Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Artistic Director Allen MacInnis and Executive Director Nancy Webster are pleased to announce the 2016/17 Season at Young People’s Theatre (YPT), a year that marks the return of two of YPT’s most popular musicals, both based on children’s literature classics: SeussicalTM and Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach.
Six other diverse productions round out YPT’s 51st Season, ranging from Munschtime!, a brand new YPT production encompassing five favourite stories from renowned children’s author Robert Munsch, to Roseneath Theatre’s Spirit Horse, which follows the adventures of two Indigenous children whose family is caught between traditional ways and contemporary urban culture.
Also back due to overwhelming demand will be last year’s surprise hit, One Thing Leads to Another – YPT’s first show for babies! Excitement about programming for these, the tiniest of audience members, is such that YPT is also presenting Scenes From a Tree, by Québec’s Des mots d’la dynamite, a lively tale for ages 14 months to 4 years about growing up and putting down roots.
The eclectic playbill will also feature Boys With Cars from Nightswimming Theatre, an audacious play set in a suburban high school where cultures collide, and Still/Falling, a play from Vancouver’s Green Thumb Theatre that looks at mental illness from the inside out. Each show in this remarkable season touches on the theme chosen by Allen MacInnis: No one is alone.
“There is comfort for children in knowing that no one is alone – that everything and everyone is connected in some way. But how do we best support children and youth in mastering the realization of their responsibility to others – the notion that everything they do can affect other people? I hope the plays this season allow teachers and parents to have conversations about those implications.”
– Allen MacInnis
2016/17 Season Playbill
ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER
A Collective Collaboration by Maja Ardal, Audrey Dwyer, Mary Francis Moore and Julia Tribe
Developed from the original concept, research and theme by Maja Ardal
Directed by Mary Francis Moore
Studio | Sept. 22 to Oct. 8, 2016 | Ages 3 to 12 months; suitable for up to 24 months
Last season’s hugely successful show for babies returns by popular demand!
SPIRIT HORSE
Native American adaptation by Drew Hayden Taylor from the Irish play ‘Tir Na N’Og’ by Greg Banks
Directed by Greg Banks
A Roseneath Theatre production
Mainstage | Oct. 18-28, 2016 | Ages 8 & up
This powerful production follows the adventures of two Indigenous children whose family is caught between the traditional ways and contemporary urban culture.
SEUSSICALTM
Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Book by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
Co-conceived by Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and Eric Idle
Based on the Works of Dr. Seuss
Directed by Thom Allison
Choreographed by Kimberley Rampersad
Mainstage | Nov. 14-Dec. 31, 2016 | Ages 5 & up *
An all-time favourite of YPT audiences, this delightful musical is proof that “a person’s a person no matter how small”. A wonderful treat for the Holidays.
STILL/FALLING
Written by Rachel Aberle
Directed by Patrick McDonald
A Green Thumb Theatre production
Studio | Nov. 22-Dec 9, 2016 | Ages 13 & up
A realistic, honest and bitingly funny look at the difference between ‘teen angst’ and mental illness and the ways vulnerable kids can start to find their way out of the dark.
ROALD DAHL’S JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH
Words and Music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
Book by Timothy Allen McDonald
Based on the book James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
Directed by Nina Lee Aquino
Mainstage | Feb. 6-Mar. 18, 2017 (runs over March Break) | Ages 5 & up *
This rollicking musical version of the beloved children’s classic returns due to overwhelming demand after a nearly sold-out run in 2014! A fantastical journey to warm up the winter months! Look for the giant peach on YPT’s roof!
SCENES FROM A TREE
Created and developed by Nathalie Derome, Amélie Dumoulin and Karine Sauvé
English translation by Nadine Desrochers
A production of Des mots d’la dynamite
Studio | Feb. 15-26, 2017 | Ages 18 months to 4 years
A lively tale about growing up and putting down roots created especially for tiny tots.
BOYS WITH CARS
Written, choreographed and performed by Anita Majumdar
Directed by Brian Quirt
Commissioned and produced by Nightswimming Theatre,
with additional development support from Young People’s Theatre and The Banff Centre
Mainstage | Mar. 23-Apr. 1, 2017 | Ages 13 & up
A compelling fusion of theatre and classical Indian dance, adapted for young audiences from Anita Majumdar’s acclaimed solo plays (The Fish Eyes Trilogy), Boys With Cars explores how two high school girls navigate the expectations of boys.
MUNSCHTIME!
