Three theater companies present the Alberta premiere of Erin Shields' BEAUTIFUL MAN

Downstage, a collaboration between Alice in Wonderland Theater and Verbal Theatre, presents The Beautiful Man, a biting satire and Alberta premiere written by Governor General's Award-winning Canadian playwright Erin Shields. The co-production runs from February 29 to March 10, 2024 at the Motel Theater in the Arts Commons.

In this collaborative piece about the portrayal of women in film and television, three friends take us on a journey into a world where women rule society as politicians, hunters, queens and cops – all while looking half-naked at Handsome Man. This comedy gleefully exposes the hidden and toxic aspects of popular culture with a sense of playful bravado, making it perfect for viewers who are obsessed with Game of Thrones but want to see women in charge instead.

“This hilarious satire perfectly depicts a world where women don't have to fight for power or defend their decency. Gender roles are being reversed as a way to create important discussions about social norms, media narratives, and how we grow together in society. It's very smart comedy and a great conversation starter,” said Claire Preuss, Artistic Director of Downstage.

“A handsome man is the rump that holds all the power cards of women. This thought-provoking play challenges acceptance and boldly explores how the media shapes our understanding of gender,” added Meg Farhall, Artistic Producer of Alice in Wonderland, which stars the production. “We are thrilled to be a part of bringing this hot theater to Calgary audiences.”

PROMOTIONS AND CREATIVE GROUP

Starring Meg Farhall, Linda Key, Kathleen Morishita, Joel David Taylor; Playwright – Erin Shields; Director – Clare Preuss; Assistant Director – Michael Rolfe; Stage manager – Naomi Esau; Costume Designer – Abby Brokenshire; Designer – Cassie Holmes; Lighting designer – Adam Kostyuk; Composer and sound designer – KP Smith; Assistant lighting designer – Natalya Cortes.

“Verb has always been attracted to scenes that deal with social problems in modern ways. Beautiful Man does this perfectly by flipping the script on gender roles, standards, and perceptions of how we “fit” into our world. We want to start a conversation with the audience that starts in the theater and continues long after the show ends,” said K.P. Smith, Artistic Director of Verb Theater.

TICKETS: On sale now click here. All tickets are $36.60. Opening night is Friday, March 1, 2024.

In addition, Downstage is celebrating 20 years of relevant, playful, conversational theater in our community, and on March 9, 2024, Downstage will host a special 20th Anniversary Party following the performance of The Handsome Man with free refreshments and a DJ. . There are three ticket tiers of limited tickets available for this anniversary celebration – get them HERE.

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