Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, May 23, 2012. . .The Shaw Festival’s 51st season officially opens tonight at the Festival Theatre with Present Laughter, the David Schurmann-directed Noël Coward comedy featuring Steven Sutcliffe, Claire Jullien, Mary Haney and Moya O’Connell.
The celebration continues over the next three days with the openings of four of the season’s most anticipated productions: Githa Sowerby’s A Man and Some Women; Bernard Shaw’s Misalliance; Terence Rattigan’s French Without Tears and the Terrence McNally, Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty musical Ragtime at three of the four Niagara-on-the-Lake-based theatres. These plays are prime examples of the Shaw’s commitment to producing theatre that explores new approaches to classic plays and reveals new worlds.
The productions have definitely hit a chord with audiences: Ragtime is the highest selling show this season, followed by Present Laughter. Over 35,000 people will have attended performances of the five productions over the past seven weeks of previews. April preview sales are higher than last season and Misalliance has surpassed budget expectations. May performances of Ragtime also surprised, averaging over 80% sold with half of the performances sold out.
Speaking about the upcoming opening performances, Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell said: “Tonight officially marks the first season of our next 50 years; continuing the thought-provoking, stimulating and relevant theatrical conversation we so strongly believe in. These opening productions represent the passion and dedication all members of the Shaw Festival Company feel about this journey!”
On Saturday, twenty-four year old pianist Lee Cohen will perform for a live audience on the opening night of Ragtime. Cohen won the Shaw Festival’s highly successful online contest, Get Ready to Rag!
The Shaw Festival’s Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell will join The Shaw’s Board of Governors Chair Gary M. Comerford, invited guests and the rest of the Company in celebrating the start of the season.
In commemoration of the achievements of The Shaw’s creative team, celebratory dinners attended by dignitaries from all levels of government as well as Canada’s artistic and business communities, and Shaw supporters, are held prior to selected opening night performances.
Special guests from all levels of government, colleagues from the cultural sector and generous leading patrons and corporate sponsors attending opening night performances include His Excellency Ray Bassett, Ambassador of Ireland to Canada and His Excellency David Jacobson, U.S. Ambassador to Canada. Government of Canada officials attending will include the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, MP for Niagara Falls; Senator Art Eggleton; Mr. Richard Dykstra, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, MP St. Catharines; Mr. Ted Opitz, MP Etobicoke Centre; Mr. Terence Young, MP Oakville. Attending consulate representatives will include Ms. Marta Moszczenska, Canada Consul General (Buffalo) and Ms. Patricia Fietz, U.S. Consul (Toronto). Provincial government officials attending will include Mr. Kim Craitor, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport (Tourism), MPP Niagara Falls; Ms. Donna Cansfield, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development and Innovation, MPP Etobicoke Centre; Mr. Kevin Flynn, MPP Oakville; Mr. Monte Kwinter, Chair of the Ontario Investment and Trade Advisory Council (OITAC) and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Economic Development and Innovation, MPP York Centre; Ms. Julia Munro, PC Culture Critic, MPP North York; and Mr. Greg Sorbara, MPP Vaughan. Municipal government officials attending will include Mr. Gary Burroughs, Regional Chair, Niagara Region and Lord Mayor Dave Eke, Mayor of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Mr. Steven Davidson, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport; Ms. Donna Ratchford, Assistant Deputy Minister, Culture Division, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport; and Ms. Janice Thomson, Chair, Niagara Parks Commission will also be in attendance, as will members of the Arts community including Ms. Carol Beauchamp, Executive Director, Theatre Ontario; Mr. Peter Caldwell, Executive Director, Ontario Arts Council; Ms. Martha Durdin, Chair, Ontario Arts Council; Mr. Alan Walker, Executive Director, Ontario Arts Foundation; and Ms. Lucy White, Executive Director, PACT.
The Shaw Festival’s 51st season runs to October 28 and will also feature His Girl Friday, Come Back, Little Sheba; The Millionairess, Hedda Gabler, Trouble in Tahiti and Helen’s Necklace on its four Niagara-on-the-Lake stages.
Present Laughter is sponsored by CIBC.
Misalliance is sponsored by Scotiabank®.
Ragtime is sponsored by TD Bank Group.
Visa Infinite® is the official payment card of the Shaw Festival.
Illustration: Present Laughter. ©2012 Shaw Festival.
2012-05-23
Niagara-on-the-Lake: Noel Coward’s “Present Laughter” opens the Shaw Festival’s 51st season