Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Toronto, Ontario - Opening November 4, Hart House Theatre is pleased to bring this great play to the stage. Directed by award-winning Toronto theatre artist Paolo Santalucia and starring a large cast of trained, emergent talent, Hamlet promises to be a dynamic, fresh look at a classic tale with the high production value to which Hart House Theatre audiences are accustomed.
Perhaps the world's most iconic tragedy, William Shakespeare's Hamlet has all of the elements of a great drama: courtly intrigue, murder, revenge, family betrayal and forbidden seduction. With some of the most memorable and sublime poetry in the English language, Hamlet is a timeless tragedy that is not to be missed.
We are honoured to have Paolo Santalucia return to Hart House Theatre to direct this project. His award-winning experiences with companies such as Soulpepper, Driftwood and Tarragon Theatre have fed into his creative take on the piece.
"What makes Hamlet so inspiring to me is that through the countless iterations it has undergone in the centuries since it was written, its ability to baffle, confront, move, and engage with our notions of humanity never cease to be irrelevant. This piece asks the biggest of questions of both its artistic team, its ensemble, and its audience. It's no wonder then, that in looking for metaphors, and setting, that we decided to begin with questions ourselves as the centre of our exploration.
Ultimately, this play is about truth...the production elements will act as a metaphors for how we conceal and reveal ourselves--how the "inward parts of our hearts, and the secrets of our souls" are kept close, and how they break free from us against our control. This production, and the focus of this version of the play, will be centred on the need to uncover truth, with each passing act getting closer and closer to the naked truth both in its visual and interpersonal representations." - Paolo Santalucia
Tasked with creating the world of Denmark is the design team Nancy Perrin (set and costumes), Andre du Toit (lighting), Jeremy Hutton (sound) and Kristen Zaza (musical director).
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Paolo Santalucia
Set and Costume Design by Nancy Perrin
Lighting Design by Andre du Toit
Sound Design by Jeremy Hutton
Musical Direction by Kristen Zaza
FEATURING
Making his Hart House Theatre début in the role of the dark prince is Ryerson graduate, Dan Mousseau. Since completing his BFA program in Acting, Dan has performed in independent productions around the city. In the film world, Dan is involved with a company that creates an app featuring unabridged, filmed versions of Shakespeare's works, called Shakespeare at Play. Dan was in their original film of Romeo and Juliet as Paris and has since been Lennox in Macbeth and Hamlet.
In the role of Hamlet's mother and the Queen of Denmark is Hart House Theatre alumnae Annemieke Wade. In addition to her appearances on stage, Annemieke is the General Manager at Theatre Direct and one of the founding members of Royal Porcupine Productions (RPP). She has also been the Company Manager at Tarragon theatre while exercising her acting chops with voice-over work. Annemieke holds a MBA from Champlain College and an HBA from the University of Toronto/Sheridan College in Theatre and Drama Studies/Acting.
As the unfortunate Ophelia, Hart House Theatre welcomes Sheelagh Daly. Sheelagh is a graduate of the joint Theatre and Acting program between the University of Toronto Mississauga and Sheridan College. Since graduating she has continued to develop her skills through classes with Pro Actors Lab, The Second City and The Actor's Foundry. Sheelagh can be seen on stage regularly performing with DuffleBag Theatre and The Canadian Improv Showcase. She has also appeared in a variety of short films, music videos and commercials, and will be playing Polly Hamilton in a docudrama set to be released in 2016.
For a full list of cast members, click here. For more information on the professional production team, visit here.
Nov. 4-21, 2015
Week 1: Wed. to Sat., 8 pm
Week 2: Wed. to Sat., 8 pm
Week 3: Wed. to Sat., 8 pm and Sat., 2 pm
Postshow Talkbacks: Thurs., Nov. 5 and Sat., Nov. 7
Preshow Artist Chat: Sat., Nov. 21 at 1 pm
Tickets & Box Office
Single Ticket Prices
Adults: $28
Seniors: $17
Students: $15
$12 Student tickets every Wednesday night
UofTtix Box Office
416.978.8849
2015-10-13
Toronto: Hart House Theatre presents "Hamlet" November 4-21