A new theatre company  gives up and coming actors  more chances to “Experience” theatre without leaving Lethbridge. Their first play “I Hear Abel Singin’ in the Fields,” penned by local playwright Jess Serrat, runs at the casa community room  April 21 at 2:30 p.m.  and at 7:30  p.m., April 22, 24  and 25.

Jesse Thibert, who played Hamlet with The Lethbridge Shakespeare Performance Society’s  production of Shakespeare’s renown tragedy Hamlet  a couple of years ago and who directed Taming of the Shrew last summer, brings his new theatre company Experience  Theatre to life with Jess Syratt’s original  play “ I Hear Abel Singin’ in the fields.”

 “I wanted to have more opportunities for actors especially those  graduating from the University of Lethbridge.,” Said Thibert on founding Experience Theatre company.

“Lethbridge is a growing city. We have a great theatre community of students and  professional actors, so I felt  they should have more opportunities to perform  here without having to move to another city,” Thibert said.

Experience Theatre has been rehearsing for their first production since January. They will be staging two more this year.

“We  hope to double that next year,” Thibert said.

He has wanted to do Syratt’s play for a couple of years.

“It’s about two  brothers. One wants to stay on the family farm and the other wants to move to the city,” said Thibert, who  plays the brother who wants to stay on the farm. 

 The play features Thibert as James, Logan Hockley as his brother Noah and  Aiden Boon as  Eden.

“ James is a rough and tumble guy who wants to stay on the farm,” Thibert  said of his character.

It is an eclectic week for live music and plenty of laughter on the table 

Wannabe: A Spice Girls Tribute plays a sold out show at the Yates Theatre on Tuesday, April 23. If you want to laugh, don't miss Hamilton  musician and funnyman B.A. Johnston, who returns to the Owl Acoustic lounge , April 23. Foster Dollis and the Foolish Hearts are also on the bill.

 if you like your country music, the Bellamy brothers play the Yates Theatre, Wednesday, April 24. That show is also sold out.

It]s the end of the month. which means it’s poetry open mic at The Owl Acoustic lounge.

 The Wednesday, April 24   Poetry open mic will be special. It is a  fundraiser for founder Teri Petz who needs to return to Hungary to visit long time friend Elizabeth who was like a mother to her. There will be poetry and performances by Gabe Thaine and Jolene Draper and the Inquisitive Few

Good Times has a full week of laughter, beginning Wednesday, April 24 with Pro-Amateur night,. Theatre Outré returns to Good Times on Thursday with Card Chaos. Tickets are $14.95. The show begins at 7 pm.

Andrew Crone performs Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m.. Tickets are $19.95.

 The Slice has a comedy show on Saturday, April 27. This is Fine Features host  Leah Scheitel and a pasell of Calgary and local comedians .The show begins at 8:30. Admission is $10.

It’s a slightly slower week this week, but still plenty of excellent shows especially if you like punk rock and blues music.

 But first, get ready to laugh with Theatre Outré and  ImPromptu, who are hosting drop in improv at Good Times  on April 16 .  They also bring back Gommorrah backstage: Canadian Theatre start up   at 7 p.m.

 As usual, there are plenty of open mics.

 Local Celtic rock band Clover Overboard returns to the Slice to host the open mic on Wednesday, April 17.

 Rory Gardiner brings the ha ha to Good Times on Friday at 8 p.m., Friday April 19.. And Good Times has a special 4-20 comedy show, Saturday, April 20. Tickets are $19.95.

 Gabe Thaine hosts the weekly Jam For hunger at Theoretically Brewing on Thursday and the Old man River Ramblers host Honkers Pub’s Friday night open mic.

 If you have the blues, Australian born, Chicago based blues musician Michael Charles  returns to the Slice on Thursday to blow the roof off the room with a marathon session of blues music beginning at 8:30 p.m.

 Jenn and Paul Kype will also be providing a dose of the blues and much more during their Saturday, April 20 show at Honkers Pub.