ALCHEMY Festival of Student Work
March 25 - April 5, 2025
The Alchemy Festival of Student Work presents a wide range of offerings in dance, drama, music and interdisciplinary performance. Festival programming includes everything from work by senior students, representing the culmination of years of personal growth, to ‘hot-off-the-press’ productions from junior students in the early years of their creative journeys.
Alchemy is ‘an act of transmutation, a seemingly magical process for turning everyday materials into things of great worth.’ How better to capture the transformations that occur when talented students dive deep into advanced creation and performance?
Wednesday, April 2 - 6 p.m.
Thursday, April 3 - 6 p.m.
Friday, April 4 - 6:30 p.m.
The Matthews Theatre • FREE ADMISSION, Registration Recommended
But What is Natural
Director/Lead-Deviser: Chris Mosimann and Nikhat Saheb
But What is Natural is a devised murder mystery, set in a fantasy world where everyone has something to hide. Featuring music, dance, and drama, this show navigates unexpected connections and shards of broken trust...
Audience Advisory: strong language, topics of death
Friday, April 4 - 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 5 - 7:30 p.m.
University Theatre • $14/$11
Dance@Night
Directed by Marie France Forcier
Dance@Night presents the choreographic and directorial work of senior level Dance Majors in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) at UCalgary.
Tuesday, March 25 - 6 p.m.
Wednesday, March 26 - 6:30 p.m.
University Theatre • $14/$11
Bears
By Matthew MacKenzie
Directed by Geordie Cowan
Bears, by Métis writer Matt MacKenzie, is a poetic and suspensful journey through the boreal forests of Alberta and British Columbia. The play follows Floyd, an oil rig worker on the run after being named a suspect in a workplace incident. As he treks through the wilderness, he encounters curious animals, the raw power of nature, and the eerie remnants of civilization—each embodied by a dynamic chorus of actors. Blending humour with deep reflection, Bears dissects the complex bond between humans and the natural world, revealing how that connection can mean the difference between survival and oblivion.
Audience Advisory: Strong Language, Reference of dead animals
Saturday, March 29 - 6:30 p.m.
Monday, March 31 - 6:30 p.m.
University Theatre • $14/$11
This Is A Play
By Daniel MacIvor
Directed by Jessica Buchanan
This Is A Play by Daniel MacIvor offers an hilarious and insightful glimpse into the inner workings of an actor’s mind as three performers navigate the challenges of a new production. Through sharp humour and self-aware commentary, the play delves into their insecurities, frustrations with fellow cast members, the subtext lurking beneath their lines, and even their inexplicable feelings about lettuce. Blurring the boundary between performance and reality, This Is A Play breaks the fourth wall with a comedic edge, inviting audiences to peer behind the curtain and witness the often chaotic, deeply human experience of theatre-making.
This is a Play was first produced by Da Da Kamera and The Fringe of Toronto at the Bathurst Street Theatre in Toronto, in 1992.
This is a Play is staged by arrangement with Pam Winter, GGA, www.ggagency.ca.
Wednesday, April 2 - 7 p.m.
Thursday, April 3 - 7 p.m.
Matthews Theatre • FREE ADMISSION, Registration Recommended
War of the Worlds
Directed by Anton de Groot
“Across an immense ethereal gulf, minds that to our minds are as ours are to the beasts in the jungle, intellects vast, cool and unsympathetic, regarded this earth with envious eyes and slowly and surely drew their plans against us.” Orson Welles and Mercury Theatre’s INFAMOUS 1938 radio broadcast is reimagined, remixed, and brought to you by the SCPA’s Drama 317 Introduction to Sound Design class. Experience a return to Grover’s Mill and hear the Martians’ invasion of Earth in this audio-only, limited engagement performance. Of the broadcast itself, Welles said: “Radio is new, and we are learning about the effect it has on people. We learned a terrible lesson.” Join us and consider: what lessons have we yet to learn from this historical event that may be needed in today’s technology-driven world
Audience Advisory: loud and possibly disorienting noise, aliens
Thursday, March 27 - 6 p.m.
Friday, March 28 - 6 p.m.
Saturday, March 29 - 7:30 p.m.
