Win a pair of tickets to Barrymore!

We’re giving away 15 pairs of tickets to see Academy Award Winner, Christopher Plummer, in Barrymore at Cineplex Theatre’s across Canada on select dates between May 23 and June 10, 2012.*

Send an e-mail to socialmedia@stratfordfestival.ca and tell us the first role Mr. Plummer played at the Festival along with your name and mailing address, and you and a friend could be heading to see this amazing film in theatres!

Don’t delay; we’re giving the tickets to the first 15 correct answers!

More information about Barrymore:
“A film adaptation of playwright William Luce’s Barrymore that depicts actor John Barrymore as he prepares for a revival of his 1920 Broadway triumph in “Richard III.” The year is 1942 and Barrymore is far past his prime. It appears he has booked the theater simply to perform alone, while he drinks and reminisces about his family and the profession of acting. Meanwhile, a stage manager stands in the wings, prompting Barrymore with Shakespeare’s dialogue, but the actor appears to be otherwise distracted.”

If this film sounds familiar you probably saw Mr. Plummer in Barrymore when it was presented on the Festival Stage in 1996!

Click here to find a Cineplex Theatre close to you, and to search show times!

Participating Theatres & Show Dates: (note, theatres listed in bold will also be playing Barrymore daily between May 25-31, 2012)

