Marla McLean News

Tailor Made Hometown 'A CHRISTMAS CAROL' Charles Dickens himself would most likely approve of the charming version of his classic story of miserly Ebeneezer Scrooge and his influence over everyone in a quaint hometown. The Shaw Festival's Artistic Director Tim Carroll has programmed A CHRISTMAS CAROL in their intimate Royal George Theatre for the first time ever this holiday season and by all accounts it was a smashing success even before it opened--the show sold out all of it's near 6 weeks weeks before an audience set foot in the theatre-- and has already started selling tickets for the 2018 production.

The Shaw Festival's inaugural production of A Christmas Carol starts its sold-out run Wednesday, November 15 at the Royal George Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

The Shaw Festival's inaugural production of A Christmas Carol starts its sold-out run Wednesday, November 15 at the Royal George Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Artistic Director Tim Carroll announces the Shaw Festival's 2018 ensemble. This season's 56 actors will take to the stage in 14 productions, plus numerous Secret Theatre experiences.

Christmas arrives in Niagara-on-the-Lake on November 15 with the first preview of Charles Dickens's classic A Christmas Carol at the Royal George Theatre.

STRONG ACTING IN DRACULA DESPITE TEDIOUS SCRIPT The story of Bram Stoker's DRACULA has been told long enough since the novel's release in 1897 that most everyone is familiar with the famous Prince of Darkness. Numerous films have been made, as early as the silent version NOSFERATU, and a stage version with Frank Langella was lauded nearly 30 years ago on Broadway. The Shaw Festival is presenting a stage version by Poet Laureate of Glasgow, Liz Lochhead. First given in 1985 in Scotland, this overly long stage adaptation is too bogged down in literary detail, and judicious trimming of the Victorian epic seemed necessary to make it palatable for modern day audiences.

The Shaw Festival's production of Liz Lochhead's sultry adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula - a feminine-focused take on the iconic vampire story - begins previews July 8 at the Festival Theatre.

The Shaw Festival's production of Liz Lochhead's sultry adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula - a feminine-focused take on the iconic vampire story - begins previews July 8 at the Festival Theatre.

The Shaw Festival's production of Liz Lochhead's sultry adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula - a feminine-focused take on the iconic vampire story - begins previews July 8 at the Festival Theatre.

1837: The Farmers' Revolt - the rebellion that helped shape this home and native land - begins previews May 7 at the Court House Theatre.

The Shaw Festival proudly announces casting for Artistic Director Tim Carroll's first season. The Shaw's 2017 ensemble is a mix of new faces and Festival favourites - each actor ready to entertain and excite audiences in this season's 11 productions.

The Shaw Festival continues to launch its 2016 season with a fresh take on another classic - this time Anton Chekov's UNCLE VANYA. This moving dramedy explores family harmony and dysfunction with budding loyalties and conflicting love. Jackie Maxwell, outgoing artistic director at the Shaw Festival brings to life this new adaptation by Annie Baker. It's a crisp translation with contemporary overtones that brings this Chekov classic to the new age. Neil Barclay stars as the title role and leads a talented ensemble including Donna Belleville, Kate Besworth, James Daly, Sharry Flett, Marla McLean, Patrick McManus, Peter Millard, Moya O'Connell and David Schurmann.

Wilde's early play has the wit of his later comedies, but also probes the complexities and darker desires of the human heart. Lady Windermere (Marla McLean), a young woman recently married into the aristocracy, is preparing for her birthday party. Although deeply in love with her husband Lord Windermere (Martin Happer), she is troubled by his relationship with the mysterious Mrs. Erlynne (Tara Rosling) and vulnerable to the advances of the charismatic Lord Darlington (Gray Powell). Society's high veneer of elegance and propriety threatens to crack as secrets from the past are revealed - only to be quickly suppressed.

The Shaw Festival embarks on the first season of its next 50 years by proudly initiating a provocative conversation through the Tony Award-winning musical Ragtime. Based on E.L. Doctorow's novel of the same name, Ragtime is directed by Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell and brought to life by The Shaw's renowned acting Ensemble. This powerful and complex story of a young America on the cusp of defining itself and the hopes and dreams of its citizens continues to gain resonance today. Surpassing all expectations, early tickets sales to the Shaw Festival's production of Ragtime are nearly 20% above projected totals, while early April and May ticket purchases for special matinees are already 80% sold out. Yesterday's preview performance of Ragtime received a standing ovation.

In the Spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

For its 2009 season, The Shaw takes on a monumental and historic project with full productions of each play in Noel Coward?s famous Tonight at 8:30 collection. The Shaw?s 2009 productions represent the first time all ten short plays have been performed in repertory by a professional company since they were first produced by London?s Phoenix Theatre in 1935-36. The plays will be performed in sets of three, one on each of the Festival?s Niagara-on-the-Lake stages, with the tenth, the rarely produced Star Chamber, being the lunchtime production in the Royal George. And to celebrate this idea for the event that it is, on two separate occasions, we will present all ten in one day ? an event we are appropriately naming ?Mad Dogs and Englishmen?.

For its 2009 season, The Shaw takes on a monumental and historic project with full productions of each play in Noel Coward?s famous Tonight at 8:30 collection. The Shaw?s 2009 productions represent the first time all ten short plays have been performed in repertory by a professional company since they were first produced by London?s Phoenix Theatre in 1935-36. The plays will be performed in sets of three, one on each of the Festival?s Niagara-on-the-Lake stages, with the tenth, the rarely produced Star Chamber, being the lunchtime production in the Royal George. And to celebrate this idea for the event that it is, on two separate occasions, we will present all ten in one day ? an event we are appropriately naming ?Mad Dogs and Englishmen?.