Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Excitement is building for the Canadian production of WAR HORSE, the National Theatre of Great Britain’s multi award-winning blockbuster. On Monday, December 19, the all-Canadian cast of the production that will open at the Princess of Wales Theatre in February 2012 will begin rehearsals. Also, on the same day, WAR HORSE will extend its run to June 30, 2012, with a new block of 96,000 seats being offered for sale – just in time for the gift giving season.
Of course, it goes without saying that WAR HORSE continues to dominate and expand its reach in popular culture. The original London production, which began in 2007 at the National Theatre, is now in its third year at the New London Theatre in the West End. In the U.S., the Broadway production at the Lincoln Centre Theatre, nears its first anniversary. And the highly anticipated film adaptation, directed by Steven Spielberg, opens on Christmas Day in cinemas everywhere.
Recently the author of the book which inspired all this extraordinary activity, Michael Morpurgo, made a visit to Toronto. He met with the cast prior to the beginning of rehearsal and got to better know the country that his birth father, the great actor Tony Van Bridge, called home. While in Toronto, Morpurgo, together with WAR HORSE song maker John Tams, took to the stage of the Panasonic Theatre to share stories about the book and its stage and film adaptations for a sold-out charity event.
Produced by The National Theatre of Great Britain, National Angels, Bob Boyett and David Mirvish based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford in association with Handspring Puppet Company, WAR HORSE begins performances at the Princess of Wales Theatre on February 10. Opening night is February 28, 2012.
The cast of this Olivier and Tony Award-winning play brings together actors from across Canada. There are exciting newcomers, and actors who have worked on major stages and are considered to be among the best in the country.
In the starring role of Albert, the young man who raises his horse Joey, is Alex Furber, a recent graduate of the National Theatre School.
Brad Rudy, who has spent many seasons at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, plays Ted Narracott, Albert’s father.
Tamara Bernier-Evans, a star of both musical theatre (Mamma Mia!) and classical theatre (Stratford Festival) plays Rose Narracott, Albert’s mother.
Richard McMillan, recognized as one of Canada’s leading actors (The Boys in the Photograph, The Lion King, Stratford Festival), stars as Albert’s uncle and Ted’s rival, Arthur Narracott.
Steven Yaffee plays Billy Narracott, Arthur’s son and Albert’s cousin.
Shaw Festival star Patrick Galligan plays German soldier Friedrich Muller.
Melanie Doane, Juno Award-winning singer/songwriter performs the role of Song Person #1, singing an array of folksongs throughout the show. Tatjana Cornij, performs the role of Song Person #2.
THE HORSES
The horses, Joey and Topthorn are major characters in WAR HORSE and are each portrayed on stage by three actors who operate the brilliantly designed puppets, created by Adrian Kohler and Basil Jones of Handspring Puppet Company. The puppets are life-size, lightweight and exceptionally strong so that an actor could ride them. Each horse’s skeletal frame is made of cane and detailed with wood, elastic, leather and wire.
Each horse has three operators – one who is outside the puppet (called the Head) and two who are inside (called the Heart and the Hind).
Joey, as a foal is played by Mairi Babb, Patrick Kwok-Choon, and Rahnuma Panthaky.
Joey and Topthorn, as adults, are played by: Christy Adamson, Brad Cook, Adam Cunningham, Caden Douglas, James Retter Duncan, Troy Feldman, Bryan Hindle, Grant Landry, Ryan Reid, Sean Robertson, Brendan Rowland and Dayna Tietzen
The ensemble includes: Neil Foster, Bruce Godfree, Addison Holley, Ryan Hollyman, Cara Hunter, David Hurwitz, Araya Mengesha, Brendan Murray, Brian Paul, Geoffrey Pounsett, Dylan Roberts, and Brendan Wall.
THE STORY
England,1914. As World War I begins, Joey, young Albert’s beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. He’s soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in No Man’s Land. But Albert cannot forget Joey and, though not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home.
Winner of 6 Tony Awards® 2011, Outer Critic’s Circle Awards 2011, Olivier, Evening Standard and Critics’ Circle awards, this powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, is a production of phenomenal inventiveness. At its heart are astonishing life-sized puppets created by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to life on the stage.
THE CREATIVE TEAM
The production is directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris; sets, costumes & drawings by Rae Smith; puppet design, fabrication and direction by Adrian Kohler with Basil Jones for Handspring Puppet Company; lighting by Paule Constable; director of movement & horse sequences by Toby Sedgwick; animation & projection design by 59 Productions; music by Adrian Sutton; songmaker John Tams and sound by Christopher Sutt.
GENERAL FACTS & FIGURES (as of June 13, 2011)
WAR HORSE received its World Premiere at the National Theatre on 9 October 2007 and played in the Olivier for 92 performances until 14 February 2008 and was seen by over 104,000 people.
WAR HORSE returned to the National Theatre for a second run playing from 10 September 2008 – 18 March 2009 for a total of 114 performances and was seen by a further 130,000 people.
WAR HORSE transferred to the West End in 2009 with its first performance at the New London Theatre on 28 March 2009. WAR HORSE is currently booking until 27 October 2012 at the New London Theatre. More than one millionth patrons have attended the production in London.
WAR HORSE has been seen by The Queen, Prince Phillip, Princess Anne, Prince William and Prince Harry as well as other famous faces including Michael Caine, Rupert Everett, Ethan Hawke, James Earl Jones, Tommy Lee Jones, Keira Knightley, Annie Lennox, Ian McKellen, Helen Mirren, Miranda Richardson, Alan Rickman, Meg Ryan, Will Smith and Steven Spielberg.
The Broadway production of WAR HORSE opened on 14 April 2011 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center, where it continues to play to sell-out crowds. A US tour is scheduled to start in Los Angeles in June 2012.
UK AWARDS
· 2007 Evening Standard Award for Set Design - Rae Smith and Handspring Puppet Company
· 2007 Critics’ Circle Award for Set Design - Rae Smith and Handspring Puppet Company
· 2007 Laurence Olivier Awards for Set Design - Rae Smith and Handspring Puppet Company
· 2007 Laurence Olivier Awards for Best Theatre Choreographer - Toby Sedgwick
US AWARDS
· 2011 Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Outstanding New Broadway Play
· 2011 Outer Critics’ Circle Award for Outstanding Director of a Play – Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris
· 2011 Outer Critics’ Circle Award Outstanding Lighting Design – Paule Constable
· 2011 Outer Critics’ Circle Special Achievement Award – Basil Jones and Adrian Kohler
· 2011 Drama Desk Special Award for Thrilling Stagecraft
· 2011 World Theatre Award - Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence -Seth Numrich
· 2011 Broadway.com Audience Awards Favourite Play
· 2011 Drama League Awards - Distinguished Production of a Play
· 2011 Special Tony Award - Handspring Puppet Company
· 2011 Tony Award – Best Play
· 2011 Tony Award for Best Director of a Play - Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris
· 2011 Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Play – Rae Smith
· 2011 Tony Award for Best Lighting Design of a Play – Paule Constable
· 2011 Tony Award for Best Sound Design of a Play – Christopher Shutt
Single tickets are now on sale
Tickets from $35 - $130
Tues – Sat 7:30PM, Wed, Sat & Sun 1:30PM
2011-12-14
Toronto: Rehearsals begin for “War Horse” December 19 and a new block of tickets goes on sale