Kevin Lamotte

Review: AMADEUS at Shaw Festival
by Michael Rabice - Aug 24, 2026

The Shaw Festival seems to be having a small tribute festival to Shaffer brothers as it is presenting two of their known pieces this season. The dark mystery SLEUTH by Anthony Shaffer is now playing to great acclaim at the Court House Theatre and more recently and the comic drama AMADEUS by Sir Peter Shaffer opened at the Festival Theatre. The story of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's brilliance and early demise told through the lens of his nemesis Antonio Salieri is full of intrigue and speculation, to say nothing of the genius of Mozart's own compositions.  If only this production were able to deliver  on all aspects of this haunting drama .

AMADEUS, OHIO STATE MURDERS to Open Shaw Festival's August Lineup
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 30, 2026

The Shaw Festival's 64th season will present two new productions and a workshop piece in August, including works by Peter Shaffer and Adrienne Kennedy at its Niagara-on-the-Lake theatres.

AMADEUS to Make Shaw Festival Debut With Tom Rooney and Michael Therriault
by A.A. Cristi - Jul 8, 2026

Peter Shaffer's AMADEUS, directed by artistic director Tim Carroll, will make its Shaw Festival debut at the Festival Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, starring Tom Rooney as Salieri and Michael Therriault as Mozart.

Review: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at the Stratford Festival Mustn't be Missed!
by Lauren Gienow - May 28, 2026

Opening Week at the Stratford Festival continues with an outstanding production of William Shakespeare’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM at the Tom Patterson Theatre. With a phenomenal cast and inventive design, Director Graham Abbey’s production is infused with such humour and vitality that the show itself feels like a living, breathing organism.

THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS to Make World Premiere at Shaw Festival
by A.A. Cristi - May 21, 2026

A new adaptation of THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS, directed by Fiona Sauder and based on the A.A. Milne play Toad of Toad Hall, makes its world premiere at the Shaw Festival's Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre.

A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM to Open Tom Patterson Theatre At Stratford Festival
by A.A. Cristi - May 1, 2026

The Stratford Festival's Tom Patterson Theatre opens its 2026 season with A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, directed by Graham Abbey, featuring André Sills, Sara Topham, and Michael Spencer-Davis.

Hailey Gillis to Re-Team With Brendan Healy For A DOLL'S HOUSE at ​​​​​​​Canadian Stage
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Nov 28, 2025

Canadian Stage will ring in the new year with Artistic Director Brendan Healy's bold, razor-sharp reinvention of one of theatre's most explosive classics; A Doll's House.

Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Shaw Festival
by Michael Rabice - Nov 25, 2025

Niagara on the Lake will always be known for it's quaint lakeside charm, full of shops, restaurants, and tourists. So it's seems perfectly fitting that the Shaw Festival presents it's last incarnation of their beloved version of Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL. This fresh adaptation by Festival Artistic Director Tim Carroll first was staged in 2017 in the jewel box Royal George Theatre. This 2025 edition is to be the final show ever to play this stage before it is torn down and replaced with a structure that will be rock steady for the company's future.

Shaw Festival Reveals 2026 Casts And Creative Teams For FUNNY GIRL and More
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 12, 2025

The Shaw Festival has released casting and creative teams for its 2026 season, which runs April 2 through December 23 in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Productions include new stagings of Amadeus, Jeeves & Wooster in Perfect Nonsense, and additional works across three venues.

Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS Comes to the The Shaw Festival
by Stephi Wild - Nov 7, 2025

After enchanting audiences of all ages during its 2022 Shaw Festival debut, the beloved musical invites theatregoers to once again revel in its dazzling dance numbers and festive score – featuring the timeless hit, “White Christmas”.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL To Take Its Final Bow At The Royal George Theatre
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 30, 2025

A timeless tale that became a Niagara-on-the-Lake holiday staple begins previews November 1. Christmas spirits of the Dickensian kind will inhabit the current incarnation of the Royal George Theatre one last time when holiday mainstay A Christmas Carol takes the stage until December 21.

Stratford Festival Announces 2026 Cast for GUYS AND DOLLS
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 20, 2025

Discover the Stratford Festival's 2026 cast lineup, featuring GUYS AND DOLLS and more! Get details on how to attend this exciting season.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL and WHITE CHRISTMAS Begin at The Shaw Festival This Winter
by A.A. Cristi - Oct 16, 2025

The Shaw Festival is preparing to deck the halls once again with a pair of holiday favorites, as A Christmas Carol and Irving Berlin’s White Christmas returning this winter

Will Eno’s GNIT Makes Shaw Festival Debut This Month
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 18, 2025

The Shaw Festival welcomes the Canadian premiere of Will Eno’s Gnit**, a surreal, darkly funny, and unexpectedly moving contemporary reimagining of Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt. Directed by Shaw Artistic Director Tim Carroll, the production begins previews June 19 and opens for review July 4, running through October 4 at the Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre.

Nominations Announced For The 2025 Dora Mavor Moore Awards
by Joshua Wright - May 28, 2025

The Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) has announced nominations for the 45th Anniversary Dora Mavor Moore Awards presented by the Romano D’Andrea Foundation. The Awards will be presented on Monday, June 30 at Toronto’s Meridian Hall.

Review: MAHABHARATA: PART 2 DHARMA - THE LIFE WE CHOOSE at National Arts Centre
by Courtney Castelino - May 22, 2025

What did our critic think of MAHABHARATA: PART 2 - DHARMA THE LIFE WE CHOOSE at National Arts Centre? See it on stage in Ottawa until May 24th,  before it heads to Manhattan’s Lincoln Center. Tickets are available at the link below.

Review: The NAC English Theatre's Presentation of the Epic MAHABHARATA: KARMA - PART 1
by Courtney Castelino - May 16, 2025

The curtain closed on Mahabharata: Karma - Part 1 The Life We Inherit to an uproar of applause. Upon exiting the theatre, the air was filled with loud, excited chatter, as is always the case at the National Arts Centre when the audience is deeply appreciative of what they have just seen. 

TONS OF MONEY Comes to the Shaw Festival
by Stephi Wild - Apr 11, 2025

​​​​​​​ Tons of Money, the classic English farce by writers Will Evans and Valentine, brings a nonstop parade of ridiculous antics, mistaken identities and sheer silliness to the Shaw Festival.

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE to Open at Shaw Festival
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 8, 2025

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, the final entry in the Shaw Festival’s Narnia cycle, begins previews this week at the Festival Theatre. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.

MAHABHARATA Comes to Canadian Stage in April
by Stephi Wild - Feb 28, 2025

Canadian Stage will conclude the 24.25 season with the Toronto premiere presentation of Why Not Theatre's two-part epic, MAHABHARATA. Learn more about the show here!