Author: Mel Priestley
Mel Priestley is a consulting astrologer and writer based in Edmonton, Alberta. She has been studying astrology for many years and completed the Fundamentals of Natal Astrology Certificate at Kepler College in 2021. She has been a professional freelance writer for over 15 years and has written extensively about wine, food, theatre and now, astrology. She currently serves on the executive committee of the Edmonton Astrological Society and is also co-lead of OPA’s Canadian satellite.
Canonizing the Orange Crush: Jason Chinn’s E Day
Well, here we are: the federal election has come and gone and there sure wasn’t a wave of NDP support this time around. Quite the contrary – Alberta painted itself blue, again, except for a […]
Democracy on stage at the Citadel’s Fight Night
I can’t think of a better show to see this election season than Fight Night, an odd theatrical experiment by Belgian theatre company Ontroerend Goed, part of the Citadel’s Highwire Series. (OK, except maybe E […]
All the middle-aged ladies put your hands up
This week is all about taking back the stage for the middle-aged ladies. First up is Kristin Johnston, who is starring in Northern Light Theatre’s season opener Baroness Bianka’s Bloodsongs. After that is Nancy McAlear, […]
Demagogues on display: a review of Studio Theatre’s Richard III
Studio Theatre’s gritty, urban production of Richard III feels uncomfortably familiar to audiences in 2019. Director Max Rubin – who is an MFA directing candidate with the University of Alberta – has reimagined Shakespeare’s history […]
Election edition with E Day and Richard III
Things get political this week with a pair of interviews that fit perfectly with the upcoming Canadian federal election. First is Dave Horak, who is directing Theatre Network’s first show of the season, E Day […]
Jumping on the Bollywood train with Taj Express
If you can manage to get tickets to tonight’s show of Taj Express, do it. Alberta Ballet’s season opener is only doing a couple shows in Edmonton – last night and tonight – before the […]
Telling ghost stories with Dead Centre of Town
October is here and we have some ghost stories to share! In this extended episode you’ll get to hear from the folks behind Dead Centre of Town (DCoT), Edmonton’s travelling, immersive theatre show that takes […]
Powerhouse vocals: a review of Citadel Theatre’s The Color Purple
I’m adding my own voice to the chorus of unabashed praise for the Citadel’s excellent production of The Color Purple. Truthfully, I don’t have much to add that hasn’t already been said by my fellow […]
No Change in the Weather – A Newfoundland Musical
Like a Canadian social studies lesson come to life, No Change in the Weather gives a hefty dose of East Coast history and politics alongside a suite of 18 sea shanties and jaunty jigs. Even […]
Clowning Around with Christine Lesiak
What even is a clown? This week Mel talks to Christine Lesiak, director of Edmonton’s Play the Fool clown festival, to find out the answer. Funny clowns, sad clowns, scary clowns, naked clowns – we […]
Media passes and the Edmonton Fringe
Should a written review be attached to every media comp at the Edmonton Fringe? The Globe and Mail just ran a very interesting story about a controversy that started at Edmonton’s Fringe Festival and continued […]
Talking The Color Purple with Jesse Lipscombe
The Color Purple is opening soon at the Citadel Theatre and I spoke to Jesse Lipscombe to get the inside story about the production. Lipscombe is an Edmonton actor, singer, producer and activist who founded […]
