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| PREVIEWS |
Dancap Productions Inc.'s Jersey Boys earned two awards, one for Outstanding Direction for a Musical (Des McAnuff) while Jeff Madden, one of the four great Jersey boys, won Outstanding Performance by a Male in a Principal Role. The Canadian Stage Company earned two awards, one for Raven Dauda for her Featured Role in Miss Julie: Freedom Summer, and one for John Gzowski for Outstanding Sound Design for It's a Wonderful Life, while Alison Sealy-Smith won an Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role for Soulpepper Theatre Company's A Raisin in the Sun. Outstanding Touring Production went to the National Theatre of Scotland's Black Watch.
Other Awards went to theatre director Brendan Healy who won the 2009 Pauline McGibbon Award; longtime producer Marlene Smith who was presented with The Silver Ticket Award, and Jersey Boys who picked up TAPA's Audience Choice Award for Outstanding Production.
The Tempest
The 4th Line Theatre is proud to present the world premiere of Alex Poch-Goldin’s The Right Road to Pontypool. Pontypool, Ontario is a quiet and unassuming village founded about a hundred years ago and located one hundred kilometres north-east of Toronto. Larger-than-life Moishe Yukle, a Polish Jew, immigrated to Canada in the 1890’s and as a traveling salesman often traveled through Pontypool on his way to somewhere ‘more important.’ He didn’t find it a particularly impressive place but the land was cheap enough for a poor immigrant to buy and make a life for himself, even if he was the only Jew in town. When he decided to invite Jewish members of Toronto’s garment sweatshops out for some relief from the summer heat, so began an astonishing tale of Canada’s own version of a ‘Catskills’ vacation community. Over the next fifty years, it grew to encompass thousands of Toronto’s working class Jewish immigrants in the heart of a protestant southern Ontario town. Today it is a cherished memory of a world that was. The much anticipated world premiere of The Right Road to Pontypool stars renowned Canadian actors Ellen-Ray Hennessy, Allan Price and Dov Mickelson alongside a cast of 37 others. Kim Blackwell directs. The Right Road to Pontypool opens on June 30 and plays until August 1. Previews: June 30 and July 1.Opening night: Thursday, July 2. Performance Venue The Winslow Farm, 779 Zion Line. For directions and tickets please see the website at http://www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca or call (705) 932-4445 Toll Free: 1-800-814-0055.
After two seasons of growth and success at the box office, Canopy Theatre Company looks forward to yet another year of expansion and recognition as a destination for Outdoor Theatre in Downtown Toronto. As the best known love story in the English language, Romeo and Juliet has had many interpretations and incarnations due to its universal themes of the futility of conflict, the power of love to unite and how events can spiral into tragedy when we fail to listen to one another. Canopy Theatre's Artistic Director, Andrea Wasserman takes the helm of direction for the company's 9th Season and launches a re-imagination for the use of Philosopher's Stage. The new island-style stage extension, designed by Dan Kurek, sits in the middle of the audience, creating an 'in-the-round' playing space to compliment the straight-on playing of Philosopher's Stage. The design of the extension allows for actors to travel around and over top of the island with two playing levels. Creating this extra playing space also allows for scenes to flow from each each other without pause; enhancing the spiral of action and feeding the turmoil of Romeo and Juliet.Tackling Shakespeare's famous lovers are Tyrone Savage as Romeo and Cosette Derome as Juliet. Romeo and Juliet runs at Philosopher's Stage at Philosopher's Walk from Wednesday, July 15th through Saturday, August 1st, 2009. Wednesdays to Saturdays at 8pm. 80 Queen's Park - just steps from the Museum Subway station. Philosopher's Stage is located off of Philosopher's Walk next to the Edward Johnson Building and the Law Faculty on the campus of the University of Toronto. Bring your own blanket or lawn chair. Tickets: UofTtix Box Office at (416) 978-8849 or www.uofttix.ca.
he Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged) is a comedy written by Jesse Borgenson, Adam Long, and Daniel Singer. Directed by Robert Woodcock, the three-person cast, Martin Buote, Trevor Cartlidge and John Palmieri perform all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays and 154 sonnets in 90 minutes. It appeals to those who love Shakespeare (bardolaters) and those who don’t (bard-haters). This show is not recommended for those with heart ailments, inner-ear disorders, pacemakers or inclined to have motion sickness. Shakespeare in the Square is located Outside of the Rose Theatre on July 6-9, 20-23 and August 3-6 . Bring a lawn chair or blanket. This is a Pay-what-you-can production. For further information on the show and directions please see www.rosetheatre.ca for more information.
