Kingston Theatre Alliance

06/09/2026

"Presiding above the girls as they navigate the twists and turns of their tumultuous lives, Rose Leary commands the narrative from beyond the grave. Shrouded by a black veil and concealed by darkness, the late Rose observes in silence until the past is called upon by her daughters. If there is a note to be read—or a diary or letter—the lighting work of David L. Smith flushes her in stark white as she recites the words aloud, creating the phantom image of the woman she had been when she wrote them."

Domino's latest show, "Very Heaven," opened this past weekend and Ray, our new staff writer, was lucky enough to see it! Check out the full review by clicking the link below.

https://kingstontheatre.ca/domino-theatres-very-heaven-is-a-cozy-robins-nest/

06/03/2026

'Going from Crown of Antler’s long, guitar riffing songs to MVLL CRIMES’ shorter, distorted sound is at first a bit jarring, but the audience gets the hang of it quickly enough. It doesn’t take long for heads to bang to songs like “VRGUING WITH STRVNGERS” and “Don’t Be A Cop,” all of which lean heavily into the sardonic and satirical.

In turn, the crowd seems just as prepared to be sharply funny. At one point between songs, Clair asks, “Who’s your favourite member of the band so far, Kingston?” Without missing a beat, someone in the crowd yells back, “The tree!”'

Spring Reverb returned to Kingston last week and Darby was one of many in the crowds. Check out her experience by clicking the link below!

https://kingstontheatre.ca/good-vibes-from-acoustic-to-amplified-spring-reverb-2026/

This past winter came early, hit hard, and—quite frankly—overstayed its welcome. It clung to Kingston’s limestone buildings with both hands before the sun managed to thaw the city. As the tulips gradually emerged and newborn goslings paddled around the inner harbor, Princess Street restaurants...

05/25/2026

"Like the formulaic Hallmark movies that are beloved around the holiday season, Sugar Road follows a structure that will be as familiar to most audiences as the back of their own hands: two sentimental protagonists, two comedic side characters, enough miscommunication to push the plot forward, and an eleventh hour revelation to tie it all together. I’ve never seen Sugar Road before, but at the same time, I’ve definitely seen Sugar Road show before."

Thousand Islands Playhouse has brought 'Sugar Road' to their Springer Theatre and Darby made it out on Opening Night. Click the link below to read her review!

https://kingstontheatre.ca/sugar-road-travels-a-familiar-path/

This year at Thousand Islands Playhouse, the Springer Theatre’s first show of the season is Sugar Road, written by Kristen Da Silva and directed by Sheila McCarthy. Like the formulaic Hallmark movies that are beloved around the holiday season, Sugar Road follows a structure that will be as familia...

05/23/2026

'Considering the alley set and the near constant involvement of actors while on stage, there is hardly any opportunity for the cast to disappear into the background. They know this, and make use of it wonderfully, milking the comedy of small gestures passed between each other for every laugh they can get while whoever is in the metaphorical spotlight focuses on delivering the dialogue that drums on delightfully. “Here we rejoice,” says Head, “for here we read Joyce.”'

Theatre Kingston presents 'Finnegans Wake,' bringing it back to Kingston after 25 years! Check out Darby's review of the show by clicking the link below!

https://kingstontheatre.ca/finn-again-wakes-a-dream-play-returns-after-25-years/

How do you review a dream? When you blearily blink back into wakefulness, is it better to critically engage with your slumbering mind through a psychoanalytical Freudian lens, or that of an English major attempting to establish a story structure? Perhaps a bit of both, with a healthy amount of neith...

05/04/2026

"Though it is brimming with thoughtful commentary, Women of the Fur Trade is at its most genuine when it is pretending not to be. The script bounces between clever and thoughtful dialogue to movie quotes and lines from pop culture, effortlessly intertwining the struggles of the past with the problems of today. The play’s message comes through clearest when the show leans furthest into the comedy—and it sure does lean into the comedy."

Thousand Islands Playhouse has opened their 2026 season and Darby's caught the first show! Give her review a read by clicking the link below!

https://kingstontheatre.ca/women-of-the-fur-trade-is-a-must-see-satire-with-bite/

With Women of the Fur Trade, Thousand Islands Playhouse opens its 2026 season with a fine-tuned balance of biting satire and roaring comedy. Directed by Keith Barker alongside Apprentice Director Stephanie Fung and written by Frances Koncan, the play focuses on three women who sit trapped together i...

04/27/2026

"The genderbending of numerous characters across the play—most importantly, of the Antipholous twins into the Phyllis twins—is the guiding point for the entire production. This reframes the play and brings an entirely different spirit to the text itself."

Check out Michaela's review of 'A Comedy of Errors,' the latest show by Domino Theatre. Under the direction of Emily A. Pickett, whose PhD research focuses on genderbent all-women Shakespeare plays, this show reimagines the Bard's classic comedy. To read the full review, click the link below!

https://kingstontheatre.ca/both-renewed-and-recognizable-dominos-a-comedy-of-errors/

Stepping into the Domino Theatre on April 23rd, 2026, one had to be prepared for two theatrical occasions: Opening Night of A Comedy of Errors, and the 462nd birthday of William Shakespeare. As an English Literature student with a passion for live theatre, I am always eager to see how accessible a n...

04/24/2026

The deadline to submit your application to become a KTA Theatre Critic is this Sunday!

Do you want to spend your summer writing about theatre in and around Kingston? Now is your chance!

The Kingston Theatre Alliance is currently looking to expand our team of critics for the summer!

Find full application details on our website or through the Linktree in our bio! Applications are due by 11:59 PM ET on April 26th.

*Position contingent on Canada Summer Jobs funding.

04/20/2026

“Our goal is to get as many people out as possible to do it, and to keep our overhead as low as possible—we've managed to do pretty well for Joe's Mill over the years. We're a pretty simple organization, because we just want to do the best we can and hope that everybody's happy once we're done.”

After HomeGrown Live announced their lineup for this year's May 2nd Festival, Michaela had the opportunity to chat with Festival Coordinator Chris Morris about the musicians, venues, and volunteers that make the event possible. To read the full article, click the link below!

https://kingstontheatre.ca/adding-more-life-to-the-kingston-music-scene-with-homegrown-live-2026/

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.  One day, over 140 acts, all within venues spread across Downtown Kingston: HomeGrown Live Music Festival has been managing this chaos since 2008, and this year’s event, occurring on May 2nd, is no exception. I had the chance to sit down with...

04/17/2026

Calling all arts professionals! The 2026 Kick & Push Festival is now hiring enthusiastic arts leaders to help bring innovative live performance to life in Kingston this summer!

Our team is currently looking to fill the following roles: Associate Producer, Festival Production Assistants, and Marketing Coordinators.

Find full application details at the K&P website: https://www.thekickandpush.com/join-our-team

Applications are due by 11:59 PM ET on May 8th.

04/11/2026

"Carrie, based upon the Stephen King novel of the same name, opened on Broadway in 1988 to negative reviews. It closed after only 16 previews and five performances. Watching QMT’s production of Carrie, I struggle to wrap my head around its Broadway flop. Perhaps the 80s just weren’t ready for Carrie, but QMT most certainly was."

QMT's 'Carrie' officially opens tonight! To check out the rest of Darby's review, click the link below.

https://kingstontheatre.ca/a-triumph-of-terror/

Content Warning: ‘Carrie’ deals with child abuse, violence, murder, and bullying. Although this review does not discuss these topics in depth, they are general themes in the performance.