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Friday, March 14th, 2008
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9:10 am - Interesting
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| Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007
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12:14 am - Rest in peace.
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weakerthanwhat
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Many of you may have heard already, but the legendary William Hutt passed away last week.
Globe and Mail obit.
I was fortunate to see quite a few of his performances, including his last role at Stratford, Prospero in the 2005 Tempest. His was some of the finest acting I have ever experienced. The way he connected with his audiences was truly remarkable. He will be greatly missed.
current mood:  sad
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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| Thursday, October 5th, 2006
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2:35 pm - Here it is!
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| Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006
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10:27 pm - 2007 Stratford Season
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weakerthanwhat
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Just a heads-up that the 2007 Stratford playbill is going to be announced this Thursday, October 5th! Hopefully it will appear on their website (www.stratfordfestival.ca) sometime that day. Also, a few of Richard Ouzounian's articles in the Toronto Star have mentioned some of next year's plays:
Clicky!
Clicky again!
On a related note, I was finally able to make it to Stratford back in August, and I had a wonderful time. I saw Oliver, Coriolanus, South Pacific, London Assurance, The Glass Menagerie, Harlem Duet, Fanny Kemble, The Blonde, The Brunette, and the Vengeful Readhead, Ghosts, The Liar, and Don Juan. I enjoyed all of the shows, but my favorites were probably Glass Menagerie, Don Juan, London Assurance, The Liar, and Harlem Duet. I'd give a more detailed review of everything but I'm sure most people who had Stratford trips planned this year have already gone! That and I have to work on an English paper.
One last thing -- if you ever find yourself in Stratford in mid-August, I highly, HIGHLY recommend you check out the after-theatre cabarets at the Church. We went three nights in a row this year and had an absolute blast. They're run through Stratford Summer Music (www.stratfordsummermusic.ca), and are probably the most fun you can have outside of the actual Festival productions.
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| Wednesday, July 5th, 2006
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7:51 pm - Let's get this thing rolling again.
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weakerthanwhat
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Dude, where has everyone gone?
I'm going through Stratford withdrawal because I've usually been there at least once by this time. This year, though, I've been in New England all spring and summer and won't be going home to Michigan until mid-July. Which got me thinking: let's resurrect this little corner of cyberspace. Sooo, has anyone been to any of the festivals yet this year? Anyone want to gush or vent about a particular production?
I'll finally make it to Stratford in early August for the annual trip with family and friends. So I'd especially love to hear opinions on Stratford productions. :)
current mood:  curious
current music: Bob Dylan
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(5 comments | comment on this)
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| Friday, March 10th, 2006
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7:53 pm - What do do in Stratford?
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_aasshhlleeyy_
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This doesn't really have to do with festivals, but I know a lot of people talk here about the Stratford Festival in Stratford, ON.
I'm planning a weekend trip to Stratford soon and was wondering if anyone knew of some hot spots to check out. Restaurants, etc. I've never been there before!
Thanks!
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(2 comments | comment on this)
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| Sunday, October 23rd, 2005
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10:42 am - More Male Leads Leaving Festivals
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stratfordbabe
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Soulpepper Theatre Company's 2006 season announcement meant that a lot of Festival goers will be missing some more of their favorites if they don't make a side trip to Toronto.
As you probably remember, a number of younger leading men from both Festivals will be in the world premiere musical Lord of the Rings which opens in Toronto in early 2006.
Now, word comes that each festival has lost one of their leading lights. Stratford star Jonathan Goad and Shaw Festival mainstay Ben Carlson will be playing the brothers Gloucester in Soulpepper's King Lear. They will also play brothers in The Caretaker.
The production doesn't start until late August, so it is possible that if there are shows that close early, Jonathan may be at Stratford, but I wouldn't count on it. (During the backstage tour at Shaw, they made it clear that Ben Carlson won't be there next year, which is why I'm not including him in that possibility.)
Also, for Shaw fans, Jeff Lillico is going to Soulpepper for two rep shows.
Let's see, you think you can fit in a matinee Rings with an evening show of Lear?
