Lauren Gienow

From June 5th until July 24th, the touring production of the hit Broadway Musical WICKED will be at Mirvish’s Princess of Wales Theatre. For over 20 years now, the songs, comedy, message, and heart of this musical have been captivating audiences with 'The Untold Story of the Witches of Oz.' Broadway World had the opportunity to chat with leads Austen Danielle Bohmer and Lauren Samuels about what it is like joining this juggernaut of a show, adjusting to life on tour, getting to be in WICKED at the same time that the much anticipated movie comes out, and what this show, these characters, and their powerful friendship means to them. 

The final performance of Opening Week of the Stratford Festival’s 72nd Season is one familiar to all audiences. ROMEO AND JULIET opened at the Festival Theatre last night and provided a strong conclusion to a very successful opening week. Director Sam White – who directed last season’s excellent WEDDING BAND – draws on the strengths of her artists and gives us a relatable and moving rendition of this well known tragedy.

What a fitting choice to have the Stratford Festival production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES be the one to herald the arrival of Pride Month! Last night, the Thom Allison - Directed production brought heart, humour, and pride to the Avon Theatre stage.

The emotions evoked by this play are complex ones. HEDDA GABLER is raw and disturbing and funny and devastating. It is the story of a complicated woman trapped in a world that does not suit her. It explores the psyche of Hedda in a way that leads to more questions than answers. This piece will likely lead some theatregoers to engage in deep discussions while it will leave others speechless.

An exciting production of William Shakespeare’s CYMBELINE opened last night at the Tom Patterson Theatre. This rarely played Tragicomedy Romance offers an intriguing and fantastical story and Director Esther Jun and company take full advantage of all the twists, turns and laughs within the text.

When it was announced last fall that the Stratford Festival would be mounting a production of SOMETHING ROTTEN with Director/Choreographer Donna Feore at the helm, it immediately made perfect sense. A show set in Elizabethan times that sends up Shakespeare and Musicals alike, with the Bard himself as a character – is instantly made funnier and more meta when it takes place on the Festival Theatre stage. This stellar cast fires on all cylinders in a show that simultaneously celebrates and pokes fun at the performances audiences have come to know and love on this very stage.

The Stratford Festival’s 72nd season opened last night with a delightful production of William Shakespeare’s TWELFTH NIGHT. Last performed on the Festival Theatre stage in 2017, it was high time that this comedy of mistaken identity, foolish pranks, and the pursuit of love be brought back for Stratford audiences. This production also marks the Stratford Festival Directorial Debut for beloved performer Seana McKenna.

Recently, Broadway World had the opportunity to chat with Devin Alexander, an ensemble member in Drayton Entertainment’s PETER PAN: THE PANTO about his specific career path, doing a show over the holidays, and his first ever experience doing a Panto!

This season, the Stratford Festival is certainly not shying away from material that addresses pandemics – fictional or historical. Director Sam White’s production of Alice Childress’ WEDDING BAND takes place during WWI when many were falling ill and dying from the influenza virus. It is the story of interracial couple Julia Augustine (Antonette Rudder) and Herman (Cyrus Lane) who are forced to contend with influenza when Herman falls ill, and who have already been contending with another pandemic – that of racism and white supremacy that is arguable even more rampant. This beautiful and heartbreaking play allows us to witness how Julia as a Black Woman, and Julia and Herman as a couple reckon with both external and internal forces that challenge their faith in their relationship and lead them to come to terms with what “dignity” means to them.

Later in the 23/24 season, audiences of the Canadian Opera Company will have the opportunity to experience both Opera, and a Canadian story like they have never experienced it before. HAUI and Sean Mayes' APORTIA CHRYPTYCH: A BLACK OPERA FOR PORTIA WHITE will have its world premiere next June. Tickets are now on sale.

The excitement in the audience on Thursday night was palpable for the World Premiere of FRANKENSTEIN REVIVED – An adaptation written and directed by Morris Panych, with music by David Coulter, based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Word on the street was that this was unlike anything audiences had seen before – and it more than lived up to the hype.

A visually stunning and unabashedly queer adaptation of William Shakespeare’s RICHARD II is currently on stage at the Stratford Festival’s Tom Patterson Theatre and it allows for a fascinating exploration into the character’s hopes, fears, and sense of identity. Adapted by Brad Fraser and conceived and directed by Jillian Keiley, this production is set in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s and features disco, drugs, and bathhouses as the backdrop for the tragedy that begets young King Richard II as he attempts to maintain his crown.

If you heard riotous laughter emanating from the Festival Theatre in Stratford on Friday evening, you may already know that MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING has officially opened at the Stratford Festival. The Shakespearean production directed by Chris Abraham, with additional text by Erin Shields, and starring Maev Beaty and Graham Abbey, boasts hilarious comedy from beginning to end. The cast fed off the energy of the audience on Friday night in such a way that this opening night felt particularly wild and special.

The world premiere of Nick Green’s play CASEY AND DIANA had its opening night at the Stratford Festival’s Studio Theatre on Thursday. This production – directed by Andrew Kushnir – is incredibly powerful. Festival veteran Sean Arbuckle is devastating and captivating in what is quite possibly one of the best performances to ever grace this stage, and he is fully supported by an outstanding cast around him.

The Stratford Festival’s much anticipated production of Jonathan Larson's RENT opens tonight at the Festival Theatre. Andrea Macasaet - straight off a star turn originating the role of Anne Boleyn in SIX on Broadway, is making her Stratford Festival debut as Mimi. A few weeks ago, Broadway World had the opportunity to chat with Macasaet about stepping into this role and this show, growing up feeling unrepresented in musical theatre, why the messages in RENT are as poignant as ever, and so much more!

It’s not uncommon to find a King onstage at the Stratford Festival. In fact, Lear and Richard II are making appearances this very season. Other iterations of King Arthur have even walked the boards from time to time. But this is almost certainly the first time a King has trotted across the stage on an imaginary horse whilst his trusted sidekick makes horse hoof sounds with coconut shells. It’s about time! MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT opened last night at the Stratford Festival’s Avon Theatre. To put it simply, it’s silly and it’s a good time – And sometimes, that’s exactly what we’re looking for.

You could feel the excitement stir in the audience from the moment the Stratford Festival’s Opening Night production of KING LEAR began on Tuesday evening. Orchestrations by Sean Mayes immediately set the tone as the audience visibly leaned forward in anticipation at the booming sound of timpani drums. Many an audience member remained leaning forward all night. Director, Kimberley Rampersad’s production - starring Paul Gross in the titular role - moved swiftly with excitement and intention towards its tragic end, keeping a firm hold on the audience the entire way.

Opening Night of the 2023 season of the Stratford Festival is almost upon us, and for the first time in nine years, the Festival is staging a production of KING LEAR. A few weeks ago, BroadwayWorld had the opportunity to chat with the production’s director, Kimberley Rampersad about her vision for this production, what it means to be doing this show now, the complexity of the piece, the stellar company she is working with, and why Lear is a favourite of many a Shakespeare fan.

After a fully cancelled 2020 season and an out-door-under-a-tent 2021 season, the main stages at the Stratford Festival have finally seen some action this year. Over at the Festival Theatre, the Donna Feore choreographed and directed production of CHICAGO is a huge hit! Two major reasons for this are the phenomenal performances by the two leads. BWW had the opportunity to chat with Roxie and Velma themselves - Chelsea Preston and Jennifer Rider-Shaw, to find out what it has been like to finally do the show they had been waiting two years to mount.