Now in its 4th year, Theatre On The Ridge (formerly Theatre 3×60) continues to give the Region of Durhamentertaining and innovative professional theatre company that captivates on and offstage. Since 2013, we have consistently committed to artistic excellence, accessibility, education and audience engagement while nurturing new artists and theatre works.
This summer, Festival 2018 brings five productions to the stage, engaging and entertaining our audiences with classic, Canadian and international plays. Summer 2018 also sees the return of the popular Pine Grove Plots: History to Die For cemetery walks on location in Pine Grove Cemetery and downtown Port Perry; and the premiere of an original theatre production for young audiences at the Scugog Memorial Public Library entitled Monsters and Milfoil: A Tale of Lake Scugog.
Each summer we are able to pair a quality big city theatre experience with the welcome and appeal of small town rural hospitality. Our productions take place in the historic Town Hall 1873 – Centre for the Performing Arts in downtown Port Perry and other local locations, all close to the waterfront, restaurants, shopping and accommodations. Take advantage of our Season, Family Group or Saturday Doubleheader ticket packages and plan some extra Port Perry time into your theatre visit.
We’re excited about our new name, new direction and our 2018 season and encourage you to join us on the ridge this summer!
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Fran Pinkerton as Joan Finnigan
Fran Pinkerton as Joan Finnigan at typewriter, with Phil Gordon, Luna Nordholdt, Nigel Epps and Jocelyn Smith
Joan Finnigan was controversial, outspoken, sometimes outrageous, and always a keen listener and gifted writer. She wrote 28 books and won an Etrog (best Canadian film) in 1969 for The Best Damned Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar. Now Stone Fence Theatre is bringing her amazing life and works to the stage an a new musical: I Come from the Valley! Tales and Times of Joan Finnigan.
Seventeen performances are planned, with five summer supper shows in Rankin and one in Barrys Bay a stop in Sheenboro, Quebec. In fall, there will be performances in Westmeath, Almonte, Rankin (with supper), Shawville, Killaloe, Renfrew (with supper), Rankin (with supper), Deep River and Ottawa, all places that Joan knew and loved.
For tickets and more information about this exciting new production, visit: https://www.stonefence.ca/
Find yourself on the dock of the Thousand Islands Playhouse this summer, toes almost touching the
Prairie Nurse, produced in association with Factory Theatre
tranquil St. Lawrence as she lazily makes her way east. This is the perfect place to escape to and soak in professional summer theatre now that winter has finally thawed away. Whether you want to take a musical trip back in time, are hoping to experience some home-grown Canadian stories, or want to get lost in love on the streets of Edinburgh, TIP’s 2018 season has all of it and more.
Take the world premiere of the hysterical farce The Canadian, inspired by playwright Jason Hall’s time as
Visiting Artist at TIP. The Canadian captures all the levity of running a failing family-owned resort on the river along with slapstick antics reminiscent of the classic Noises Off—all with a supremely Canadian flavour. If you are familiar with the 1000 Islands, you will quickly recognize the spirit of the area’s communities and characters on stage; if you are new to our shores, you will soon feel right at home: in the aisles, rolling with laughter.
This summer, we are also excited to present two co-productions: Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, produced in association with Western Canada Theatre in Kamloops and Prairie Nurse, produced in association with Factory Theatre in Toronto. TIP loves to welcome professional theatre collaborators to Gananoque and show them the charm of our little riverside town. Locals and tourists alike won’t find it unusual to run into our casts and crews around town and on boat tours, taking in the summer sun, or grabbing grub at the local haunts.
Prairie Nurse, produced in association with Factory Theatre
Now in its 36th season, Canada’s dockside theatre can’t wait to welcome you to Gananoque and the 1000 Islands. Come for a show and you’ll want to stay for an endless summer of theatre magic.
2018 Season line-up:
2 Pianos 4 Hands (May 24 – June 16) – A comedic classical music duel
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (June 22 – July 21) – A rock & roll musical
Harvest (July 6 – 29) – Hilarity hits close to home
The Canadian (July 27 – August 18) – A world premiere farce
Midsummer: A Play with Songs (August 10 – Sept 2) – A dysfunctional rom-com
Prairie Nurse (August 24 – Sept 15) – A culture-clashing comedy
Shirley Valentine (September 21 – Oct 14) – A comedy about finding yourself
Visit www.1000islandsplayhouse.com for more information about the season and Canada’s dockside theatre.
