Drayton Entertainment's 2016 Season to Feature MAMMA MIA!, SISTER ACT & More

Drayton Entertainment's 2016 Season will be packed with Broadway blockbusters, rock 'n' roll revues, hilarious comedies, and a world-premiere musical celebrating the life of Canadian hero Terry Fox.

Never content to rest on his laurels, Artistic Director Alex Mustakas continues to raise the bar for the award-winning not-for-profit charitable arts organization with 19 productions spanning seven stages throughout the province of Ontario.

"People want to see shows that make them feel good, and our 2016 Season is all about music, laughter, and plenty of fun," says Mustakas.

Drayton Festival Theatre

Following its run in Cambridge, the aforementioned Mamma Mia! will launch the Season in Drayton with its joyful celebration of mothers, daughters, old friends, and new family. The mega-musical runs May 12th to May 28th.

Growing up can be delightfully entertaining, as award-winning playwright Neil Simon depicts in the charming semi-autobiographical comedy Brighton Beach Memoirs, on stage June 15th to July 2nd.

If you're going to tell a lie ... make sure it's a whopper. Or so it goes in the outrageous British farce It Runs in the Family, July 20th to August 6th. A frisky neurologist's indiscreet past catches up with him at the most inopportune time, forcing the doctor to do anything (and everything!) to save his precious reputation.

The Drayton Festival Theatre completes its 2016 Season with Smokey Joe's Café, featuring 39 iconic tunes by legendary hit-makers Leiber and Stroller: "Fools Fall In Love," "Neighborhood," "Yakety Yak," "Charlie Brown," "Hound Dog," "Love Potion #9," "Stand By Me," and more. The production runs August 18th to September 3rd.

Dunfield Theatre Cambridge

The 2016 Season starts with a major coup. Mamma Mia!, the hit musical based on the songs of Swedish super group ABBA, has entertained over 54 million fans throughout the world and is now coming to Cambridge for seven weeks, March 23rd to May 7th.

The production just finished its epic 14-year run on Broadway, and Drayton Entertainment is part of an extremely elite group of several regional theatre companies throughout North America granted the rights to produce the coveted hit musical.

Next up is a fun-filled, nostalgic musical comedy inspired by the music of Elvis Presley. All Shook Up, June 22nd to July 9th, tells the story of how one girl's dream and a surprise visit from a mysterious guitar-playing stranger help a small '50s town discover the power of love.

Legends ... of Rock 'n' Roll recalls the incredible discography that forever changed the landscape of modern music. Such influential acts as The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Elton John, Sonny & Cher, and Simon & Garfunkel are celebrated in this tribute to musical pioneers, July 20th to August 6th.

A tale as old as time and song as old as rhyme will enchant audiences of all ages when Drayton Entertainment's production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast takes centre stage, August 11th to September 4th. The lavish Broadway musical is a sweeping romantic fairy tale about a misunderstood Beast who can only be saved by the enduring power of true love.

Footloose, on stage October 12th to October 30th, is based on the beloved '80s movie and tells the feel-good story of a young rebel who inadvertently heals the heart of a small town when he encourages the local youth to defy the edict of a strict preacher and hold a dance.

The season ends with one of Broadway's most heavenly hits. Based on the popular movie starring Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act tells the hilarious story of a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she hides out in a convent after witnessing a crime. This divine celebration of sisterhood will have audiences jumping for joy November 24th to December 24th.

Huron Country Playhouse Mainstage

The 2016 Season gets off to a heavenly start with one of the hottest shows from Broadway. Based on the beloved movie starring Whoopi Goldberg, Sister Act tells the hilarious story of a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she hides out in a convent after witnessing a crime. This divine celebration of sisterhood will have audiences jumping for joy June 8th to June 25th.

From the creators of the perennially popular Legends series of tribute shows (including last Season's sold-out production of Legends ... of Rock 'n' Roll) comes Canadian Legends. Neil Aitchison will reprise his famous alter ego, Constable Archibald F. Inkster (a character immortalized in Sorry...I'm Canadian back in 2013) and take audiences on a musical journey in a brand new show that features the music of such legendary Canadian artists as Anne Murray, Paul Anka, Leonard Cohen, Gordon Lightfoot, Shania Twain, Michael Bublé, and Celine Dion. The production runs June 30th to July 16th.

A tale as old as time and song as old as rhyme will enchant audiences of all ages when Drayton Entertainment's production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast takes centre stage, July 21st to August 6th. The lavish Broadway musical is a sweeping romantic fairy tale about a misunderstood Beast who can only be saved by the enduring power of true love.

The 2016 Season ends with a major coup. Mamma Mia!, the hit musical based on the songs of Swedish super group ABBA, has entertained over 54 million fans throughout the world and is now coming to Grand Bend for four weeks, August 11th to September 3rd.