Theatre Name	Address	City Name	Province	Dates
Galaxy Cinemas Lethbridge	501-1st Avenue S.W.	Lethbridge	AB	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Red Deer	#357, 37400 Highway #2	Red Deer County	AB	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Medicine Hat	3292 Dunmore Rd. S.E.	Medicine Hat	AB	May 23, June 2
Cineplex Odeon Grande Prairie	10330-109th St.	Grande Prairie	AB	May 23, June 2
Cineplex Odeon South Edmonton	1525-99th St. N.W.	Edmonton	AB	All dates
Scotiabank Theatre Chinook	6455 Macleod trail S.W	Calgary	AB	All dates
Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton	#3030, 8882-170 Street	Edmonton	AB	All dates
Cineplex Odeon Windermere	6151 Currents Drive NW	Edmonton	AB	May 23, June 2
Odeon Victoria	780 Yates Street	Victoria	BC	June 2, June 7
Cineplex Odeon Aberdeen Mall	700 – 1320 Trans Canada Hwy	Kamloops	BC	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Nanaimo	213 – 4750 Rutherford Rd	Nanaimo	BC	May 23, June 2
Cineplex Odeon International Village	88 West Pender Street, 3rd Floor	Vancouver	BC	All dates
Colossus Langley	20090 91A Ave	Langley	BC	All dates
SilverCity Riverport	14211 Entertainment Way	Richmond	BC	All dates
SilverCity Coquitlam	170 Schoolhouse Street	Coquitlam	BC	All dates
Famous Players 6 Prince George	172 – 1600 15th Ave	Prince George	BC	All dates
SilverCity Tillicum Victoria	3130 Tillicum Road	Victoria	BC	All dates
SilverCity Polo Park	817 ST. James	Winnipeg	MB	All dates
SilverCity St. Vital	160-1255 St. Mary’s Road	Winnipeg	MB	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas North Bay	300 Lakeshore Dr.	North Bay	ON	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Sault Ste. Marie	293 Bay Street	Sault. Ste. Marie	ON	May 23, June 2
SilverCity Sudbury	355 Barrydowne Road	Sudbury	ON	May 23, June 2
SilverCity Thunder Bay	850 North May Street	Thunder Bay	ON	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Moose Jaw	1235 Main Street N	Moose Jaw	SK	June 2, June 7
Galaxy Cinemas Regina	420 McCarthy Blvd N. Unit 26	Regina	SK	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Saskatoon	347 2nd Avenue S.	Saskatoon	SK	May 23, June 2
SilverCity Fairview Mall	1800 Sheppard Avenue East, Unit Y007	Toronto	ON	May 23, June 2
Cineplex Odeon Varsity Cinemas	55 Bloor Street West	Toronto	ON	All dates
Cineplex Odeon First Markham	3275 Hwy 7	Markham	ON	May 23, June 2
Cineplex Odeon Sheppard Grande	4861 Yonge Street	Toronto	ON	All dates
Cineplex Odeon Queensway	1025 The Queensway	Etobicoke	ON	All dates
SilverCity Yonge & Eglinton	2300 Yonge Street	Toronto	ON	All dates
Scotiabank Theatre Toronto	259 Richmond Street West	Toronto	ON	All dates
SilverCity Richmond Hill	8725 Yonge Street	Richmond Hill	ON	All dates
SilverCity Newmarket	18151 Yonge Street	Newmarket	ON	All dates
SilverCity Brampton	50 Great Lakes DR.	Brampton	ON	May 23, June 2
Coliseum Mississauga	309 Rathburn Road, West	Mississauga	ON	All dates
Cineplex Odeon South Keys Cinemas	2214 Bank Street	Ottawa	ON	May 23, June 2
Cineplex Odeon Ajax Cinemas	248 Kingston Road	Ajax	ON	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Barrie	72 Commerce Park Drive	Barrie	ON	May 23, June 2
Cineplex Odeon Gardiner’s Road	626 Gardiner’s Road	Kingston	ON	All dates
Galaxy Cinemas Cornwall	1325 Second St. E.	Cornwall	ON	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Peterborough	320 Water St.	Peterborough	ON	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Midland	9226 County Rd 93, RR #2, Box #52	Midland	ON	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Orillia	865 West Ridge Boulevard	Orillia	ON	June 2, June 7
Galaxy Cinemas Brockville	1000 Islands Mall, 2399 Parkedale Avenue	Brockville	ON	June 2, June 7
Cineplex Odeon Oshawa	1351 Grandview Street North	Oshawa	ON	All dates
Coliseum Scarborough	Scarborough Town Centre , 300 Borough Drive, Unit 765	Scarborough	ON	All dates
Galaxy Belleville	160 Bell Boulevard	Belleville	ON	May 23, June 2
Coliseum Ottawa	3090 Carling Avenue	Ottawa	ON	All dates
SilverCity Gloucester	2385 City Park Drive	Ottawa	ON	All dates
Cineplex Odeon Ste. Foy	1200 Boul. Duplessis	Ste-Foy	QC	May 23, June 2
Cineplex Odeon Brossard	9350, boul. Leduc	Brossard	QC	All dates
Galaxy Cinemas Sherbrooke	4204 Bertrand	Rock Forest	QC	May 23, June 2
Cineplex Odeon Cavendish Mall	5800 boul. Cavendish	Cote St. Luc	QC	All dates
StarCité Gatineau	115 boul. Du Plateau	Hull	QC	May 23, June 2
Scotiabank Theatre Montreal	977 Ste-Catherine West	Montreal	QC	All dates
Coliseum Kirkland	3200 Rue Jean Yves	Kirkland	QC	All dates
Colossus Laval	2800 rue Cosmodôme	Laval	QC	May 23, June 2
Cineplex Odeon Westmount Cinemas	755 Wonderland Road South	London	ON	May 23, June 2
Cineplex Odeon Niagara Square	7555 Montrose Road	Niagara Falls	ON	All dates
Cineplex Odeon Devonshire Mall	3100 Howard Avenue	Windsor	ON	All dates
Galaxy Cinemas Owen Sound	Galaxy Centre, 1020 10th St. W	Owen Sound	ON	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Waterloo	550 King St. N.	Waterloo	ON	All dates
Galaxy Cinemas Cambridge	355 Hespeler Rd.	Cambridge	ON	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Orangeville	Fairgrounds Shopping Centre, 85 Fifth Ave.	Orangeville	ON	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Guelph	485 Woodlawn Rd West	Guelph	ON	May 23, June 2
SilverCity Oakville	3531 Wyecroft Road	Oakville	ON	All dates
Galaxy Cinemas Collingwood	6 Mountain Road	Collingwood	ON	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Brantford	300 King George Road	Brantford	ON	May 23, June 2
Galaxy Cinemas Chatham	760 St. Clair Street	Chatham	ON	May 23, June 2
SilverCity Burlington	1250 Brant Street	Burlington	ON	All dates
SilverCity Ancaster	771 Golf Links Road	Ancaster	ON	All dates
SilverCity London	1680 Richmond Street, P.O. Box 23	London	ON	All dates
Famous Players Lambton 9 Cinemas	1450 London Road	Sarnia	ON	May 23, June 2

*Theatre passes will be mailed to the winning participants and are valid for any date during the run of the engagement.  Failure to include a mailing address in your submission will render your entry void. Winners will be contacted by e-mail to confirm their winning submission before the tickets are mailed.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown starts previews

May 15, 2012…The loveable characters from Charles Schulz’s iconic comic strip Peanuts learn life’s lessons in the fun and upbeat musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The production, which is directed and choreographed by Donna Feore, begins previews at the Avon Theatre on May 15.

With book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner, with additional dialogue by Michael Mayer and additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, the show depicts a typical day in the life of Charlie Brown and his friends. Through a series of vignettes and show-stopping song and dance numbers, this musical explores the characters’ inner lives, their relationships, and the various challenges and obstacles they face.

