Yes, it's snowing outside, but soon Spring and Summer will be upon us. That means The Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, will beckon. The Shaw is one of the two major Canadian theatre festivals, the other being The Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario. Both are high quality venues.
The Stratford Festival's box office opens to the public this Saturday, January 5, at 9 a.m., with an online advance sale beginning at noon on Friday. Facebook fans, who want to use the Festival's new social ticketing app will be able to purchase tickets as of 9 a.m. today. Tickets are being offered at up to 25% off until January 31, with an opportunity to exchange dates with no added expense.
For the last decade, the Shaw Festival has been introducing contemporary theatre's most illustrious playwrights into the playbill alongside their classical forebears. Like Bernard Shaw himself, these writers delight in questioning assumptions, subverting expectations and creating compelling theatre that unites head and heart. The 2013 season goes even further with the inclusion of plays by Brian Friel, Tom Stoppard, John Murrell and Adam Guettel.
Albert Schultz, Founding Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company and General Director of the Young Centre for the Performing Arts today announced a full year's slate of artistic and community-based activity for Soulpepper and the Young Centre in 2013. Over 700 performances representing the remarkable artistic and cultural diversity of the city will happen under the Young Centre's roof next year, including festivals, cabarets, and community partnerships. Soulpepper Theatre Company's repertory season features fifteen plays including two marathon-style theatrical events to be staged in their entirety: Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize-winning Angels in America (Part One: Millennium Approaches & Part Two: Perestroika) and Alan Ayckbourn's The Norman Conquests (Table Manners, Living Together & Round and Round the Garden). Soulpepper's season includes adaptations of plays from the classical canon (Beaumarchais/Rossini's The Barber of Seville, Schnitzler's La Ronde, and Dickens' Great Expectations) alongside twentieth-century gems by Tom Stoppard, Joe Orton, Sam Shepard and Canada's John Murrell.
Antoni Cimolino officially becomes Artistic Director today, beginning his mission to establish the Festival as an unrivalled theatrical, intellectual and emotional retreat. As part of this mission, the theatre company is returning to the name Stratford Festival and unveiling a new logo.
According to The Washington Post, Molly Smith, artistic director of Arena Stage has signed on to direct a production of Eric Coble's THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN on Broadway in the Spring of 2013, a production that'll mark Broadway debuts for both. Lead producer Larry Kaye has said that signed on to star will be Estelle Parsons and Stephen Spinella.
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's fifth annual Playwrights Retreat begins today and runs through October 20. This year eight writers from across the country will be in Stratford for the three-week retreat: Meg Braem (Calgary), Matthew Heiti (Sudbury), Daniel Karasik (Toronto), Kevin Loring (Vancouver), Bryden MacDonald (Halifax), Haley McGee (Toronto), Janet Munsil (Victoria) and Elyne Quan (Toronto).
Today's announcement by Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell of the Shaw Festival's 2013 season introduces new and provocative conversations for its 52nd season. In a playbill rich with culture clashes, magical transformations and dazzling ideas, The Shaw continues its theatrical exploration of the mystery and beauty of contemporary life.
Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler and Carole Frechette's Helen's Necklace make their official debuts tomorrow, August 10, and Saturday night, August 11, respectively, at the Shaw Festival.
Antoni Cimolino today announced the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's playbill for 2013, his first season as Artistic Director, and began to outline his vision for the Festival's future during his tenure.
Antoni Cimolino today announced the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's playbill for 2013, his first season as Artistic Director, and began to outline his vision for the Festival's future during his tenure.
Award-winning Canadian playwright Carole Frechette's eloquently impressionistic drama Helen's Necklace began previews Sunday at the Shaw Festival's Studio Theatre. Translated from French by celebrated playwright John Murrell and directed by Micheline Chevrier, it is the first Canadian play to be produced as part of The Shaw's Studio Theatre contemporary Shavian series.
The National Theatre of the World is embarking on their second outing of The Script Tease Project all week long at Passe Muraille Backspace. With ten new playwrights, the trio of Matt Baram, Ron Pederson and Naomi Snieckus are ready for a whirlwind week of improvisation and comedy. BWW spoke with Naomi about the challenges of improvisation, the playwrights they're using this year and the supportive nature of the Toronto theatre community.
Tarragon Theatre presents the Toronto premiere of Was Spring, written and directed by the multi-talented, award-winning playwright, director, actor and filmmaker, Daniel MacIvor. Was Spring ends tonight, May 6 in Tarragon Theatre's Extra Space. Tickets range from $24-$51 (inclusive of HST) and are available by calling the box office at 416.531.1827 or by visiting www.tarragontheatre.com.
Tarragon Theatre presents the English-language premiere of The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs, written by Canadian playwright Carole Fréchette, translated by John Murrell, one of Canada's most frequently produced playwrights, and directed by Weyni Mengesha, hot on the heels of her production of Kim's Convenience at Soulpepper Theatre Company where she is associate artist.
Tarragon Theatre will present the Toronto premiere of Was Spring, written and directed by the multi-talented, award-winning playwright, director, actor and filmmaker, Daniel MacIvor.
Tarragon Theatre will present the English-language premiere of The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs, written by Canadian playwright Carole Fréchette, translated by John Murrell, one of Canada's most frequently produced playwrights, and directed by Weyni Mengesha, hot on the heels of her production of Kim's Convenience at Soulpepper Theatre Company where she is associate artist.
The English-language premiere THE SMALL ROOM AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS opens tomorrow at Tarragon Theatre's Mainspace. The show has been in preview since Feb 29 - here are some production photographs.
Tarragon Theatre will present the English-language premiere of The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs, written by Canadian playwright Carole Fréchette, translated by John Murrell, one of Canada's most frequently produced playwrights, and directed by Weyni Mengesha, hot on the heels of her production of Kim's Convenience at Soulpepper Theatre Company where she is associate artist.
Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell officially announced the playbill for the Shaw Festival's 51st season today.
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