Michael Blake News

The Stratford Festival’s new Tom Patterson Theatre will open its doors to its second production on Tuesday, June 14, as director Scott Wentworth’s production of All’s Well That Ends Well begins performances.

Anticipation has been running high for years and now the time has come to welcome audiences to the next great chapter in Stratford Festival history. The new Tom Patterson Theatre will see its very first public performance on Tuesday, May 10, as Colm Feore takes centre stage as Richard III. 

Announced today is the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of Here There Be Dragons – A New Musical Quest, inspired by the classic tabletop fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons.

Today, Blitzen Trapper announces its 2022 tour, which kicks off in their hometown of Portland, OR, on April 22 at Revolution Hall. The 25-date tour is in support of Holy Smokes Future Jokes, their 2020 label debut for Yep Roc Records, and 10th studio album. Check out the full list of tour dates now!

February marks a new beginning at the Stratford Festival with members of the 2022 acting company set to start rehearsals. Over the coming months, these dynamic artists will immerse themselves in 10 extraordinary productions and lead the Festival into the post-pandemic future.

Marvin Rosen, host of the ASCAP award winning program 'Classical Discoveries' will be presenting his 17th, 24 hour hosted marathon totally devoted to music from the 21st Century. The marathon titled 'Viva 21st Century 50/50 - airs from WPRB, Princeton, NJ at 103.3 FM for local listeners and on line at www.wprb.com. 50/50 refers to the fact that there is an approximate equal representation of men and women composers.

Featuring tributes from 67 of Frank’s former bandmates, students, and friends across multiple generations, KIMBROUGH was recorded over three and a half days in New York as the musical world began reawakening in May 2021.

Today (May 27) in live streaming: Meet the Top 5 High Schoolers of Next On Stage, it's Game Night on Stars in the House, and more!

Today (February 4) in live streaming: All My Children on Stars in the House, a CSC conversation with Shaina Taub, and more!

The Stratford Festival’s popular Thursday night free viewing parties resume this week with an entertaining variety of offerings, including new and legacy films and all new original content safely created during the pandemic – adding to the rich mine of theatrical content available on Stratfest@Home, the Festival’s $10-a-month streaming service.

Legends virtually unite Sunday, October 25th for Lift Every Voice, a special concert from the Lift Every Voice Victory Fund raising funds and mobilizing voters. Funds raised will be divided among a coalition of political action committees, including Color of Change PAC, The Collective PAC, CTRL Z and Higher Heights Political Fund. 

Through the Mangrove Tunnels, performed by the JACK Quartet with pianist Steven Beck and drummer Russell Lacy, is a 45-minute work inspired by Lee's experiences growing up exploring the swamps and bayous of Florida.

Blitzen Trapper’s highly anticipated new album, Holy Smokes Future Jokes, is out today on Yep Roc Records.

Portland, OR-based Blitzen Trapper today shares ”Requiem,” the fourth track unveiled from Holy Smokes Future Jokes out September 25 on Yep Roc Records. FLOOD premiered the track noting, “the group uses country music as a vessel for persistence through difficult times.”

Portland, OR-based Blitzen Trapper today released “Masonic Temple Microdose #1,” the second single from their Yep Roc Records debut, Holy Smokes Future Jokes, out September 11.

Thanks to overwhelming demand, the Stratford Festival's 2020 production of Richard III will be extended for another three weeks, giving theatregoers more opportunities to see Colm Feore bring this iconic role to life in the Festival's brand new Tom Patterson Theatre, which opens this spring after more than two years of construction and fundraising.

ArcLight Cinemas and Slamdance today announced the lineup for their inaugural Emergence Film Festival, taking place March 26th - 29th at ArcLight Cinemas' Hollywood location. The lineup includes both premieres and Slamdance Park City festival favorites and will showcase Features, Shorts, and Episodics along with Slamdance's signature categories Anarchy and DIG. This new partnership is an extension of the two organizations' successful Slamdance Cinema Club screening series. Tickets and passes are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased online and at the theater.

With the new Tom Patterson Theatre taking shape on the banks of the Avon River, the Stratford Festival is thrilled to announce key casting as it builds the acting company for its monumental 2020 season.

In August 1969, half a million young people from all walks of life journeyed from every corner of the country to a dairy farm in upstate New York for a concert unprecedented in scope and influence. Woodstock examines the tumultuous decade that led to those three historic days — years that saw the nation deeply divided by Vietnam and racial, generational and sexual politics — through the voices of those who were present for the event that would become the defining moment of the counterculture revolution. In conjunction with the 50th anniversary, Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation, directed by Barak Goodman, written by Goodman and Don Kleszy, and produced by Goodman and Jamila Ephron, premieres Tuesday, August 6, 2019, 9:00-11:00 p.m. ET (check local listings) on PBS, pbs.org and the PBS Video App.

The 67th season at the Stratford Festival is officially underway, and off to an exciting start after Monday's opening night performance of OTHELLO. Directed by Nigel Shawn Williams and starring Michael Blake in the titular role, this production is thought provoking and electrifying from start to finish.