Martha Henry News

The Stratford Festival's 66th season opens officially on Monday, May 28, with Shakespeare's final masterpiece, The Tempest, featuring Martha Henry as Prospero.

Martha Henry stars as Prospero in Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino's production of Shakespeare's The Tempest. Previews are now underway at the Festival Theatre and the production opens the 2018 season on Monday, May 28.

The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, America's longest running festival of new orchestral music, celebrates its 56th season and the second season of its esteemed Music Director and Conductor, Cristian M?celaru, July 29 - August 12, 2018. This year's festival takes audiences around the globe with a series of new works by composers from the US, UK, Canada, Macedonia, Romania, China, Korea, and Sweden.

Actor Brent Carver has withdrawn from the Stratford Festival's 2018 season for personal reasons. He was to play the role of Ariel in The Tempest. 

Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino just announced key casting for the 2018 season of the Stratford Festival, including Seana McKenna as Julius Caesar, Andr Sills as Coriolanus, and Daren A. Herbert as Harold Hill, the 'Music Man.'

For the Stratford Festival's 2018 season, Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino has chosen 12 productions that explore the theme of Free Will.

Four incredible artists bring to life the stories of four powerful women. LIFE REFLECTED, presented by the National Arts Centre (NAC) is a multi-media journey examining the lives of four women using photography, film, spoken word and music. The NAC Orchestra takes us through four individual pieces, led by conductor and Artistic Director, Alexander Shelley. Shelley describes the works as being united in the way the women 'learned to tread a new path and turn the tables on those who wanted to oppress them.'

The 65th season of the Stratford Festival officially opened on Monday night with a production of William Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT. Director, Martha Henry has assembled a fabulous group of players and they do not disappoint. Just the thought of Geraint Wyn Davies, Tom Rooney, and Brent Carver sharing comedic scenes together had me rushing to the Festival Theatre to see this play. All three are as fantastic as one could hope for, but everyone else is equally as enchanting in their roles as well.

THE DANCE OF DEATH, August Strindberg's groundbreaking play in a new version by renowned Irish playwright Conor McPherson, begins previews on July 13 at the Shaw Festival's Studio Theatre.

Both Engaged and A Woman of No Importance have been delighting preview audiences in advance of their openings this weekend. Having already extended both productions earlier this year, the Shaw Festival continues to respond to audience demand by adding another seven performances to the 2016 season. Also, a new block of tickets for the sell-out of the 2016 season The Dance of Death is now on sale.

Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino has announced the Stratford Festival's 2017 season, an exploration of identity as Canada marks the 150th anniversary of its birth as a nation.

A memorable and moving production of Arthur Miller's ALL MY SONS opened at Stratford Festival's Tom Patterson Theatre on Wednesday evening. It is the story of a family trying to live a post-WWII American Dream, yet unwilling to acknowledge what had to be sacrificed in order to achieve it. The entire cast brings nuanced performances to complex roles-each character relatable, and their decisions debatable. It allowed for a lot of reflection on the imperfections of humanity as this writer left the theatre and I suspect many other audience member felt the same way.

"In her final year as Artistic Director, Jackie has programmed a season that showcases the diversity and strength of work created here at the Shaw Festival and our patrons have responded enthusiastically," said Tim Jennings, Executive Director of the Shaw Festival. "Based on the first month of sales, we've decided that we need to provide more opportunities to see some of the Festival's highlights."

After a period of brisk advance sales to Members, the Stratford Festival is opening its box office to the public this Friday, January 8.

Tickets to the Stratford Festival's North American premiere of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE are now on pre-sale.

Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell and the Shaw Festival announce principal casting and the creative teams for the 2016 playbill. The 2016 season features new and core ensemble members and beloved returning artists celebrating Ms. Maxwell's final season and 14-year tenure at The Shaw.

 Can a play show us the very truth and nature of the world's greatest playwright? As the Bard's legacy is celebrated around the globe in 2016 with Shakespeare 400, the boisterous new comedy Shakespeare in Love takes a glorious stab at doing just that. But with little known of Shakespeare beyond the dates of his birth and death - both April 23 - the fun is all in the imagining.

BroadwayWorld.com, along with Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell and the Shaw Festival are pleased to announce the 2016 playbill. Marking the Festival's 55th season and the end of Maxwell's 14-year tenure, the 2016 line-up of 10 diverse productions includes works from the heart of the mandate, contemporary Shavian pieces and the world premieres of two commissioned works.

With the world marking the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare in 2016, Stratford Festival Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino has planned a number of exciting projects in honour of the occasion.

SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER opened recently at Stratford Festival's Avon Theatre. As you watch it, it quickly becomes apparent as to why this play has withheld the test of time. Laugh out loud humour, beautiful set design, and an excellent cast make for an enjoyable evening (or matinee) at the theatre.