Based on the stories of Robert Munsch
Adapted by Stephen Colella and Allen MacInnis
Mainstage | Apr. 17-May 14, 2017 | Ages 4-8
The beloved stories of acclaimed children’s author Robert Munsch – including Love You Forever, Murmel Murmel Murmel, Pigs, A Promise is a Promise, and Too Much Stuff – come to life on stage to delight young theatregoers. YPT will offer American Sign Language (ASL) Shadow Interpreted performances.
*SeussicalTM and James and the Giant Peach are presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.MTIShows.com
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The 2016/17 playbill announcement comes as YPT winds down its landmark 50th Anniversary Season, a year jam-packed with milestones and memories, including the hugely successful 50th Anniversary Gala fundraiser, the creation of The Ada Slaight Education Centre at YPT, extended participation projects in the community, and unprecedented attendance figures.
“The 50th Anniversary Season at Young People’s Theatre has been extraordinary, beginning with our sold-out Gala in October, and now drawing to a close with box office attendance and revenues beyond anything on record for the past 15 years. There have been many landmarks in between, not the least of which is the remarkable growth of our Drama School which broke attendance records and added a new location in East Toronto. We are profoundly grateful to the people of Toronto and indeed Southern Ontario, for their support over this milestone season. We look forward to serving you for another 50 years.”
- Nancy Webster
In the coming year, Young People’s Theatre will continue its commitment to making programs accessible to as many young people as possible. With this in mind, YPT plans to expand the number of Relaxed Performances offered this year. First introduced in the 2014/15 Season and designed for young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Relaxed Performances offer adjusted sound and lighting levels and a designated relief area, as well as additional support before and during the visit.
Plans for a 50th birthday bash have recently been announced and everyone is invited to join in celebrating YPT’s first half-century. The birthday party will take place on Friday, May 13th beginning at 6pm. Members of the theatre and the education community are invited, along with donors, volunteers, friends from the St. Lawrence neighbourhood, Drama School alumni and audience members past and present. Everyone is encouraged to join this all-ages celebration. For details, visit youngpeoplestheatre.ca/50.
YPT’s renowned Drama School turns 47 this year and features year-round classes and programs led by professional artist-educators at YPT’s FOUR locations in the GTA. Weekday After School programs are also available Downtown. Summer Drama Camp registration is currently underway with some camps already sold out. For more information, visit youngpeoplestheatre.ca or call 416.862.2222.
It is with sincere gratitude that Young People’s Theatre recognizes the extraordinary contribution of the Slaight Family, whose dedicated, long-standing support has been vital to the success of the company. Of particular note is their remarkable gift of $3 million for the creation of the Ada Slaight Education Centre at YPT.
YPT is very grateful for the support provided by its Government Partners - Canada Council for the Arts, Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council and the Government of Canada.As well, YPT wishes to thank our lead Creative, Education & Participation and Accessibility Partners:TD Bank Group, BMO Financial Group, RBC Foundation, Scotiabank, SunLife Financial, Great West Life, London Life, Canada Life, CIBC, and the Tippet Foundation.
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YPT is once again offering First Saturday Savings and Pay-What-You-Can (PWYC) performances. First Saturdays provide families with reduced ticket prices to the first Saturday performance of selected Mainstage productions. PWYC tickets are available for designated weekend family shows on the day of performance only. Families can also take advantage of YPT’s Super Saver Seating where a limited number of Mezzanine tickets are available for each Mainstage performance at just $10 each.
For a limited time, subscribers can save on already low ticket prices and receive priority seating with YPT’s Show Combos,which offer discounts of up to 15%. Season Launch Special: Purchase all seven regular shows (One Thing Leads to Another is not included) and receive 50% off for the first 50 days that Show Combos are on sale! (to June 14, 2016)
Weekday school groups can take advantage of a Season Launch Special: Tickets are just $13 including HST (reg. $16) for the first 50 days on sale (until June 14) with one FREE teacher/chaperone ticket for every 20 tickets purchased.
The current 50th Season playbill concludes on May 15th. Availability is limited, but some tickets are still available for Scarberia, in the Studio until May 1st, and The Wizard of Oz, playing on the Mainstage until May 15th.
TICKETS ON SALE TODAY!
Be the first to access tickets to YPT’s 2016/17 Season by purchasing Show Combos
beginning today, April 26. Student group tickets are also on sale now to schools.
Single tickets go on sale to the general public June 15.
For details, please visit youngpeoplestheatre.ca or call 416.862.2222.
2016-04-27
Toronto: Young People's Theatre announces its 2016/17 season