Daybreak Alberta
with Russell Bowers

On June 2, CBC Television will be recording more of the great comedy talent in Alberta with two shows that night with two different line-ups. The 9:30pm taping features Metis comic Ryan McMahon, headlining his own comedy special, bringing along his signature character Clarence Two Toes. It promises to be a fast-paced, and honest snapshot of life in Indian country and beyond. The early show at 7:00pm, is called The New West and stars Improv wunderkind, Rebecca Northan. She'll be the headliner introducing a lineup of sparkling line-up of stand-ups. Rebecca will also be bringing her Blind Date alter-ego, Mimi, to the show for an evening with a certain Mayor of Calgary.

You've probably heard that saying, "Break a mirror: 7 years bad luck." A new play asks, what if you devote your life to the mirror? That could typify life for some people in the 21st century and so, the show FUGLY follows the life of Perdita, a woman who's got life sorted out - until she inexplicably misplaces her mind. The Janes are a performing collective who are presenting this story at the Motel Theatre space at Calgary's EPCOR Centre from May 30-June 2. The Janes say the show is a bit like Tim Burton being brought in to direct an episode of Saturday Night Live, so off-beat sketches can be expected led by actor Helen Knight as Perdita and directed Lindsey Zess-Funk, both of whom are also taking part in an event called No Make-Up May.

When you think "Shakespeare," for some, eyes will glaze over at the the thought of implied importance for something that's supposed to be good for us, but is also so hard to understand. However, playwrights John Mortimer and Edward Atienza thought that the Shakespearian era was worth visiting from a different perspective. The result was the show When That I Was, chronicling the life of actor Jack Rice. In his declining years, Rice remembers his years as a young man in William Shakespeare's acting company. In 2008, Christopher Hunt portrayed Jack Rice in an award-winning production remembered for his multi-layed performance of multiple characters. Now, the play is back for a series of performances at Vertigo Theatre until June 3.

"The dreams that you dare to dream really do come true" is a line from the timeless classic, Over the Rainbow. On June 3, CBC will be searching in Calgary for the performer to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new production of The Wizard of Oz, which opens in Toronto this December. Over the Rainbow is a new competition series coming to CBC Television and the winner will star as Dorothy. Details on registering for the audition can be found here. However, what does it take to be Dorothy? Actor Ksenia Thurgood knows something about that as she played the iconic role for Alberta Theatre Projects in 2011.

The Alberta Readers Choice Award is back for 2012 as once again five books will compete for your vote to be your choice as the best Alberta book of the past year. The voting began on May 1 and continues until May 31. One of the five books will win a $10,000 prize to be announced on June 9.

Here is a set of interviews with each writer and Russell Bowers.

Wayne Arthurson

Fall From Grace is a mystery novel featuring amateur detective, Leo Desroches. The book is described as a "fast-paced, enthralling story" of a man who had everything, lost it all, and tries to get it back. Leo is a flawed character dealing with issues of his own.

Lynn Coady

Lynn's book The Antagonist was nominated for the Giller Prize in 2011 and the accolades just keep coming in. The book follows the life of Rank, a goon, it seems, in many parts of his life.  However, a tragedy alters Rank's life and he questions if he's a product of his choices or his conditioning.

Judy Schultz

Freddy's War is the first fiction book for Judy following ten other books on the subjects of travel and food. Her novel follows a young WWII soldier who becomes a prisoner of war and on returning to his home life, five years later, he struggles to catch up to a world leaving him behind. 

Tim Bowling

Tim is an award-winning author of 3 novels and 10 poetry collections. In the Suicide's Library is a compelling story of his search for the life and legacy of Weldon Kees, an American poet, painter and film-maker who disappeared in 1955. widely believed to have jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. So, following a chance find in a used book, it leads Bowling through the U.S. literature of the 1940's and 50's.

Dawn Dumont

Dawn is an award-winning playwright and comedian who has taken her experiences growing up on First Nations Reserve and brought them to the page. Nobody Cries at Bingo is a series of short memoirs painting a vibrant and funny portrait of the experiences that connect so many of us, regardless of ethnic or social background.