For Driftwood's most ambitious season to date, the counterplay between tragedy and comedy in these two plays is ideally matched by common themes of familial responsibility; both are very personal journeys of parents and their children.In addition, Driftwood launches its season with its first-ever two-day festival-within-a-festival in honour of this landmark year. The Shakespearience Festival will celebrate the life and work of Willliam Shakespeare through symposiums, receptions and a slew of other free activities for Shakespeare enthusiasts of all ages. The result is an exciting exploration of the relevance of Shakespeare's ideas for today.
I Am I
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Your comments are welcome! About Us | Reviews | Previews | Stratford | Shaw | Theatre World | Links of Interest | Contact Us | Home © 2008-2009 Jeniva Berger |
Spotlight: The 30th Dora Mavor Moore Awards, Toronto's annual celebration of Excellence in the Performing Arts, was a star-studded night for a lot of Toronto artists gathered at the Winter Garden Theatre on June 29. The big winner in General Theatre Production Division was the drama Agokwe, written and performed by 23-year-old Ojibwa artist Waawaate Fobister, which garnered six awards including Outstanding Production of a Play & New Play Outstanding direction by Ed Roy, and an Outstanding Performance Award by a Male in a Principal role for Fobister. (Reviewed in Scene Changes Sept. 2008 issue); (Photo by David Hawe. Waawaate Fobister in Agokwe)
The Lloyd Webber, David Ian and David Mirvish production of The Sound of Music won three awards including Outstanding Production of a Musical, and one for newcomer Elicia MacKenzie for Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Principal Role, while Sanctuary Song won the award for Outstanding New Musical/Opera for for librettist Marjorie Chan and composer Abigail Richardson. In the Independent Theatre Production Division: Eternal Hydra led with four Awards; in the Dance Division, Innovation: Emergence swept the four awards;. War and Peace, produced by the Canadian Opera Company, captured the award for Outstanding Production; and in Theatre for Young Audiences Division, Walking the Tightrope won both awards for Outstanding Production & Performance (by Wayne Robson). 
In the Independent Theatre Production Division, Crow's Theatre led the way with four Dora Awards for Eternal Hydra, and Maja Ardal won Outstanding Performance by a Female Award for her one-woman show You Fancy Yourself while David Ferry won Outstanding Performance Award by a Male for Someone Who'll Watch Over Me. 
Written with unflinching honesty, Clifford Odets’ finest play offers a glimpse into three generations of a Jewish family struggling to survive in Depression-era New York. A stirring ode to dreams, disappointments, and the desire for escape, Awake and Sing! is an American masterpiece. Awake and Sing! was first produced by the pioneering New York City collective The Group Theatre. The show premiered on Broadway at the Belasco Theater, to popular acclaim. The production was revived in 2006, at its original venue, by Lincoln Center Theater on Broadway. The show starred Ben Gazzara, Zoë Wanamaker and Mark Ruffalo, and won the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Play Revival. Miles Potter directs this revival with Derek Boyes as Myron, Ari Cohen as Moe, Oliver Dennis as Schlosser, Matthew Edison as Sam, Jonathan Gould as Ralph, Founding Member Michael Hanrahan as Morty, Founding Member Nancy Palk as Bessie, Founding Member William Webster as Jacob, and Soulpepper Academy graduate Sarah Wilson as Hennie. Previewing June 6, 2009, Awake and Sing! opens June 16 and runs until July 31 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, located at 55 Mill Street, Building 49, in the Distillery Historic District. Tickets are available by calling the Young Centre box office at 416.866.8666 or by visiting 
Returning for the Third Annual Toronto Just For Laughs Festival presented by WestJet, The Ethnic Comedy Show presented by Fallsview Casino Resort, Niagara Falls, Ontario continues to break ethnic barriers in the name of laughter, July 17 and 18, 2009, at the Winter Garden Theatre. With over 30 languages and 50 different countries represented in Toronto, it's no wonder that The Ethnic Comedy Show presented by Fallsview Casino Resort returns by popular demand. Comprised of comedians from all walks of life, The Ethnic Comedy Show presented by Fallsview Casino Resort will celebrate Toronto's dazzling diversity with its host, This Hour has 22 Minutes' Shaun Majumder (Indian). The show will feature an all-star line-up of Steve Byrne (Asian/Irish), Rachel Feinstein (Jewish), Godfrey (African American), Akmal Saleh (Egyptian), and special guest, Toronto's own Frank Spadone (Italian). The Ethnic Comedy Show presented by Fallsview Casino Resort is a part of the Toronto Just For Laughs Festival presented by WestJet, which is celebrating its third anniversary with the finest lineup yet! This year they'll have some of the world's best comedians performing in 42 shows, in 11 venues, over 5 days. The fun begins July 15, 2009, and continues non-stop until July 19, 2009. For full details including venues, schedules and performers, visit 
