Ari Mitchell

A Woman Is... is a deeply real one-woman cabaret that has clearly has a lot of care put into it. Kiki Moritsugu tells the story of herself, and of her mother, and how they interacted and influenced each other. Kiki presents different aspects of her life - her relationship with her mother, her experience with racism, and her relationship with motherhood, among others - all in a very raw and multi-faceted way that gives insight into not only her unique life, but the human experience as a whole. Additionally, she adds musical numbers throughout the show, and her voice is powerful, controlled, and versatile. From choreography to live piano to funny jokes, the show has a lot of parts to it while maintaining a consistent vision. I believe that anyone, but especially artists or people of colour, could relate to something in this show, and it is worth seeing!

Ari Mitchell, AYTC

This show is hilarious and clever! When they initially introduced the blind date gimmick, I was worried it might distract from the improv, but instead it provided funny little interludes in the show that felt refreshing and exciting. The improv itself, of course, was super funny and had my face hurting from laughing for an hour straight. The small cast of improvisers played off each other very well and filled the show with funny little one-liners that the audience absolutely loved. I recommend this show, whether you love improv or are brand new to it, it'll certainly be lots of fun.

Ari Mitchell, AYTC

Mathew's Big Broadway Bash was inviting, fun, friendly, and unique from start to finish. Mathew's vocals are amazing, with control and power like what you'd hear on a Broadway stage. Throughout the show is sections of audience participation, from sing-a-longs to bringing people on stage, which makes the performance personable and Mathew seem more like a friend singing for you. The show was able to stay fresh and interesting with Mathew telling stories and jokes between numbers, which kept me engaged the whole way through. This show is a lovely and friendly love letter to musical theatre sung by a great vocalist and charming performer.

In Who's Hosting, you get to spend an hour with five funny, clever, and memorable characters, and it's a great a time. The premise is very clever and original, but ultimately leaves it up to the characters to make or break the show, and they were nothing but funny. The characters all have great ideas behind them and have very witty writing, but what truly makes them all shine is the performances by the actors. They all were perfectly cast, they went so over the top and ramped up the humour of the show, leaning into the ridiculousness of the story. Even when they had no lines and were just sitting on stage, everything about their body language portrayed perfectly who the characters were. This show is funny, over the top, energetic, and just so fun.

Ari Mitchell, AYTC

Orphan Well was beautifully haunting. With only three actors and no more set or props than a few poles, this show gave an incredibly unique and dark story relevant to not just Alberta, but the whole world. The show speaks to how cults abuse people, how people, especially women, are affected by trauma, and how the Alberta oil & gas industry impacts the environment and the people living on it. The actors all played multiple characters and I was impressed by their ability to clearly switch from one character to another, at one point literally having a conversation with themselves, and it worked great. Throughout the show there was carefully timed sound cues that were perfectly in-sync with the actors every time. The performance was poetic, deep, and chilling, and I will surely remember it for a long time.

Ari Mitchell, AYTC

As someone not seasoned in the dance world, I wasn't sure what I would experience as I walked into the Swing Showcase 2025, but I walked out with my foot tapping and a smile on my face. These dancers were so full of infectious energy, I just couldn't look away. They did a great job at showing off the whimsy of swing dance, ranging from slow jazz tunes to upbeat numbers to quick tap, it was really special. They had many era-invoking costumes, quick moves, perfect synchronisation, and so much excitement that I couldn't help clapping along.

Ari Mitchell, AYTC

Whether you're new to watching improv or are a seasoned viewer, Means Streets Improv: An Hour will have you howling in your seat. The actors improvised a full story based on a movie genre, and while every show will be different, you're guaranteed a great time because of the skill of the improvisers on stage. All of them bounced off each other flawlessly with a hilarious story and great one-liners.

Ari Mitchell, AYTC

Magic Dropout is a magic show, but it's also just as much full of laugh-out-loud comedy and genuine storytelling. Rob Teszka is incredibly funny right from the start, filling the show with witty and snappy jokes. The show is built around crowd work, bringing many people on stage who became characters in the story he was telling, an honest look into how failure affects us. If you're looking for tons of laughs from a charming and engaging performer with plenty of cool magic tricks, check this show out!

Ari Mitchell, AYTC

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Connor's Gonna Tell: The Táin Bó Cúailnge retells an old Irish folk story with theatrics and live music, and it was nothing but personable and charming. Conner, the storyteller, creates a fun and inviting atmosphere, akin to a fireside story, while showing off the drama of this old tale. The whole performance felt very conversational, like a friend telling me an exciting anecdote. Beside Conner was a musician providing a beautiful live backing track with the mandolin the whole way through. They worked with only two props and both of them were beautifully made. This was engaging and friendly, I would recommend it to anyone who loves Irish folklore, or just funny and dramatic stories!