Verb Theatre

Verb Theatre We are a theatre company based in Calgary, AB. Visit verbtheatre.com for more!

We look to explore conversations and theatrical forms that will be important to our audiences tomorrow with our surprising, important, and innovative performance.

Last chance to see THE STARLING EFFECT by Lara Schmitz!There’s only one more performance and seats are filling up! Don’t...
05/09/2026

Last chance to see THE STARLING EFFECT by Lara Schmitz!

There’s only one more performance and seats are filling up! Don’t miss this rare sci-fi gem!

🎟️ tickets in bio
📸 by .edmund.live

CAST
RAVONNA - Lara Schmitz
DR. SANDRA BEETLE - Esther Purves-Smith
LARK - Caleigh Crow
AMELIA - Bronwyn Steinberg

CREATIVE TEAM
PLAYWRIGHT - Lara Schmitz
DIRECTOR - Kathryn Smith .kpsmith
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
STAGE MANAGER - Raynah Bourne .bourne
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER - Frances MacDonald
SET DESIGN - Julia Kim ._.studio
LIGHTING DESIGN - Ajay Badoni
ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGN - Anton deGroot
SOUND DESIGN & COMPOSITION - Kristin Eveleigh
COSTUME DESIGN - Jolane Houle
FIGHT & INTIMACY DIRECTOR - John M. Knight
HEAD OF PROPS - Abigail Monarrez .monarrez
PUPPET BUILDER - Ali DeRegt
PRODUCTION MANAGER - Lowen Carlson
SET BUILDER - Ivan Siemens with Art Lab Design
PUBLICIST - Aldona Barutowicz; Aldona B Creative

VERB THEATRE TEAM:
Artistic Director - Kathryn Smith
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE - Camille Pavlenko

RECKLESS DAUGHTER CREATIVE TEAM
Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
Zoë Arthur

Only THREE more performances of The Starling Effect before this show must close! Come see this world premiere sci-fi thr...
05/07/2026

Only THREE more performances of The Starling Effect before this show must close!

Come see this world premiere sci-fi thriller that people are buzzing about.
Shows May 7th, 8th, and 9th; 7:30pm

🎟️ tickets in bio

📸by .edmund.live

CAST
RAVONNA - Lara Schmitz
DR. SANDRA BEETLE - Esther Purves-Smith
LARK - Caleigh Crow
AMELIA - Bronwyn Steinberg

CREATIVE TEAM
PLAYWRIGHT - Lara Schmitz
DIRECTOR - Kathryn Smith
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
STAGE MANAGER - Raynah Bourne
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER - Frances MacDonald
SET DESIGN - Julia Kim
LIGHTING DESIGN - Ajay Badoni
ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGN - Anton deGroot
SOUND DESIGN & COMPOSITION - Kristin Eveleigh
COSTUME DESIGN - Jolane Houle
FIGHT & INTIMACY DIRECTOR - John M. Knight
HEAD OF PROPS - Abigail Monarrez
PUPPET BUILDER - Ali DeRegt
PRODUCTION MANAGER - Lowen Carlson
SET BUILDER - Ivan Siemens with Art Lab Design
PUBLICIST - Aldona Barutowicz; Aldona B Creative

VERB THEATRE TEAM:
Artistic Director - Kathryn Smith
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE - Camille Pavlenko

RECKLESS DAUGHTER CREATIVE TEAM
Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
Zoë Arthur

Here’s what people are saying about The Starling Effect after opening night weekend. 🧬 🐦 We’re back on Wednesday night, ...
05/04/2026

Here’s what people are saying about The Starling Effect after opening night weekend. 🧬 🐦

We’re back on Wednesday night, May 6th - May 9th.
Don’t miss this local world premiere before it’s gone!