Matthews Theatre • FREE ADMISSION, Registration Recommended
Girl On Parade
Written by Maxim Vinogradov
Directed by Rita Rebetskaia
A tyrannical and witty submarine captain, Cappy, berates her crew through their descent into darkness. However, her crew is a jar of kimchi, a potted rose, a shower towel, a novelty doll, and a stuffed lamb. While vital details of the mission remain rumors that Cappy hoards to herself, they all know they descend into darkness and are unlikely to return. Amidst revelry and whispers of mutiny, the crew discovers a secret at these depths—as well as the Leviathan who wants it kept. Cappy must choose whether to save her only friends or claim what she sought in this abyss.
Audience Advisory: mature language and themes, drug use, child death.
Tuesday, March 25 - 7:30p.m.
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, Rozsa Centre • FREE ADMISSION
UCalgary Guitar Ensemble
Directed by Ralph Maier
The UCalgary Guitar Ensemble, under the direction of Ralph Maier, delivers music that spans from classical to contemporary genres. With a repertoire covering centuries of music, this dynamic groups of student musicians showcase their technical skill and emotional depth through captivating solos and powerful group collaborations.
Wednesday, March 26 - 8 p.m.
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, Rozsa Centre • $14/$11
UCalgary World Music Ensemble
Directed by Rod Squance
The UCalgary World Music Ensemble assembles a rich mosaic of rhythms, melodies, and instruments from around the world. The concert offers a musical journey that transcends borders - some in very traditional forms, others in experimental combinations.
This event will be livestreamed on the School of Creative and Performing Arts YouTube channel.
Thursday, March 27 - 7:30 p.m.
Boris Robaukine Recital Hall• FREE ADMISSION
Jazz Combos
The Chamber Music Program at the University of Calgary offers a rich and varied experience for qualified performers regardless of instrument. Graduate and undergraduate performers collaborate to perform on-campus and in the community. There are several chamber ensembles that are off-shoots of this program including percussion, guitar, brass choir, and jazz combos.
Saturday, March 29 - 7:30 p.m.
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, Rozsa Centre • $14/$11
Land's End Ensemble with Andy Lin: Celebrating Asian Voices
As part of our annual concert in University of Calgary's "Alchemy Festival", we are thrilled to have with us as our special guest artist, erhuist Andy Lin! Mr. Lin has been hailed as an award-winning violist and erhuist garnering critical acclaim in all his performances and winning numerous prizes. Together we present a program featuring works by three generations of today's Asian composers; Bright Sheng, Shih-Hui Chen, Vivian Fung, Chen Yi, Salina Fisher, and Calgary's own Roydon Tse. In addition, we continue our annual Student Composers' Program this season with the premiere ofo a new work by UofC grad student Vincent Ou Yang, written specially for Land's End Ensemble
Monday, March 31 - 7:30 p.m.
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, Rozsa Centre • FREE ADMISSION
UCalgary Brass and Percussion
Directed by Gareth Jones and Tyler Hornby
Join the UCalgary Brass & Percussion Ensemble for an evening of compelling music that showcases the talent of our dedicated musicians. This highly-skilled group of students demonstrates their expertise across a wide range of musical styles, from classical pieces to innovative contemporary works.
This event will be livestreamed on the School of Creative and Performing Arts YouTube channel.
Tuesday, April 1 - 7:30 p.m.
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, Rozsa Centre • FREE ADMISSION
UCalgary Chamber Music Ensemble
Directed by Edmond Agopian
The School of Creative and Performing Arts presents small, student chamber ensembles, performing music of varied instrumentation, that encompasses many musical styles, composers and musical periods.
Thursday, April 3 - 8 p.m.
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, Rozsa Centre • $14/$11
UCalgary Orchestra
Directed by Edmond Agopian
The University of Calgary Orchestra has been broadcast on CBC Radio’s Our Music and on its national programs In Performance and Take Five. We have appeared in the Millennium Music Foundation Concert Series and at the Third Esther Honens Calgary International Piano Competition and Festival.
Friday, April 4 - 12 p.m.
Eckhardt-Gramatté Hall, Rozsa Centre • Free
UCalgary Chamber Music Ensembles
Directed by Edmond Agopian
The Chamber Music Program at the University of Calgary offers a rich and varied experience for qualified performers regardless of instrument. Graduate and undergraduate performers collaborate to perform on-campus and in the community. There are several chamber ensembles that are off-shoots of this program including percussion, guitar, and brass choir.