“Schulz’s characters deal with real human questions and issues in a way that has resonated with audiences for over sixty years,” says Ms Feore. “We all lack confidence and have doubts at times. We all need to be reminded of our better natures. This is Schulz’s genius. It is my hope that our production will introduce Peanuts to a new generation and remind an older one of a cherished friend.”

An innovative take on this classic, the production includes the additional songs that were written for the Broadway musical in 1998, and several dance styles that reflect everything from classic Charlie Brown moves, to the athletic style of Gene Kelly, to more modern movement, like hip hop and funk.

With elaborate orchestrations and stunning sets this production also features some of the most exciting young talent in the country, including Stephen Patterson as Snoopy, Erica Peck as Lucy and Ken James Stewart as Charlie Brown, with Andrew Broderick as Schroeder, Amy Wallis as Sally and Kevin Yee as Linus.

“Beneath its deceptively simple charm, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a work of tremendous sophistication, both musically and in terms of its writing,” says Artistic Director Des McAnuff. “As with Peter Pan and many other children’s classics, there is far more to Charlie Brown than meets the youthful eye, so adult audiences can expect a rich and multi-layered experience.”

“This is a musical with extraordinary heart,” says General Director Antoni Cimolino. “The dreams and aspirations of these characters that we all know and love, their foibles and their failings, speak to all generations. With its warm but perceptive humour and its energetic and entertaining song-and-dance numbers, Charlie Brown makes for a terrific afternoon or evening at the theatre for the entire family.”

The design of the production draws on the pop-art style of the 1950s and ’60s, when Peanuts was at the height of its popularity. The show will be bright and colourful with giant set pieces, making the adult actors look like pint-sized children.

The artistic team for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown includes Musical Director Laura Burton, Set Designer Michael Gianfrancesco, Costume Designer Dana Osborne, Lighting Designer Kimberly Purtell, Video Designer Sean Nieuwenhuis, Sound Designer Peter McBoyle and Stunt Coordinator Daniel Levinson.

Support for the 2012 season of the Avon Theatre is generously provided by the Birmingham Family.  You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is presented by Schulich Children’s Plays.

Cast

Artistic Credits

This year, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival celebrates its 60^th season, with 14 productions presented from April 12 to October 28:  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.

Brilliant comedy The Matchmaker starts previews | Play that inspired musical Hello, Dolly! was revised while playwright was at Stratford

May 11, 2012… Hilarity and hijinks ensue as the characters in Thornton Wilder’s delightful romantic comedy The Matchmaker head to New York for adventure and find love instead. The production, directed by Chris Abraham and set in the opulence of the Victorian period, begins previews at the Festival Theatre on May 12.

 

Set in the 1800s, the play tells the story of Horace Vandergelder, a wealthy merchant with his eye ever fixed on the bottom line. The value of love evades him, even as he searches for a wife – but his matchmaker, Dolly Gallagher Levi, has her own plans for him.

 

“The Matchmaker affirms the beautiful folly of life and love, while at the same time avoiding sentimentality with a ten-foot pole,” says Mr. Abraham. “Hiding out in the double takes, mistaken identities and reconciliations of The Matchmakeris an unmistakable sense of awe at the human spirit – in particular, but not exclusively, when Wilder is writing about young people. It’s this sense of awe that makes the comedy of the piece shine with a special intensity.”

 

The production’s cast includes Tom McCamus as Horace Vandergelder and Seana McKenna as Dolly Gallagher Levi, with Laura Condlln as Irene Malloy, Mike Shara as Cornelius Hackl, Geraint Wyn Davies as Malachi Stack, Skye Brandon as Ambrose Kemper, Josh Epstein as Barnaby Tucker, Nora McLellan as Miss Flora Van Huysen, Cara Ricketts as Ermengarde andAndrea Runge as Minnie Fay.

 

“Wilder’s comedy is a true twentieth-century classic,” says Artistic Director Des McAnuff. “And like so many classics, it has not only inspired subsequent adaptation but was itself inspired by earlier works, including Molière’s The Miser. It offers a perfect illustration of how the great works exist not in isolation but as part of a continuum that extends from the very dawn of drama to the present day.

 

“I am particularly delighted that Chris Abraham is making his Festival Theatre debut with this play, which actually deals with some serious issues and emotions beneath its seemingly frothy exterior. Chris has a remarkable way of developing a connection between the actors on stage and their audience. His deeply touching production of Michel Tremblay’s For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again at the Tom Patterson Theatre in 2010, and the emotionally charged The Little Years, which he directed last season at the Studio Theatre, are both testaments to this extraordinary gift.”

