Sean Arbuckle News

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.

Chilina Kennedy and Adam Brazier will lead a star-studded ensemble in the special concert version of Leslie Arden's award-winning musical The House of Martin Guerre. Directed by Richard Ouzounian, the show will be performed one night only on November 4 at Stratford's Avon Theatre.

This season at the Stratford Festival, a new generation of imaginative dreamers now has the opportunity to be introduced to Michael Ende's THE NEVERENDING STORY. In partnership with Canada's National Arts Centre and presented by Schulich Children's Plays, this play is the perfect out for a family looking to immerse themselves in the arts while visiting Stratford.

Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL returns to the Spriet Stage this season starring Jan Alexandra Smith as SCROOGE, in a gender-flipping twist on the holiday classic. Audiences will be immersed in the spectacle of Ebenezer Scrooge and her transformation at the hands of ghostly spirits from Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Adapted by Grand Theatre Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum, A CHRISTMAS CAROL debuted last season to sold-out houses. It returns this holiday season directed by Artistic Associate, Megan Watson. The Title Sponsor for A CHRISTMAS CAROL is London Life.

Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum has announced principal casting for the 2018/19 season including Seana McKenna as Penelope in MARGARET ATWOOD'S THE PENELOPIAD, Jan Alexandra Smith as Scrooge in this season's gender-flipping A CHRISTMAS CAROL, Nigel Shawn Williams as Troy Maxson and E.B. Smith as Jim Bono in AUGUST WILSON'S FENCES, and Alex Furber as Robert Ross in TIMOTHY FINDLEY'S THE WARS.    

We are in the Ides of August and the final few openings of the 66th season at the Stratford Festival have begun. Last night, JULIUS CAESAR had its opening night at the Festival Theatre. It has been nine years since this production graced the Stratford stage and this thrilling production is sure to have audiences clamouring to come see it.

April is Shakespeare month! Marking both his birthday and passing on April 23rd, BroadwayHD, the premiere streaming platform for live theater, is highlighting its definitive collection of Shakespeare's productions.

The Grand Theatre rings in the holiday season with the all-time classic, A CHRISTMAS CAROL. Marking Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum's directorial debut, the show is the largest in the theatre's history, featuring over 20 cast members, sweeping sets, and intricate costumes. A CHRISTMAS CAROL premieres on the Spriet Stage November 28 to December 30, 2017 and the Grand is proud to welcome back London Life as the annual holiday show Title Sponsor.

A few weeks ago, Broadway World reported that an exciting in-concert production of DRACULA: A CHAMBER MUSICAL would be presented one night only at Knox Presbyterian Church in Stratford, Ontario. The concert took place last week in front of a packed church, and it certainly did not disappoint.

In 1999 an original Canadian musical production based on the Bram Stoker classic, Dracula graced the stage at the Stratford Festival's Avon Theatre. On October 30th, a concert version of that same haunting and beautiful musical is returning to Stratford as part of INNERchamber's 8th season. The INNERchamber ensemble treats music fans in Stratford to a variety of events each season. Their home base is typically Factory 163, but for several reasons, this particular production will be held at Knox Presbyterian Church.

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.'

The Stratford Festival's production of GUYS AND DOLLS opened on Tuesday night at the Festival Theatre and it is sure to be a hit. The performances, the glorious music, the set and lighting design, and the choreography all hit the right note and allow for a fantastic production to be enjoyed by all.

BroadwayWorld has an exclusive first look at The Stratford Festival's production of GUYS AND DOLLS directed by Donna Feore. Check out the extended 'Crapshooters' dance sequence below, featuring a 19 piece orchestra playing the 1992 Broadway revival orchestrations for the first time ever since that production.

The Stratford Festival's first ever staging of Stephen Sondheim's A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC is happening this season at the Avon Theatre. Directed by Gary Griffin, It is clever, it is delightful, it is funny, it is sad, and it is beautifully performed by everyone involved. Everyone I have spoken with who has seen this production has a different favourite scene or performer. There is so much to take in that it is just as fun to see it a second time!

Listening to Franklin Brasz lead the orchestra, hearing the incredible voices in the Quintet of Sean Arbuckle, Jen Rider-Shaw, Barbara Fulton, Stephen Patterson and Ayrin Mackie start off the show, I was especially aware of the joy in my tears.

Sunday in the Park with George features the book by James Lapine and music and lyrics by Sondheim (whose works include masterpieces such as Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods). TIFT's production is directed by Steve Ross, a 12 year veteran of the Stratford Festival and a long-time actor TIFT actor, making his directing debut.

If you happen to be coming to Stratford Festival looking for a show that makes you laugh, think, and question whether the human race is doomed-all in equal measure…then look no further than director Miles Potter's disturbingly delightful production of THE PHYSICISTS. If you did not know you were looking for a show that did those things to you…well, trust me. You are. Come see this show.

Swift advance sales have prompted the Stratford Festival to extend the runs of four productions, just as the box office has opened to the public. Performances of Carousel, The Alchemist, The Physicists and The Last Wife have been added to the schedule.

With a string of hit musicals to his credit at Stratford, including 42nd Street, Camelot, Evita and West Side Story, director Gary Griffin returns to the classics in his fifth Festival season with Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Starring Geraint Wyn Davies and Yanna McIntosh, the tragic drama began previews on Sunday, August 3, at Stratford's Tom Patterson Theatre. The production officially opens tonight, August 14.

With a string of hit musicals to his credit at Stratford, including 42nd Street, Camelot, Evita and West Side Story, director Gary Griffin returns to the classics in his fifth Festival season with Shakespeare's Antony and Cleopatra. Starring Geraint Wyn Davies and Yanna McIntosh, the tragic drama begins previews on Sunday, August 3, at Stratford's Tom Patterson Theatre. The production officially opens on Thursday, August 14.