The Stratford Shakespeare Festival Videos

Live from the red carpet, co-hosts Janice Zolf and Dan Chameroy bring you the opening night of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's 60th season. Meet Festival favourites and special guests as they arrive to see the 2012 production of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival this year features something for everyone. For history lovers, there's Henry V, The War of 1812 and Wanderlust, a new musical set during the gold rush of the Great North. Lovers of romance will enjoy The Matchmaker, as well as the classic Shakespeare plays Cymbeline and Much Ado About Nothing. Another classic, the Greek tragedy Elektra, comes from the hand of one of Greece's most avant-garde directors. Lovers of literature will want to see Christopher Plummer's A Word or Two. For families, there's You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, MacHomer and The Pirates of Penzance. A season rich in musicals also features the Broadway favourite 42nd Street. The season runs now thru October 28.

In the clips below, watch director Julian Marsh (Sean Arbuckle), actor Billy Lawlor (Kyle Blair) and the company of Pretty Lady convince Peggy Sawyer (Jennifer Rider-Shaw) to take over the lead in the show in 42nd Street, just one of 14 productions that make up the 60th season of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Plus, watch a scene from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing in which Benedick (Ben Carlson) meets his 'dear Lady Disdain,' Beatrice (Deborah Hay), after returning to Messina from military service. Check out the videos below!

Thanks to the vision and determination of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's pioneering artists, the adventure that began in 1953 with two productions in a tent is now North America's premier repertory theatre. In a season celebrating 60 years of theatrical achievement, the Festival presents 14 productions in five venues, featuring Christopher Plummer and one of the finest acting companies in the world. The season runs now thru October 28. Watch highlights from the Festival's upcoming productions below!

Thanks to the vision and determination of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's pioneering artists, the adventure that began in 1953 with two productions in a tent is now North America's premier repertory theatre. In a season celebrating 60 years of theatrical achievement, the Festival presents 14 productions in five venues, featuring Christopher Plummer and one of the finest acting companies in the world. The season runs now thru October 28. Watch a trailer of the Festival's upcoming productions below!

This time it's Broadway's new 'It Boy' Josh Young, who is wowing fans and critics alike as 'Judas' in the new revival of Jesus Christ Superstar. During their chat, Young got candid about his physical journey to becoming a leading man, when he first had a premonition that playing 'Judas' would someday be his breakout, and why he considers himself truly blessed.

Schulich Children's Plays at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival presents You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. Director and Choreographer Donna Feore discuss the music, cast, and core message of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown in the behind the scenes video below. The show is one of fourteen productions in the 2012 Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

Actor Eric McCormack appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss his role as a villainous senator in the current Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's THE BEST MAN.

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's Artistic Director and 2-time Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR opens March 22, 2012 (previews began March 1) at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). The cast of Broadway's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and director Des McAnuff recently sat down to talk about the production. Check out what they had to say below!

In the Wednesday, February 29th performance of GODSPELL, stage and screen star Eric McCormack made a cameo appearance in the role of Lazarus. Watch the humorous performance below!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater's (CST) 25th Anniversary Season production of William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin (CST's Follies, Broadway's The Color Purple) is now playing through April 8, 2012, and features a celebrated company of artists that includes stage and screen actor Ron Orbach as Nick Bottom, former Saturday Night Live funnyman Tim Kazurinsky as Peter Quince, and veteran CST actors Tracy Michelle Arnold as Hippolyta/Titania and Timothy Edward Kane as Theseus/Oberon. Performing the role of Puck is Elizabeth Ledo.

In the video below, see how Scenic Artists Danny McManus and Michael Wharran created the painted show drop for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's 2012 production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which runs May 15 to October 28 at the Avon Theatre.

Currently running at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, THE HOMECOMING tells the story of Teddy, who has been living in America for the past six years, away from the all-male household of his father, uncle and brothers. When he returns unexpectedly to the family's North London home, accompanied by his wife, Ruth, the ensuing struggle for power leads to a shocking conclusion. For more information, visit www.stratfordshakespearefestival.com. Below, see Cara Ricketts (Ruth) describes what it is like working with such a dark story in the 2011 Stratford Shakespeare Festival production of THE HOMECOMING.

The Misanthrope is just one of 12 magnificent productions as part of the 2011 season at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.Check out a sneak peek below!

In this scene, in an attempt to assert himself over his brother, Sam (Stephen Ouimette), Max (Brian Dennehy) compares their professions and their duties to family and country. The Homecoming is one of 12 productions as part of the 2011 season at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

With William Shakespeare as its foundation, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival aims to set the standard for classical theatre in North America. Embracing heritage of tradition and innovation, it seeks to bring classical and Contemporary Theatre alive for an increasingly diverse audience. By searching Canada and the world for the finest talent, and by providing the conditions and training that enable those artists to achieve their most courageous work, it immerses audiences in a theatregoing experience that is innovative, entertaining and deeply relevant to, and reflective of, their lives and communities. For more information, visit online at www.stratfordfestival.ca; currently playing as part of the Festival are TWELFTH NIGHT and TITUS ANDRONICUS. Hear what two of the stars of TITUS ANDRONICUS had to say about their characters below!

With William Shakespeare as its foundation, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival aims to set the standard for classical theatre in North America. Embracing our heritage of tradition and innovation, we seek to bring classical and Contemporary Theatre alive for an increasingly diverse audience. For more information, visit online at www.stratfordfestival.ca; currently playing as part of the Festival are TWELFTH NIGHT and TITUS ANDRONICUS. View a scene from each below!

In the video below, Tom Rooney (Malvolio), Stephen Ouimette (Sir Andrew Aguecheek) and Brian Dennehy (Sir Toby Belch) sit down to chat about the 'Lords of Misrule' in the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's production of Twelfth Night. Click below to check it out!