David Mirvish presents the Theatre Royal Stratford East and UK Arts production of the smash hit musical THE HARDER THEY COME, by Perry Henzell, at the Canon Theatre for a strictly limited engagement, July 21 through August 23, 2009. Based on the iconic 1972 film by Perry Henzell that launched Jimmy Cliff and reggae music onto the world stage, this exhilarating musical tells the story of Ivanhoe Martin (played by the superb Rolan Bell), a country boy who makes for the bright lights of Kingston Jamaica. With a head full of songs, including You Can Get it if You Really Want, Many Rivers To Cross, Higher and Higher, Rivers of Babylon and The Harder They Come, he dreams of becoming a reggae star. When the harsh reality of the music scene drives him into a fast and furious life as an outlaw, he would rather die than kill his dream. This new musical production by the esteemed Theatre Royal Stratford East in London, England, is staged in the spare, Brechtian style for which the company has become internationally famed. The performers, almost all of Jamaican descent, tell this cautionary tale with a passion that energizes the audience as only few shows have ever done. Toronto is the first stop on an international tour. Canon Theatre, 244 Victoria Street. Available online at 
Dancap Productions presents Jersey Boys, the hit musical about Rock and Roll Hall of Famers The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. This is the story of how four blue-collar kids became one of the greatest successes in pop music history. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide – all before they were thirty! Jersey Boys features their hit songs “Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Rag Doll,” “Oh What a Night” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” Jersey Boys is the winner of the 2006 Best Musical Tony Award® and the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album. Directed by two-time Tony Award® winner and Toronto native Des McAnuff, Jersey Boys is written by Academy Award-winner Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, with music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and choreography by Sergio Trujillo, another native Torontonian. Jersey Boys opened at the August Wilson Theatre on Broadway to critical acclaim on November 6, 2005 and remains among the top five grossing shows in New York.
The new cast of Jersey Boys includes
Quinn VanAntwerp as Bob Gaudio, Jeremy Kushnier continuing in the role of Tommy DeVito, Michael Lomenda as Nick Massi, and Jeff Madden in the role of Frankie Valli, plus Timothy Sell in the role of Gyp DeCarlo and Shawn Wright in the role of Bob Crewe. Jersey Boys and plays until Sept. 27, 2009. 5040 Yonge Street (Easy access for bus/car parking. Near the North York Centre TTC stop). To purchase tickets and/or to find out more, call 416-644-3665 or visit JerseyBoysToronto.com.
Joe Orton’s wild parody of detective fiction begins when the stash from a bank robbery is hidden in a coffin. As the thieves scramble to hide the body from a bumbling police inspector who is hot on their heels, Orton introduces a cast of absurdly devious characters in this shocking and hilarious tale of greed. Loot saw its first production in Cambridge, England, in 1965 and was the fifth of 10 plays Orton wrote before he was murdered, at age 34, in 1967. Orton's biography was written by American theatre critic John Lahr and also took the form of a 1987 feature film of the same name, Prick Up Your Ears, which was based largely on Orten’s diaries, as well as Lahr’s book. Orton’s reputation has risen steadily in recent years as one of the funniest and most subversive English writers of his generation. Presented by the Soulpepper Theatre Company, Jim Warren directs this outrageous farce with Oliver Dennis as McLeavy, Nicole Underhay as Fay, Matthew Edison as Hal, Jonathan Watton as Dennis, Founding Member Michael Hanrahan as Truscott, and Derek Boyes as Meadows. Previewing June 5, 2009, Loot opens June 18 and runs until August 1 at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, located at 55 Mill Street, Building 49, in the Distillery Historic District. Tickets are available by calling the Young Centre box office at 416.866.8666 or by visiting 
With music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse (suggested by “The Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp), The Sound of Music is one of the most beloved musicals of all time. The score for The Sound of Music brims over with some of the most memorable songs ever performed on the musical stage including My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, and of course the title song The Sound of Music. This timeless family classic is directed by Jeremy Sams, choreographed by Arlene Philips and designed by Robert Jones, all of who won raves from the London critics for their superb work on the West End production. Canadian Elicia MacKenzie won the role of Maria in the national casting tour of "How do You Solve a Problem Like Maria" which began in January 2008. Elicia performs the role six times a week, alternating with Janna Polzin, another popular contestant on the TV program, who is cast as the alternate Maria and will perform the role twice weekly. Captain von Trapp is played by Broadway star Burke Moses with Noella Huet as the Mother Abbess. Featured are Keith Dinicol, Blythe Wilson, Megan Nuttal and Jeff Irving. The Sound of Mousic runs until Sept. 6, 2009 at the Princess of Wales Theatre, 300 King St. Tickets: Available online at www.mirvish.comor by calling TicketKing at 416-872-1212 or 1-800-461-3333 or in person at the Royal Alexandra Theatre Box Office. 
