art Galleries host bold and diverse art work from fourteen emerging artists. Their work is on display for the duration of the festival. The galleries are all within walking distance from each other so pick-up the audio tour and go exploring!

Roseanna Nay + Ryan Andrade

in the Paint Spot, 10032 81 Ave Monday-Wednesday, 9:30am-6:00pm Thursday, 9:30am-9:00pm Saturday, 9:30am-6:00pm Sunday, 12:00pm-5:00pm

VISUAL ART AUDIO TOUR

Wanna get some of the visual art in your ear holes as you wander the galleries? Drop by The Roxy on Gateway and we will toss you a classic iPod to listen to at each venue where you can hear from the artists themselves as you view their work. Collateral is required to take an iPod out of the venue.

The Nextfest Art Walk Audio Tours are produced by What It Is Podcast

Amber Azcorra, Brad Fehr, Kaitlyn Carter + Mitchell Chalifoux

Fringe Theatre, 10330 84 Avenue Monday-Friday, 9:00am-5:00pm Image by Ryan Andrade

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Maya Candler, Ashna Jacob, Kaida Kobylka + Cameron Pickering

in the Backstage Theatre 10330 84 Avenue Open 1/2 hour before performances Image by Madison Dewar

Isabel de Blois + Emily Storvold

in the Strathcona Library 8331 104 Street Monday-Thursday, 10:00am-9:00pm Friday-Saturday, 10:00am-6:00pm Sunday, 1:00pm-5:00pm

Madison Dewar

in the Next Act 8224 104 St Monday-Thursday, 11:00am-2:00am Friday, 10:00am-2:00am Saturday, 10:00am-1:00am Sunday, 10:00am-1:00am

Larissa Hauck on the Varscona Theatre 8135 102 Street Mentor/Lead Artist: Jill Stanton Student Artist: Breanna Barrington

at the Roots on Whyte 8135 102 Street Open everyday, 8:00am-9:00pm

The Nextfest Mural Program pairs an established mural painter with a student painter to create a new work. We couldn't be happier to have Jill Stanton as our lead artist this year. Head over to the eastside of the Varscona Theatre to see Edmonton's newest mural!

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Build Skills. Spark Discussion. Refine Practices. Get Involved.

New for 2018, The Nextfest Arts Company presents the Nextfest Workshop Series.

We’re bridging the gap between artistic training and the real world of being an artist.

Daily workshops will invite dedicated professional mentors and experts from Edmonton arts communities to teach, lead and facilitate workshops directed at artistic skill growth, the business of being an artist, the sustainability of artistic careers. Participants will be given a common ground for discussion and the unique opportunity to learn from likeminded individuals.

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Workshops are free for all emerging artists. Workshops slots can be claimed by signing up on our website at nextfest.ca/workshop-series.

Sign up soon- all slots are first come, first served and space is limited.

Not a Nextfest artist? Sign up for a workshop and we’ll add you to the Artist List plus we’ll hook you up with an all-access festival pass and an invitation to the closing party.

Want a list of all of the workshops? Visit our website at nextfest.ca/workshop-series to learn more and sign up!

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Nextfest Staff Nextfest Curators Dance Curators: Good Women Dance Collective (Ainsley Hillyard, Alida Kendall, Alison Krause + Kate Stashko) Theatre Curator: Ellen Chorley Film Curator: Katrina Beatty Music Curators: Jesse Northey + Mustafa Rafiq NuMusic Curator: Mustafa Rafiq High School Curator: Jennifer Peebles

Visual Art Curator/ Mural Coordinator: Steven Teeuwsen Nite Club Curators: Katherine Semchuk, Abbie Cogger, Steven Teeuwsen, Katrina Beatty, Gennieve Edwards, Meagan Prus, Julie Ferguson + Elise Jason Showcase Curators: iHuman Studios, Breath in Poetry Collective, The Debutantes + Girl Clown

Nextfest Mentors Dance Mentors: Ainsley Hillyard, Alison Kause, Alida Kendell, Aimee Rushton, Kate Stashko, Gianna Vacirca + Raena Waddell Collaboration Project Mentors: Ainsley Hillyard + Bradley Moss