🎟️ tickets in bio
📸 by .edmund.live

The Starling Effect
By Lara Schmitz

CAST
RAVONNA - Lara Schmitz
DR. SANDRA BEETLE - Esther Purves-Smith
LARK - Caleigh Crow
AMELIA - Bronwyn Steinberg

CREATIVE TEAM
PLAYWRIGHT - Lara Schmitz
DIRECTOR - Kathryn Smith .kpsmith
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
STAGE MANAGER - Raynah Bourne .bourne
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER - Frances MacDonald
SET DESIGN - Julia Kim ._.studio
LIGHTING DESIGN - Ajay Badoni
ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGN - Anton deGroot
SOUND DESIGN & COMPOSITION - Kristin Eveleigh
COSTUME DESIGN - Jolane Houle
FIGHT & INTIMACY DIRECTOR - John M. Knight
HEAD OF PROPS - Abigail Monarrez .monarrez
PUPPET BUILDER - Ali DeRegt
PRODUCTION MANAGER - Lowen Carlson
SET BUILDER - Ivan Siemens with Art Lab Design
PUBLICIST - Aldona Barutowicz; Aldona B Creative

VERB THEATRE TEAM:
Artistic Director - Kathryn Smith
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE - Camille Pavlenko

RECKLESS DAUGHTER CREATIVE TEAM
Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
Zoë Arthur

Check out our upcoming events for this run of THE STARLING EFFECT (April 28 - May 9) ✨ All events are included in ticket...
05/01/2026

Check out our upcoming events for this run of THE STARLING EFFECT (April 28 - May 9) ✨

All events are included in ticket price and thanks to our amazing partnerships with:




🐦‍⬛✨Opening Night of THE STARLING EFFECT by Lara Schmitz✨🐦‍⬛We can’t wait to share this world premiere sci-fi thriller w...
04/30/2026

🐦‍⬛✨Opening Night of THE STARLING EFFECT by Lara Schmitz✨🐦‍⬛

We can’t wait to share this world premiere sci-fi thriller with audiences!

Tickets in Bio 🎟️ get ‘em while you can

📸 by Jarrett Edmund .edmund.live
Photo featuring Esther Purves-Smith and Lara Schmitz

Second Preview Tonight of THE STARLING EFFECT🧬We got to share one preview with an audience and can’t wait for tonight!He...
04/29/2026

Second Preview Tonight of THE STARLING EFFECT🧬

We got to share one preview with an audience and can’t wait for tonight!

Here’s what people are saying about the show:
“Captivating and mind bending. An intense show that keeps you locked in from start to finish!”

“Like a Black Mirror episode playing out in real time”

Tickets in our bio. 🎟️

And a HUGE shoutout to .edmund.live for our stunning production photos! This is just a taste.

THE STARLING EFFECT
By Lara Schmitz
Now running until May 9th

04/28/2026

THE STARLING EFFECT Trailer is Here 🧬 🐦
By Lara Schmitz
A world premiere sci-fi thriller

Tickets in bio 🎟️
April 28th - May 9th

TRAILER CREDITS
Cinematography & Editing by
Art Direction and Concept by curious crowd
Performers and Lara Schmitz
Costume Design
Set Design by ._.studio

SHOW CREDITS
CAST
RAVONNA - Lara Schmitz
DR. SANDRA BEETLE - Esther Purves-Smith
LARK - Caleigh Crow
AMELIA - Bronwyn Steinberg

CREATIVE TEAM
PLAYWRIGHT - Lara Schmitz
DIRECTOR - Kathryn Smith .kpsmith
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
STAGE MANAGER - Raynah Bourne .bourne
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER - Frances MacDonald
SET DESIGN - Julia Kim
LIGHTING DESIGN - Ajay Badoni
ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGN - Anton deGroot
SOUND DESIGN & COMPOSITION - Kristin Eveleigh
COSTUME DESIGN - Jolane Houle
FIGHT & INTIMACY DIRECTOR - John M. Knight
HEAD OF PROPS - Abigail Monarrez .monarrez
PUPPET BUILDER - Ali DeRegt
PRODUCTION MANAGER - Lowen Carlson
SET BUILDER - Ivan Siemens with Art Lab Design
PUBLICIST - Aldona Barutowicz; Aldona B Creative

VERB THEATRE TEAM:
Artistic Director - Kathryn Smith
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE - Camille Pavlenko

RECKLESS DAUGHTER CREATIVE TEAM
Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
Zoë Arthur

Do you have your tickets yet for the world-premiere of THE STARLING EFFECT? ✨ This mind-bending sci-fi thriller only pla...
04/27/2026

Do you have your tickets yet for the world-premiere of THE STARLING EFFECT? ✨

This mind-bending sci-fi thriller only plays APRIL 28 - MAY 9 @ the Studio at Vertigo Theatre

🌟DOUBLE THE THEATRE MAGIC GIVEAWAY! 🌟We’re SO EXCITED to partner with Calgary Q***r Arts Society for an EPIC giveaway!WI...
04/23/2026

🌟DOUBLE THE THEATRE MAGIC GIVEAWAY! 🌟

We’re SO EXCITED to partner with Calgary Q***r Arts Society for an EPIC giveaway!

