Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Albert Schultz, Founding Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company , today announced casting details for its annual Family Festival, running this year from December 2, 2016 to January 8, 2017 with three plays, two concert experiences, and a new magic presentation from David Ben. The Festival will once more take place at both the Young Centre for the Performing Arts and the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts.
On stage this year at the St. Lawrence Centre is It’s a Wonderful Life by Philip Grecian, based on the film by Frank Capra. Directed by Albert Schultz and staged as a live 1940s radio broadcast, this cherished holiday classic runs from December 9 to 24. Also at the St. Lawrence Centre, Soulpepper’s hit concert A Very Soulpepper Christmas returns with sounds of the season from around the globe with two special performances on December 20.
At the Young Centre this winter two Soulpepper favourites return including: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens adapted by Michael Shamata, with Joseph Ziegler as Scrooge (December 2 to 24); and Alligator Pie, a family-friendly musical based on the poems of Dennis Lee created by Ins Choi, Raquel Duffy, Ken MacKenzie, Gregory Prest, and Mike Ross (December 27 to 31).
The Festival also includes the new concert presentation Rose by Mike Ross and Sarah Wilson adapted from The World Is Round by Gertrude Stein (December 16, 17 and 22); and Hocus Pocus from master magician David Ben, an exploration of Ben’s 40 years of creative exploration through magic (December 10 to 31).
This year’s Winter Waves weekend, free family programming throughout the Young Centre, runs from January 6 to 8, 2017.
As part of Soulpepper’s 20th anniversary season celebrations ArtsWorker and StagePlay (under 30) tickets are now only $20! Special ticket packages are also available for Family Festival productions. For more details visit soulpepper.ca/family or call the Young Centre Box Office at 416.866.8666.
SOULPEPPER FAMILY FESTIVAL:
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens. Adapted by Michael Shamata.
Directed by Michael Shamata
Soulpepper’s beloved production of A Christmas Carol has become a Toronto holiday tradition. Follow Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by three ghosts who help him understand the importance of charity in the holiday season. The cast includes Kawa Ada, Cody Black, Kaden Boland-Trowbridge, Kevin Bundy, Daniel Chapman-Smith, Eleanor Guy, Stephen Guy-McGrath, Susan Henley, John Jarvis, Tangara Jones, Eponine Lee, Ellora Patnaik, Krystin Pellerin, Jordan Pettle, and Soulpepper Founding Member Joseph Ziegler.
Recommended for ages 8+
Playing at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts
A Soulpepper Signature Production
A Christmas Carol runs from December 2 to December 24, 2016.
It’s a Wonderful Life
Written for the stage by Philip Grecian. Based on the film by Frank Capra.
Directed by Albert Schultz
A cherished holiday classic is reimagined as a 1940s live-radio broadcast as the Soulpepper ensemble presents the beloved story of George Bailey and the intervention of his guardian angel one fateful Christmas Eve. The cast includes: Derek Boyes, Sascha Cole, Oliver Dennis, Christef Desir, Raquel Duffy, Michelle Fisk, Thea Lapham, Richie Lawrence, Ellie Moon, Michelle Monteith, Dan Mousseau, Gregory Prest, James Smith, Marcel Stewart and Soulpepper Founding Members Diego Matamoros and William Webster.
Recommended for ages 8+
Playing at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in the Bluma Appel Theatre
It’s a Wonderful Life runs from December 9 to December 24, 2016. Opening night is December 15.
Magicana in association with Soulpepper Presents
Hocus Pocus
Written by David Ben and Patrick Watson
Directed and Performed by David Ben
Spoken word, cinema, sleight-of-hand; the old, the new, the beautiful and the mysterious: it’s all Hocus Pocus. World-renowned magician David Ben returns to Soulpepper’s Family Festival with his ever-evolving exploration of spellbinding illusion and wonder. Ancient mysteries with modern twists for all ages performed in an intimate salon-like setting.
"David Ben is a sleight-of-hand wizard and a brilliant entertainer." – TORONTO SUN
Recommended for ages 8+
Playing at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts
Hocus Pocus runs from December 1o to December 31, 2016. Opening night is December 14.
