City seeks public input for five-year plan to transform Ottawa’s cultural life
The City of Ottawa has begun a major public consultation aimed at creating a new five-year plan for the development of the capital’s cultural life. “This is the first city-wide cultural planning exercise since 2012 and aims to help the city better serve the evolving needs of Ottawa’s culturally diverse populations,” according to the official announcement in late March. Everything...
‘Daddy’s Issues’ to tackle transphobia, grief at undercurrents theatre festival
Written by Merlin Simard, now based in Toronto, and directed by Montrealer Lior Maharjan, a reading of Daddy’s Issues is set to run at Ottawa Fringe’s undercurrents theatre festival Feb. 14 and 15.
Wicked the movie draws raves from many Ottawa filmgoers
The film Wicked, directed by Jon M. Chu, was released in November and is already a cultural phenomenon.
Christmas comedy takes the stage at Ottawa Little Theatre
Ottawa Little Theatre is now hosting the Christmas comedy, On the Farce Day of Christmas. The show runs until Dec. 21. The theatre is Canada’s longest-running community theatre in Canada.
City Builder: GCTC’s Sarah Kitz amplifies under-represented voices
Sarah Kitz champions IBPOC, female, trans, non-binary and other voices while trying to reflect Canadian society on the threatre scene.
GCTC marks half a century of boosting Canadian theatre with an eclectic 50th anniversary season
The Great Canadian Theatre Company is set to celebrate its 50th anniversary in the 2024-25 season.
Orléans arts venue moves diversity to centre stage with new collaboration
The 15th anniversary season at the Shenkman Arts Centre in Orléans features a new partnership with Axé WorldFest — an organization that empowers BIPOC artists, newcomers to Canada and 2SLGBTQ+ individuals. The initiative reflects the centre’s strengthened commitment to ensuring that its annual lineup of performers includes traditionally unrepresented groups. Born and raised in Brazil and living in Canada for...
Ottawa Arts Council announces 2024 awards celebrating artists, upcoming and established
The Ottawa Arts Council celebrated local artists, educators and donors at the 2024 Arts Awards.
A Capital Current conversation: For Richard Lee, filmmaking is ‘storytelling in all its complexity’
Filmmaker, theatre creator Richard Lee is working to bring the stories of diverse people to the screen and stage.
‘The Mummy’ emerges from his tomb to take stage in third New Opera Lyra ‘gothic’ production
New Opera Lyra, a local opera company, is putting on an original production entitled "The Mummy" just in time for Halloween.
Yes I Can!: Michelle Obama’s inspiring story comes to the musical stage at Centrepointe
Yes I Can! is a new musical featuring the life of Michelle Obama, tells a story about family sacrifice, love and determination.
Bear Grease: An Indigenous take on an American musical classic comes to the NAC
As Bear Grease comes to Ottawa, the audience is not just Indigenous people. However, for those who do come from Indigenous communities, the show's meaning is palpable.
All the world’s a stage as Carleton’s Sock ‘n’ Buskin turns to Shakespeare’s Macbeth to open their new season
The pandemic over, Sock ‘n’ Buskin turns to its 2023-2024 season starting with a classic version of Shakespeare's Macbeth.
City builder: Kevin Loring is revolutionizing Indigenous theatre in Canada
Loring is best known as the Artistic Director for Indigenous theatre at the National Arts Centre. Recently, he had his term extended into the 2026-2027 season. The Indigenous theatre program at the NAC provides a platform for Indigenous artists to have their work staged and produced.
A ‘youthful engine:’ NAC reaches out to young audiences with adaptation of acclaimed novel Fall on Your Knees
A theatre adaptation of 'Fall On Your Knees' is coming to Ottawa, 27 years after the book was first published.
In Focus: The Nutcracker brings holiday magic back to the National Arts Centre
The Nutcracker returned to the NAC stage this holiday season and Capital Current had a chance to get behind the scenes for a sneak peek of the dress rehearsal by Les Grand Ballet Canadiens.
Anastasia’s journey: Musical offers a much needed message of hope and courage
Musical tells the story of the woman pretending to the the last Romanov princess to enjoyable life.
