Stage Door News
Stage Door News
May 20, 2016… Acclaimed director Gary Griffin brings a deliciously sultry production of Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music to the Stratford stage. Previews begin Saturday, May 21, and the musical officially opens on Tuesday, June 21, at the Avon Theatre.
A true musical masterpiece featuring one of Sondheim’s most famous songs, “Send in the Clowns,” A Little Night Music is an enchanting romp. Its story whisks us away to a magical midsummer weekend in the country, and into a tangled web of steamy affairs between comically mismatched lovers.
Yanna McIntosh plays the dazzling actress Désirée Armfeldt. Ben Carlson plays her old flame, Fredrik Egerman, with Alexis Gordon as his young new wife, Anne, and Juan Chioran plays Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm, Désirée’s current lover, with Cynthia Dale as his watchful wife, Charlotte. Rosemary Dunsmore plays Madame Armfeldt and Sara Farb plays Petra, the Egerman’s maid.
“A Little Night Music is a beautiful and sophisticated piece of work,” says Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino. “I felt that we could cast it perfectly, so it was a project I couldn’t resist. In Gary Griffin, we have one of the preeminent interpreters of Sondheim; he’s given us a rich, full-bodied musical that is as playful as it is poignant.”
Mr. Griffin has a sterling Stratford pedigree, directing such hits as West Side Story, Evita, Camelot and 42nd Street.
“After spending several seasons at Stratford, I am thrilled at the opportunity to create a production with the artists here,” says Mr. Griffin. “The Festival presents classic works that are rich in language and the power of the theatre, all in service of exploring timeless themes. I have always believed that Stephen Sondheim’s works embrace these values and belong in the classical repertoire. I am beyond honoured to be bringing this great show to Stratford for its first production here.”
The production, designed by Debra Hanson, is as beautiful to the eye as to the ear, with evocative scenery and gorgeous costumes befitting Sondheim’s sublime score. The creative team also includes Musical Director Franklin Brasz, Lighting Designer Kevin Fraser, Sound Designer Peter McBoyle, Movement Consultant Chris Bailey, Projection Consultant Brad Peterson and Fight Director John Stead.
A Little Night Music features music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, with book by Hugh Wheeler and orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick. The musical was suggested by a film by Ingmar Bergman. It was originally produced and directed on Broadway by Harold Prince.
Production support is generously provided by Cleveland Friends of Stratford and by Cec & Linda Rorabeck.
Support for the 2016 season of the Avon Theatre is generously provided by the Birmingham family.
A Little Night Music Forum Highlights
The Forum is a series of activities and events, featuring exclusive showcases, guest speakers, special meals, dynamic dialogues and family fun, that offer theatregoers a unique opportunity to delve deeper into the ideas and issues raised by the 2016 playbill and its theme of After the Victory.
Themes related to A Little Night Music will be explored through several Forum events, including:
• A Little Night Mayhem
Wednesday, July 13, 10:45 a.m. to noon
Studio Theatre
Stephen Sondheim displays his brilliant understanding of the foibles of love in A Little Night Music. Bill Rudman shares his personal insights into the piece and discusses them with members of the company, including Juan Chioran and Cynthia Dale.
• Table Talk: A Little Night Music
Tuesday, August 16, 5:30 p.m.
Paul D. Fleck Marquee, Festival Theatre
Buffet dinner followed by a talk on A Little Night Music by Lois Kivesto, researcher and dramaturgical consultant.
Sustaining support for the Forum is generously provided by Kelly & Michael Meighen and the T.R. Meighen Family Foundation.
The 2016 season runs until October 30. It features Macbeth, As You Like It, A Chorus Line, Shakespeare in Love, A Little Night Music, All My Sons, Breath of Kings, John Gabriel Borkman, The Hypochondriac, The Aeneid, Bunny and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit stratfordfestival.ca or call 1.800.567.1600.
Photo: Cynthia Dale, Juan Chioran, Alexis Gordon and Ben Carlson. ©2015 Don Dixon.
2016-05-20
Stratford: Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" begins previews