Check out the latest news from the Die-Nasty world.

No idea what the heck it is we're talking about? Then you'll want to visit this page.

Get the low-down on the people who bring you your weekly dose of soap.

Find out what happened at Die-Nasty this week, last week and the week before that..

This has been going on for six years - check out some highlights...

Places of interest to the discerning D-N fan.

Want to talk to us? Here's how...

Die-Nasty? Was ist Die-Nasty?

Glad you asked. Die-Nasty is a live, improvised weekly soap opera. Each Monday our cast of saucy characters take to the stage to act out scenes of love, lust, intrigue, sex, death and betrayal. They are guided by a director - who sets the scenes and provides spontaneous stage directions (ie: "Toby breaks into song," or "Sugar enters the room in a disturbing manner,") - and are supported by live musical accompaniment and a professonal technician.

How much of this is planned out?

This is an improv show. It's created on-the-fly. The director may have an idea of where things are going to start, but the actors have no clue what they're going to do or say until they're up on the stage. Actually, sometimes the actors have no clue what they're doing or saying while they're up on stage. The intricate Die-Nasty plot is a result of the interactions of these skilled improvisors and a talented director. As such, it often makes no sense. What the hell, it's damn funny.

So how does it happen?

Alright, if you were to hop like a bunny down to the New Varscona Theatre on a Monday night, this is what you would see...

It starts out with the Die-Nasty Theme Music, performed live by Paul Morgan Donald. As the audience hoots and hollers, the announcer introduces each character in turn. As the characters are introduced, they briefly take the stage to perform their "Hot Thirty": a quick bit off the top of the head that serves to introduce the character to new audience members and is often used to introduce the character's motivation for the evening.

We then move into the performance proper. The director provides the framework for the night by making a call for each scene. This will generally dictate who's in the scene, where it takes place, and the initial action (ie: "We begin in the offices of the Daily Moon, where MJ Page and Sugar Graham are embroiled in a passionate disagreement regarding the coffee"). From these bare bones, the cast will go on to create a scene from about two to ten minutes in length. If it becomes obvious that the actors are having some difficulty - or if the situation just seems to demand it - the director will freeze the action on stage and provide additional direction, another cast member, a sudden plot twist - anything to keep the action flowing in the best way possible. Scenes end in a blackout, giving the cast the chance to scurry off the stage like little mice while the director calls the next scene.

The evening is divided into two forty-five to fifty minute halves, with a fifteen minute intermission for the audience to stock up on munchies. The show traditionally tries to end with a good cliffhanger (occassionally forgotten by the beginning of the next show) or an uplifting moment, like a good song.

Where/when does it happen?

Every Monday night at 8 pm at the New Varscona Theatre (in the heart of the Old Strathcona area of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada).

What else do these people do?

Well, as individuals the cast and crew of "the soaps" are some of Edmonton's top-tier theatre professionals (and Edmonton is a strong theatre city). The cast are all professional actors, who perform in Die-Nasty for love and beer money. If you ever see advertising for a show involving any of the Die-Nasty cast and crew, go see it! You'll be glad you did.

As a group, the Die-Nasty crew also produce The Johnny and Poki Variety Hour, an hour and a half unscripted variety show Saturday nights at the New Varscona. A spin-off of sorts from the soaps, the show features two former soap characters as hosts - Johnny Reno from season five and Poki Schvedtar from season four. The show features everything from cooking and homemaking segments ("Davina Stewart Living") to musical performances to "Poki Talk", where the outrageous Poki Schvedtar interviews a real-to-life celebrity guest.

As well, Die-Nasty also holds annual Soap-A-Thon fundraisers. The 1995 Soap-A-Thon captured the Guiness Book world record for longest continuous play, at 52 hours. Mark Meer was the iron man of the event, the only member of the rotating cast who played all 52 hours. At the 1996 Soap-A-Thon, Mark's achievement was eclipsed by a haggard and disoriented Dana Anderson and a freakishly fresh Patti Stiles, who both put in 54 hours.

Note: Participants in the various Soap-A-Thons talk about the experience in a way not dissimilar to combat veterans discussing Viet Nam. Especially the 4-6 am Sunday morning shift (the shift which traditionally witnesses the opening of The Gates of Hell).

Random Die-Nasty fact

Jeff Page (Woodward Bernstein, Trent Miles, John-Robert Edward Kavanaugh) possesses the pink housecoat worn on Days of Our Lives by Dierdre Hall when her character (Dr Marlena Evans) was possessed by Satan. He also has a whole swack of Dr Evans' prescription notepads, actually used on the show. Actually, Jeff points out that they were never used on the show. Yeah, they were there, but Marlena NEVER writes out a prescription, so they're all fresh. Jeff has always wondered how Marlena makes a living as a doctor if she never sees any patients...