Y ENTERTAINMENT
Talent Spotlight
ALEXANDER PRIOR
Perhaps more impressive than his young age ( he ’ s only 24 !) is the new chief conductor of the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra ’ s incredible passion for music . From an even younger age , Alexander Prior has found music — particularly composing — to be an absorbing and entertaining form of self-expression . “ The best way to make music is when you ’ re super honest ,” he says . “ Honesty is the most desirable attribute of a musician , and probably a person as well .”
He ’ s guest conducted the ESO several times over the last few years , so he already has a strong rapport with the orchestra and audience . In his new role , he wants to maintain the approachability and friendliness of the musicians , while evolving their style . It ’ s difficult to compare Prior and his style to the ESO ’ s previous conductor , Bill Eddins , who ’ s staying on as the musical director emeritus to assist with the Winspear Completion Project . “ Every conductor has a different repertoire , different approaches that they love ,” says Prior . “ It ’ s a lot like comparing a helicopter and a plane — which is better or what ’ s different ? They just do different things .” He wants to keep the conversation open by sharing his favourite music with the audience but also hearing from them what they enjoy . “ I love sharing the music I love the most ,” says Prior . “ It brings me joy to see them learn a piece they didn ’ t know or be ecstatic to recognize a piece they do .”
In his work , Prior hopes to further unite Edmonton ’ s music scene by continuing to make the Winspear a welcoming space for anyone who has any level of interest in music . “ The audience doesn ’ t make as much noise as they would in a pop concert or a rock concert , though I encourage clapping and whooping and even booing — whatever they want to feel like doing !” he says . “ I encourage participation , but as a conductor , you feel the audience ’ s participation through energy and through that kind of togetherness .”
Although Prior ’ s spent most of his life attending symphony performances and counts concert halls among his favourite places , he still has a reason for people who ’ ve never experienced one before to attend . “ Come here for the same reason you might go to the movies or you might go to another form of entertainment ,” he says , “ The reason you go is to be moved and to be entertained .”
PHOTO BY ERIC KOZAKIEWICZ
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 FAMILY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 FESTIVALS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 MOVIES & FILM SCREENINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 READINGS & LECTURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 SPECIAL EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 SPORTING EVENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 STAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 CASINOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 COMEDY CLUBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 LIVE MUSIC CLUBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 LOUNGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 PUBS & BARS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
FOR FULL LISTINGS , PLEASE VISIT where . ca / edmonton
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
BONFIRE IMPROV FESTIVAL Apr 4 – 8 — Rapid Fire Theatre ' s annual improv festival brings together the best local talents to present a variety of hilarious long-form comedy shows , drawing inspiration from some favourite performances from the current season . Citadel Theatre , 9828-101A Ave ., 780-425-1820 . Map 3-J4 D
CHIMPROV Mar 4 , 11 , 18 , 25 , Apr 1 , 15 , 22 , 29 — 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 Mar 6 , 13 , 20 , 27 , Apr 3 , 10 , 17 , 24 — This hilarious , fast-paced improvised soap opera is full of intrigue , drama , and a whole lot of laughs with a new episode every Monday night . To celebrate the rebirth of the Varscona Theatre , the Die-Nasty troupe are taking their show back to the renaissance in 15th-century Venice . Two families , the Gabourgias and the Spinellis , plot for power , money , golden baubles , spices , and — most importantly — love . Varscona Theatre , 10329-83 Ave ., 780-433-3399 , die-nasty . com . Map 2-J2 S
LIVE
JEFF FOXWORTHY & LARRY THE CABLE GUY Mar 3 — As the name of their We ’ ve Been Thinking Tour suggests , these two hilarious self-described redneck comedians have been thinking , and they ’ re ready to make you burst with laughter at their strange thoughts . Alumnis of the Blue Collar Comedy Tour , Larry the Cable Guy is best known for his “ Git-R-Done ” slogan , while Jeff Foxworthy is always happy to let someone know they “ might be a redneck if …” Rogers Place , 102 St . & 104 Ave ., 780-414-5483 . Map 3-F1 D
JOSH WOLF Apr 20 – 23 — In the comedy game since he was 15 , this American actor and writer is a frequent panelist on Chelsea Lately . He ’ s written for an eclectic mix of popular shows , such as All of Us , Raising Hope , and Shark After Dark Live , so you know his jokes will be well-rounded and funny ! The Comic Strip , West Edmonton Mall , 8882- 170 St ., 780-483-5999 . Map 4-K4 W
THE 11 O ’ CLOCK NUMBER Mar 3 , 10 , 17 , 24 , 31 — When the clock strikes 11 pm each Friday night , the Grindstone Theatre actors take to the stage to create a brand new improvised musical comedy , based on audience suggestions . Nothing is planned , everything is unscripted , a talented house band scores the show , and everything ' s hilarious . Holy Trinity Anglican Church , 10037-84 Ave ., 780-433-5530 , grindstonetheatre . ca . Map 2-L1 S
TIX on the Square Community Box Office sells tickets to hot local stage shows and concerts . Visit tixonthesquare . ca or call 780-420-1757 .
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