Jeff Irving News

The Shaw Festival proudly announces casting for Artistic Director Tim Carroll's first season. The Shaw's 2017 ensemble is a mix of new faces and Festival favourites - each actor ready to entertain and excite audiences in this season's 11 productions.

From it's ominous sounding opening organ chords, Stephen Sondheim makes it clear that you are in for a macabre evening of theatre as his masterpiece SWEENEY TODD begins. What sounds almost too gruesome to be appropriate for a musical has over the years had audiences and critics alike arguing whether this is a musical comedy or opera. Since it's 1979 premiere it has been staged world wide by some of the most notable Opera companies in the world, from English National Opera to the Paris Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago. An updated staging is happening this summer at the Glimmerglass Festival in Cooperstown, New York with noted Wagnerian bass Greer Grimsley playing the title character.

Jackie Maxwell concludes her 14-year tenure as the Shaw Festival's Artistic Director with Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street – A Musical Thriller, by legendary Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim. Previews of her production of this compelling musical thriller, with its unusual take on the notion of “eat or be eaten”, began its limited run July 17 – with additional matinees already added for October 18 and 19.

The Shaw Festival's 55th season begins Saturday at 2 p.m. with the first preview of Thornton Wilder's beloved play Our Town. Molly Smith, artistic director of Washington, D.C's Tony award-winning Arena Stage, returns to The Shaw to breathe vivid, new life into this classic piece of theatre - a talent she displayed so brilliantly in her production of My Fair Lady in 2011.

Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell and the Shaw Festival announce principal casting and the creative teams for the 2016 playbill. The 2016 season features new and core ensemble members and beloved returning artists celebrating Ms. Maxwell's final season and 14-year tenure at The Shaw.

The Blyth Festival continues its 41st Season with the world premiere of a new musical, Fury, written by Peter Smith with music by Samuel Sholdice. Directed by Micheline Chevrier, Fury plays at Blyth Memorial Hall from tonight, July 29 to September 12.

The Blyth Festival continues its 41st Season with the world premiere of a new musical, Fury, written by Peter Smith with music by Samuel Sholdice. Directed by Micheline Chevrier, Fury plays at Blyth Memorial Hall from July 29 to September 12.

White Christmas is one of those "feel good" shows. There's a guaranteed happy ending, great songs, fantastic dance, and everyone leaves the theatre humming and smiling. What a great gift at Christmas time, on stage at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse!

Summer in Toronto offers an exciting range of theatrical productions, festivals and events to keep people from all avenues of life entertained. Outside of the city we have the world renowned Stratford and Shaw Festivals, and within Toronto we are blessed with a wide range of summer festivals showcasing theatre, music, art and food. This is in addition to all the wonderful productions we are accustomed to year round.

Ten years ago, Studio 180 burst onto the Toronto theatre scene with the Canadian premiere of THE LARAMIE PROJECT, a groundbreaking play in the form of a theatrical docudrama that perfectly defined the kind of theatre the founders of Studio 180 wanted to create: socially relevant, thought-provoking, and committed to community engagement. That was the very beginning of the company that is now considered one of the city's most vibrant and dynamic.

Theatre 20's much anticipated first production opened last night at The Panasonic Theatre in Toronto. Bloodless: The Trial of Burke and Hare, is something unique and rare: a new Canadian musical. Written by Joseph Aragon, the show was a hit at The Winnipeg Fringe where Theatre 20 Artistic Director Adam Brazier picked it up and decided to use it for Theatre 20's inaugural show. The result is a dark and twisted musical that showcases the incredibly talented triple threats our country is so rightly proud of. BWW is thrilled to bring readers photos from the production.

Theatre 20, Canada's only artist-led and story-driven musical theatre company, is pleased to announce the cast of its inaugural production - Bloodless: The Trial of Burke and Hare.

Theatre 20, Canada's only artist-led and story-driven musical theatre company, is pleased to announce the cast of its inaugural production - Bloodless: The Trial of Burke and Hare.

Theatre 20, Canada's only artist-led and story-driven musical theatre company, is pleased to announce the cast of its inaugural production - Bloodless: The Trial and Burke and Hare.

Welcome home Miss Doolittle! It's so loverly to finally greet you. An innovative and fresh reinterpretation of My Fair Lady brings Eliza Doolittle's London vibrantly to life and reinvigorates the memorable melodies and lyrics of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. Molly Smith, Artistic Director of Washington D.C.'s Arena Stage, returns to The Shaw to direct a delight for the senses. MY FAIR LADY will officially open at the Shaw Festival on May 28, 2011.

Studio 180 Theatre (acclaimed last season for STUFF HAPPENS and THE OVERWHELMING) and Acting Up Stage Company (fresh from its sold-out production of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA) present the award-winning PARADE, from December 30, 2010 to January 22, 2011 at The Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs.

Studio 180 Theatre OVERWHELMING) and Acting Up Stage Company (fresh from its sold-out production of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA) present the award-winning PARADE, through January 22, 2011 at The Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs.

Studio 180 Theatre (acclaimed last season for STUFF HAPPENS and THE OVERWHELMING) and Acting Up Stage Company (fresh from its sold-out production of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA) present the award-winning PARADE, from December 30, 2010 to January 22, 2011 at The Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs.

Studio 180 Theatre (acclaimed last season for STUFF HAPPENS and THE OVERWHELMING) and Acting Up Stage Company (fresh from its sold-out production of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA) present the award-winning PARADE, from December 30, 2010 to January 22, 2011 at The Berkeley Street Theatre Upstairs.