Thursday February 2, 2012
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Daybreak Again: February 4/5, 2012
Jonathan Frakes' acting career started in the 1970's dressing up as Captain America for Marvel Comics at fan conventions. However, his breakthrough role came in 1987 when he signed on as one of the original cast members for Star Trek: The Next Generation and for seven years on television, and then in feature films, he starred as Commander William Ryker. However, in addition to acting on the show, he began an apprenticeship into directing which led to Frakes taking the helm on some of the show's episodes and later, the feature films First Contact and Insurrection. His post-Star Trek career has been a busy one as a director, however, he is in demand for appearances at Star Trek Conventions as well. In April, Frakes along with his fellow original cast members will re-unite in public at the Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo for the first time since ST:TNG ended in 1994. He spoke with Daybreak's Russell Bowers about the role Star Trek played in creating the artistic life he leads, his small furniture business in Maine, and the importance of books in his life.
It's descibed as "being set in a city not unlike our's." Drama - Pilot Episode is the latest work from Karen Hines, a reknown playwright, actor and director. This new show is a dark and funny piece about where we live and how we relate to our surroundings. The play debuts at the PlayRITES Festival of New Canadian Plays which runs until March 4 in Calgary. Russell spoke with Vicki Stroich, the festival's Artistic Associate, as well as Karen Hines about her creation.
Lawrence Fehler is a young comic from Edmonton who's about to perform on a major night of comedy. The Alberta Comedy Showcase is on at the Laugh Shop in Calgary on February 9. Lawrence dropped by Daybreak to talk with Russell about his career to date.
If you've been "Waiting for Godot" in Edmonton, it has been an awfully long wait. The sparse Samual Beckett play about the state of existence is now playing in the capital for the first time in four decades. It runs until February 11 at the TransAlta Arts Barn. Michael Peng designed the set for this production and in his dual role of producer, he welcomes the challenge of attracting an audience to this confounding and legendary stage play. Michael is the co-founder of Wishbone Theatre, the company behind the play and he spoke with Russell about the challenges of mounting this show, as well as personal health problems he overcame just to carry on in life.
You may have had this video shared on Facebook or Twitter recently. Dr. Mike Evans has one of the hottest viral videos on YouTube right now, but it's not a music video and it doesn't involve weird stunts or laughing babies. Believe it or not, it's a health video called 23 ½ Hours and it's had nearly 2 million views, making it the number one educational video on all of YouTube. Dr. Mike Evans (or Dr. YouTube, as Russell insisted on calling him) told us more.
The Daybreak DJ returns! What songs cheers you up in the morning? A long lost favourite? Something new? Email Russell to make your request and you could win your very own, "coveted" Daybreak mug.
Calgary actor, Ksenia Thurgood, kicks off the DJ requests for 2012 with a Canadian classic.