 

“We are so pleased to present The Matchmaker at Stratford for the first time in our history,” says General Director Antoni Cimolino. “Many audience members will remember our 2005 production of Hello, Dolly! but few may have had the opportunity to see the play on which that musical was based. Now is their chance to discover how wonderfully funny The Matchmaker is in its own right – especially in the hands of such artists as Seana McKenna, Tom McCamus and Geraint Wyn Davies.”

 

The Matchmaker is an apt choice for inclusion in the Festival’s 60th season, since Stratford played a key role in the play’s creation. Wilder originally wrote it in 1939, as The Merchant of Yonkers, but its Broadway run was brief. Then in the early 1950s, Stratford’s inaugural artistic director, Tyrone Guthrie, persuaded Wilder to rewrite it. The result, retitled The Matchmaker, premièred at the Edinburgh Festival in 1953 and went on to become a hit both in the West End and on Broadway, where it earned Guthrie a Tony Award for Best Director.

 

“The prompt script of Tyrone Guthrie’s legendary 1953 production of The Matchmaker was a principal source of inspiration for me,” says Mr. Abraham. “It gave me a window into Guthrie’s inventive proscenium mise-en-scène, as well as into the restless perfectionism of the director and writer. Our production on the Festival’s thrust stage is in many ways deeply indebted to and influenced by the genius of its first director.”

 

The production’s artistic team includes Designer Santo Loquasto, Lighting Designer Michael Walton, Sound DesignerThomas Ryder Payne, Choreographer Jane Johanson, Dramaturge Robert Blacker, Dramaturge Jacob Gallagher-Ross and Stunt Coordinator Daniel Levinson.

 

Production support for The Matchmaker is generously provided by Jennifer Surridge in memory of Robertson Davies.

 

The Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s 2012 season runs until October 28, featuring Much Ado About Nothing; 42^nd 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.

Celebrate May 2-4 all month long with the Stratford Shakespeare Festival!

by Lisa Middleton

The warm weather is here and so is our 60^th season! The long weekend is never quite long enough, so we want to help you get a head start on celebrating Victoria Day (and even extend it a little bit). We’re offering you $24 tickets to all May performances of The Matchmaker – and because we like you, we’re throwing in the June 1 performance as well!

What makes this offer extra special? You can book any seat in the house, from the front of the orchestra to the back of the balcony!  But don’t wait— this great offer is only available from 2 p.m. today until 4 p.m. tomorrow!

Here’s a bit more about The Matchmaker:
With his eye ever fixed on the bottom line, wealthy merchant Horace Vandergelder can’t see the value of love – even as he searches for a wife. His matchmaker, Dolly Levi, however, is making her own plans for him, while his clerks pursue their hearts’ desires in the big city.

Some things you might not know about this show:

• If the plot of The Matchmaker sounds familiar, you’ve probably seen the musical inspired by this loveable comedy – Hello, Dolly! (maybe when it played at the Festival in 2005).

• Playwright Thornton Wilder developed The Matchmaker in Stratford – and when he needed a break from working on the play, he spent his time helping out in the prop shop!

• If you enjoyed Seana McKenna and Tom McCamus’ chemistry in the 2010 production of Dangerous Liaisons, you’ll be thrilled to see this superstar pair together again in the leading roles of Dolly Levi and Horace Vandergelder.

• The designer, Santo Loquasto, has long been creating for the Festival stage – and his set and costume designs for The Matchmaker are exquisite.  If you’ve seen Dangerous Liaisons (2010), Cyrano de Bergerac (2009) or Oliver! (2006) – to name just a few productions – you’ve probably admired Mr. Loquasto’s work.

Are you ready to enjoy The Matchmaker? Log into our website with promotion code 43618 to purchase your tickets, then kick back and get ready to celebrate the long weekend all month long!

p.s. Tickets to The Matchmaker make a great Mother’s Day gift. Order yours just in time to celebrate Mom this Sunday!

*Offer may expire without notice. Taxes and service charges extra. Some conditions apply. Only available online.

Job Opportunity | Sales Associates-Theatre Store

Would you like to play a meaningful role with North America’s leading classical repertory theatre? At the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, we attract the world’s finest talent, offering a unique experience for staff, artists, and actors alike. If you would like to be a part of this exciting organization, we are looking for individuals to fill the role of…

Sales Associates-Theatre Store

As the successful candidate you are a client focused individual who understands the importance and intricacies of being ready to serve the customer.  You will be responsible for the delivery of exceptional customer service delivering results through excellent product knowledge and the ability to execute appropriate selling behaviours.

As part of the Theatre Store team you are a friendly team player with the understanding, skills and resources to deliver the optimal customer experience.  You excel at consumer relations and are motivated to achieve results.