This is going to be a weird year at both festivals.
current mood: pensive
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| Thursday, October 6th, 2005
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10:33 pm
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yaresarah
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Hey all! I just went to Stratford. I saw Into the Woods and the Tempest (oh yes with William Hutt). Just thought I'd give a hey!
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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| Tuesday, September 27th, 2005
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2:58 pm - Shaw 2006 Playbill Announced
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stratfordbabe
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Today the Shaw Festival announced its lineup for the 2006 season. No casting has been announced as of yet. Below are the plays, with the directors in parentheses.
Festival Theatre
Arms and the Man (Jackie Maxwell)
High Society (Kelly Robinson)
The Crucible (Tadeusz Bradecki)
Royal George Theatre
The Heiress (Joseph Ziegler)
The Invisible Man (Neil Munro)
Design for Living (Morris Panych)
Court House Theatre
Too True to be Good (Jim Mezon) -- A Shaw play in the Court House ... interesting.
Love Among the Russians (Eda Holmes)
The Magic Fire (Jackie Maxwell)
Rosmersholm (Neil Monro)
current mood:  happy
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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| Thursday, September 1st, 2005
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12:45 pm - The Stratford 2006 Season Announcement
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stratfordbabe
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The 2006 season announcement was made today. Below is the text of the article on Playbill.com.
Opening the Festival season on May 29, 2006, will be Shakespeare's Coriolanus, directed by executive director Antoni Cimolino and featuring Colm Feore in the title role.
Other Shakespeares on the slate are Henry IV, Part 1, to be directed by Monette; Much Ado About Nothing, directed by Stephen Ouimette; and Twelfth Night, directed by Leon Rubin. In addition, the Festival will present The Duchess of Malfi by Shakespeare's contemporary John Webster, directed by Peter Hinton.
"In all these plays, family has the central role," Monette said. "Prince Hal must choose between the world of his real father, the King, and his adopted father, Falstaff; in Much Ado About Nothing, the story revolves around a wronged young woman who is defended by her father and her cousin. The separation and reunion of the twins Viola and Sebastian is at the heart of Twelfth Night and, in The Duchess of Malfi, we follow the bloodied story of three siblings vying for control over the kingdom, and each other."
Also on the schedule are The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, directed by Miles Potter; Ghosts by Henrik Ibsen, directed by Ouimette; London Assurance, the comedy of manners by Dion Boucicault, to be directed by Brian Bedford (who will also play Harcourt Courtly, a role that won him a Tony nomination in 1997); The Liar by 17th-century French playwright Pierre Corneille, to be directed by Matthew Jocelyn; Molière's Don Juan (starring Colm Feore in the title role), to be directed by Lorraine Pintal; the musical Oliver!, directed and choreographed by Donna Feore and featuring Feore as Fagin; and South Pacific, directed and choreographed by Michael Lichtefeld and featuring Cynthia Dale as Nellie Forbush.
The musicals and Don Juan and Coriolanus were previously announced.
Rounding out the season are two one-woman showcases: The Blonde, the Brunette, and the Vengeful Redhead, a black comedy about infidelity by Australian Robert Hewett, to be directed by Geordie Johnson; and Fanny Kemble by Peter Hinton, a new play emerging from the Festival's New Play Development Programme about the "remarkable 19th-century Shakespearean actress, author and abolitionist."
An additional Canadian play will be announced for the 2006 season later this year.
current mood: excited
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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| Saturday, August 13th, 2005
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10:26 am - Mid-Season Economic Standings of the Festivals
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10:21 am - Another "Local" Boy Makes Good
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stratfordbabe
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Adam Brazier, who has appeared at both the Shaw and Stratford Festivals (most recently as Joey in Pal Joey), has been cast as the male lead in the Broadway debut of The Woman in White, the latest musical by Andrew Lloyd Weber.
Also, the reviews from The Lark at Stratford are in ... and mixed. It sounds like an interesting production, though.
current mood:  sleepy
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| Tuesday, July 26th, 2005
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10:03 am - Lord of the Rings Casting Confirmed
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stratfordbabe
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On top of what I had posted yesterday, the producers of the Toronto Lord of the Rings confirmed the casting. Brent Carver will be playing Gandalf and the rest of the cast was confirmed as in that story.
