Stage Door News
Stage Door News
May 25, 2017: Albert Schultz, Founding Artistic Director of Soulpepper Theatre Company, today released updates to its upcoming summer slate of Canadian plays, including Vimy by Vern Thiessen, the return of Billy Bishop Goes to War written and composed by John MacLachlan Gray with Eric Peterson, and an epic quartet of plays from Toronto’s lauded VideoCabaret about Confederation and the ensuing rebellions and scandals.
For tickets and more details visit soulpepper.ca or call the Young Centre Box Office at 416.866.8666.
SOULPEPPER PROGRAMMING: JUNE TO AUGUST 2017
From June through August, Toronto's VideoCabaret spectacularly conjures the era of Confederation in four tragicomic one-act plays, presented in two parts, written and directed by Michael Hollingsworth, and featuring Kevin Bundy, Greg Campbell, Richard Alan Campbell, Jamie Cavanagh, Richard Clarkin, Kat Letwin, Linda Prystawska, and Michaela Washburn.
Confederation Part I: Confederation and Riel
Confederation: John A. Macdonald masterminds the deal-making that leads to the fireworks on July 1, 1867. In a Montreal hotbed of anti-confederationists, Wilfrid Laurier meets Louis Riel.
Riel: Macdonald plans to turn the west into one big Ontario. Riel and Métis leaders collide with surveyors, and religious radicals plot terror; Laurier is spurred to act on his multi-cultural and secular ideals.
CONFEDERATION PART I runs from June 9 to August 19, 2017. Opening night is June 17.
Confederation Part II: Scandal and Rebellion
Scandal: Business barons compete to own the hottest technology – the railway lines – and Macdonald is caught trading contracts for donations. Member of Parliament Riel is prevented by fanatics from taking his seat; MP Laurier falls for his best friend’s wife.
Rebellion: Riel joins with Gabriel Dumont and Big Bear whose fight for land claims is met with military action and mass starvation. With Laurier protesting, Macdonald allows the execution of Riel, and the Last Spike is hammered.
CONFEDERATION PART II runs from June 23 to August 19, 2017. Opening night is June 29.
*These performances have been financially assisted by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund a program of the Government of Ontario through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport, administered by the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund Corporation.
Vimy
Vern Thiessen
Directed by Diana Leblanc
A group of Canadian soldiers convalesce in a field hospital after facing the horrors of Vimy Ridge in this striking WWI drama from Governor General’s Award-winning playwright Vern Thiessen. As the soldiers battle with their memories of the past, a young nurse from Nova Scotia tends to their wounds both obvious and concealed. The cast: Christine Horne; Wesley French; Sebastien Bertrand; Tim Dowler-Coltman; TJ Riley; and Andrew Chown.
Vimy runs from June 29 to August 5, 2017. Opening night is July 11.
Billy Bishop Goes to War
Written & Composed by John MacLachlan Gray with Eric Peterson
Directed by Ted Dykstra
The story of irreverent hero and Canadian WWI flying ace Billy Bishop remains one of the most critically-acclaimed Canadian plays of all time. Returning to Soulpepper in celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary, Canadian acting legend Eric Peterson and award-winning writer and composer John MacLachlan Gray reprise their iconic two-man stage play that has captivated audiences for decades.
Billy Bishop Goes to War runs from July 1 to August 5. Opening night is July 10.
SOULPEPPER CONCERTS
Each original Soulpepper Concert revolves around a time, place, or artist crafted by a team of incomparable performers. The Concert Series is led by Slaight Family Director of Music Mike Ross.
Porgy & Bess in Concert
Music Directed by George Koller
The Gershwins blended folk tunes with classical opera to create what has become one of the most enduring works of the 20th century. The stories behind this legendary work, and the iconic song writing of the Gershwins and their contemporaries, are brought to life in a concert featuring Toronto’s leading jazz, blues and gospel singers including Troy Adams, Thom Allison, Neema Bickersteth, Alana Bridgewater, and Jackie Richardson.
May 27 - 30, June 1 - 3, with an added performance on June 9.
SOULPEPPER ON THE AIR
The Complete 150 is a new, free, satirical audio drama created and written by Jason Sherman, directed by Wernham-West Director of Audio Programming Gregory J. Sinclair, and performed by the Soulpepper ensemble and special guests. The 16-part series is being posted over the next eight weeks every Tuesday and Friday until Canada Day! Visit Soulpepper.ca/complete150, or find it on Apple Podcasts and SoundCloud.
SOULPEPPER ON THE ROAD
SOULPEPPER ON 42ND STREET
In celebration of Soulpepper’s 20th anniversary, and Canada’s sesquicentennial, Soulpepper will embark on a month of programming Off-Broadway in New York City in July at the Frank Gehry-designed Pershing Square Signature Center. Confirmed programming includes productions of Kim’s Convenience, Of Human Bondage, Spoon River, Alligator Pie, Cage, (re)Birth, CRASH, and more. Tickets and more details are available at soulpepper.org.
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. Soulpepper’s New York programming can also be directly accessed via soulpepper.org.
Tickets for Soulpepper 2016.2017 productions range from $32 to $96 CDN. Tickets for VideoCabaret productions, Soulpepper Concerts & Cabarets start at $25. $20 tickets for Soulpepper productions are available for arts workers and deaf community members. Ticket deals for under-30 year-olds are available at soulpepper.ca/stageplay. StagePlay is sponsored by TD Bank Group. $25 Rush tickets and $5 Youth Rush tickets are subject to availability. Ticket prices include a Young Centre facility fee, service charge and HST. Pricing is subject to change.
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2017-05-26
Toronto: Soulpepper announces its 2017 summer programming