It is rare these days that I take my seat in a theatre to watch a play that I know almost nothing about. I was almost embarrassed to admit that fact about Eduardo De Filippo's NAPOLI MILIONARIA! Which is currently being performed in repertory at the Stratford Festival's Avon Theatre. Granted, the original was in Italian and this production, directed by the Festival's Artistic Director, Antoni Cimolino, is the world premiere of the new translation by John Murrell (from a literal translation by Donato Santeramo). It was still not until I was reading the program liner notes that I knew more about this production than the brief synopsis offered on the Stratford Festival website. To my delight, I think this only enriched my experience as an audience member. The universality in a story that was written about a very specific time and place is nothing short of beautiful, and the performances have left me thinking about the play long after the final curtain.
Napoli Milionaria!, Eduardo De Filippo's comic masterpiece, begins previews today, marking its first Stratford presentation. Directed by Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino, the production opens on August 17 at the Avon Theatre.
Over the years, I have had a variety of different thoughts as I walked out of a theatre at the Stratford Festival having just watched a Shakespearean production. I often reflect on how the show made me feel, or the incredible performances I just witnessed, or the creative ways the director made the production his or her own. All of those thoughts certainly crept into my mind in the hours following the opening performance of CORIOLANUS, but Friday night was the first time that I exited the theatre after seeing one of Shakespeare's works where the very first thought that crossed my mind was 'That. Was. Cool.' The second thought that crossed my mind was 'Had the Tom Patterson Theatre been available, would this production have been at the Avon?' If the answer is 'no', then thank goodness for construction because the Avon Theatre is exactly where this production needed to be and Robert Lepage is exactly the person who needed to direct it. Again…That. Was. Cool.
As the house lights went down in Stratford's Festival Theatre on June 10th and it became clear that director Antoni Cimolino's production of THE TEMPEST was about to begin, there were loud cheers of excitement and, quite frankly, relief from the audience-many of whom had been at the theatre for what was supposed to be Opening Night of the Festival just weeks earlier. All eyes were on the 44-season Festival veteran Martha Henry, who was already on stage. The anticipation among audience members was palpable. Everyone seemed excited that she finally had this moment that had been rudely taken away from her by a bomb threat on May 28th. And then, as is the case with all good theatre…those thoughts and emotions were swept away, as the audience became immersed in the story happening before the
Robert Lepage makes a thrilling Stratford Festival debut with Shakespeare's Coriolanus, featuring Andre Sills in the title role. Created in collaboration with Ex Machina, the production begins previews this Saturday, June 9, at the Avon Theatre, and runs until October 20, marking its official opening on June 22.
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.
Robert Lepage will make his Stratford debut directing Coriolanus, featuring Andre Sills in the title role. A veteran of the Birmingham Conservatory and four seasons at Stratford, Mr. Sills has been at the Shaw Festival most recently, with leading roles in 'Master Harold'... and the Boys and An Octoroon. The production will also feature Graham Abbey as Tullus Aufidius, Michael Blake as Cominuis, Tom McCamus as Menenius Agrippa, Stephen Ouimette as Junius Brutus, Lucy Peacock as Volumnia and Tom Rooney as Sicinius Velutus.
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.
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.'
Nightfall Theatrics proudly announces the return engagement of Will Eno's TITLE AND DEED as part of the Tarragon Workspace series, running September 19 to October 8.
The Shaw is one of two major Canadian theater celebrations, the other being The Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario. Both are professional, high quality venues.
McCAMUS IS BRILLIANT AS KING GEORGE III
Mental illness in the 18h Century, aka madness, was as in some respects as poorly understood and accepted then as it is today. Being a monarch would imply that the best care would be at your disposal, but when the malady is unknown, even King George III of England suffered with the illness and often moreso with the treatment. Alan Bennett's 1991 play THE MADNESS OF GEORGE III is being given a lavishly detailed production at the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake. George may be best known as the monarch who lost control of the American colonies in 1776, but he was dealt a worse fate, suffering from Acute Intermittent Porphyria. This disease, which was uncharted at the time, caused periods of confusion, psychosis with unintelligible speech, horrible abdominal pain and itchiness. His production of a blue colored urine was the first medical sign that something was amiss with the King.
When the Shaw Festival's 2017 production of Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan begins previews on May 3 at the Festival Theatre, it marks two milestones for Artistic Director Tim Carroll - a Shaw Festival directorial debut and his first undertaking of a work by the Festival's namesake. His production joins the tradition of earlier presentations of Saint Joan by former artistic directors Christopher Newton and Jackie Maxwell in 1981 and 2007, respectively.
Equal parts political comedy and biographical drama, Alan Bennett's The Madness of George III explores the dangerous consequences when a king who loses control of his body, words and mind in the midst of his rule. The Madness of George III debuts at The Shaw's Royal George Theatre on April 11.
The Shaw Festival proudly announces casting for Artistic Director Tim Carroll's first season. The Shaw's 2017 ensemble is a mix of new faces and Festival favourites - each actor ready to entertain and excite audiences in this season's 11 productions.
The Stratford Festival presents the North American premiere of Shakespeare in Love, based on the screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard and adapted for the stage by Lee Hall, creator of the stage and screen versions of Billy Elliot. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!
The Stratford Festival presents the North American premiere of Shakespeare in Love, based on the screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard and adapted for the stage by Lee Hall, creator of the stage and screen versions of Billy Elliot. Check out a first look at the cast in action below!
The North American premiere of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE opened on Saturday night at the Stratford Festival's Avon Theatre. This feel-good production is full of hilarious characters, stunning costumes, and clever references to the works of William Shakespeare. Most of all, though, it is full of heart.
THE LION THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE (from Schulich Children's Plays) opened at Stratford Festival's Avon Theatre on what became a magical Thursday evening. Based on the book by C.S. Lewis and dramatized by Adrian Mitchell, this production, directed by Tim Carroll is enchanting and fun for the entire family.
