Dramatic Arts

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L’impro comme tremplin pour la jeunesse en immersion

Émilie Vermette 4 minute read Preview
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L’impro comme tremplin pour la jeunesse en immersion

Émilie Vermette 4 minute read Saturday, Jun. 14, 2025

Le 5 juin, dix élèves d’écoles d’immersion française ont brillé sur scène lors du tout premier “Match des étoiles” de la FLIIP, une nouvelle ligue d’improvisation scolaire qui allie humour, spontanéité et passion francophone.

Après quelques essais ponctuels dans le passé, le Conseil jeunesse provincial (CJP) a lancé cette année la première ligue officielle d’improvisation destinée aux écoles d’immersion française du Manitoba. La Fabuleuse ligue d’improvisation immersive et passionnante (FLIIP) a couronné cette première saison par un “Match des étoiles” présenté le 5 juin au Centre culturel franco-manitobain.

Mélanie Bédard, responsable de projet au CJP, explique: “Nous voulions relancer l’idée d’une ligue d’improvisation pour les écoles d’immersion. Nous avons donc envoyé un courriel pour dire que nous étions prêts à les soutenir s’ils voulaient créer des clubs d’impro au sein de leur école.”

Le projet FLIIP avait vu le jour il y a plusieurs années, mais la pandémie avait stoppé net son développement. Cette année, il a enfin pu se concrétiser, avec plusieurs activités et formations déjà en place.

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Saturday, Jun. 14, 2025

Émilie Vermette photo

Les étoiles de la FLIIP
Émilie Vermette photo Les étoiles de la FLIIP

What to Stream: ‘Mountainhead,’ Bono documentary and Elizabeth Banks and Jessica Biel play sisters

The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

What to Stream: ‘Mountainhead,’ Bono documentary and Elizabeth Banks and Jessica Biel play sisters

The Associated Press 6 minute read Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2025

NEW YORK (AP) — “Succession” creator Jesse Armstrong’s satirical drama “Mountainhead” and Elizabeth Banks and Jessica Biel playing dysfunctional siblings in the murder thriller series “The Better Sister” are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you.

Also among the streaming offerings worth your time, as selected by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists: a new concert special featuring Aretha Franklin, U2's frontman reveals all in the documentary “Bono: Stories of Surrender” and multiplayer gamers get Elden Ring: Nightreign, sending teams of three warriors to battle the flamboyant monsters of a haunted land.

New movies to stream from May 26-June 1

— Armstrong makes his feature debut with the satirical drama “Mountainhead,” streaming on HBO Max on Saturday. The film stars Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman, Ramy Youssef and Cory Michael Smith as tech titans on a boys’ trip whose billionaire shenanigans are interrupted by an international crisis that may have been inflamed by their platforms. The movie was shot earlier this year, in March.

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Wednesday, Jun. 4, 2025

This combination of images shows promotional art for "Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie", from left, " Dept. Q", and "The Better Sister." (Investigation Discovery/Netflix/Prime Video via AP)
This combination of images shows promotional art for
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A show inside a cathedral featured raw chickens in diapers. The German president was in the audience

Stefanie Dazio, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview
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A show inside a cathedral featured raw chickens in diapers. The German president was in the audience

Stefanie Dazio, The Associated Press 3 minute read Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

BERLIN (AP) — A performance inside a Catholic cathedral in Germany earlier this month that featured raw, plucked chickens wrapped in diapers onstage — and the country's president and the local archbishop in the audience — has prompted the church and municipal leaders to apologize that the show “hurt religious feelings."

The show, "Westphalia Side Story,” was part of a May 15 celebration to mark the 1,250th anniversary of Westphalia, a region in northwestern Germany.

Video footage shows one woman and two shirtless men singing “Fleisch ist Fleisch” (“Meat is meat”) — apparently spoofing Austrian band Opus' 1984 pop song “Live is Life” — with scythes and dancing with the dead chickens on a stage in front of Paderborn Cathedral's altar.