In the ensemble, though, is Peter van Gestel, who has done some incredible work this season at Stratford in The Brothers Karamozov and Sticks and Stones. (I had kinda figured he might get a bit of a promotion next year.)
current mood: cheerful
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| Monday, July 25th, 2005
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11:45 am - Wanted: Young Male Leads for Ontario Festivals for 2006 season
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stratfordbabe
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It's not confirmed, but if this is true, both Shaw and Stratford are going to be doing some scrambling for young male leads.
From an article on BroadwayWorld.com: (and yeah, I will probably go):
A number of major roles in the Toronto premiere of The Lord of the Rings have been cast, according to the Toronto Star.
The Tolkien-based megamusical, which will open on March 23rd, 2006 after beginning previews in February, reportedly now has a Gollum, Aragorn, Arwen, Saruman, Legolas, Merry, Boromir and Elrond. However, Producer Kevin Wallace and spokespeople for the Mirvish organization refused to confirm or deny these reports.
Michael Therriault will play Gollum, the shrivelled ex-hobbit with eyes on the ring around which the musical
centers. Therriault currently plays Motel the Tailor in Broadway's Fiddler on the Roof, and has also appeared in the Toronto production of The Producers as well as in several shows in the prestigious Stratford Festival.
Evan Buliung has been placed in the heroic role of Aragorn; the actor can currently be seen in and Journey's End and Major Barbara at the Shaw Festival. He too has acted at Stratford, and played Edgar to Christopher Plummer's King Lear.
Carly Street will play his Elvish love interest Arwen; she is a National Theatre School graduate who has spoken the words of Shakespeare at the High Park and Newmarket outdoor summer theatres. The dark wizard Saruman will
be portrayed by Richard McMillan, who also scared the little children in the audience as Scar in the Toronto production of The Lion King; he is also no stranger to the Stratford Festival.
Legolas, the strapping young elf, will be play by Gabriel Burrafato, who has appeared at the Shaw Festival, at
Stratford and who currently tours as Magaldi in the national company of Evita after having been seen in
Broadway's Bombay Dreams. The role of the mischievous hobbit Merry has gone to Dylan Roberts, who can currently be seen in ShakespeareWorks' The Taming of the Shrew, while the part of the noble but
ring-corrupted Boromir has been awarded to Dion Johnstone, who is a Stratford company member and who currently plays Orlando in the theatre festival's As You Like It. Finally, Victor A. Young will appear as Elrond, the stalwart father of Arwen; Young has performed in Kiss Me Kate at Stratford and Crazy for You for Mirvish Productions, among many others.
While the rumors are only at buzz pitch right now and nothing has been confirmed, theatre wags are saying that Brent Carver (Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Parade) might be one of the actors to headline The Lord of the Rings; the actor is currently appearing in Soulpepper's The Wild Duck.
current mood: excited
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(6 comments | comment on this)
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| Friday, July 15th, 2005
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3:07 am
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broadwayblondie
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Hey everyone.. I'm new in this community~ I absolutely love Stratford. I've done 'The Shakespeare School' 3 times, 2 of which were for musical theatre... they were all great experiences. We had the opportunity to meet a lot of the actors.. take workshops... learn alot and experience Stratford a little more intimately than just a regular tourist. Unfortunately for me (and stratford :) ) , I decided not to attend the shakespeare school this year because i'm going off to college at the boston conservatory of music and shakespeare schoool just didn't fit in. ANYWAY, I just got back from stratford and I saw Hello Dolly and Into the Woods (of course both the musicals.. but did want to see more it just didn't fit!). I definitely enjoyed both... anyone have any comments about the musicals this year? I've seen INto the Woods MANY MANY MANY times.. this one was really different... I was sometimes confused w/what the art director was going for, but it definetely kept me not knowing what they would come up w/next.
so Into the Woods. Hello Dolly. Discuss!
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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| Tuesday, July 5th, 2005
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8:10 pm - Just Back From Shaw/Stratford
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stratfordbabe
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Hi all! I've been away from LJ for awhile, but it's time to get this party going again. Both festivals are up and running, with all but a handful of shows open (Shaw opens its last show in a couple of weeks while Stratford opens its last three in August).
