Mary Francis News

Karamu House, the oldest African American theatre in the country, presents the American premiere of The Adventures of The Black Girl in Her Search for God from March 22 through April 15, 2018. Performances of this sidesplitting comedy written by celebrated Canadian playwright Lisa Codrington, and based on the short story by George Bernard Shaw will be held in Karamu's intimate Arena Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio. Directed by Nina Domingue, the cast is led by India Pierre-Ingram in the title role and includes Kaila Benford, Robert Branch, Samantha Cocco, Michael Head, Mary-Francis R. Miller, Prophet D. Seay, and Karl Toth.

Look out, Hollywood! Here comes Tony Martini! On Thursday, March 29, the legendary Tony Martini Variety Hour arrives at Three Clubs Lounge on Vine Street! Local comedy favorite Mark Fite will star as Martini, and he'll be bringing a little bit of old Vegas right along with him. The madness is set to begin at 8pm.

The South Side of Chicago is noted for its gritty streets, drug dealers, drive by shootings and pressure for Black men and boys to not only protect their turf, but be 'prideful' and not allow themselves to be slave to the ways of the 'massa' (the white bosses).

On Family Day, Monday, February 19, Young People's Theatre (YPT) will be a hive of activity from top to bottom floors, with a performance of the children's classic The Secret Garden, two performances of the award-winning show for babies, One Thing Leads to Another - PLUS Family Workshops, FREE tours and drop-in activities!

Young People's Theatre (YPT) is thrilled to remount its immensely popular and critically-acclaimed show for babies, One Thing Leads to Another due to overwhelming demand. An innovative work of theatre commissioned by YPT and created specifically for infants, this production transforms everyday objects into fabulous, fanciful phenomena as it engages, stimulates and delights baby and parent alike.

Sheridan's Canadian Music Theatre Project (CMTP), where the hit Broadway musical Come From Away was first developed, will provide audiences with the chance to be among the first to see CMTP's four new projects.

Let's take it back to The Mack! Bittergirl: The Musical sold out virtually its entire run when it first premiered at the Festival and will return this summer with new songs and scenes, and the same girl-group hits like 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me,' 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough,' 'I Will Survive,' and 'Too Many Fish In The Sea.'

Sheridan College's Canadian Music Theatre Project (CMTP), under the leadership of Michael Rubinoff, Associate Dean, Visual and Performing Arts, is an international centre of excellence for the development of new musicals in Canada. Since its inception in 2011, 15 shows have been incubated and continue their development in various stages: Four have enjoyed professional premieres, including Come From Away, which opened on Broadway in 2017 and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Musical.

Take hip hop, spoken word, and folk. Blend it with contemporary and Indigenous dance, and experience a new musical, full of original Canadian music, dance, and story. The Dream Catchers is a Canada150 Signature project, featuring the TD Confederation Centre Young Company, that will take you on a one hour quest to find hope for the future and dare you to believe that no dream is too small.

Artistic Director Allen MacInnis and Executive Director Nancy J. Webster are thrilled to announce the 2017/18 Season at Young People's Theatre. It's a year dedicated to the theme 'finding yourself", with nine shows encompassing classics and cutting-edge work to help guide that journey.

Let's take it back to The Mack! Bittergirl: The Musical sold out virtually its entire run when it first premiered at the Festival and will return this summer with new songs and scenes, and the same girl-group hits like 'I'm Gonna Make You Love Me,' 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough,' 'I Will Survive,' and 'Too Many Fish In The Sea.'

The Cleveland area has been and is ripe with playwrights. Mike Geither, David Hansen, Margaret Lynch, Jonathan Wilhelm, Michael Oatman, Eric Schmiedl and Faye Sholiton are only a few of the present-day writers. Historically, Langston Hughes, Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee were proud area playwrights. Probably no local scribe has been more prolific than Eric Coble.

The 37th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards for the 2015-2016 season were handed out in a star-studded ceremony in Toronto on the evening of Monday, June 27 at Harbourfront Centre's Concert Stage, hosted by two-time Dora Award winner and leading actor, Bruce Dow. Scroll down for the full list of winners!

Artistic Director Allen MacInnis and Executive Director Nancy Webster are pleased to announce the 2016/17 Season at Young People's Theatre (YPT), a year that marks the return of two of YPT's most popular musicals, both based on children's literature classics: SeussicalTM and Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach.

Roo Panes' sophomore full-length effort Paperweights, out March 4 on CRC Music, is an album of lush arrangements, blissfully hypnotic vocals and emotionally rich subject matter.

Due to the overwhelming success of ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER, Young People's Theatre (YPT) is adding 10 additional performances of its ground-breaking baby show over 5 days, from February 22 to 28, to meet demand.

Former YPT Artistic Director Maja Ardal returns to Young People's Theatre for their 50th Anniversary Season with aninnovative new work commissioned by YPT and created specifically for infants! Developed from Ardal's original concept, research and theme, this unique work is a collective collaboration by Maja along with Jani Lauzon, Mary Francis Moore, and Julia Tribe. One Thing Leads to Another will be presented in the Studio from February 8 to 21.

Young People's Theatre is thrilled to announce the playbill for its 2015/16 50th Anniversary Season, a milestone marked by the return of beloved audience favourites, re-imagined classics and innovative new work, each a testament to YPT founder Susan Rubes's statement: Only the best is good enough for children.

Luna Stage presents the world premiere of Tar Beach by Tammy Ryan. Tar Beach opens to previews on Thursday April 9, 2015 and runs Thursdays through Sundays through May 9th. Opening night is Friday April 17, 2015. Select performances are followed by Talkbacks with the Creative Team. Tickets range from $25-$35 dollars. Group sales available. $10 Student Rush tickets available one half-hour before curtain. Individual tickets can be purchased at lunastage.org, or at the box office Tues.-Fri.10am-3pm (973-395-5551).