Stage Door News
Stage Door News
January 30, 2012… The Stratford Shakespeare Festival and Melbar Entertainment Group are pleased to announce the cinematic release of Twelfth Night, directed for the stage by Des McAnuff, and produced and directed for film by Barry Avrich.
This joyous play, filled with music and song, will première in select Cineplex Entertainment theatres across Canada on March 10 at 12:45 p.m. local time with an encore performance on March 21 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at participating theatre box offices and online at www.cineplex.com/events or through the Cineplex mobile site m.cineplex.com.
The production features Stephen Ouimette as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Brian Dennehy as Sir Toby Belch, Ben Carlson as Feste, Trent Pardy as Sebastian, Cara Ricketts as Maria, Tom Rooney as Malvolio, Andrea Runge as Viola, Mike Shara as Orsino, and Sara Topham as Olivia.
Mr. McAnuff’s production of Twelfth Night thrilled Festival audiences during the 2011 season and was one of the most successful Shakespeare productions of his tenure so far as Artistic Director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. It features an eclectic score reflecting the history of rock and roll, composed by Michael Roth and Mr. McAnuff.
“Films are important to us not just because they preserve great performances for posterity,” says Mr. McAnuff. “They enable us to extend the Festival experience far beyond Stratford itself. Last season’s production of Twelfth Night was a huge hit with our patrons, and now we can share this comedic and musical feast with a much wider audience, spreading the joy of live theatre across the country.”
“Since 2008 we have filmed three of our productions for release through Cineplex and have been thrilled with the response from audiences,” says General Director Antoni Cimolino. “It has been most rewarding to be part of Cineplex’s commitment to share classical theatre, ballet and opera with Canadians who might otherwise not be able to attend such performances.”
Twelfth Night is the story of Viola, a young woman shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, who adopts a male disguise to enter the service of Duke Orsino, only to find herself part of a triangle of unrequited love. Meanwhile in the household of Orsino’s love interest, the Countess Olivia, Sir Toby Belch and his unruly companions trick Olivia’s strict and disapproving steward, Malvolio, into believing that she loves him.
“This film is a virtual kaleidoscope of colour, music and performance,” says Mr. Avrich, who also produced the Festival’s recent films of The Tempest and Caesar and Cleopatra. “Des McAnuff takes Shakespeare and gives it the musical inspiration of The Beatles and the theatricality of Cirque du Soleil.”
“Cineplex Entertainment is celebrating 100 years of movie memories in 2012,” says Pat Marshall, Vice President Communications and Investor Relations for Cineplex Entertainment. “We are so proud to add Twelfth Night and all the other incredible Stratford Festival productions to the entertainment we offer our theatre guests across Canada. Not everyone can make it to Stratford so capturing these live productions on film, and playing them on our big screens, makes it the next best thing to actually being there.”
Production sponsors include the Slaight Family Foundation, Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership, Violet Productions and Richard Rooney.
Support for the original stage production was provided by Scotiabank Group, Dr. M.L. Myers and Dr. W.P. Hayman.
The music of Twelfth Night has been released on CD and is also available for download on CD Baby. The CD, along with DVDs of The Tempest and Caesar and Cleopatra, are available to purchase through the Festival’s website: stratfordshakespearefestival.com.
This year, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival celebrates its 60th season, with 14 productions presented from April 12 to October 28: 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.
Participating theatres
ONTARIO
Ajax
Cineplex Odeon Ajax Cinemas, 248 Kingston Road
Ancaster
SilverCity Ancaster Cinemas, 771 Golf Links Road
Barrie
Galaxy Cinemas Barrie, 72 Commerce Park Drive
Belleville
Galaxy Cinemas Belleville, 160 Bell Boulevard
Bracebridge
Rene M. Caisse, 100 Clearbrook Trl.
Brampton
SilverCity Brampton Cinemas, 50 Great Lakes Drive
Brantford
Galaxy Cinemas Brantford, 300 King George Road
Brockville
Galaxy Cinemas Brockville, 2399 Parkedale Avenue
Burlington
SilverCity Burlington Cinemas, 1250 Brant Street
Chatham
Galaxy Cinemas Chatham, 760 St Clair Street
Collingwood
Galaxy Cinemas Collingwood, 6 Mountain Road
Cornwall
Galaxy Cinemas Cornwall, 1325 Second Street E
Guelph
Galaxy Cinemas Guelph, 485 Woodlawn Road W
Kingston
Cineplex Odeon Gardiners Road Cinemas, 626 Gardiners Road
London
Cineplex Odeon Westmount and VIP Cinemas, 755 Wonderland Road S
SilverCity London Cinemas, 1680 Richmond Street
Midland
Galaxy Cinemas Midland, 9226 County Road 93
Mississauga
Coliseum Mississauga Cinemas, 309 Rathburn Road W
Newmarket
SilverCity Newmarket Cinemas and XSCAPE Entertainment Centre, 18151 Yonge Street
Niagara Falls
Cineplex Odeon Niagara Square Cinemas, 7555 Montrose Road
North Bay
Galaxy Cinemas North Bay, 300 Lakeshore Drive
Oakville
SilverCity Oakville and VIP Cinemas, 3531 Wyecroft Road
Orangeville
Galaxy Cinemas Orangeville, 85 Fifth Avenue
Orillia
Galaxy Cinemas Orillia, 865 West Ridge Boulevard
Oshawa
Cineplex Odeon Oshawa Cinemas, 1351 Grandview Street N
Ottawa
Cineplex Odeon South Keys Cinemas, 2214 Bank Street
Coliseum Ottawa Cinemas, 3090 Carling Avenue
SilverCity Gloucester Cinemas, 2385 City Park Drive
Owen Sound
Galaxy Cinemas Owen Sound, 1020 10th Street
Peterborough
Galaxy Cinemas Peterborough, 320 Water Street
Picton
The Regent Theatre, 224 Main Street
Port Hope
Capitol Theatre, 20 Queen Street
Richmond Hill
SilverCity Richmond Hill Cinemas, 8725 Yonge Street
Sarnia
Famous Players Lambton 9 Cinemas, 1450 London Road
Sault Ste. Marie
Galaxy Cinemas Sault Ste. Marie, 293 Bay Street
Sudbury
SilverCity Sudbury Cinemas, 355 Barrydowne Road
Thunder Bay
SilverCity Thunder Bay Cinemas, 850 North May Street
Toronto
Cineplex Odeon Queensway Cinemas, 1025 The Queensway
Cineplex Odeon Sheppard Cinemas, 4861 Yonge Street
Cineplex Odeon Varsity and VIP Cinemas, 55 Bloor Street W
Coliseum Scarborough Cinemas, 300 Borough Drive
Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, 259 Richmond Street W
SilverCity Fairview Mall Cinemas, 1800 Sheppard Avenue E
SilverCity Yonge-Eglinton Cinemas, 2300 Yonge Street
Waterloo
Galaxy Cinemas Waterloo, 550 King Street N
Windsor
Cineplex Odeon Devonshire Mall Cinemas, 3100 Howard Avenue
2012-01-30
Stratford: Film of Des McAnuff’s “Twelfth Night” to premiere at Cineplex theatres March 10