Lock up your daughters! A rollicking, swashbuckling romp through Merry Olde England that captures the laugh-a-minute hilarity of the original comic masterpiece by Henry Fielding. Follow the madcap adventures of the irresistible foundling, Tom Jones, as he falls in love, fights off villains, meets a host of strange bedfellows and embarks on a quest to solve the mystery of his parentage.Scarborough Players presents the fourth and final production of its 50th Anniversary Season. In June, Scarborough Players will present the David Rogers adaptation of the classic novel by Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, directed by Katharine Turner. Tom Jones, foundling and ward of Squire Allworthy (Reg Ellis), is deeply in love with Sophia and she with him, but her father has arranged for her to marry the Squire's nephew (and heir), young Blifil. The romance is discovered, Tom is banished and Sophia, with her maid, Honourm sets out to find him. They are followed by Sophia's father, his sister, Squire Allworthy and Blifil. All find madcap adventures on the road to London and meet with many strange bedfellows. Tom Jones features Sean Killackey as Tom Jones with Reg Ellis, Emma Turner, Christopher Rodriguez and Valen Boyd and plays from June 25 to July 11 at the Scarborough Village Theatre. 3600 Kingston Rd. (at Markham Rd. ), Scarborough , ON. Box Office: 416-396-4049.
Beat the recessionary blues with staycation destination Canadian Stage TD Dream in High Park. The popular Toronto summer tradition returns with a new gender-bending staging of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest directed by Sue Miner. Dora Award-winning actress Karen Robinson stars as Prospera, the sorceress of an enchanted isle, in this tale of political intrigue, fantastical creatures, magic, comedy and romance. The Tempest is widely considered Shakespeare's last complete work. In this production, Prospero becomes Prospera, the banished Duchess of Milan, who develops her mystical powers while stranded on a remote and enchanted island. Using magic to conjure up a powerful storm, she shipwrecks her usurping brother and his accomplices on the island to exact her revenge. Estranged relatives collide and new love grows where hatred and vengeance once reigned. Joining actor Karen Robinson as Prospera, The Tempest cast includes Karl Ang, Mark Crawford, Robert Dodds, Audrey Dwyer, Tracey Ferencz, Liz Gordon, Jason Gray, Ron Kennell, Patrick Kwok-Choon and Taylor Trowbridge. Previews begin June 26; opening night June 30; continuing to September 6, 2009 at the open-air theatre in High Park. Performances run Tuesday through Sunday at 8 p.m. Gate opens at 6 p.m. PWYC Admission at the gate (suggested minimum donation $20). Free for children 14 and under.Location: High Park at Bloor St. W.+ High Park Ave. Near High Park subway station. Enter park from Bloor St. Follow the road south to Grenadier Café. Continue east on path opposite Café parking lot marked by Dream sign. Family Days at the Dream return Wednesday, July 1 and Sundays throughout the summer with free, all-ages, pre-show activities. For Dream information, contact 416-367-1652 or canstage.com. Outdoors arena seating. Bring your own blanket. 