Upper Canada Playhouse celebrates its 35th Anniversary season with tons of laughs, engaging stories and the kind of entertaining variety and fabulous shows that have kept us going with packed houses for three and a half decades. We’ve leading off June 7-30 with It’s Your Funeral, brand new do or die farce by Jamie Williams followed July 5-29 by Knickers!, a warm and witty comedy by Sarah Quick. Next up August 2-26 is Plaza Suite, a classic and nostalgic Neil Simon comedy and rounding the season out September 6-30 is The Great Kooshog Lake Hollis McCauley Fishing Derby, an hilarious Norm Foster fishing tale. Enjoy our shows in our intimate 275-seat converted toothbrush factory where everyone’s close to the action. We’re located in the quaint Eastern Ontario Village of Morrisburg nestled along the mighty St. Lawrence River. We’re further east than all of our summer theatre colleagues. But, trust us, we’re worth it!
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Join us as we celebrate 40 years of live theatre with our biggest season yet!
With a varied season, appealing to single ticket buyers, subscribers, and tour groups alike, the Port Stanley Festival Theatre looks forward to providing another season of top quality entertainment. The 2018 summer season launched on May 22nd with the return of stand-out performer Leisa Way as she joins forces with Fred Smith, Bobby Prochaska, Nathan Smith, and the Wayward Wind Band in their new revue Across the Pond: The British Invasion. “The music never stopped, the beat never stopped … this is the music that defined a generation!”
Opening on June 6th, PSFT is thrilled to be producing Norm Foster’s hit comedy Halfway There for an extended four-week run … “Romance, gossip, bawdy tales, and friendships that last forever, Norm Foster’s “Halfway There” is a laugh-filled East Coast romp.
”Third up, the Port Stanley Festival Theatre is delighted to be presenting the world premiere of Buying the Farm by Gemini Award Winner, Shelley Hoffman and Stephen Sparks. “What’s a bachelor farmer to do when a determined Real Estate agent comes knocking on his door? A comedy about hope, last stands, skunks, and love among the chickens.”
July 25th brings Book Club, a brand-new comedy by Krista Da Silva for an action-packed four-week run. “Three girls, three guys, an exchange of ideas, an exploration of a favourite book… that was the plan, or was it? Everyone gets more than they bargained for when “Book Club” gets out of hand.” A brilliant new comedy from the writer of Five Alarm.
Closing out the season comes Sunshine Express by Sarah Quick. “A road trip to end all road trips, “Sunshine Express” is the ultimate snowbird getaway”. Four actors take on 30 roles in this rollicking tour de force, as a group of seniors once again take to the road on an annual search for the sun: Florida or bust!
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We are so proud to continue the time-honoured tradition of summer theatre in Muskoka, now in its 84th year. It’s a torch we are honoured to carry, yet, it’s no small feat so we are very grateful for our generous sponsors, the small army of dedicated staff and volunteers who make it all happen and you, our visitors! Keeping this beautiful, historic treasure alive year-round, is not only positive for our economy but the theatre is also a place where people gather, often as strangers, and together they laugh, cry, cheer, dance and leave as a theatre family. So, we hope you enjoy your visit with us and leave, feeling like family wishing to return time and time again. After all, Summer Theatre in Muskoka is a tradition worth coming back for!
-Krista storey, Manager of Arts & Culture
Our payoff for surviving the harsh winter is the long and glorious days of the Muskoka summer. Join us on a warm day or bright night as we open our season with souvenir, a comic and touching true story about a woman so dedicated to the art of music that despite being “the worst singer in the world’, she becomes the darling of the New York City elite. Following the tremendous success of Swing last year, we bring back our live six-piece band with the edgy and sophisticated Broadway Hit, The World Goes ‘Round, featuring a brilliant cast of singers and dancers! And finally, take a trip to Greater Tuna, Texas, where even the Lions Club is too Liberal! Delighting audiences around the world for over 30 years, this is a tour de force for two actors playing over 20 roles!