The production just finished its epic 14-year run on Broadway, and Drayton Entertainment is part of an extremely elite group of several regional theatre companies throughout North America granted the rights to produce the coveted hit musical. The production promises to entertain generations of theatregoers with its joyful celebration of mothers, daughters, old friends, and new family.

Huron Country Playhouse II

The 2016 Season starts with plenty of laughs. Unnecessary Farce is an arresting comedy of errors that chronicles the outrageous events that unfold while two bumbling cops are on a career-making stakeout. The production runs June 15th to July 2nd.

The heartwarming comedy Hilda's Yard is on stage July 14th to July 30th. This Norm Foster gem follows empty-nesters who must bridge the generation gap when their grown children return home unexpectedly.

The Season ends with an exotic trip to the Middle East for Aladdin: The Panto, a fractured fairy tale that gets some modern updates - with hilarious results. In the British panto tradition where audiences cheer the hero and boo the villain, this lively production boasts incredible musical numbers, slapstick comedy, audience participation, and of course, a dash of theatrical magic. Aladdin: The Panto will charm families August 11th to September 3rd.

Drayton Entertainment has enjoyed great success in recent years with this genre of family programming, starting with Peter Pan in 2014 and continuing with Snow White this past summer.

King's Wharf Theatre, Penetanguishene

The 2016 Season starts with an exotic trip to the Middle East for a fractured fairy tale that gets some modern updates - with hilarious results.

In the British panto tradition where audiences cheer the hero and boo the villain, Aladdin: The Panto is a lively production boasting incredible musical numbers, slapstick comedy, audience participation, and of course, a dash of theatrical magic.

Drayton Entertainment has enjoyed great success in recent years with this genre of family programming, starting with Peter Pan in 2014 and continuing with Snow White this past summer.

Aladdin: The Panto will charm audiences young and old June 1st to June 18th.

The heartwarming comedy Hilda's Yard is on stage June 22nd to July 9th. This Norm Foster gem follows empty-nesters who must bridge the generation gap when their grown children return home unexpectedly.

Next up is a major theatrical coup. Mamma Mia!, the hit musical based on the songs of Swedish super group ABBA, has entertained over 54 million fans throughout the world and is now coming to Penetanguishene for four weeks, July 14th to August 6th.

The production just finished its epic 14-year run on Broadway, and Drayton Entertainment is part of an extremely elite group of several regional theatre companies throughout North America granted the rights to produce the coveted hit musical.

The production promises to entertain generations of theatregoers with its joyful celebration of mothers, daughters, old friends, and new family.

The 2016 Season ends by proving once and for all that laughter really is the best medicine. If you're going to tell a lie ... make sure it's a whopper. Or so it goes in the outrageous British farce It Runs in the Family, August 11th to August 27th.

A frisky neurologist's indiscreet past catches up with him at the most inopportune time, forcing the doctor to do anything (and everything!) to save his precious reputation.

St. Jacobs Country Playhouse

The 2016 Season starts with plenty of laughs. Unnecessary Farce is an arresting comedy of errors that chronicles the outrageous events that unfold while two bumbling cops are on a career-making stakeout. The production runs March 9th to March 27th.

The Cole Porter musical comedy classic Anything Goes sets sail May 11th to June 4th. Two unlikely couples navigate their way to love in this toe-tapping adventure on the high seas.

During the summer Drayton Entertainment hits the links for 36 holes of non-stop laughs, courtesy of Canada's beloved playwright Norm Foster. The Men's Foursome follows four college chums as they navigate the birdies, bogeys and sand traps of life, July 13th to July 31st. Its sequel, The Ladies Foursome, chronicles a completely different story from the perspective of the fairer sex, and is on stage August 10th to August 28th.

Marathon of Hope: The Musical is a groundbreaking, world-premiere theatrical event that promises to take audiences on an inspiring and uplifting journey. This triumphant new musical examines and celebrates the tenacity of the human spirit with unflinching honesty, grit, and grace as it chronicles the hero's unprecedented cross-Canada marathon for cancer research. Terry's single dream inspired a world of hope ... one step at a time. Don't miss this landmark event in Canadian theatre, October 5th to October 30th.

The holidays will sparkle with Cinderella: The Panto, on stage November 23rd to December 24th. The enduring fairy tale gets a clever and contemporary makeover in this glittering stage production that features all the classic elements you remember - the pumpkin, glass slipper, masked ball ... plus some unexpected and surprising new twists!

St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre

The intimate, 100-seat venue will be rockin' and rollin' with Red Rock Diner, September 8th to December 24th. Five teens come of age through a timeless soundtrack which defined an entire generation ... featuring raucous hits "Great Balls of Fire," and "Jailhouse Rock," as well as tender ballads "Diana," "Crying," and more.

Ticket Information

Tickets will go on sale exclusively to Members on November 2nd, followed by Groups and Subscribers on November 16th, and the general public on December 1st just in time for the holidays.

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