Dear Evan Hansen: A well-meaning musical with an unsatisfying ending
Capital Current's Rodaina Ibrahim reviews the well-produced show, Dear Evan Hansen, that left some questions unanswered.
Broadway Across Canada brings Dear Evan Hansen to Ottawa
Hit musical Dear Evan Hansen makes its Ottawa debut Aug. 9.
You Oughta Know: Jagged Little Pill on new season of Broadway Across Canada shows
Jagged Little Pill is one of five musicals in the 2022-23 season presented by Broadway Across Canada in Southam Hall at the National Arts Centre.
Ottawa Fringe Festival returns in person to celebrate 25th anniversary
Ottawa Fringe Festival is returning in person after two years to celebrate 25th anniversary.
Looking for laughs: Centretown pub draws a crowd with new comedy night
Ruckus Productions takes on "pay what you can" formats at many local Ottawa bars, including T's Pub in Centretown.
Indie theatre in Ottawa fights for creativity amidst convoy chaos and COVID constraints
Many venues have shut their doors to protect the safety of civilians and workers alike. But despite the ongoing occupation and the ongoing threat of COVID-19, one little indie theatre is fighting to keep dreams and creativity alive.
‘Mini’ children’s festival marks return of live theatre for Ottawa’s long-running celebration of the arts
Ottawa Children's Festival returns to a live stage this weekend.
Stories from Living Hyphen magazine adapted for play at Toronto’s High Park
nowhen is a two-part auditory and nature-based play that was performed in Dream in High Park at Toronto’s High Park Theatre this summer.
An ‘immersive’ theatre experience goes from Paris to London to Lansdowne Park
A unique theatre experience, called C-O-N-T-A-C-T, is now on at Lansdowne Park where audience members can follow two characters around outdoors and listen to their dialogue on their phones
Three steps forward? Ottawa venues welcome reopening but still look to a better fall
Step 3 in Ontario's reopening plan is opening the door to a return to performances in theatres and other venues, but it's not back to normal yet.
COVID consequences: Ontario arts organizations rally against “unfair” reopening restrictions
Arts groups across Ontario are expressing concern about the province's reopening plan and the limitations it places on performance.
Performing artists profoundly punished by the pandemic, arts groups say
The impact of the pandemic on performing artists has been profound, arts organizations say
The 25th Hour: Spreading laughs, not germs
Stand-Up Comedy with Pierre Brault has offered stand-up classes for those looking to break into the art. Now, it serves a new purpose during the pandemic.
Saying goodbye to the Bytowne underlines importance of supporting small cinemas
Following announcement of its closure, the Bytowne Cinema is proof why we shouldn't take our city's slowly-disappearing gems for granted.
Faces of change: Jessica Ruano advocates for the arts community in Ottawa and abroad
Capital Current continues its occasional series profiling some of the people who are making a difference in our community: From theatre to community support to journalism, Jessica Ruano has worked to pave the way for younger artists in Canada and abroad. In 2006, she founded the Ottawa Arts Newsletter in response to what she felt was a lack of local...
Ottawa theatres in forced intermission because of COVID-19 closures
Not being able to attend live theatre is becoming a major issue for smaller theatre companies.
Ottawa Fringe steps onto a digital stage
Ottawa Fringe organizers have announced they will hold this year’s festival virtually. How are organizers and participating artists adapting to the performing arts in the time of COVID-19?
First season of NAC’s Indigenous Theatre winds down; artists hope for expanding opportunities
With the first season of the NAC’s Indigenous Theatre program winding down, Indigenous artists hope the spotlight remains and representation continues.
Play called Honey Dew Me thrives despite Facebook ad rules
A play about the surveillance of gay public servants in the 1950s has an ad blocked by Facebook.
25th Hour: The Queen of Drag
Balancing work and a social life is hard enough. Add being one of Ottawa’s top drag queens to the mix. Adrianna Exposée is taking over the drag scene one performance at a time. This story was originally published on 25th Hour.
A Rocky Horror: Local theatre may lose the cult classic
Capital Current goes to what very well may be the last halloween showings of the cult classic Rocky Horror Picture Show at Ottawa's Mayfair Theatre.