Y ENTERTAINMENT
Talent Spotlight
SHELDON ELTER
Actor , writer , comedian , musician , Canadian Idol contestant — Sheldon Elter has worn many hats over the course of his career . His true love , though , is the stage . “ That ’ s where my heart and soul are at ,” explains Elter . “ Your art lives and dies in one performance . It feels more magical to me to be a part of that .”
One of Elter ’ s upcoming shows , Métis Mutt ( pg 26 ), began as a classroom project in 2001 and has been workshopped and performed across the country . The multilayered theatrical version of Elter ’ s life story discusses his family and racial issues . “ I ’ ve learned that the more you try to tell the truth , the more human you become ,” he says . “[ The play ] transcends race and gender and just becomes a human experience .”
Writing such works is particularly important to Elter , and he ’ s thankful for the supportive and welcoming artistic community in Edmonton . “ It ’ s really cool to be a part of contemporary Canadian work . I ’ ve been very lucky to have my own work produced , and patrons will actually go and see independent work ,” he says . Elter avidly recommends that visitors venture out of their comfort zone and watch a play from the numerous independent companies in the city . “ There ’ s always a chance to see a great show .”
If you can ’ t see him live , watch out for the fourth season of CAUTION : May Contain Nuts . The award-winning sketch-comedy series is due back on Canadian airwaves in the spring after being cancelled for several years . “ When the network asked to bring it back , it was a bit of a shock ,” says Elter , who both writes and stars in the show . “ What ’ s so cool is that you ’ re working with your pals , and it ’ s all shot here so it ’ s all local talent . I think it ’ s some of our best writing .”
PHOTO BY KEVIN CLARK STUDIOS
The following is a brief selection of concerts , performances , dinner theatres , festivals , special and sporting events that WHERE believes are worthy of your attention .
Coordinates refer to maps on pages 51 to 53 .
COMEDY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 CONCERTS & MUSIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 CULINARY EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 DANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 DINNER THEATRE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 FAIRS & EXHIBITIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 FESTIVALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 HOLIDAYS & OBSERVANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 SPECIAL EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 SPORTING EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 STAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 CASINOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 COMEDY CLUBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 LIVE MUSIC CLUBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 LOUNGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 NIGHTCLUBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 PUBS & BARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
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GOLD
The following symbols , located at the end of each listing , denote the establishment ’ s location :
D — Downtown
N — North Edmonton S — South Edmonton W — West Edmonton
COMEDY
BRENT BUTT Jan 20 — Funnyman Brent Butt , who wrote and starred on the sitcoms Corner Gas and Hiccups brings back his down-to-earth , relatable humour in a new comedy show . River Cree Resort & Casino , 300 East Lapotac Blvd ., Corner of Whitemud Dr . & Winterburn Rd . ( 215 St .), Enoch , 780-484-2121 . Map 1-A5
CHIMPROV Jan 6 , 13 , 20 , 27 — The talented members of Edmonton ' s renowned improv troupe Rapid Fire Theatre perform a series of long-form narratives that are completely improvised and based on random suggestions from the audience . There ' s no telling what they might think up , but you will be laughing ! Citadel Theatre , 9828-101A Ave ., 780-425-1820 . rapidfiretheatre . com Map 3-J4 D
DIE-NASTY : THE LIVE IMPROVISED SOAP OPERA Jan 8 , 15 , 22 , 29 , Feb 5 , 12 , 19 , 26 — This hilarious , fastpaced improvised soap opera is full of intrigue , drama , and a whole lot of laughs with a new episode every Monday night . The Die-Nasty troupe are taking their show back to the 80s and will have to face a season of greed , seduction , betrayal , and revenge . Varscona Theatre , 10329-83 Ave ., 780-433-3399 . die-nasty . com Map 2-J2 S
LARRY THE CABLE GUY Feb 24 — The multi-talented Daniel Whitney — better know by his on-stage and screen persona Larry the Cable Guy — is a multi-platinum Grammy-nominated recording artist and TV star , and one of the top comedians in North America . His comedy stylings feature self-proclaimed redneck and blue-collar humour and his signature catchphrase " Git-R-Done "! River Cree Resort & Casino , 300 East Lapotac Blvd ., Corner of Whitemud Dr . & Winterburn Rd . ( 215 St .), Enoch , 780- 484-2121 . Map 1-A5
STEVE BYRNE Jan 11 – 14 — You may recognize him from the hit TV show Sullivan & Son ! Steve Byrne will make you chuckle at his self-deprecating sense of humour , as he explores topics from his mixed Korean-Irish heritage to pop culture and relationships . The Comic Strip , West Edmonton Mall , 8882-170 St ., 780-483-5999 . Map 4-K4 W
STEVE PATTERSON Jan 13 — This satirical comedian is a staple of the Canadian comedy circuit and is currently the host of The Debaters on CBC Radio One . Festival Place , 100 Festival Way , Sherwood Park , 780-464-2852 .
THEATRESPORTS Jan 5 , 12 , 19 , 26 — Edmonton ' s renowned improv comedy troupe Rapid Fire Theatre performs Theatresports weekly , where teams of talented
Want to cheer on Team Canada during the Winter Olympics ? Toss on your red and white , and visit one of the pubs on page 27 that will be showing the games !
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