Rose (a concert presentation)
Adapted by Mike Ross and Sarah Wilson
Lyrics by Sarah Wilson, Music by Mike Ross
Based on The World Is Round by Gertrude Stein
Directed by Albert Schultz
A rose is a rose is a rose… but who is Rose? In this whimsical new musical presentation based on Gertrude Stein’s children’s book The World Is Round, nine-year-old Rose has some big questions, and not a lot of answers. With the help of her best friend Willie, and her dog Love, Rose takes a magical journey to discover her place in the world. The cast includes: Ghazal Azarbad; Hunter Cardinal; Nicole Power; Mike Ross; and Rose Tuong.
Recommended for ages 8+
Playing at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts
Rose runs on December 16, 17 and 22, 2016.
A Very Soulpepper Christmas
Guests of all ages are invited to a family concert celebrating the sounds of the season from around the globe. Featuring Mike Ross leading an all-star lineup of Toronto’s best musicians including Jackie Richardson.
Recommended for ages 6+
Playing at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts in the Jane Mallett Theatre
A Very Soulpepper Christmas runs on December 20, 2016 for two shows only (2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.).
Alligator Pie
Created and Directed by Ins Choi, Raquel Duffy, Ken MacKenzie, Gregory Prest, and Mike Ross
Poems by Dennis Lee
Alligator Pie, an original Soulpepper production and Dora Award-winner, brings the celebrated children’s poems of Canada’s Father Goose, Dennis Lee, to vibrant theatrical life. The cast includes: Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster, Peter Fernandes, Hailey Gillis, Qasim Khan, and Jennifer Villaverde.
Recommended for ages 3+
Playing at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts
Alligator Pie runs from December 27 to 31, 2016.
Winter Waves
Free family programming transforms the Young Centre through music, theatre and interactive experiences.
January 6, 7, 8, 2017.
Recommended for ages 3+
Young Centre for the Performing Arts
The 2016 Family Festival is presented by CIBC with additional support provided by the Toronto Star and the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund. The Young Centre for the Performing Arts is located at 50 Tank House Lane, Distillery Historic District, Toronto, ON, and the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts is located at 27 Front St E, Toronto, ON.
SOULPEPPER CABARET SERIES
These intimate musical showcases feature fresh and exciting talent, as well as groupings of artists from Toronto’s diverse musical community. Upcoming Saturday Cabarets include performances from Andrew Penner, Michael Hughes, Autorickshaw, and more. Visit soulpepper.ca for more details.
SOULPEPPER ON THE ROAD
Soulpepper heads to Port Hope, ON’s Cameco Capitol Arts Centre with Taking the A Train Uptown Manhattan - Harlem until November 10, 2016.
Soulpepper’s production of Kim’s Convenience goes back on tour in 2017 with confirmed stops at the Nepture Theatre in Halifax, NS (January 10 to February 5, 2017) and the Segal Centre for Performing Arts in Montreal, QC (March 8 to 19, 2017).
SOULPEPPER IN NEW YORK
In celebration of Soulpepper’s 20th anniversary in 2017, Soulpepper will embark on a month of programming Off Broadway in New York City in July, 2017 at the Frank Gehry-designed Pershing Square Signature Center.
Located in its multi-venue home, the Young Centre for the Performing Arts in Toronto’s Distillery Historic District, Soulpepper is Toronto’s largest not-for-profit theatre company. Founded and guided by artists, under the leadership of Artistic Director Albert Schultz and Executive Director Leslie Lester, Soulpepper has an integrated mission which includes: industry-leading youth outreach initiatives; the Soulpepper Academy, Canada’s only multi-year paid professional training program for theatre artists of all disciplines; and a year-round diverse repertory season which is grounded in the classics and committed to the creation of new works, new forms, and innovative practices.
Tickets to Soulpepper productions are available by calling the Young Centre Box Office at 416.866.8666 or by visiting soulpepper.ca. Tickets for Soulpepper 2016.2017 productions range from $32 to $96. Tickets for Soulpepper Concerts & Cabarets start at $25; $20 tickets for Soulpepper productions are available for arts workers. Tickets deals for 18-30 year-olds are available at soulpepper.ca/stageplay. StagePlay is sponsored by TD Bank Group. The $25 Rush Ticket / $5 Youth Rush program is sponsored by Sun Life Financial. Ticket prices include a Young Centre facility fee, service charge and HST. Pricing is subject to change.
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Photo: Joseph Ziegler and Kevin Gordon. ©2014 Nathan Kelly.
2016-11-09
Toronto: The Soulpepper Family Festival returns December 2, 2016-January 8, 2017