Kingston Theatre Alliance

Turn on any device, log onto any platform, and you will immediately feel how saturated digital content has become. It’s near impossible to escape the overwhelming monotony of endless scrolling, nostalgia culture, and algorithms predicting your tastes before you even develop them.

If you’ve ever awkwardly stood by one of your friends as they catch up with someone you don’t know, you should keep reading. And if you don’t know Paul Smith, you definitely know someone who does.

When we imagine opera, we think of majestic, luxurious theatres revolving around an artistic tradition that has spanned since the 16th Century. Rarely would we imagine opera to present itself as five-minute iterations presented digitally.  Yet, on March 16th, the Musical Theatre Ensemble at Queen’s University, a course facilitated through the Dan School of Drama and Music, digitally presented Aitch Arr, a mini-opera created by Afarin Mansouri and Donna-Michelle St. […]

For arts professionals in Kingston, a silver lining might be slowly beginning to appear. On January 28, 2021, Kingston Mayor Bryan Paterson passed a motion that allocated an additional $200,000 towards artists and arts non-profits in Kingston, directly related to the impact that COVID-19 has brought forth on Kingston’s arts sector.

On March 3rd, the Dan Studio Series produced its winter installment, DSS: Jigsaw. There were clear aspects that DSS was able to innovate and progress upon based on the ubiquitous learning curve that creatives faced while adapting to a virtual environment last semester. 

towards cultures outside our own. Live-streamed from Toronto’s Theatre Passe Muraille, the production was digitally co-presented by the Grand Onstage.  Resembling more of a cabaret than a theatrical play, the performance shifts between musical numbers and anecdotes from the two performers.

When Ontario went into a full lockdown in late December, the prospect of theatre, even digital, seemed far-fetched. Yet, in the midst of uncertainty and anxiety from the lockdown, something beautiful happened for Kingston’s small, but mighty theatre community. 

What do famed Canadian comedians Lorne Greene, Robertson Davies and eleven current Queen’s students all have in common? Queen’s Players!   The oldest club at Queen’s University, dating back to 1900, Players describe themselves as “a cross between Saturday Night Live, a rock concert, and a kegger.”  In a non-COVID world, Players would consist of crowded performances at The Mansion full of flowing pitchers and Players singing along to pop hits […]

semester showcase illustrating what exactly the students are interested and capable of creating. The works we witness have been made by artists who are unseen outside of their work.

This is the second of a three part series on Kingston (and surrounding areas) Theatre during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to view the first piece on Kirsi Hunnakko, and follow the Kingston Theatre Alliance on Facebook to receive updates as we continue the series. Chad McNamara, an accomplished Canadian triple threat performer, has a unique role with St Lawrence College’s Musical Theatre program. As Placement Coordinator, he is responsible […]

If you’ve been paying attention, the name Francisco Corbett should not be new on your tongue. You may think I’m confusing him for a ‘franciscocorbn’, but that’s actually just his Instagram handle. Rookie mistake.

r escapism, which frankly, seems like a necessity in 2020. However, I have yet to experience a production that feels as escapist as Blue Canoe’s Voulez-Zoom. Running just over an hour, this feel-good, dance party-esque show lured me into the fun and joy that is Mamma Mia.