Summer is fleeting, so why not consider a Flex Pack so you don’t miss a single moment of this terrific season!
-Dave Campbell, Summer Theatre Artistic Director
Praise for Souvenir (Running June 12 – July 13)
“Multi-talented, award-winning Sheila McCarthy, directs this tour-de-force. She pulls an energy from her talented cast that moves the play seamlessly through 12 years of missed notes. Artistic Director Dave Campbell’s collaborative team includes set design by Tim Webb, lighting by Claude Labrecque and costumes from Chris Cristobal. Their combined talents capture the 1940’s New York setting to perfection.”
“Guaranteed to keep you smiling, this ‘Souvenir’ should be added to your treasure chest of great summer theatre memories.”
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Festival Players of Prince Edward County has announced a star-studded lineup for their 2018 theatre season which runs July-September in Picton and Wellington. In his first season as Artistic Director, Graham Abbey has assembled some of Canada’s finest actors, playwrights, directors and designers to bring five different shows to The County this summer.
The season kicks off with a one-night-only concert by Juno Award winner and former front man of the Barenaked Ladies Steven Page performing with The Art of Time Ensemble at Picton’s Regent Theatre on Thursday July 12th. Steven Page, a founder and former leader of the iconic band Barenaked Ladies, joins Toronto’s highly inventive Art of Time Ensemble for an evening of seminal songs by Randy Newman, Radiohead, Elvis Costello, Barenaked Ladies, Leonard Cohen, Page himself and more.
On July 26, 27 and 28, Bruce Dow will take the stage premiering his new one-man-musical, A Funny Proposition, at the Wellington United Church. A master of the cabaret form and star of Broadway, Stratford and Toronto’s major stages, Dow’s one-man-musicals are heralded as fearless, intimate, and energetic.
Festival Players is thrilled to host the world premiere of his new work.
Christy Dancing
On August 1st, Festival Players will open their new Studio Theatre on Main Street Wellington with a new production of The Drawer Boy by Michael Healey. Directed by Graham Abbey, this production will feature Canadian theatre veterans Benedict Campbell (Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, National Arts Centre) and John Dolan (Stratford Festival, four-time Dora Award nominee) and one of Toronto’s most exciting young actors Marcel Stewart (Soulpepper, Mirvish, Obsidian Theatre) performing on the intimate Studio Theatre stage.
The season continues at The Regent Theatre with a two-week run of the smash hit play Blind Date starring Christy Bruce as the vivacious and hilarious Mimi. Experience all the exhilaration and excitement of new love as Mimi goes on a blind date with a different man every night – plucked right out of the audience! Blind Date has played around the world, and Festival Players is thrilled to host two added special performances during this run, featuring creator Rebecca Northan as Mimi to celebrate Blind Date’s 700th show.
To round out the season, Festival Players brings together an incredible cast and artistic team to create a new production of Daniel MacIvor’s A Beautiful View. This production, helmed by acclaimed director Andrea Donaldson, and featuring two of Canada’s finest leading ladies Maev Beaty and Liisa Repo-Martell, will play at the Studio Theatre from September 4th to 23rd. A Beautiful View is one of MacIvor’s most celebrated plays: full of warmth, wisdom and a quirky sense of humour that reveals the contours of the close relationship between two women.
For tickets and info contact Festival Players Box Office: purchase online at www.festivalplayers.ca or on the phone 613-476-1991.
Cast of GFT’s 2017 production of “She Stoops To Conquer” and 2014’s “The Importance of Being Ernest”
The Guild Festival Theatre (GFT) inspires audiences of today and nurtures the artists of tomorrow by showcasing live theatre masterworks of the past. As a registered charity, GFT provides cultural enrichment through professional entertainment performed outdoors at the unique Greek Theatre in Scarborough’s historic Guild Park & Gardens, where “Art Meets Nature.”. This summer, we are proud to present, Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw, from July 11th to August 12th, Wednesdays to Sundays starting at 7:30 PM.
GFT’s 2013 production of “The Misanthrope” performed at the unique Greek Theatre located in Scarborough’s historic Guild Park & Gardens.
