The Citizen, 2012-05-31, Page 23THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012. PAGE 23.
The Stratford Shakespeare
Festival launches its 60th season on
Monday, May 28, with a gala
performance of Much Ado About
Nothing. This is the final season
under the artistic directorship of Des
McAnuff, and one that promises an
array of wonderful theatre for every
taste and age group.
“The 60th season is representative
of Stratford in all its glory,” says
McAnuff, who is directing Henry V
and Christopher Plummer’s A Word
or Two, both of which open later in
the season. “Embodying Stratford’s
hallmark marriage of tradition and
innovation, the playbill ranges from
the very roots of drama to some of
the finest playwrights working in
Canada today. Shakespearean
comedy, history and romance are
complemented by a hilarious
contemporary pastiche of
Shakespearean tragedy, while the
season’s varied musical theatre
repertoire acknowledges our own
era’s great contribution to the
western dramatic tradition.
Meanwhile, the strength of our
acting company is being showcased
not only in Stratford but also on
Broadway, with the Tony-nominated
Jesus Christ Superstar.”
“As we celebrate our Festival’s
60th season, the glorious heritage of
our past provides us with a clear
signpost to the way ahead,” says
General Director Antoni Cimolino.
“Our pioneering artists and those
who supported them sought to create
in Stratford nothing less than the
finest classical theatre in the world.
Thanks to their vision and
determination, the adventure that
began in 1953 with two productions
in a tent is now North America’s
premier repertory theatre, featuring
14 productions in five venues. That
same spirit drives us today as we
explore the classics of the past and
give birth to the classics of the
future.”
Much Ado About Nothing is
directed by Christopher Newton,
who was a member of the Festival’s
acting company from 1966 to 1968.
It features Ben Carlson as Benedick
and Deborah Hay as Beatrice.
Five other productions will open
during the week: 42nd Street,
directed by Gary Griffin and
featuring Sean Arbuckle as Julian
Marsh, Kyle Blair as Billy Lawlor,
Cynthia Dale as Dorothy Brock, and
Jennifer Rider-Shaw as Peggy
Sawyer; You’re a Good Man,
Charlie Brown, directed by Donna
Feore, featuring Stephen Patterson
as Snoopy, Erica Peck as Lucy and
Ken James Stewart as Charlie
Brown; Cymbeline, directed by
Antoni Cimolino, featuring Graham
Abbey as Posthumus, Tom
McCamus as Iachimo, Cara Ricketts
as Innogen, and Geraint Wyn Davies
as Cymbeline; The Pirates of
Penzance, directed by Ethan
McSweeny, featuring Sean Arbuckle
as the Pirate King, Kyle
Blair as Frederic, C. David Johnson
as the Major General, and
Amy Wallis as Mabel Stanley; and
The Matchmaker, directed by
Chris Abraham, featuring
Tom McCamus as Horace
Vandergelder and Seana McKenna
as Dolly Levi.
The 60th season will feature a
number of special events, including
Christopher Plummer’s one-man
show A Word or Two, which will run
from July 25 to August 26. Most
Rare Visions: 60 Years of the
Stratford Shakespeare Festival is an
exhibition of Festival artifacts,
including rare footage of our
pioneers, at a new space catty-corner
to the Avon Theatre, at 104 Downie
Street. A symposium, Interpreting
Shakespeare Across Settings and
Media, featuring Colm Feore,
Norman Lloyd, Dr. Katherine Lowe
and the Festival’s Director of
Archives, Dr. Francesca Marini, will
be held on June 2. A dramatic
reading of Edward Bond’s Bingo,
about an aging William
Shakespeare, will be held on June
15, with the playwright on hand for
a Q&A with the audience. Lucy
Peacock will hold a number of
cabarets – Late Night with Lucy – in
the new Studio Annex, in July and
August, featuring music and
conversation. The Celebrated
Writers Series returns with Stephen
Marche, author of How Shakespeare
Changed Everything; Richard
McCoy, author of Faith in
Shakespeare; Michael Ondaatje,
author of The Cat’s Table; and
Margaret Atwood, author of In
Other Worlds. Master voice and
Shakespeare teacher Patsy
Rodenberg will present three special
events from July 18 to 22, to mark
60 years of the Festival’s extensive
actor training activities. The Festival
will launch a special 60th season
book on June 2, Stratford: Behind
the Scenes, which will available
through the Theatre Store. These
special events are all in addition to
the Festival’s usual enrichment
activities.
The Stratford Shakespeare
Festival’s 2012 season runs until
October 28, featuring Much Ado
About Nothing; 42nd Street; The
Matchmaker; Henry V; You’re A
Good Man, Charlie Brown; The
Pirates of Penzance; A Word or Two;
Cymbeline; Wanderlust; Elektra;
MacHomer; The Best Brothers;
Hirsch and The War of 1812.
Festival officially launches 60th season
Her best Loretta
Amberley Beatty performed as country music legend
Loretta Lynn at the Barn Dance Historical Society’s show at
the Blyth and District Community Centre on Saturday night.
Beatty was one of many performers throughout the
weekend, which included a special guest performance by
George Hamilton IV. (Jim Brown photo)
an ev
e
n
i
n
g
of dance, m u s i c
t h e a t r e a n d p erformance a r t
all proceeds go to support the arts programs at Madill
ALIVESpring The F E Madill Arts Department Presents
’12
Thursday May 31st
F E Madill Large Gym
7:00 PM
Tickets $10 at the door
$7 with student card
COMMUNITY LIVING
Wingham & District
Annual General Meeting
Monday, June 18, 2012
Social: 5:30 p.m.
Meeting 6:30 p.m.
Royal Canadian Legion
Wingham, Ontario
Happy 60th
Anniversary
to
Dad & Mom
May 31
Love from your family
Family & Friends are invited to an
Engagement
for
Laura Armstrong
& Peter Edgar
Saturday, June 2
6 pm - 1 am
at the Armstrong residence,
43325 Brandon Rd., RR #1, Ethel
$10 per person, children 12 and under free
For tickets or directions call:
Cheryl Laffin 519-887-9769
Jaclyn Miltenburg 519-233-3132
Joel Coghlin 519-356-9066
for
Michelle Nixon
& Tyson Glassier
Saturday, June 2nd, 2012
9pm - 1am Belgrave Arena
Bus Leaving Wingham
(Valu-Mart) @ 9:45pm
Lunch provided, DJ
Age of Majority Tickets $5.00
Call Steve for tickets
519-357-2222
Entertainment Leisure&
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