Bonnie Beecher News

Artistic Director Tim Carroll has announced casting and creative teams for the Shaw Festival’s 60th anniversary season.

Mike Payette, Artistic Director of Tarragon Theatre and Managing Director Andrea Vagianos have announced the long awaited world premiere of Light.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today announced the 2021/22 season, marking the company’s 70th anniversary and return to the stage after more than 20 months. It will also be the final season programmed by Ms. Kain before she steps down as Artistic Director on June 30, 2021, as previously announced.

Karen Kain, Artistic Director of The National Ballet of Canada, today unveiled the 2020/21 season which builds on the company's commitment to create new works, attract the best artists in the world and showcase the company on the international stage. The season features the world premiere of MADDADDAM, a new full-length ballet by the multi-award-winning choreographer Wayne McGregor in collaboration with internationally renowned writer Margaret Atwood. Additional highlights include the North American premiere of Victoria, created by acclaimed choreographer Cathy Marston, and a guest appearance by San Francisco Ballet in its Toronto debut. The National Ballet will tour to London and Ottawa. #2021SeasonNBC

In Soulpepper's production of the 1998 Best Play Tony winner ART, written by Yasmina Reza and directed here by Philip Akin, the friendship of three friends is put to the test after one dives into the world of modernism with an expensive purchase.

How does an author title a play? Well, there should be something descriptive, enticing or informative to engage the audience from the outset.The Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake has gone out of a limb and programmed a virtually unknown play that is rarely, if ever produced. Oh, and the title is simply SEX. And it's author is no other than the infamous Mae West! But did West really write plays? She most certainly did and did so for her own star turns. Written in 1926, unable to advertise using the title, and later raided after running for a year, SEX was almost forgotten. Happily, this highly polished and entertaining production now running through October turns out to be the sleeper of the season.

 Previews begin today for The Crucible, Arthur Miller's haunting dramatization of the Salem witch trials. Directed by Festival veteran Jonathan Goad, the production opens on Friday, August 16, at the Avon Theatre, marking the 12th and final production in the Festival's 67th season, which runs until November 10.

Just shy of a century after her sold out Broadway run was branded an 'obscene, indecent, immoral and impure drama' by a New York grand jury, Mae West's Sex gets a rousing production at the Shaw Festival. Directed by Peter Hinton-Davis, this powerful melodrama begins in Montreal's red light district of the 1920s, then shifts locations to Trinidad and New York City. Overflowing with trademark Mae West one-liners, and with its frank sexuality heightened by Hinton-Davis's gender-bent casting, Sex begins previews at the Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre on June 21st.

At a press conference held May 28 in the Davies Takacs Lobby of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre, the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) announced 282 nominations for the 40th Anniversary Dora Mavor Moore Awards, which recognize excellence in professional theatre, dance and opera in Toronto. On Tuesday, June 25 at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, 49 Dora Mavor Moore Awards, the Silver Ticket Award and the Jon Kaplan Audience Choice Award will be presented.

The Grand Theatre, a leading cultural hub in London, Ontario, announces its 2019-20 season. Featuring 11 productions across two stages, including two world premieres, a North American premiere, and new works by exciting Canadian visionaries, the Grand's incredible 2019-20 lineup continues to bring the world to London, and London to the world.

Written by Christopher Morris following years of research in Israel, directed by Daniel Brooks, and produced by Human Cargo with the support of Theatre Passe Muraille, THE RUNNER is an intimate look into the life of Jakob (Gord Rand), a member of the Jewish crisis-response team ZAKA.

On October 13, 2018, the Canadian Opera Company presented the highly anticipated world premiere of Hadrian by composer Rufus Wainwright and librettist Daniel MacIvor. The opera recounts the epic love story of Roman Emperor Hadrian and his young lover, Antinous. Erased by history, their story is reclaimed for the 21st century by its creators in a star-studded production from renowned Canadian director Peter Hinton. Hadrian runs for seven performances through October 27, 2018.

On October 13, 2018, the Canadian Opera Company presented the highly anticipated world premiere of Hadrian by composer Rufus Wainwright and librettist Daniel MacIvor. The opera recounts the epic love story of Roman Emperor Hadrian and his young lover, Antinous. Erased by history, their story is reclaimed for the 21st century by its creators in a star-studded production from renowned Canadian director Peter Hinton. Hadrian runs for seven performances through October 27, 2018.

On October 13, 2018, the Canadian Opera Company presented the highly anticipated world premiere of Hadrian by composer Rufus Wainwright and librettist Daniel MacIvor. The opera recounts the epic love story of Roman Emperor Hadrian and his young lover, Antinous. Erased by history, their story is reclaimed for the 21st century by its creators in a star-studded production from renowned Canadian director Peter Hinton. Hadrian runs for seven performances through October 27, 2018.

On October 13, 2018, the Canadian Opera Company presents the highly anticipated world premiere of Hadrian by composer Rufus Wainwright and librettist Daniel MacIvor.

Following two hit runs as part of Nightwood Theatre's 2016/17 and 2017/18 mainstage seasons, Diane Flacks' Dora Award-nominated Unholy will be remounted in an exclusive return engagement from November 16-18, 2018, live at Zoomer Hall (70 Jefferson Ave.) in Liberty Village.  Unholy will be shot in front of a live studio audience for an upcoming special on VisionTV, Canada's only multi-faith, multi-cultural television channel available in over 10 million homes.

There is a buzz about the Stratford Festival's production of PARADISE LOST that is so intriguing that a ticket is about as tempting as forbidden fruit. Tickets for the oft-sold out production are also a little easier to come by at the moment, as it has been extended by popular demand to October 27th. Get your tickets while you can for this mesmerizing and thought-provoking show!

On October 13, 2018, the Canadian Opera Company presents the highly anticipated world premiere of Hadrian by composer Rufus Wainwright and librettist Daniel MacIvor.

Previews begin today for the world premiere of Erin Shields's exciting new interpretation of John Milton's Paradise Lost. Directed by Jackie Maxwell, the production opens on August 17, and with three performances added to meet audience demand, it now runs until October 21 at the Studio Theatre.

Niagara-on-the-Lake's World War I connections - from residents who enlisted to the garrisoned troops being entertained in the Royal George Theatre - are highlighted in director Peter Hinton's re-improvised Oh What a Lovely War. With music direction by Paul Sportelli and movement direction by Alexis Milligan, this provocative production about the theatre of war begins previews at the Royal George Theatre on July 14.