Since its founding in 2009, the organization has brought the performing arts back to Guild Park, site of the former Guild of All Arts, Canada’s original artists’ community during the Great Depression. Today, GFT brings to Scarborough the tangible economic benefits that professional theatre has achieved in other Ontario communities.
Since 2011, we’ve employed a diverse spectrum of students for performance and production positions. School’s we’ve drawn from include Centennial College, U of T Scarborough, Sir Wilfred Laurier Collegiate, Ryerson University, Humber College and York University. We have also established strong links with local community theatre groups and have used their talent and resources where appropriate.
The GFT’s “on-stage” accomplishments since 2011 include:
- presenting six theatre classics to audiences totalling more than 25,000
- employing a total of more than 150 cast and crew, ranging from veteran performers, leading designers and emerging talent
- having former cast members go on to perform at Canada’s Stratford Shakespearean Festival
- winning the Urban Hero Award from Metroland Media (a Torstar subsidiary) in the Category of Arts and Culture in 2013.
Final bow from GFT’s 2017 production of “She Stoops To Conquer”
These accomplishments highlight how GFT delivers popular, professional entertainment to the public, plus provides employment and training opportunities to those working in the cultural industries.
By performing in Scarborough, GFT reaches diverse audiences in east Toronto. This addresses one of the City of Toronto’s priorities to make more arts /cultural programs and services accessible outside the downtown core.
With its pioneering performances at Guild Park, the GFT became a “cultural catalyst” that also helped spark a multi-million dollar transformation now underway throughout the 36 hectare (88 acre) public space. This major ongoing revitalization at Guild Park includes:
- The $20 million restoration and expansion of the site’s original Guild Inn
- A $5 million arts centre scheduled to open in 2020
- Park and facilities improvements, including upgrades to the Greek Theatre beginning in 2018
For further information, please visit our website at www.guildfestivaltheatre.ca, and then come visit us this summer in Scarborough by the Bluffs!
Jamie Robinson, Artistic Director.
GFT’s 2017 production of “She Stoops To Conquer” performed at the unique Greek Theatre located in Scarborough’s historic Guild Park & Gardens.
Our thanks to the wonderful actors featured in this video of highlights from our previous three seasons: Jane Spence, Debra Hale, Leah Oster, Rod Campbell, Brian Young, Ed Chaplin, Katie Ryerson, Alison Laurence, Derek Marshall, Nicholas Arnold, Sal Scozarri & Viviana Zarrillo.
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No matter where you are in Ontario this summer (or how much money you might have in your pocket) you can find Driftwood Theatre sharing professional, live theatre under the open sky. Driftwood’s Bard’s Bus Tour, now in its 24th season, will visit 27 different communities across Southern Ontario this summer, presenting William Shakespeare’s great romantic comedy, Rosalynde (or, As You Like It), for free or for a Pay What You Can admission. But don’t expect a traditional Shakespeare experience (no ruffs or codpieces here).
At Driftwood, we’re interested in exploring the ways in which Shakespeare reflects our experience as Canadians. We also like theatre to be vibrant, visceral and unexpected. We’ve renamed this greatest of Shakespeare’s romances in celebration of its heroine, Rosalynde, giving the title back to her (Shakespeare’s source material was a 16th century novel, titled Rosalynde). There are plenty of Shakespeare’s plays named after men, but not a single one named after a woman. Rosalynde deserves her play.
Set 100 years ago in 1918, Rosalynde takes place when Canadian women were finally granted the right to vote in federal elections. It was a time when women were fighting for equality, the government was regulating recreational substances, and conflict was shaping our country. Not at all like today, eh? When circumstances force Rosalynde from her home in the city, she flees into the unknown wilds of the forest where she sets out on a journey of identity, self-discovery and love, learning that to carve your own path, sometimes you need to break the rules. Incorporating live music, physical performance, and puppetry, Rosalynde will bring outdoor spaces across Ontario to life, offering a different experience in every location. So pack a lawnchair, a cushion, a picnic (and dare we say a flask of something tasty) and join Driftwood Theatre on the road this summer.
For a full listing of dates and locations, visit:
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