Performance company bodytalk said in a statement Friday that the show featured work-in-progress excerpts from “Westphalia Side Story" — which references the American musical "West Side Story."

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Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

This grab taken from video shows performers dancing as they hold raw, plucked chickens wrapped in diapers, inside Paderborn's cathedral, Germany, Friday May 16, 2025. (RTL via AP)
This grab taken from video shows performers dancing as they hold raw, plucked chickens wrapped in diapers, inside Paderborn's cathedral, Germany, Friday May 16, 2025. (RTL via AP)

Carrie’s voice is back. So is the show’s soul as ‘And Just Like That…’ grows up

Thomas Adamson, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Carrie’s voice is back. So is the show’s soul as ‘And Just Like That…’ grows up

Thomas Adamson, The Associated Press 6 minute read Sunday, Sep. 21, 2025

PARIS (AP) — “She’s messy. It can be messy. But it’s real.”

So says Cynthia Nixon — not just of Miranda Hobbes, the character she’s embodied for almost three decades, but of the show itself. “And Just Like That...,” HBO’s “Sex and the City” revival, has come into its own in Season 3: less preoccupied with pleasing everyone, and more interested in telling the truth.

Truth, in this case, looks like complexity. Women in their 50s with evolving identities. Not frozen in time, but changing, reckoning, reliving. Queerness that’s joyful but not polished. Grief without melodrama. A pirate shirt with a bleach hole that somehow becomes a talisman of power.

At its glittering European premiere this week, Nixon and co-star Sarah Jessica Parker, flanked by Kristin Davis and Sarita Choudhury, spoke candidly with The Associated Press about how the show has evolved into something deeper, rawer and more reflective of who they are now.

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Sunday, Sep. 21, 2025

Nicole Ari Parker, from left, Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarita Choudhury and Cynthia Nixon pose together at the premiere of "And Just Like That..." Season 3 at the Crane Club on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
Nicole Ari Parker, from left, Kristin Davis, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarita Choudhury and Cynthia Nixon pose together at the premiere of
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Explosive and techy tales set to open local theatre seasons

Ben Waldman 3 minute read Friday, May. 30, 2025

On the heels of particularly strong 2024 production years, the Winnipeg Jewish Theatre and Theatre Projects Manitoba have each announced the shows slated for their 2025-26 seasons.

Paul Reubens tells his story in ‘Pee-wee as Himself.’ Here’s how it came together after his death

Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Paul Reubens tells his story in ‘Pee-wee as Himself.’ Here’s how it came together after his death

Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press 6 minute read Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

Paul Reubens did not tell his director that he was dying.

On July 31, 2023, the news of Reubens' death came as a shock to documentary filmmaker Matt Wolf, who had spent a year trying to convince him to make the ambitious two-part documentary “Pee-wee as Himself,” now streaming on HBO Max, and over 40 hours interviewing him on camera.

But in 2023, the project was in danger of falling apart: The two had been at an impasse for a while over the issue of creative control and they’d finally found a way forward. He had one last interview scheduled, set for the first week of August. Then the texts started coming in. Wolf sat there shaking.

They’d spoken about everything — Reubens' childhood, his complicated relationship with fame, his ambitions, his commitment to his alter-ego Pee-wee Herman, his sexuality, his arrest — except the fact that he’d been battling cancer for the past six years. But after the initial shock, a renewed purpose set in.

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Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025

This image released by HBO Max shows Paul Reubens in a scene from the documentary "Pee-Wee As Himself." (HBO Max via AP)
This image released by HBO Max shows Paul Reubens in a scene from the documentary

The Cannes Film Festival is over. Here’s some key things that happened

The Associated Press 8 minute read Preview

The Cannes Film Festival is over. Here’s some key things that happened

The Associated Press 8 minute read Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025

CANNES, France (AP) — This year's Cannes Film Festival is over, ending in dramatic fashion with a power outage ahead of the closing ceremony that bestowed the Palme d'Or trophy to Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi's film, “It Was Just an Accident.”

