Why Now?
Game shows aren’t just TV anymore — they’re a global obsession. Millennials and Gen Z have grown up with the high drama of reality TV, from cutthroat alliances in The Traitors to the glittering chaos of RuPaul’s Drag Race. We don’t just watch these spectacles; we analyze, meme, and live vicariously through them. ARE YOU THE ONE? takes that obsession and throws it into the real world, inviting audiences to step up, compete, and discover just how far they’re willing to go to win.
This isn’t passive entertainment. This is an interactive, theatrical game show where every person in the room has a chance to rise above the masses. Will you scheme? Will you dazzle? Will you betray? Or will you freeze under the pressure and let the moment slip away?
Audiences today are primed for this. We all know the tropes, the archetypes, the strategies. We’ve seen the underdog rise, the villain scheme, the golden child stumble. ARE YOU THE ONE? taps into that cultural fluency, turning it into a high-stakes, high-energy live experience where anyone—yes, even you—could be The One.
How It All Began
Starlight and Maddie of xLq aren’t just theatre-makers; they’re reality competition superfans. Our friendship was built on shared obsessions— marathon sessions of The Mole, dissecting every round of Dance 100, and screaming at the screen during Drag Race eliminations. We’ve always loved the heightened emotions, the impossible challenges, and the intoxicating blend of strategy and spectacle.
The first spark of ARE YOU THE ONE? ignited in the summer of 2018. We were on vacation in Montreal when Maddie turned to Starlight and asked, “What if we did a show where the whole audience had to play games against one audience member?” That single question set off years of experimentation. We built and tested games, refined the rules, and watched each version of the show morph into something entirely new.
Then, in 2022, we cracked the code. The missing ingredient? Live, sung pop music. We realized our original pop songs turned us into powerful hosts, guiding players through each challenge with the slick, electric energy of a televised spectacle. The moment we added music, everything clicked— the adrenaline spiked, the audience engagement exploded, and suddenly, everyone in the room wanted to be a star.
Why Calgary?
Simple: Calgary is fire. There’s an undeniable energy here, a hunger for experiences that break the mold and demand full participation. Calgary audiences don’t just watch—they throw themselves into the moment, making the show bigger, wilder, and more unpredictable with every choice they make.
Right now, Calgary is one of Canada’s most dynamic artistic hubs, buzzing with young, fearless audiences ready to play. We know that The One is out there in this city, waiting to take the spotlight.
So, are you ready to step up? Are you ready to fight for the win? Are you The One?
ARE YOU THE ONE? | xLq World Premiere Presented by Downstage
March 19-23 | Motel Theatre at Arts Commons