WIN A BUNDLE:
🎬 2 TICKETS to the 28th Annual Fairy Tales Q***r Art & Film Festival Opening Night
Starwalker – Wednesday, May 13th at 6:30 PM | Contemporary Calgary

🎭 2 TICKETS to The Starling Effect – A mind-bending sci-fi thriller
April 28 - May 9 at Verb Theatre | A world premiere by Calgarian Lara Schmitz

ABOUT THE BUNDLE:

Starwalker is a powerful Canadian musical blending Indigenous storytelling with q***r joy – a Two-Spirit love letter to chosen family, identity, and belonging in Vancouver’s drag scene.

The Starling Effect is a stunning live sci-fi thriller featuring masterful q***r storytelling, consciousness experiments, and theatre magic you have to see to believe. When Dr. Sandra Beetle and Ravonna must put aside their hatred to rescue trapped souls, they uncover a maze of haunting memories – and nothing is what it seems.

HOW TO ENTER:

✅ Follow ***rarts
✅ Follow
✅ Follow
✅ Tag 2 friends you’d want to experience this theatre magic with!
✅ BONUS ENTRY: Share this post to your stories for DOUBLE your chances to win!

In the comments, tell us:
What draws you more – q***r cinema or live theatre magic? (Or are you greedy and want both? 😉)

WINNER ANNOUNCED Tuesday, April 28! ✨

Behind the Scenes of: THE STARLING EFFECT 🐦 New plays take a whole village of artists to make them happen. Here’s some s...
04/23/2026

Behind the Scenes of: THE STARLING EFFECT 🐦

New plays take a whole village of artists to make them happen. Here’s some shots of what we’ve been working on for the past few weeks!

1: director Kathryn Smith and Assistant Director Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
2: performers Lara Schmitz and Caleigh Crow
3: The full cast: Esther Purves-Smith, Bronwyn Steinberg, Caleigh Crow, Lara Schmitz, Director Kathryn Smith and Assistant Stage Manager Frances MacDonald
4: Lara Schmitz in playwright mode
5: Caleigh Crow at the piano during the filming of our trailer with Matt McKinney
6: Costume Designer Jolane Houle working on jewelry pieces
7: The makings of our Starling bird puppet Zephyr by puppet designer and builder Ali DeRegt
8: local tattoo artist Eli Shigehiro mapping out a temporary tattoo on Lara Schmitz.

We run April 28th-May 9th
🎟️ tickets in bio

CAST
RAVONNA - Lara Schmitz
DR. SANDRA BEETLE - Esther Purves-Smith
LARK - Caleigh Crow
AMELIA - Bronwyn Steinberg

CREATIVE TEAM
PLAYWRIGHT - Lara Schmitz
DIRECTOR - Kathryn Smith
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR - Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
STAGE MANAGER - Raynah Bourne .bourne
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER - Frances MacDonald
SET DESIGN - Julia Kim ._.studio
LIGHTING DESIGN - Ajay Badoni
ASSOCIATE LIGHTING DESIGN - Anton deGroot
SOUND DESIGN & COMPOSITION - Kristen Eveleigh
COSTUME DESIGN - Jolane Houle
FIGHT & INTIMACY DIRECTOR - John M. Knight
HEAD OF PROPS - Abigail Monarrez .monarrez
PUPPET BUILDER - Ali DeRegt
PRODUCTION MANAGER - Lowen Carlson
SET BUILDER - Ivan Siemens with Art Lab Design
PUBLICIST - Aldona Barutowicz; Aldona B Creative

VERB THEATRE TEAM:
Artistic Director - Kathryn Smith .kpsmith
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE - Camille Pavlenko

RECKLESS DAUGHTER CREATIVE TEAM
Madeleine Taylor-Gregg
Zoë Arthur

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Calgary, AB

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