There will be plenty to check out this coming season in terms of top-notch entertainment at Red Deer College.

Things kick off in the performing arts with William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead by John Heimbuch, which is being directed by Kelly Reay.

When the Queen of England seeks refuge at the Globe Theatre from the plague, life at the playhouse takes a turn for the worse. William Shakespeare’s Land of the Dead is described as a witty and humourous play that uses many famous lines from Shakespeare’s repertoire to set the scene for battling plague-infested zombies.

The play runs in Studio A Oct. 9th-11th and 14th-18th, with curtain at 7:30 p.m. There are also Saturday matinees on Oct. 11th and Oct. 18th with curtain at 1 p.m. Tickets are available at the Black Knight Inn Ticket Centre.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood, directed by Tom Bradshaw with book, music and lyrics by Rupert Holmes, follows Nov. 20th-22nd and 26th-29th on the Arts Centre mainstage, with curtain at 7:30 p.m. There are also matinee shows Nov. 22nd and Nov. 29th at 1 p.m.

Based on the unfinished novel by Charles Dickens, this musical begs the question: ‘Whatever happened to Edwin Drood after his mysterious disappearance?’

With singing, dancing and comedic fun, The Mystery of Edwin Drood follows the old-fashioned British Music Hall tradition and has the audience choosing the ending of the play in a raucous balloting frenzy.

Looking ahead into 2015, Jane Austen’s classic tale Pride and Prejudice will hit the Arts Centre mainstage Feb. 5th-7th and 11th-14th. Curtain is at 7:30 p.m. with matinee shows also slated for Feb. 7th and Feb. 14th at 1 p.m.

Adapted by Jon Jory and directed by Thomas Usher, Austen’s classic romantic comedy is given a unique and accessible treatment by renowned playwright and director Jory. High-spirited and heartfelt, RDC’s production will delight Austen supporters and win new fans with this story of improbable love.

Staff are also hosting a Valentine’s Day tea Feb. 14th following the Saturday matinee.

Wrapping up the staged productions for the season is Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas. The show, directed by Lynda Adams, is based on the award-winning radio drama by Thomas and adapted to film in 1972 with Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor, and Peter O’Toole.

Under Milk Wood follows a day in the life of residents of a fictional Welsh town in poetry, music, song, and dance. With the audience as voyeurs, we are taken on a poetic tour uncovering some of the charming and disarming situations of real life that many will recognize as similar to our own life journey. Performances run April 15th-18th with curtain at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee set for April 18th at 1 p.m.

There are also musical presentations for virtually any taste running throughout the season as well beginning with Colleen Athparia’s piano recital on Sept. 26th on the Arts Centre mainstage starting at 8 p.m.

In cooperation with the Alberta Piano Teachers Association, Athparia presents a varied program entitled ‘Dancing Fingers’ featuring dance music by Mozart, Clara Schumann, Chopin, Granados, and Calgarian Allan Gordon Bell.


‘Around the World in 80 Musical Minutes’ will be presented on Oct. 25th on the mainstage, starting at 7:30 p.m. The RDC Music Faculty presents an array of international classical and contemporary music in this annual recital.

‘Classical Haunts’ runs Oct. 30th on the mainstage at 7:30 p.m. as well. This show features the RDC Symphonic Winds performing a variety of ‘spooktacular’ music on the night before Halloween.

Other highlights include a piano recital featuring New York-based Jason Cutmore on Nov. 30th at Studio A at 7:30 p.m.

‘Jingle Jazz’ runs Dec. 2nd-3th in Studio A, starting at 7:30 p.m. and Sounds of the Season runs Dec. 5th on the mainstage.

The New Year begins with ‘A Little Night Music’ on Jan. 18th. Join pianist Ruston Vuorio for an intimate solo piano recital featuring character pieces by Franz Schubert, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré and Frédéric Chopin.

Next up is ‘Pianos Galore’ on Feb. 22nd on the mainstage at 7:30 p.m.

RDC faculty member Dale Wheeler is joined by Debra Bakland, Cheryl Cooney, and special guest Ruston Vuori, together with the CUC orchestra, in a multiple-piano extravaganza showcasing several Bach concerti along with the première of a work by Dr. Cooney.


‘A Night at the Zoo’, featuring the RDC Symphonic Winds and the Red Deer Youth and Community Orchestra, runs March 5th on the mainstage at 7:30 p.m.

‘An Evening of Percussion’, on March 6th, features the RDC Percussion Ensemble performing a variety of contemporary styles on marimbas, vibraphones, xylophones, drums and world percussion instruments.

‘That’s Entertainment’ runs March 21st-22nd on the mainstage, and showcases classical, jazz, contemporary, solo, ensemble and everything in between.

The season is rounded out with ‘Giants of Jazz’ on March 27th and ‘A Touch of Class on April 2nd’.

For more events slated for the entire school year, and ticket information, visit www.blackknightin.ca.

-Weber