Canadian Stage Company News

The revived, renascent, and reformed Toronto theatre-based band, THE POLKA DOGS, have returned after a 25-year hiatus, with a new album THE BEE officially released on June 1, and an Ontario tour. Starting as a theatre pit band in 1989, the band wowed the world in the 90s with an explosive, raucous, joyous sound of trombone, tuba, banjo, drums and that sultry, fantastic voice of theatre staple John Millard. The band returns with the same original sound, and features all five of its founding members including, Tom Walsh on trombone, Tiina Kiik on accordion, Colin Couch on tuba,John Millard on banjo and vocals, and Ambrose Pottie on drums.

Civic Theatres Toronto today announced a national public naming competition to replace their existing moniker.  

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women playwrights writing in the English language. Chosen from over 150 nominated plays, the Finalists are:

Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Paul Kaye, Sarah Niles and Danusia Samal have been cast in B by Guillermo Calderon translated by William Gregory and directed by Royal Court Associate Director (International) Sam Pritchard.

Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Paul Kaye, Sarah Niles and Danusia Samal have been cast in B by Guillermo Calderon translated by William Gregory and directed by Royal Court Associate Director (International) Sam Pritchard.

Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Paul Kaye, Sarah Niles and Danusia Samal have been cast in B by Guillermo Calderon translated by William Gregory and directed by Royal Court Associate Director (International) Sam Pritchard.

Neeraja Ramjee presents BROKEN IMAGES, a psychological thriller by acclaimed Indian contemporary playwright Girish Karnad, August 10-20, 2017 at Red Sandcastle Theatre. This is a one woman show starring Neeraja Ramjee, and directed by award-winning actor, director, and dramaturge Clinton Walker.

Neeraja Ramjee presents BROKEN IMAGES, a psychological thriller by acclaimed Indian contemporary playwright Girish Karnad, August 10-20, 2017 at Red Sandcastle Theatre. This is a one woman show starring Neeraja Ramjee, and directed by award-winning actor, director, and dramaturge Clinton Walker.

???????The Segal Centre is proud to present the hit comedy What's in a Name? by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patelliere adapted from the French by Michael Mackenzie. This wild comedy about a scandalous baby name is presented as part of the official program of Montreal's 375th anniversary celebrations, July 9 through July 30.

Tennessee Shakespeare Company, in partnership with the University of Memphis' Department of Theatre & Dance, presents William Shakespeare's madcap, joyous The Comedy of Errors on the U of M's Theatre Mainstage from June 8-18.

Damascus, Syria: 2014. Four friends gather to watch their favorite soap opera on TV - but are all the unspoken passions on the screen? Is anything really what it seems to be? Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents a politically charged and emotionally urgent new play by acclaimed Chilean playwright Guillermo Calderon. Bart DeLorenzo directs the West Coast premiere of Kiss for an April 29 opening at the Odyssey Theatre.

On Friday, March 31, 2017, The League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW), a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting visibility and increasing opportunities for women in the professional theatre, is pleased to recognize the talents of six outstanding women: Carol Hall, Linda Cho, Lilieana Blain-Cruz, Liesl Tommy, Jess Chayes and Emily Simoness.

Damascus, Syria: 2014. Four friends gather to watch their favorite soap opera on TV - but are all the unspoken passions on the screen? Is anything really what it seems to be? Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents a politically charged and emotionally urgent new play by acclaimed Chilean playwright Guillermo Calderon. Bart DeLorenzo directs the West Coast premiere of Kiss for an April 29 opening at the Odyssey Theatre.

Canadian history comes to life on the stage of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts this spring when Harry Somers' Louis Riel returns to the Canadian Opera Company. A new production of this uniquely Canadian contribution to the opera world is being conceived by one of Canadian theatre's most acclaimed and inventive directors, Peter Hinton, with the COC's celebrated music director, Johannes Debus, conducting. This production of Louis Riel is proudly presented by the COC and its co-producer, National Arts Centre (NAC), in anticipation of Canada's sesquicentennial and the 50th anniversary of the opera's premiere. Louis Riel is sung in English, French, Michif and Cree with English, French, Michif and Cree SURTITLESTM, and runs for seven performances by the COC on April 20, 23, 26, 29, May 2, 5, 13, 2017 at Toronto's Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. It will premiere in Ottawa by the NAC on June 15 and 17, 2017.

Soundstreams is thrilled to present Odditorium from March 2nd-5th, a selection of music theatre works by acclaimed Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer, under the creative direction of award-winning film and theatre director Chris Abraham. 

Soundstreams is thrilled to present Odditorium from March 2nd-5th, a selection of music theatre works by acclaimed Canadian composer R. Murray Schafer, under the creative direction of award-winning film and theatre director Chris Abraham. 

Vivienne Franzmann returns to the Royal Court Theatre with BODIES, directed by Jude Christian premiering in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs, Wednesday 05 July 2017 - Saturday 12 August 2017.

On Friday, March 31, 2017, The League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW), a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting visibility and increasing opportunities for women in the professional theatre, is pleased to recognize the talents of six outstanding women: Carol Hall, Linda Cho, Lilieana Blain-Cruz, Liesl Tommy, Jess Chayes and Emily Simoness.

Bakersfield Mist by Stephen Sachs, the Fountain's smash hit comedy that went on to see productions around the world including London's West End, will return to the Fountain for a limited 4-week engagement beginning Nov. 19. Sachs will again direct, with Jenny O'Hara (Transparent, The Mindy Project) and Nick Ullett (As the WorldTurns) reprising the roles they created.

Every choice you make has the potential for a different, life-altering outcome.