At the Bert Church Theatre in Airdrie on December 19th and 20th, Nose Creek Players present All Trains Lead to the Station, written and directed by Haley Day. Kyle sits down with Haley over zoom to discuss the efforts taken to put up her first written work and the unexpected difficulties and joys that come from that experience.

Tickets are limited: https://tickets.airdrie.ca/TheatreManager/1/login?event=578

About the show:

It is 1917 when we meet fourteen-year-old Peter Harris, who has been uprooted from his home in Nova Scotia and sent to stay with his Uncle Hubert in the small but bustling town of Airdrie. With his sister serving as a nurse overseas to help with the war efforts, Peter dreads having to spend Christmas away from his home, his sister and everything he holds dear to him. While in Airdrie, he starts working at his uncle’s general store and soon meets the colourful folks of Airdrie, each with their own holiday hopes, hardships and humour. Through these encounters, Peter begins to understand that Christmas isn’t just about where you are- it’s about the people who make a place feel like home.

Opening December 17th and closing on December 20th at the West Village Theatre, Full Circle Theatre presents A Full Circle Holiday Special of Riverona Actually and Holding. Kyle sits down with directors Danielle Baker and Kendra Hutchinson to talk about what a holiday special means and the complications of directing not only performers during the holidays but for performers who also wrote the work they are directing. Kyle ends with a quote from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol about the meaning of the Holiday Season and hopes that you will find time to take in this delightful production.

Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/a-very-full-circle-holiday-show

About the shows:

A Very Full Circle Holiday Show turns a late-December slot into a brand-new festive tradition — a double feature of romance, chaos, and Riverona-style mischief. Featuring Holding, a brand-new rom-com, and Riverona Actually, a lost holiday special packed with fan favourites and holiday shenanigans.

Opening December 18th and running until December 21st, Swamp Donkey Musical Theatre presents Nuncrackers, directed by Trisha Gizen. Kyle sits down with Trisha to discuss what putting up the show a second Christmas in a row means and the complications, and easements, that happen when you do something again.

Tickets: https://www.showpass.com/s/events/all/?search_string=nuncrackers

About the Show:

The Nunsense Christmas musical, Nuncrackers, is the first TV special taped in the Cable Access Studio built by Reverend Mother in the convent basement. It stars the nuns you love, plus Father Virgil and Mount Saint Helen’s most talented students. This show is filled with wacky Nunsense humour! Certain to tickle your funny bone and likely to tug at your heartstrings, Nuncrackers is the perfect way to make your holiday season merry and bright (synopsis from concordtheatricals.com)!

Opening December 12 and running through the 20th at the Pumphouse Theatre in Calgary, Morpheus Theatre presents Peter Pan: An Awfully Big Pantomime, directed by Janos Zeller. Kyle sits down with Janos to discuss the scope of a pantomime, the labour involved in theatrical comedy and and in depth discussion about how this project came to be. A must listen.

Tickets are Limited: https://www.morpheustheatre.ca/?portfolio=peter-pan-2025

About the Show:

All children, except one, grow up… On the hunt for his pesky shadow, Peter Pan meets the Darling children in their Nursery. With a sprinkling of Tinkerbell’s fairy dust, Wendy, John and Michael leave Nana the Dog behind on a flight to Neverland – a magical place home to lost boys, mermaids and the most villainous pirate of them all; Captain Hook! With Mrs Starkey and her bumbling son Smee by his side, Hook seeks revenge against Peter Pan who fed his hand to a tick-tocking crocodile. Will the boy who never grew-up rid Neverland of Captain Hook forever? Will the Darlings find their way home to London? And, most importantly, do you believe in fairies? Find out in this swashbuckling pantomime that will have you ‘hooked’!

With only four shows - December 11, 12 and 13th at the Glenmore Christian Academy in Calgary, Small Time Theatre presents the Junior production of The Sound of Music, directed by Lena Chalmers. Kyle sits down with Lena and Ingrid Koller (part of the set design team) to talk about the meaning of this Rogers and Hammerstein musical, and what theatre for young people with Small Time has meant to them and their families.

Tickets: https://smalltimetheatre.shop/

(as of publishing the performance is sold out)

About the Show:

The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was destined to become the world’s most beloved musical. Featuring a trove of cherished songs, including “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “My Favorite Things,” “Do Re Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and the title number, The Sound of Music won the hearts of audiences worldwide, earning five Tony Awards and five Oscars. The inspirational story, based on the memoir of Maria Augusta Trapp, follows Maria, an ebullient postulant who serves as governess to the seven children of the imperious Captain von Trapp, bringing music and joy to the household. But as the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria, the von Trapp family must make a moral decision.

Opening November 28th and closing December 7th at the Cochrane Ranchehouse, Take a Bow Community Theatre presents Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a Pantomime by Ron Hall and directed by Anita McDonald. Kyle sits down with Anita to discuss bringing a pantomime to life and trying to keep a production marching towards the same goal.

Tickets: https://www.takeabow.ca/calendar/goldilocks-pantomime

About the Show:

Join Goldilocks and her family as they work together with three bears to stop the Squire's evil plan! A silly, topsy-turvy re-telling of the classic story that the whole family will enjoy!

opening November 28th and running until December 13 at the Hope Community Church in Strathmore, the Strathmore Theatre Players Guild presents A Christmas Carol, adapted by Lynn Stevens, directed by Angela Woodford-Reeves and Jeanette Brown, produced by Lauren Nelson and starring Courtney Nelson as Scrooge. Kyle sits down with Courtney and Lauren to discuss how important this work is not only in general, but to Strathmore itself and how many groups have come together to bring this show to life to inspire audiences this Holiday Season.

Tickets: https://thevaultonline.ca/collections/strathmore-theatre-players-guild

About the Show:

By suggesting famous Christmas carols, this talented author incorporates appropriate music for the re-telling of this classic story. You’ll meet all the great characters: Christmases Past, Present, and Future; Tiny Tim; Bob Cratchit; and, of course, Ebenezer Scrooge! This is an inspiring musical that captures the essence of the great tale, and of the meaning of Christmas.

Opening November 29th and running through December 7 at the Bnai Tikvah Temple in Calgary, Chai Life Theatre presents Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat, directed by Sean Anderson. Kyle sits down with Sean and producer Laura Shuler to discuss the creation of a new theatre company in Calgary and the difficulties in bringing this massive musical to the stage.

Tickets: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/ticketing/joseph-and-the-amazing-technicolor-dreamcoat-5

About the show:

This show is an uplifting and vibrant musical that tells the story of Joseph, a young man with dreams and aspirations. Set in a colourful, fantastical world, it captures his journey of hope, resilience, and self-discovery as he navigates challenges and triumphs. With catchy songs, lively choreography, and a joyous spirit, the show celebrates the power of dreams, family bonds, and the importance of believing in oneself. The dazzling technicolor coat symbolizes Joseph’s uniqueness and the message that everyone has something special to offer.