Our History

History of Dirty Laundry

Dirty Laundry was founded by Elinor Holt and Karen Johnson-Diamond in 1999. They were inspired by Edmonton’s long(er)-running improvised soap opera, Die-Nasty. Dirty Laundry has appeared in the 10-Minute Play Festival as a part of the High Performance Rodeo, and has done many corporate shows and workshops.

Over the years, Eli and Karen produced the show and in the early aughts, Nicole Zylstra co-produced for a season.

In Season 9, Aaron Coates Joined the team and he and Karen co-produced until 2016.

Monday Night Lights, Season 17, was Carly McKee’s first season as Co-Artistic Producer of Dirty Laundry and Aaron Coates’ last season as Co-Artistic Producer.

Sunset Studios, Season 18, was the first season with Carly McKee as Artistic Director and Josh Bertwistle as Artistic Producer.

Season 20 saw the return of Karen Johnson-Diamond as Artistic Director, assisted by co-producers Lara Schmitz and Chris Enright.

• The Spotwells: A dry-cleaning empire
  Season 1, Studio Cafe

• Holy TV: A religious TV network
  Season 2, Buckingham’s Pub

• Lust In Space: A cruise ship—in space
  Season 3, Buckingham’s Pub

• Unscrubbed: The lives and loves of a hospital
  Season 4, Buckingham’s Pub

• The Dirty ’30s: The Tunnels of Moose Jaw
  Season 5, Buckingham’s > Ceili’s > Brew Brothers

• The WASH: The World Association of Super Heroes
  Season 6, Brew Brothers

• Soapy Trails: Alberta in 1905
  Season 7, Brew Brothers

• Reconstructed: Underground condominium construction company
  Season 8, Green Fools Theatre

• The Spin: 1960s advertising agency
  Season 9, Lunchbox Theatre

• Clean Across Canada: An Amazing Race-style reality show
  Season 10, Lunchbox Theatre

• The Grapes of Wrathburn: A winery run by the wealthy Wrathburn family
  Season 11, Lunchbox Theatre

• Rome: Ancient Rome
  Season 12, Lunchbox Theatre

• Hotel St. Savon: A 1945 American hotel
  Season 13, Lunchbox Theatre

• Legal Briefs: Law Offices of Downy Downy Maytag and Ward
  Season 14, Lunchbox Theatre

• Clean Cut: Warring hair salons in 1985
  Season 15, Lunchbox Theatre

• Degenerate Hospital: Soap opera drama in a hospital
  Season 16, Lunchbox Theatre

• Monday Night Lights: The world of High School football in Kevin, Texas
  Season 17, Lunchbox Theatre

• Sunset Studios: 1942, Hollywood Film Studio
  Season 18, Lunchbox Theatre

• Oil Money: Calgary, 1979
  Season 19, Lunchbox Theatre

• Dirty Laundry Goes to Camp!
  Season 20, Lunchbox Theatre

• Dirty Laundry Goes to Space!
  Season 21, online

History of Dirty Laundry:
The Next Generation

In 2014, Dirty Laundry began a new program for young performers called Dirty Laundry: The Next Generation (TNG). This included mentorship for performers ages 15–18 who were interested in improv and theatre. The cast of TNG performed in their own Sunday-night series and were joined by cast members of The First Generation in the show.

In 2016, The Next Generation became a training program that offered a workshop before each episode and the TNG cast members played their own episode without any of the old The First Generation cast members. The success and outreach of the program was huge, playing to sold-out houses for nearly every show.

In 2017, the program opened its auditions up to performers from the ages of 13–18.

• Space Season: In space
  Season 1, Lunchbox Theatre

• Three Wring Circus: The trials and tribulations of a family-run circus
  Season 2, Lunchbox Theatre

• Game of Soaps: Two families, a nation at war for the throne
  Season 3, Lunchbox Theatre

• Stranger Soaps: A small American town in 1983 and something mysterious is happening
  Season 4, Lunchbox Theatre

• Generic Hospital: Generic description
  Season 5, Lunchbox Theatre

• Dirty Laundry Goes to Camp!
  Season 6, Lunchbox Theatre

• Dirty Laundry Goes to Space!
  Season 7, online