Founded in 1977 as a social action theatre,[1] it was taken over by Artistic Co-Directors Jonathan Christenson and Joey Tremblay in 1996.
[2] Christenson and Tremblay drastically changed the company's mandate to focus on "creating original Canadian work that explores new possibilities for the theatrical art form and the process through which it is created, to exposing the work locally, nationally and internationally, and to challenging the artists and audiences who participate in the creation of that work.” Since 2002, Catalyst Theatre has been developing new work under the creative leadership of Artistic Director Jonathan Christenson in collaboration with Resident Designer Bretta Gerecke.
In 1996, Catalyst moved from the Garneau Community League to a derelict warehouse in Old Strathcona where they completed a renovation that included re-roofing, installing public washrooms, offices, lobby, studio and office space, dressing rooms, a green room and a performance space.
The space was leased from the building’s owner, the Edmonton Jazz Society, which operates the Yardbird Suite, a performance venue at the north end of the same building.
In 2000, Catalyst raised the roof and removed the pillars, creating a 2400 SF black box theatre with 20-foot-high ceilings.
During this time, Catalyst also rented the theatre to the Edmonton International Fringe Festival each year as a Fringe Venue as well as renting to a variety of Edmonton-based theatre, music, and dance companies throughout the season.
In 2015, Catalyst became a resident company at the Citadel Theatre in downtown Edmonton and raised $1.2 million to renovate the Citadel’s Maclab Theatre and lobby and to build a suite of offices where they continue to be based.
Between 1997 and the present, Catalyst has been presented at such festivals as the London International Festival of Theatre (LIFT), Luminato (Toronto), The Edinburgh Fringe, Carrefour International de Théâtre (Québec), PuSh Festival (Vancouver), High Performance Rodeo (Calgary), and Magnetic North (Ottawa).
Music Production and Sound Design by Matthew Skopyk.
Music Production and Sound Design by Matthew Skopyk.
Music Production and Sound Design by Matthew Skopyk.
Set Design by Jonathan Christenson with James Robert Boudreau.
This original rock musical follows the story of the Donnelly family, as they escaped their homeland of Ireland to the rough country-side of Ontario.
In 2012, Catalyst produced Whisper in association with Studio Theatre at the University of Alberta, which was performed by the school's BFA Acting class of 2012.
[15][16][17] Book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Christenson, from Victor Hugo's Notre Dame de Paris.
[19] Book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Christenson, from the works of Edgar Allan Poe.
Nevermore had an 11-week Off-Broadway run at New World Stages from January 14, 2015 to March 29, 2015.
On June 16, 2015, The Original Off-Broadway Cast Recording of Nevermore – The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe soundtrack was released by Broadway Records.
Created by Jonathan Christenson, Annie Dugan, Bretta Gerecke, and John Ullyatt.
Music composed by Paul Morgan Donald, Jonathan Christenson, and Joey Tremblay.
Written and directed by Joey Tremblay, Jonathan Christenson, and company.