As the ideal candidate you will have retail sales experience, possessing the ability to sell and satisfy customers. Service oriented and sales focused, you should have an understanding of the market and be able to use product knowledge as a factor in the service experience.  Strong communication, interpersonal and problem solving skills along with an enthusiasm for retail sales is expected.  Experience working with a POS system is essential.  You must be able to complete the full contract and have the ability to work flexible hours including day, evening and weekend shifts.

Contract begins immediately and concludes October 28^th, 2012

We recognize that diversity- in our workplace, in our audiences and on our stages- fosters a rich and creative environment. We are actively engaged in building a more diverse workplace and encourage all qualified applicants to apply by May 23^rd, 2012 to;

Human Resources
Stratford Shakespeare Festival
Fax: 519-271-0626
55 Queen Street
Stratford, Ontario N5A 6V2
E-mail: resumes@stratfordshakespearefestival.com
Subject: Sales Associate Theatre Store

Des McAnuff receives Governor General’s Performing Arts Award tonight

May 4, 2012… Artistic Director Des McAnuff will receive the National Arts Centre Award of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Awards at a ceremony at Rideau Hall tonight. The ceremony is followed by a gala performance at the National Arts Centre, honouring each of Governor General Performing Arts Award recipients. Mr. McAnuff is being recognized for his extraordinary accomplishments over the past performance year.

“Des is very deserving of this recognition,” says General Director Antoni Cimolino. “He has indeed had an extraordinary year, directing two large-scale productions at the Festival, filming one and taking the other on to La Jolla and then to Broadway. This is all in addition to his international accomplishments, which in themselves required super-human strength to complete. We all congratulate him on his achievements and this very great honour.”

At the Stratford Shakespeare Festival Mr. McAnuff directed a celebrated production of Twelfth Night starring Brian Dennehy and Stephen Ouimette. His acclaimed production of Jesus Christ Superstar enjoyed an extended run at Stratford and moved to La Jolla Playhouse in California over the holidays. The show opened on Broadway on March 22 and was recently nominated for two Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival.

Mr. McAnuff opened the second North American tour of Jersey Boys in Philadelphia. He directed a new musical production of Doctor Zhivago, which played in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, Australia, and is now being performed in Seoul with an all-Korean cast. He directed Gounod’s Faust for the Metropolitan Opera starring Jonas Kaufmann, René Pape, and Marina Poplavskaya.

Mr. McAnuff’s achievements over the past year also include film, with his production of Faust shown in cinemas worldwide and his production of The Tempest, starring Christopher Plummer, released in cinemas. (His production of Caesar and Cleopatra, which also features Christopher Plummer, enjoyed a similar release in 2009, while Twelfth Night was released this year.)

The year 2011 also saw Mr. McAnuff planning Stratford’s 60^th anniversary playbill, half of which are Canadian works, including three world premières – Morris Panych and Marek Norman’s Wanderlust, The Best Brothers by Daniel MacIvor, and Hirsch by Alon Nashmon and Paul Thompson, about the former Stratford artistic director and legendary theatre artist John Hirsch. Mr. McAnuff will also be directing Shakespeare’s Henry V and Christopher Plummer’s one-man show A Word or Two.

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Developmental Services Family Day at the Festival

by Christi Rutledge

We’re excited to be partnering with the Community Living Association of Ontario for a special Developmental Services Family Day on Saturday, June 2. At 2 p.m., we’ll be getting together to enjoy a performance of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown!

Here’s a little bit from Community Living Ontario’s website to help you get to know them:

Community Living Ontario is a non-profit, provincial association that advocates for people who have an intellectual disability to be fully included in all aspects of community life.

The goal of Community Living Ontario is:

That all persons live in a state of dignity, share in all elements of living in the community, and have the opportunity to participate effectively.

Community Living Ontario envisions a society where people who have an intellectual disability belong and feel respected.

For more information, you can visit Community Living Ontario online or call 1.800.278.8025.

If you or someone you know would benefit from attending the Festival’s Developmental Services Family Day, please join us on June 2! We are dedicated to making the theatre a space for all people to enjoy.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown is a funny and touching story that can be appreciated by people of all ages and experiences. A fabulous cast, dancing, music, colourful sets and costumes, projection screens and even a jet-powered dog house help bring this production to life!

Here are a few insights into the show from director and choreographer Donna Feore.

Happiness is… sharing the gift of theatre!

Tickets to our Developmental Services Family Day are just $30 and can be purchased through our Box Office at 1.800.567.1600. Simply quote promotion code 41597 when you call.*

*Not available online.