Stage Door News
Stage Door News
Let the Party Begin! Toronto Operetta Theatre’s 2016-2107 season envisions a musical arc encompassing works from the British, Austro-Hungarian and French heritage of operetta, light opera and musical theatre. THE WALTZ RIVALS - a tribute concert highlighting the music of Franz Léhar and Emre Kálmán – opens the season on Sunday, November 6, 2016 at 3 pm at the St. Lawrence Centre. Perhaps at no time since, have two composers so dominated music theatre, vying season after season for the public’s applause. The spirit of the two Hungarian masters will be on our stage armed with hits from MERRY WIDOW, COUNTESS MARITZA, GYPSY VIOLINS, CZARDAS PRINCESS, PAGANINI and ZAREVITCH, among others. The spice, fizz and sparkle of the afternoon will be led from the piano by Michael Rose with Virginia Reh as dramatic advisor and stars Lucia Cesaroni, Adrian Kramer, Holly Chaplin, Stefan Fehr and Gregory Finney.
One of the undisputed masterpieces from Gilbert and Sullivan, THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, returns to the TOT stage for six performances from December 27 to January 8, 2017. Winking at a society where ‘pirates all are well to do’, G & S premiered PIRATES OF PENZANCE in New York – not London - and it went on to rule operetta’s high seas the world over. Acclaimed tenor Colin Ainsworth stars as Frederic, an apprentice pirate who falls in love with Mabel, the ward of Major General Stanley. Vania Chan, who charmed audiences as Princess Mi in LAND OF SMILES, sings Mabel and Curtis Sullivan returns to our stage as the Major General. Elizabeth Beeler, a formidable singing actress, will be heard as the lovelorn Ruth, a woman with a secret. Conductor Derek Bate will lead the orchestra, cast and chorus while TOT’s General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin brings his accustomed flair as stage director.
Oscar Straus’ THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER follows in the spring with performances on April 26, 28, 29 and 30, 2017. Based on George Bernard Shaw’s ARMS AND THE MAN, it is filled with memorable melodies and witty observations about conflict, the hotel industry and the delights of Swiss chocolate. Peter Tiefenbach leads the orchestra and a splendid cast including Jennifer Taverner, Anna Macdonald, Michael Nyby and Stefan Fehr. Rounding out the season will be GALOPE OFFENBACHIENNE, a tribute to that French master of music theatre, Jacques Offenbach on June 4, 2017.
“Music theatre is fun for the whole family” says TOT’s Guillermo Silva-Marin, “and I’m so pleased that we can continue to give Toronto audiences great theatrical treats featuring 100% Canadian talent. And don’t miss our fabulous evening at the Chelsea Hotel…Orlovsky’s Mardi Gras celebration, a Masked Ball with dinner, dancing, and a luxury silent auction. Join us for the best entertainment value in the GTA.”
Subscription packages are now available with savings of up to 45% for subscribers. There’s a special matinee time on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. TOT’s budget priced FAMILY FUN offers 50% discounts for children and youth under 16 years of age on Friday night and Saturday matinee.
Toronto Operetta Theatre is grateful for the support of the Jackman Foundation, the Bedolfe Foundation, the Canada Council, Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council. Special Media Sponsorship courtesy of Classical 96.3 FM. All performances at the wheel chair accessible St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts – Box Office (416) 366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754, online at www.stlc.com. For further information, call TOT at (416) 922-2912.
Photo: Colin Ainsworth as Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance, Calgary Opera. ©2013 Stuart Gradon.
2016-09-27
Toronto: Toronto Operetta Theatre announces its 2016/17 season