Matthew Jocelyn News

For the first time in more than 20 years, Canadian Stage presents two Shakespearean productions at the High Park Amphitheatre (1873 Bloor St. W.), pairing Shakespeare's powerful tragedy, Macbeth, and one of his earliest comedies, The Taming of the Shrew. Performances run on alternate nights from June 26 to September 1, Tuesday through Sunday at 8 p.m. with gates opening at 6 p.m.

For the first time in more than 20 years, Canadian Stage presents two Shakespearean productions at the High Park Amphitheatre (1873 Bloor St. W.), pairing Shakespeare's powerful tragedy, Macbeth, and one of his earliest comedies, The Taming of the Shrew. Performances run on alternate nights from June 26 toSeptember 1, Tuesday through Sunday at 8 p.m. with gates opening at 6 p.m. As always, this favourite summer tradition is pay-what-you-can, with a suggested contribution of $20. The productions, directed by York University MFA Program graduates, Ker Wells and Ted Witzel, respectively, are presented by Canadian Stage in collaboration with the Department of Theatre in the Faculty of Fine Arts, York University, with Presenting Sponsor BMO Financial Group.

Acclaimed actor and international film and television star Jason Priestley (Call me Fitz, Beverly Hills, 90210) returns to the stage in his first live theatre role since 2000 in Canadian Stage's production of RACE, by award-winning playwright David Mamet. Directed by Daniel Brooks and co-starring Matthew Edison (Murdoch Mysteries, Saving Hope), Cara Ricketts (Stratford Festival, Cruel and Tender) and Nigel Shawn Williams (Topdog/Underdog, Cruel and Tender), the play will be on stage at the Bluma Appel Theatre from April 7 to May 5, 2013 (opening and media night: April 11).

Canadian Stage presents THIS, an un-romantic comedy by acclaimed Canadian playwright, Melissa James Gibson, from tonight, March 18 to April 13 (opening and media night: March 21). Directed by Canadian Stage's Artistic & General Director Matthew Jocelyn, and featuring Laura Condlln, Christian Laurin, Yanna McIntosh, Alon Nashman and Jonathon Young, the play is an honest portrait of a group of 30-something friends navigating their way through death, parenthood, love and adultery. THIS marks the first time New York-based Gibson's work has been presented in Toronto.

Canadian Stage presents THIS, an un-romantic comedy by acclaimed Canadian playwright, Melissa James Gibson, from March 18 to April 13 (opening and media night: March 21). Directed by Canadian Stage's Artistic & General Director Matthew Jocelyn, and featuring Laura Condlln, Christian Laurin, Yanna McIntosh, Alon Nashman and Jonathon Young, the play is an honest portrait of a group of 30-something friends navigating their way through death, parenthood, love and adultery. THIS marks the first time New York-based Gibson's work has been presented in Toronto.

Canadian Stage presents Haptic, Holistic Strata, Sayonara and I, Worker in a one-week festival of Japanese theatre and dance as part of Spotlight Japan. This series is part of a city-wide celebration of classic and contemporary Japanese culture taking place from January through April 2013, programmed by five of Toronto's leading cultural institutions: TIFF, Canadian Stage, Soundstreams, the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre and the Japan Foundation.

Canadian Stage presents Haptic, Holistic Strata, Sayonara and I, Worker in a one-week festival of Japanese theatre and dance as part of Spotlight Japan. This series is part of a city-wide celebration of classic and contemporary Japanese culture taking place from January through April 2013, programmed by five of Toronto's leading cultural institutions: TIFF, Canadian Stage, Soundstreams, the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre and the Japan Foundation.

Canadian Stage presents Ignorance, an inventive (and completely adult) puppet documentary about the evolution of happiness from Calgary's world-renonwed Old Trout Puppet Workshop. The newest production from the troupe behind the international hit Famous Puppet Death Scenes stops in Toronto as part of a critically acclaimed Canadian tour from tonight, November 27 to Saturday, December 15 at the Berkeley Street Theatre (26 Berkeley St.).

Canadian Stage presents Ignorance, an inventive (and completely adult) puppet documentary about the evolution of happiness from Calgary's world-renonwed Old Trout Puppet Workshop. The newest production from the troupe behind the international hit Famous Puppet Death Scenes stops in Toronto as part of a critically acclaimed Canadian tour from Tuesday, November 27 to Saturday, December 15 at the Berkeley Street Theatre (26 Berkeley St.).

Canadian Stage today announced additional casting details for the 2012-13 season.

Canadian Stage will present an original production of The Arsonists, a dark comedy by Swiss playwright Max Frisch that explores our all-too-human ability to ignore acts of evil. Translated by Alistair Beaton, the Canadian premiere of this famous political farce is brought to life by director Morris Panych and set designer Ken MacDonald, the creative duo and real-life partners behind Canadian Stage's 2009 runaway hit, Art.

Hofesh Shechter's electrifying dance and rock spectacle, Political Mother, stops in Toronto for six performances as part of an international tour that has captivated audiences around the world. Presented by Canadian Stage and performed by Hofesh Shechter Company, this dance-performance-meets-rock-concert is a full-throttle, immersive experience that has taken the dance world by storm.

Hofesh Shechter's electrifying dance and rock spectacle, Political Mother, stops in Toronto for six performances as part of an international tour that has captivated audiences around the world. Presented by Canadian Stage and performed by Hofesh Shechter Company, this dance-performance-meets-rock-concert is a full-throttle, immersive experience that has taken the dance world by storm.

Canadian Stage presents Tear the Curtain!, the genre-bending West Coast hit that moves from stage to screen and back again. An Electric Company production in association with Vancouver's Arts Club Theatre Company,Tear the Curtain! is a stylish psychological thriller and a groundbreaking, hybrid stage experience that combines live theatre and film.

After 60 performances under the stars in High Park, Canadian Stage's 30th-anniversary production of A Midsummer Night's Dream set an all-time high attendance record with close to 30,000 audience members visiting the High Park Amphitheatre to see the show. The 2012 production also holds the highest-ever single night attendance for the venue, with 1,268 audience members on the hill for the closing night performance on September 2.

A new partnership between the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) and BroadwayWorld.com promises to encourage Toronto's youth to participate in live performing arts events. The hipTIX Youth Invasion Video Series premieres today, with the release of hipTIX Youth Invasion at the Dora Awards.