Stage Door News
Stage Door News
This summer, Driftwood Theatre takes you on the greatest journey of love, adventure and the search for home ever told: THE ODYSSEY, adapted from Homer by Rick Chafe.
The Bard’s Bus Tour voyages across Ontario on a new classic journey filled with suspense, adventure and excitement, with PWYC performances from July 11th to August 18th. THE ODYSSEY previews in Toronto July 11-12th at Todmorden Mills, and returns to play a full week of performances July 23-28th at Withrow Park.
“Twenty mortal years Odysseus. No matter what graces the gods
heap upon you, you can’t believe you’ll find your home as you left it.”
Odysseus – the great General of the Trojan war – has been missing at sea for twenty years. His wife, the Ithacan Queen Penelope, struggles to maintain the safety of her kingdom, her son and herself in the face of an increasingly hostile hoard of suitors. When a stranger arrives offering the fantastical story of her missing husband does she dare hope that he might still be alive?
Dive into the stories of Odysseus’ adventures in Rick Chafe’s (The Secret Mask; Shakespeare’s Dog) contemporary adaptation of Homer’s classic tale – a wild ride populated with myriad mythical characters and creatures. Hailed by the Winnipeg Free Press, Rick Chafe’s magical re-telling of Homer's epic tale of adventure and passion, "like its hero, overcomes great perils to arrive home awash in glory."
Gods, Sirens and Cyclops are all brought to life by Driftwood Theatre’s talented ensemble under the guidance of Jeremy Smith (Memorial, Next Stage; Northern Lights, Eastern Fire, Canadian Sinfonietta; 18 seasons, Driftwood Theatre) in this new production, rich with imagery, movement, a cappella song and puppetry.
“We’re thrilled to be sharing this exciting story, adapted by wonderful Winnipeg playwright Rick Chafe, as The Bard’s Bus Tour’s first departure from the work of William Shakespeare,” offers Artistic Director Jeremy Smith, “We’re exploring Driftwood’s larger mandate of classic theatre - and where better to start than the most epic story of all time?”
THE ODYSSEY features an ensemble cast of some of the finest emerging and established actors in the country, including Christopher Darroch (four seasons, Driftwood Theatre; Gone With The Wind, Manitoba Theatre Centre; A Man of No Importance, Acting Up Stage), Sedina Fiati (Queen Marie, 4th Line Theatre; Wise.Woman, b current), Chris George (Titus Andronicus, Shakespeare by the Sea; Macbeth, Hart House), Janick Hebert (Macbeth, Driftwood Theatre; Scorched, Tarragon Theatre), Lori Nancy Kalamanski (My Mother’s Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, Mirvish; e-Dentity, Theatre Gargantua/Mirvish), Tim Machin (two seasons, Driftwood Theatre; The Gift Horse, Caravan Theatre; Frankenstein, Catalyst Theatre), Sarah Machin Gale (two seasons, Driftwood Theatre; The Penelopiad, Citadel Theatre; To Master The Art, The Grand Theatre; Imprints, Theatre Gargantua), and Andy Pogson (Macbeth, Driftwood Theatre; Calendar Girls, Grand Theatre; Skin Flick, Theatre Collingwood/Bluewater). The production will be stage managed by Sandi Becker (two seasons, Driftwood Theatre; three seasons, Grand Theatre).
Joining Mr. Smith on the creative team are Dora award-winning costume designer Melanie McNeill (Madhouse Variations, Eldritch Theatre; Shakespeare’s Nigga, Obsidian Theatre; Les Fourberies de Scapin, Théâtre français de Toronto), composer and musical director Tom Lillington (ten seasons, Driftwood Theatre), sound designer Verne Good (Hirsch, Stratford Festival; The Normal Heart, Studio 180), and movement & fight directors Clare Preuss (two seasons, Driftwood Theatre; Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland, Blyth Festival, Nightwood Theatre) and Richard Lee (Macbeth, Driftwood Theatre; carried away on the crest of a wave, Tarragon Theatre; ching chong chinaman, fuGen).
A full list of performance dates and locations is available at www.driftwoodtheatre.com.
The Toronto Star calls The Driftwood Theatre Group “A stylish and committed company.” Founded in 1995, Driftwood is Ontario’s first and longest running outdoor touring theatre tradition. Working with the best emerging and established artists today, Driftwood celebrates the work of William Shakespeare and other classics through its annual Bard’s Bus Tour, touring to parks and heritage sites and focusing on communities with little or no access to professional theatre. 2013 marked the 10th anniversary of Driftwood’s hugely successful Trafalgar 24 play creation festival in Whitby, Ontario, and the second year of their associated play development program, Beyond The Castle.
The Bard’s Bus Tour is generously sponsored by Ontario Power Generation. Driftwood gratefully acknowledges the support of The Ontario Arts Council through their Operating, Touring and Arts Investment Fund granting programs, and the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
TORONTO Performance Information for Driftwood Theatre’s ODYSSEY:
Venues
& Performances:
Todmorden Mills (Map)
Thursday July 11 - 7:30pm (Preview)
Friday July 12 - 7:30pm (Preview)
Withrow Park (Map)
Tuesday July 24 - 7:30pm
Wednesday July 25 - 7:30pm
Thursday July 26 - 7:30pm
Friday July 27 - 7:30pm
Saturday July 28 - 7:30pm
Sunday July 29 - 7:30pm
Tickets:
- All Performances are PWYC ($15 suggested donation) at the door
- RESERVATIONS: The best blanket and lawn chair spaces can be reserved in advance for $15-$18 through www.TOTix.ca. BYO blanket or lawn chair, or rent them at the venue!
- RAIN LOCATIONS: Alternate indoor facilities exist for select performances in case of inclement weather. For details, visit www.driftwoodtheatre.com/bards-bus-tour.
Summer Shakespearience:
Coinciding with our annual Bard’s Bus Tour, Driftwood’s Summer Shakespearience is a free series of interactive and family-friendly workshops and discussions which enhance, educate and entertain. Make the most of your next Driftwood performance by taking part in a Shakespearience nearest you. For more information and a full schedule, please visit: www.driftwoodtheatre.com/outreach/shakespearience-festival/
2013-06-13
Toronto: Driftwood Theatre’s “The Odyssey” plays Toronto July 11-12 and July 23-28