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High School Mentors: Jennifer Peebles, Morgan Grau, April Killins + Katie Hudson Nite Club Mentor: Uber Mistress Beth Dart Mural Mentor: Jill Stanton Theatre Mentors: Taylor Chadwick + Ellen Chorley

Festival Director: Ellen Chorley Festival Manager: Maggie Baird Production Manager: Scott Peters Communications Manager/ Artist Liaison: Megan Dart Social Media Manager: Marielle TerHart Graphic Designer: Steven Teeuwsen Podcast: What It Is Podcast (Brian Bergum, Taylor Chadwick + Chris W. Cook) Roxy Designer: Beyata Hackborn Dancefest Stage Manager: Izzy Bergquist Dancefest Assistant Stage Manager: Hanna Loh Dancefest Lighting Designer: Sofia Lukie Talk Back Host: Taylor Chadwick Nextfest Workshop Co-ordinator: Jake Blakely Nextfest Interns: Melanie Bahniuk + Lauren Hughes

Nextfest Board of Directors

Bradley Moss, President Andy Laskiwsky, Treasurer Kevin Hendricks, Director Murray Utas, Director Michael Kennard, Director

Theatre Network Staff

Artistic/Executive Director: Bradley Moss Production Manager: Scott Peters Operations Manager: Harley Morison Business Development Director: Jill Roszell Marketing/Publicity: Taylor Chadwick Bookkeeper: Shelley Martin Box Office Coordinator: Candice Stollery Distribution Officer: Marina Bryan Box Office: Neon + Vanessa Wilson Box Office/Front of House: Mark Stubbings + Ashley Balisky Front of House: Jake Blakely, Maria Burkinshaw, Emma Ingen-Housz + Kate Quinn-Feehan Season Design: Overhaul Media

Nextfest Technicians

At the Roxy: Tyler Herman, Tyler Ferguson At the Backstage Theatre: Matt Currie, Nicole Scherrer + Jon Mottram (FTA) Nite Club Tech: Chris delaCruz Set up Tech: Saron Beraki

Volunteers Theresa Agnew Laurie Bahniuk Lee Boyes Loveth Bradley Valerie Braiden John Brisson Betti Brockman Larry Brockman Theresa Burbank Kassia Byrnes Nancy Byway Gloria Carr Aaron Campbell Joan Damkjar Celeste Dempster Marie Fontaine Valerie Graham Christine Grant Morgan Graumann Betty Grudnizki Sari Haas Philip Hackborn Erin Hayes Dana Hendricks Chantelle Hess Ash Howard Peter Jarvis Roger Jorgenson Pam Josey Shannon Joyes Sandra Keating Walter Kehl Gail Kelly Rita Klasson Kathy Korchinsky Faye L'Hirondelle

Greg Latham Isabella Li Louise Mallory Susan May Ann McCluskey Andrea Murphy Beatrice Nearey Alice Oscar Joan Parsons Chris Pederson Ingrid Pederson Jesse Peters Sue Quon Dana Rayment Elva Rice Bente Roed Jacquie Skeffington Rob Stack Sophia Stauffer Hitomi Suzuta Dave Wolkowski Diane Wong Jody Wood Anna Zelensky

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Thank you to our 2018 supporters!

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ALBERTA BALLET PRESENTS

Ballets Jazz de Montréal in Dance Me

18/19

EDMONTON SEP 28-29

EDMONTON NOV 1-3

ALBERTA BALLET IN

The Nutcracker EDMONTON

DEC 6-9

“A season of legends, dreamweavers and poets” ALBERTA BALLET PRESENTS

Ballet BC SUBSCRIBE TODAY AT ALBERTABALLET.COM

ALBERTA BALLET IN

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ALBERTA BALLET IN

The Sleeping Beauty

EDMONTON FEB 22-23

ALBERTA BALLET IN

A Midsummer Night’s Dream EDMONTON MAR 21-23

EDMONTON JAN 22-23

ALBERTA BALLET IN Joni Mitchell’s

The Fiddle & the Drum

67 EDMONTON MAY 9-11

Become a member of the Citadel Young Companies in acting, musical theatre, playwriting or theatre production! For info on submissions and auditions go to www.citadeltheatre.com/academy/young-companies