Stage Door News
Stage Door News
November 2, 2011… The Stratford Shakespeare Festival’s film of The Tempest, directed by Artistic Director Des McAnuff and featuring Christopher Plummer as Prospero, will have its U.S. première this Sunday, November 6 in New York City, presented by Symphony Space and BY Experience.
The screening will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Symphony Space, an arts centre on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It will be followed by a Q&A with Mr. McAnuff and Mr. Plummer, hosted by Barry Avrich, the film’s producer and executive producer.
The première will be followed by wider U.S. distribution of the film, coupled with the filmed Q&A. BY Experience, the company that distributes the Metropolitan Opera screenings, will roll The Tempest out to cinemas in 2012.
“This film gives audiences in New York and throughout the United States the opportunity to see Christopher Plummer, one of the world’s finest classical actors, in one of the great Shakespearean roles,” says Mr. McAnuff. “His performance, along with those of his fellow cast members and the extraordinary work of our creative team, made our stage production of The Tempest a truly magical experience, and I’m delighted that so many more people across the continent will now be able to enjoy a taste of that magic.”
“Des directed an enchanting production of The Tempest,” says the Festival’s General Director, Antoni Cimolino, “and we were thrilled to be able to bring this visually and theatrically stunning work to the screen. The film has met with a wonderful reception in Canada, and we look forward to dazzling and enthralling our friends in the United States as well.”
“Every ounce of emotion and the unyielding theatrical power of the live production has been captured on film,” says Mr. Avrich. “I am very proud that Des’s magnificent production has been immortalized for audiences and for the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.”
About the Stratford Shakespeare Festival
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival is the leading classical theatre in North America. Founded in 1952, the annual Festival runs from April through October. With 12 productions in four theatres, it presents the works of Shakespeare and other great classical writers, as well as the best in musical theatre and contemporary drama. Recognized worldwide, the Festival features the finest performers in Canada, with guest artists from around the globe. It welcomes more than 500,000 visitors each year. For additional information, visit: www.stratfordshakespearefestival.com
About BY Experience
BY Experience kicked off the digital revolution of live events to movie theatres and other locations globally with David Bowie’s 2003 Reality album launch. Since then, over 12 million tickets have been sold worldwide for cinema events BY Experience has distributed and/or produced, including the Met: Live in HD series, the U.K.’s National Theatre Live series, the New York Times speaker’s series TimesTalks LIVE, the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of The Importance of Being Earnest (June 2011), Red Hot Chili Peppers Live: I’m With You (August 2011); The Big Four: Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax (June 2010), BBC Electric Proms: Robbie Williams (October 2009), the classic music celebrations BBC Last Night of the Proms (September 2009 and September 2010), St. Olaf Christmas Festival: Where Peace Love and Hope Abide (December 2007), David Gilmour: Remember That Night – Live from the Royal Albert Hall (September 2007), and the public radio shows A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor (February and October 2010) and This American Life – Live! with Ira Glass (April 2008 and May 2009). BY Experience distributes to nearly 50 countries, to 1,500 movie screens. For more information, visit: www.byexperience.net
2011-11-02
Stratford: Film of the Stratford Festival’s “The Tempest” gets its U.S. premiere