Only the masterful Stephen Sondheim could lift Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, from the grotesque to the sublime. This much anticipated musical with themes of thwarted love, treachery and revenge, opens at the Citadel Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 11 for a three-week run.
Leading the 12-member cast is RĂ©jean Cournoyer (Beauty and the Beast/Pride and Prejudice) in the tale of an ordinary Victorian man whose life is destroyed and family fractured by a corrupt judge. But in the depths of sorrow, he is reborn a new man determined to wreak havoc and revenge.
“Beyond the blood and violence, it is a story of deep love,” says artistic director Bob Baker. “Whether it is love that is attained or unrequited, every one of the characters experiences it in a life-altering way.”
Ticket costs range from $60 to $90. Call 780-425-1820 or go online to: www.citadeltheatre.com.
Adults often forget the wide spectrum of struggles children face in growing up. However, Concrete Theatre's collective has developed The Early Bloomer, a garden-themed family-friendly play to help young people understand different physical and emotional changes as they grow up.
Directed by Jana O'Connor, this play follows Maisy Daisy and her best buds living in the fifth row of the Garden Plot Nursery School. Maisy is growing faster than her pals and faces certain challenges. There's a few “bad seeds” in the school, but with the nurturing help of Principal Gardener, she discovers a newfound be-leaf in herself.
Directed by Caroline Howarth, The Early Bloomer stars Ntara Curry, Ming Hudson, George Szylagyi and Farren Timoteo. Public performances are Friday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. at the Stanley A. Milner Library, 7 Sir Winston Churchill Square. Tickets are adults $14, children $6 or $30 for a family of four. Call Tix on the Square at 780-420-1757 or cash at the door.
TransAlta Family Theatre Series' latest family show is Promise Production's revamping of the classic The Tortoise and The Hare.
In this adaptation by Ellen Chorley, the City of Storyland is launching a satellite into outer space and the mayor challenges two local companies to develop a new fuel system. But who will win the race — the small, family owned Tortoise Trades or the mega-corp Hare Industries.
Featured cast are Brian Bergum, April Killins, Ben McIvor, Elena Porter and Tasha Weenk. The Tortoise and the Hare plays at the TransAlta Arts Barns, 10330 – 84 Ave. on Friday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. and Feb. 13 and 14 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $23.50 for adults, $19.50 for students/seniors and $12.50 for children under 12. Call 780-409-1910 or visit www.fringetheatre.ca
A woman travelling to Paris accidentally meets her literary hero on the train but is quite shy about sharing the compartment in this new L'UniThéâtre/Théâtre la Seizieme co-production.
Written by French playwright Yasmina Reza, L'Homme du hazard (The Unexpected Man) builds from an awkward encounter to a suspenseful twist.
The production runs Feb. 11 to 13 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. at La CitĂ© francophone, 8627 – 91 St. Tickets are $15 to $24. Call 780-420-1757 or online at www.tixonthesquare.ca.
The Groovy Gang has rescheduled its Feb. 12 concert to Friday, March 12 at 7 p.m. with a series of selections from the Academy Awards.
The concert is held at the musical gang's local regular performance venue – the St. Albert Seniors' Club, 7 TachĂ© Street. Tickets are $5. Call 780-459-0433.
