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 60th season, with 14 productions presented from April 12 to October 28:  Much Ado About Nothing42nd StreetThe MatchmakerHenry VYou’re a Good Man, Charlie BrownThe Pirates of PenzanceA Word or TwoCymbelineWanderlustElektraMacHomerThe Best BrothersHirsch; 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; 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.

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

by Lisa Middleton

The warm weather is here and so is our 60th 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 28th, 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 23rd, 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 KaufmannRené 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 60th anniversary playbill, half of which are Canadian works, including three world premières – Morris Panych and Marek Norman’s WanderlustThe 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.