Dave Campion

The Stratford Festival’s production of the FINALLY THERE’S SUN Cabaret allows us to reflect on the challenges, triumphs, hope, and self discovery that accompanied the past year and a half. No two people had the exact same experience, but this cabaret manages to capture the commonalities between our experiences while also shedding light on the unique experiences that others may have had. This cabaret truly takes the audience on a journey through the good, bad, and the unimaginable while always maintaining a sense of beauty. The final numbers of the cabaret will lift your spirits and send you off into the world with a spring in your step and hope in your heart.

As I took my seat in the lobby of Stratford's Festival Theatre on Monday night, the eager patron next to me leaned in and proclaimed a?oeThere is quite the buzz in here!a?? She was absolutely right. We had both arrived early enough to grab seats for WHY WE TELL THE STORY: A CELEBRATION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE--A much anticipated cabaret event conceived by Festival actor Marcus Nance who can currently be seen in LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and BILLY ELLIOT. After initially selling out months before the Festival season even began, the high demand of this show led to more chairs being added and eventually to 'standing room only' tickets being sold so that as many people as possible could witness what indeed turned out to be a magical night of words and song.

Last week, the Stratford Summer Music Festival teamed with Canadian (and Stratford resident) singer-songwriter, Ron Sexsmith to present SONGS FROM DEER LIFE-an in-concert production of a musical that Sexsmith has written based on his Fairy Tale, DEER LIFE. Along with a group of talented musicians from the INNERchamber ensemble, a fantastic children's choir, and performers Barbara Fulton and Mike Nadajewski, Sexsmith put on a wonderful show filled with intriguing new music. This was the first time this music was heard by the public, but it certainly won't be the last!

The 60th Season of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival opened last night with Much Ado About Nothing, but there was definitely something special happening in this gorgeous town. BWW was on hand for all the festivities, and we are thrilled to bring our readers photos from opening night.