Kingston Theatre Alliance

Have you ever read a book and wished you could change a character’s fate? My first introduction to Shakespeare was struggling to decipher Romeo and Juliet on my own, without the help of SparkNotes (mostly because I didn’t know it existed), and for years afterward, whenever I thought about the play, I caught myself wishing I could change the characters’ endings. But what if that’s actually possible? Goodnight Desdemona (Good […]

Welcome back to the Script Suggestion Series, where I take the opportunity to abuse my privilege as a theatre critic by getting paid to read and discuss plays from my very own bookshelf. This past summer I read Robert Icke’s Oedipus and was absolutely taken by the powerful adaptation. With that production just about to open on Broadway at the time of writing this article, I’ve been craving some more […]

Set in the bustling heart of New York City’s Times Square, Guys and Dolls opens with rumours of an underground crap game that Nathan Detroit (Jason McDonald) is desperately trying to organize. With the authorities trying to shut down the illegal gambling and no money to secure a venue, Nathan makes a bet he’s guaranteed to win with the always-lucky gambler Sky Masterson (Donald Mitchell). If Sky can convince the […]

This year’s seasonal production at Domino Theatre is all about Jane Austen’s beloved classic, Pride and Prejudice. But this time, it follows the often-forgotten Bennet sister, Mary, during the Christmas holidays as she reunites with her family and experiences a blossoming new relationship. Craig Norton, an actor, director, and psychotherapist by trade, often working with neurodiverse adults, is director of Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley. I had the chance to […]

The story begins in the city of Nuka, where war has suddenly erupted, leaving the townsfolk to flee. As danger gets closer, the ruling family prepares to flee, but it’s in this scene that we see their true colours. The governor (Daniel Gill) is too preoccupied with commenting on the weather to care for his family, while his wife, Natella (Charlize Diaz and Hayley Watson), opts to save her extravagant […]

Often described as the most legendary country music love story, Johnny Cash and June Carter’s music has remained a staple in the country genre. With joint hits like “Long Legged Guitar Pickin’ Man,” covers made iconic like “It Ain’t Me Babe” and “If I Were a Carpenter,” as well as their respective works, it is impossible to imagine what country music would look like without them. A final addition to […]

With “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” “A Bushel and a Peck,” “If I Were a Bell,” and many more, Guys and Dolls is filled with hummable hits, even 75 years after its Broadway premiere. And now, the Kingston Meistersingers are bringing this beloved story and music to the city. Recently, I sat down with Liane Penny, president of the Kingston Meistersingers, and also a producer, costumer, and member of […]

The best way I can describe how I Take Your Hand in Mine made me feel is this: like listening to your grandparents tell you the story of their lives on a slow Saturday afternoon. This cozy yet gripping production follows two real historical figures: Anton Chekhov (Richard Sheridan Willis), a renowned playwright, and Olga Knipper (Rena Polley), a famous theatre actor. In the play, they navigate the push and […]

Welcome back to the new Script Suggestion Series; I’ve recently pulled another play off of my ever-growing shelf, so now it’s time to introduce it to you, our readers, and share a few thoughts on the piece. The most difficult thing about having hundreds of options for what to review is that you have to choose one, so you force yourself to come up with small justifications of why one […]

When theatre majors at Queen’s University band together, they create more than a production; they form a community. This year’s Fall Major is Caucasian Chalk Circle, a play that explores justice, social inequality, motherhood, and connection. As assistant director for the show and third-year concurrent education student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in drama and art history at Queen’s University, Julia Gehring plays a key role in bringing the production […]

It might seem impossible to bottle laughter, but if there ever was a place you could do that, it would be at the Baby Grand Theatre during this year’s production of DSS Daydream. Forming a comedy special is no easy feat, but thanks to the stacks of hilarious Queen’s students script submissions, Dan Studio Series co-producers Connor Houghton and Halli Hood had no problem crafting a production of pure lively […]

If you’ve spent much time around the DAN School of Drama and Music, you’ve probably heard of the DAN Studio Series (DSS). DSS is a student-run and led theatre collective that stages productions each semester. Typically, these productions are grouped together into one show run and this fall semester, the show is a feature of four short comedies. This year’s co-producers, Connor Houghton and Halli Hood, are at the helm […]