This year's festival included a strong slate as Cannes has become increasingly important to the Oscars’ best picture hopefuls. As the festival drew to close Saturday, it was clear that filmmakers are reckoning with geopolitical doom, climate change and other calamities that closely resemble current events.

This year's festival was an attention-grabbing affair since its start — from new rules for its red carpets, nerves about potential U.S. tariffs and the return of Tom Cruise.

Even in a normal year, Cannes is a lot to keep up with. Here's a handy guide of what's happened so far, what's left and what it may mean.

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Thursday, Sep. 18, 2025

Rihanna, left, and A$AP Rocky pose for photographers upon departure from the premiere of the film 'Highest 2 Lowest' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 19, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
Rihanna, left, and A$AP Rocky pose for photographers upon departure from the premiere of the film 'Highest 2 Lowest' at the 78th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, Monday, May 19, 2025. (Photo by Lewis Joly/Invision/AP)
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‘A political football’: Canadian says his citizenship TV pitch was misrepresented

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Preview
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‘A political football’: Canadian says his citizenship TV pitch was misrepresented

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press 6 minute read Friday, Dec. 5, 2025

WASHINGTON - When Rob Worsoff recently dusted off an old idea he had for a reality television show about people on the path to United States citizenship, he had no idea of what he was letting himself in for.

The Canadian-born freelance television producer said he brought his pitch to build a show around aspiring immigrants learning about the culture of their new country to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under both the Obama and Biden administrations. He even brought a version of it to the CBC.

Worsoff then put his idea forward to the new Trump administration — but this time the 49-year-old got caught up in a global media and political backlash.

"The spirit of my pitch was completely misrepresented and it's been used as a political football," the Los Angeles-based producer said.

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Friday, Dec. 5, 2025

Rob Worsoff, a Canadian-born producer based in Los Angeles, seen in this handout photo, pitched a reality TV show to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Donald Meyerson **MANDATORY CREDIT**
Rob Worsoff, a Canadian-born producer based in Los Angeles, seen in this handout photo, pitched a reality TV show to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Donald Meyerson **MANDATORY CREDIT**
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Former mechanic gives a face to Rainbow Stage's Beast

Randall King 5 minute read Preview
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Former mechanic gives a face to Rainbow Stage's Beast

Randall King 5 minute read Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025

It’s not exactly a tale as old as time.

About 20 years ago, Christian Hadley was an auto mechanic dissatisfied with the grind of machining auto parts and deflated at the prospect of repairing another tire.

He needed a change, and not the kind involving 5W30 motor oil.

His career pivot was, quite literally, dramatic. At the age of 25, he went to the University of Winnipeg to study theatre arts. He emerged with skills in both set-building and makeup design. And he brings those skills to fruition in the Rainbow Stage production of Beauty and the Beast.

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Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025

ANDREW RYAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS
Chris Hadley works on the prosthetic Beast head at his home studio in Winnipeg.
ANDREW RYAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Chris Hadley works on the prosthetic Beast head at his home studio in Winnipeg.
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Le Fil des francophiles – Monique LaCoste

Camille Harper-Séguy de La Liberté pour le Winnipeg Free Press 4 minute read Preview
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Le Fil des francophiles – Monique LaCoste

Camille Harper-Séguy de La Liberté pour le Winnipeg Free Press 4 minute read Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013

LA voix de la Franco-Manitobaine Monique LaCoste est l’une des plus connues au Manitoba, et même en Amérique du Nord, sans pour autant que les gens le réalisent. Depuis 25 ans en effet, en plus de son emploi, Monique LaCoste travaille comme voix-off sur de nombreux projets corporatifs et communautaires.

“Ma voix est dans des musées partout au Canada, en anglais et en français,” racontet- elle. “C’est aussi moi qui ai enregistré la narration des films au Planétarium du Manitoba, en anglais. De plus, j’enregistre beaucoup de systèmes téléphoniques pour des entreprises et des organismes partout en Amérique du Nord, notamment en français aux États-Unis pour leurs clients québécois.”