I just got back from my first trip to the Ontario Festivals this summer. I hit 14 shows overall -- seven at each festival. Overall, I would consider this year's offerings so-so at both festivals. It's not their best year ... but not their worst, either.
For those going to Stratford: be aware that Edward II is selling out very quickly ... and it hasn't even opened yet. Graham Abbey is out for at least a couple of weeks with a broken leg. Bentley's has gotten rid of the berry fruit crisp. Tangos has wireless internet access. The internet center in the Discovery Centre is still there, and still free. And there is MASSIVE road construction throughout the city (although not right in the theatre district). If you are in a B&B that is not on Ontario Street, you might want to call ahead and get the "this is how to avoid the sewer work" instructions on how to get there.
For those going to Shaw: Wow, Niagara-on-the-Lake is booming! They've even got a Tim's now. There are two chain hotels (meaning that the cost of the hotels in the center of town will likely start to fall) in town now. The restaurants on the main drag are still overpriced, but the Tim's and the Red Rooster (next to Tim Horton's) are very reasonably priced. But don't get dessert at either of those places -- go across the street to The Willow. Heaven on a plate! If there's wireless internet access anywhere in NotL, they're keeping it a secret. The library has computers, but remember, the library is closed on Mondays -- the one day a theatre fan might well have some time free to check e-mail.
Canada Play Day -- Stratford tried something new this year, and it was a blast! On July 1 (Canada Day), the Festival offered what they termed "Canada Play Day." Basically, they set it up so you could see the four plays on their playbill written/devised/adapted by Canadians. They also offered a box lunch and buffet dinner (cause otherwise it was going to be difficult to fit food into this marathon). I'll comment on the shows themselves below, but here I do want to say that it was a ton of fun. I travel alone and while I'm pretty willing to start chatting with the person next to me, this allowed me a chance to get to know a bunch of people since we all began to recognize each other, and ate together, and walked between theatres together, etc. We had at least two reporters in the group (one a reviewer from a weekly rag near Cleveland, and the other from a Canadian national paper doing an article on the event), and four of us wound up sitting near each other at Shaw two days later!
( The Stratford Plays in Capsule )
And now, on to Shaw.
( Shaw Festival Capsule Reviews )
Things I Didn't See: Of course, buzz is building on some shows I didn't see -- and some that haven't even opened yet. At Shaw, everyone's talking about Major Barbara and Belle Moral. At Stratford, it's Orpheus Descending, Measure for Measure and Edward II.
Go see some wonderful theatre ... and then come back here and tell us what you think.
current mood:  crazy
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(4 comments | comment on this)
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| Monday, February 14th, 2005
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2:25 am - Stratford Festival
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aviva___
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Hi! I grew up in Stratford, my mother worked at the chef school and the festival, and I worked at the Festival. Best Place hands down to eat is Rundles. Anyways, I know too much about stratford resturants and a fair bit about the theater. if you want to visit and want some advice, ask away and i'll do my best to answer. The Festival this season promises to be alright. there will be a few amazing plays, but it won't be as good as the 50th season, and it won't ever be unless attendance goes back up. So get your friends together and plan a trip! Buy chocolates! watch shows!
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| Thursday, February 3rd, 2005
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4:49 pm - Tom McCamus
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| Wednesday, December 8th, 2004
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2:56 pm - Stratford News
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stratfordbabe
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Some news from the Stratford Festival:
-- Attendance for 2004 was 568,000+. This is about average, but down from their projections.
-- And, neatest of all -- The Barenaked Ladies are composing music for this year's production of As You Like It. How cool!
current mood:  bouncy
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(1 comment | comment on this)
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| Monday, November 29th, 2004
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6:26 pm - Macbeth Pictures
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tarawa
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Hey everyone,
I was just wondering if anyone saved any of the pictures from the Stratford Festival site of Macbeth. I didnt manage to save any, and am kicking myself now because they updated the site too soon and I didnt grab any.
If anyone could be of some help that would be great!
current mood:  anxious
current music: Entr'acte- Mamma Mia
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