As summer comes to a close, Theatre Calgary sets the stage for its 2024/2025 season with the chaotic comedy The Play That Goes Wrong. From September 3-29, revel in the absurdity of a doomed show that must go on.
“When we open in September, we really want to lift the curtain on a new season and set the tone for the year ahead. The Play That Goes Wrong is absolutely jam-packed with joy and laughter, and it tickles your funny bone, reminding us of the power of laughter and how that laughter can, in many ways, be healing for people,” says Stafford Arima, artistic director at Theatre Calgary.
For over 50 years, Theatre Calgary has brought excellence to the stage, and this season is no exception. Join in on the fun and treat yourself to a night of belly laughs as artists from across Western Canada take the stage and showcase local talent.
A play-within-a-play
Although The Play That Goes Wrong is premiering on the Calgary stage, the hit blockbuster is a widely loved production. The show won Best New Comedy at the 2015 Laurence Olivier Awards and still runs off-Broadway today.
The Play That Goes Wrong is a play-within-a-play — a presentation of The Murder at Haversham Manor by a group of unseasoned actors — and brings viewers along for the funny and frantic things that happen when nothing goes right. Actors are unprepared, the set is falling apart and the leading lady is unconscious. Set to a background of murder mystery intrigue, the chaotic comedy is sure to have you sitting on the edge of your seat and laughing with your friends and family.
Homegrown talent
The Play That Goes Wrong comes to Calgary as a co-production with Citadel Theatre and the Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. The show presents an opportunity to recognize familiar faces as actors from Calgary, Edmonton and Winnipeg take the stage. And for longtime theatre fans, Theatre Calgary’s previous artistic director, Dennis Garnhum, is directing the show.
“With this production, we’re not only celebrating Calgarians, but Albertans, Manitobans and Western Canadian theatre artists and artisans who can deliver the goods in such amazing and electrifying ways,” says Arima. “There’s going to be a fusion of artistry that will take the show to more stratospheres of enjoyment and artistry than people will expect.”
Theatre for all
Theatre Calgary believes in making theatre affordable for everyone, which is why it offers $44 main-floor tickets for every show. Theatre has the power to transport audiences to new experiences and emotions, and Theatre Calgary wants that “wonderful medicine for escape” to be accessible for all.
“Sometimes you need to escape, to be educated, to be enlightened, and sometimes you just need to be entertained, and that’s what Theatre Calgary offers audiences,” affirms Arima.
As Theatre Calgary continues its mission to transport audience members to new places, The Play That Goes Wrong is only the beginning of an exciting year. “This upcoming season is filled with entertaining and recognizable stories that I have faith will enrapture our audience and bring in new audiences,” says Arima.
To learn more about The Play That Goes Wrong and to buy tickets, visit theatrecalgary.com.
This content was produced for the advertiser by RedPoint Media for commercial purposes. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Avenue staff.