Quand elle était annonceure à Radio-Canada, de 1988 à 2006, Monique LaCoste a commencé à recevoir et accepter des contrats d’enregistrement de voix-off pour des textes en français.

“Je prends plaisir à bien lire des textes dès la première prise,” confie Monique LaCoste. “J’ai toujours eu de la facilité avec la lecture à haute voix et j’ai toujours adoré ça. J’aime le défi d’explorer divers registres de voix selon le produit. On ne lit pas une annonce commerciale comme un documentaire ou comme un texte pour enfants.

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Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013

Monique LaCoste
Monique LaCoste
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Une Franco-Manitobaine à l’affiche

Camille Séguy de La Liberté pour le Winnipeg Free Press 4 minute read Preview
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Une Franco-Manitobaine à l’affiche

Camille Séguy de La Liberté pour le Winnipeg Free Press 4 minute read Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012

LA Franco-Manitobaine de 12 ans, Kally Berard, se souviendra longtemps de l’été de ses 11 ans. En juillet 2011, elle a en effet joué dans un film américain de Vince Marcello, McKenna Shoots for the Stars, qui était tourné à Winnipeg. Le film est sorti en DVD le 3 juillet dernier aux États-Unis et il a été diffusé sur la chaîne de télévision NBC le 14 juillet.

C’était ma première expérience de cinéma,» raconte Kally Berard. «Je n’avais même jamais fait de théâtre.

Ils cherchaient une gymnaste pour jouer dans le film, et comme il était entièrement tourné à Winnipeg, ils ont demandé à mon club de gymnastique et j’ai répondu. J’étais nerveuse avant la première journée de tournage, mais après je me suis vite habituée et c’était excitant! » La jeune Franco-Manitobaine avait pourtant de quoi être sous pression.

Pour son premier tournage, elle a incarné l’un des rôles principaux, celui de Sierra, l’une des trois amies de l’héroïne de l’histoire, McKenna Brooks.

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Saturday, Aug. 4, 2012

CAMILLE SÉGUY DE LA LIBERTÉ
Kally Berard
CAMILLE SÉGUY DE LA LIBERTÉ Kally Berard
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Silence, ça tourne!

William Sineux de La Liberté pour le Winnipeg Free Press 4 minute read Preview
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Silence, ça tourne!

William Sineux de La Liberté pour le Winnipeg Free Press 4 minute read Saturday, May. 12, 2012

C’EST l’heure des grandes premières pour Gabriel Tougas.

À 21 ans, il signe la réalisation de son premier long métrage, Héliosols, qui n’est autre que le premier long métrage de fiction francophone réalisé au sein d’une communauté minoritaire de l’Ouest.

“Avec mon premier film je veux raconter une histoire fictive en français sans parler du français,” explique le scénariste et réalisateur du film, Gabriel Tougas. “Tous les films ou documentaires qui ont été faits jusqu’à présent par des Franco-Manitobains traitent de la francophonie, de notre communauté, de notre langue, culture ou histoire. Je pense que plutôt que d’expliquer qui sont les Franco-Manitobains, il est temps de prendre la francophonie comme naturelle, d’en être fier et de faire un film qui inscrit une histoire fictive dans notre contexte francophone mais sans en parler,” déclare-t-il.

Dès l’âge de 18 ans, Tougas a fait ses premiers pas dans la réalisation audio-visuelle, en signant de nombreuses réalisations avec Les Productions Rivard, notamment des documentaires. Mais pour la première fois, il va réaliser son rêve de mettre sur pied une fiction.

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Saturday, May. 12, 2012

WILLIAM SINEUX DE LA LIBERTÉ
Gabriel réalise son premier long métrage professionnel, Héliosols.
WILLIAM SINEUX DE LA LIBERTÉ Gabriel réalise son premier long métrage professionnel, Héliosols.