Toronto’s new professional theatre company, Long Eared Plays proudly presents its inaugural show, Vigil by Morris Panych. An amusing, ironic study of a man confronting his long-lost aunt on her death bed, served up with a twist, the production runs June 27-July 12 at the historic Ward's Island Association Playhouse -a ten-minute boat ride from downtown Toronto. Director Philip Shepherd teams up with set & lighting designer Roger Pepler and costume & hair designers Leida Englar and Alice Norton. Vigil , a co-production with Phyzikal Theatre, stars Long Eared Plays founder & artistic director, Matthew Ferguson alongside Judy Sinclair. Vigil has delighted audiences around the world. Panych's brilliant black comedy is structured around what happens when an extremely self-centred and shallow person finds himself, through his own errors and inattentiveness, in a life and death situation with profound and far reaching consequences. A play of twisted circumstances and surprising turns, it is deliciously absurd, incredibly funny and poignantly tender. Vigil plays at the Ward’s Island Association Playhouse, 20 Withrow St., Toronto – Ward’s Island M5J-2C4. For a 7:30 PM show, catch the 7:00PM ferry to Ward’s Island from Bay St. & Queen's Quay. Tickets available at 
On April 18, 2009, The Red Barn, Canada’s Longest Running Professional Summer Theatre became a pile of ashes as the historic Red Barn succumbed to a devastating fire.The tributes continue to pour in from across Canada, recognizing The Red Barn Theatre’s remarkable contribution to the arts in Canada and expressing a strong desire that their 2009 Season go ahead as planned. And so, in true theatrical fashion, they're doing just that. In a unanimous decision, the Red Baarn Board accepted the Town of Georgina’s offer of the Stephen Leacock Theatre as their temporary home. So, celebrating six decades of showcasing dynamic theatre performed by top Canadian talent, The Red Barn Theatre is back for its 60th Anniversary Season, kicking off with Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie (June 18 to July 4), originally performed during the inaugural 1949 season at the theatre.This entertaining memory play uses humour and pathos to examine a family unraveling, lost in their individual fantasies and dreams. Fiona Reid, one of Canada’s most celebrated actresses, will be starring in our production of Tennessee William’s classic directed by Jordan Merkur. She's joined by Jonathan Crombie as Tom and Michelle Monteith will play “Laura”, a role for which she won The Montreal English Critics Circle Award as Best Actress. Box Office at 905 722 3249, 1 888 733 2276 or visit 
The Flower City Theatre Festival presents Norm Foster`s The Foursome. Directed by Kathryn DeLory and featuring Brian Jedan, Chris Reid, Scott Carmichael and John Sellens. Rick, Ted, Donnie and Cameron have come back home for their fifteenth college reunion and catch up on each other’s lives since their college days over a game of golf. Made up of warm and funny moments, the entire play takes place on the eighteen holes of the course. July 16, 18, 19 at 2pm and July 15, 16, 17, &18 at 7:30pm. 1 Theatre Lane. For ticket information call 905-874-2800 at the Rose Theatre Box Office or visit the website at 
Driftwood Theatre Group proudly announces its 15th anniversary season, The Bard's Bus Tour (formerly, Outdoor Summer Theatre), an ambitious undertaking of two of Shakespeare's finest plays, King Lear and The Comedy of Errors, which will tour 27 outdoor locations across Ontario between July 9 and August 23, 2009. Directed by Driftwood's Artistic Director Jeremy Smith and performed by Canada's brightest upcoming talent with some of its most seasoned performers, The Bard's Bus Tour launches at its new home at Toronto's heritage Todmorden Mills.The descent into madness in King Lear is as famous as the insane tale of mistaken identity in The Comedy of Errors. 
Shakespeare returns to the Humber River Shakespeare Company with an outdoor touring production of Much Ado About Nothing. Last year marked Humber River Shakespeare’s inaugural season of touring outdoor Shakespeare within the historic and pastoral Humber River Region. Attracting crowds to community parks in all of their venues, the company returns with an expanded tour in York Region this summer. Directed by Kevin Hammond, Much Ado About Nothing is a tale of two loving relationships - one youthful and impetuous, the other mature, cynical, and guarded - the courses of which are brought to the brink of disaster by machinations both innocent and wicked .Expect an evening of unexpected shocks, laughter, and outrageous liberties in equal measure. So that no eyes or ears miss out on the joy of live theatre, the cost of all performances is by donation, on site. Bring a chair or blanket, and we will see you in the park! Much Ado About Nothing plays from July 15 to Aug. 3. For the touring schedule, please see 
Dancing Monkey Theatre offers a wild and quirky alternative to the endless stream of festivals parading through Montreal this summer with I AM I, the latest from Montreal playwright and screenwriter, Mike Czuba, author of The Elusive, (Mirror’s Best Play of 2007-08). Audiences can escape the madding crowds of frenzied festival fans to see this dark and multi-layered comedy at the Players’ Theatre, located at 3480 McTavish on the McGilll University Campus in the heart of downtown from July 8 - 24. Directed by Larry Lamont and starring Patricia Mckenzie, George Bekiaris and Tristan D. Lalla, the new work features the added attraction of live music by electro-acoustic sound designer, Tai Timbers. Man 1 and Man 2 are locked in a life long struggle between wants and needs, the desired and the rational, never fully understanding that one without the other means nothing. This battle of ideals comes to a head with the introduction of Sonya, the latest object of interest and the metaphor for all that came before. Not only does she represent the women, but their dreams and identities as well. Using deceptively simple language, Czuba explores the quagmire where our inner voices run rampant, exposing every fear, base instinct and childish need with sharp and ruthless wit. I Am I plays at the Player's Theatre from July 8 to 24. 3480 McTavish, 3rd Floor, Box Office: 514-369-6954. 
