Theatre

This year marks the 117th Annual Edmonton Music & Speech Arts Festival (formerly known as the Edmonton Kiwanis Music Festival) – North America’s first and longest-running festival of its kind. Nearly 1,400 single and group entrants (aged 4 to over 80), taught by 190 teachers, and entered in over 690 classes will perform and compete from April 22 to May 4, 2025, at the EPSB Centre High Campus (10050 MacDonald Drive – formerly known as Alberta College), McDougall United Church (10025 101 Street), the Old Strathcona Performing Arts Centre (8426 Gateway Boulevard), and Archbishop MacDonald Catholic High School (14219 109 Avenue).

This will be the last time the Festival is at its current main location (Alberta College). Stay tuned for news of where next year’s Festival will be!

Sessions generally start at 9 am, 1 pm, and 6 pm.

Choirs, bands, orchestras, singers, pianists, guitarists, speech/acting students, musical theatre performers, string players, composition students, chamber music ensembles, woodwind players, and brass players will be showcasing what they have learned this year in a variety of classes. Some will be recommended to represent Edmonton at the Provincial Music Festival, and some will win Scholarships, but all will share their passion in their chosen discipline.

All events during the Festival are FREE to the public.

The High Level Bridge will be lit up in Red & Gold on Saturday, April 26 in recognition of the Festival.

A Festival-at-a-Glance is currently available on the website, and the complete Programme will be available at www.emsaf.ca no later than April 13, 2025. There will be no hard-copy, printed programmes available at the Festival.

For more information, please visit the Edmonton Music & Speech Arts Festival (EMSAF) website at www.emsaf.ca 

ADFA and Pumphouse Theatre: Calgary Region One Act Play Festival 2025: Call for Volunteers!

The Pumphouse Theatre is looking for volunteer ushers for each night of the upcoming Calgary Region One Act Play Festival happening April 3 – 5 2025. Volunteers get to see the shows for free!

Shows are 7:30pm nightly. Ushers are expected to arrive at 6:45pm. Ushers will be trained on appropriate safety procedures and their individual roles (ripping tickets, passing out programs, assisting patrons to their seats). Ushers are expected to stay until the theatre has been vacated. Shows vary in runtime each night, and therefore the indicated end-time may change. Ushers are not required to wear any particular colour or style of clothing. Heels are not recommended.

We will provide you with training and assign specific roles (ticket taker, program, etc) on the night.

Sign up here: www.signupgenius.com/go/20F094CACAF2EA1F58-55273681-oneact

If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact Kelly Malcolm, Programming Director, at kelly@pumphousetheatre.ca and Troy Couillard, Interim Programming Director, at prod@pumphousetheatre.ca

We hope to see you at the theatre!

Improv for Kids - Orange Hub

Information and register here!

Live far from the Grindstone? Not to worry! Grindstone Theatre School is now also in The Orange Hub!

Don’t miss our Orange Hub classes starting in April! Improv 101B, Acting 101B and Stand Up 101B! We even have an opportunity for youth to take part in Improv for Kids running at The Orange Hub location this spring!

Have you ever wondered how people are able to make up a whole play just using a word from the audience? Join your very own improv troupe where you will learn the basics of improv to create fun and fantastical stories together! Then invite your friends and family to share what you’ve learned.

No experience necessary! All you need to bring is your imagination! This course is designed to be repeated as the material changes each term.

Dates: Apr 5, 2025 - Jun 7, 2025

• Total of 10 sessions
• Price:$190.80