Groundling Theatre Company Returns To The Stage With LEAR; Tickets on Sale Now

Graham Abbey, Groundling Theatre Company's founder and artistic director, today announced the theatre company's next production is William Shakespeare's LEAR, starring Seana McKenna in the title role. Directed by Abbey, the play will be mounted at the Harbourfront Centre Theatre in Toronto from January 9-28, 2018, as Groundling celebrates its 5th anniversary. For schedule information and tickets visit Harbourfront Centre Box Office, email tickets@harbourfrontcentre.com or call (416) 973-4000.

Award-winning actress Seana McKenna will be surrounded by an all-star cast of Stratford, Shaw and television stalwarts: Colin Mochrie (Whose Line Is It Anyway?) as The Fool, Shaw veteran Jim Mezon as Earl of Gloucester, Kevin Hanchard (Orphan Black) as Earl of Kent, Stratford and Shaw leading ladies Deborah Hay as Goneril and Diana Donnelly as Regan, Mercedes Morris (Mariane in Stratford's Tartuffe) as Cordelia, Alex Poch-Golden (The Calling) as Duke of Cornwall, Antoine Yared (Stratford's Romeo) as Edgar, Alex McCooeye (Letterkenny, Soulpepper Theatre) as Edmund, and newcomer Augusto Bitter as Oswald. This production also includes musical composition by George Meanwell, live musical accompaniment by George Meanwell and Graham Hargrove, set and costume designed by Peter Hartwell, and lighting designed by Kimberly Purtell.

"I am honoured that this esteemed group of actors have agreed to join us as we mount one of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies," said Graham Abbey, founder and artistic director of Groundling Theatre Company. "Working with this talented group of actors we promise to bring Toronto audiences a fresh and powerful version of a masterpiece that has affected so many of us over the years."

Student matinees will take place January 17 and 24, 2018 at 2pm. These tickets cost $29 (free for teachers) and can be purchased by contacting groupsales@harbourfrontcentre.com or (416) 973-4000 x 4856.

For more information, visit GroundlingTheatre.com.

About Groundling Theatre Company
The Groundling Theatre Company was launched in 2012 by Dora Award-winner Graham Abbey (Nineteen seasons with Stratford Shakespeare Festival; The Border on CBC TV) to produce imaginative, original and intimate productions of Shakespeare's plays in order to educate and inspire a new generation of audiences and artists. Groundling's inaugural production of The Winter's Tale won the Dora Award for Outstanding Production of the year in Toronto. Last season Groundling's critically acclaimed productions of The Winter's Tale and Measure for Measure were presented at the historic Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto.