Stage Door News
Stage Door News
David Mirvish today announced three new productions to the 2017-18 playbill, a change to one show in the main series and the casting for two locally produced shows in the Off-Mirvish series.
In total, there will be 19 shows in the 2017-18 season. There are seven shows in the main subscription series, three shows in the Off-Mirvish subscription series and nine bonus shows not on subscription.
The main series began on September 19 with an adaptation of NORTH BY NORTHWEST. It will be followed by the National Theatre of Great Britain’s THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME, the Old Vic’s THE LORAX, the Canadian production of COME FROM AWAY, the Broadway production of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS and the Lincoln Center Theater’s production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE KING & I.
The main series was also to include the musical stage adaptation of the Australian film MURIEL’S WEDDING, which would have been coming to Toronto from the Sydney Theatre Company. Due to scheduling conflicts, MURIEL’S WEDDING will not be able to make it to Toronto this season and will be delayed to a subsequent year. (The production will still have its world premiere in Sydney this November.)
Instead, David Mirvish will present the new production of the beloved musical ANNIE, which opened to rave reviews at the Piccadilly Theatre in London this past June.
Says David Mirvish: “This is the official 40th anniversary production of ANNIE, and we couldn’t be more pleased that we have found a way to get the show here after it ends its West End engagement. It is hard to believe, but we have never had ANNIE play in any of our theatres, so this will be its Mirvish premiere.”
For the Off-Mirvish presentations of two important works that have received wide acclaim in New York and London but have yet to be seen here, David Mirvish is partnering with two local companies.
With Studio 180 Theatre, with whom Mirvish has had a long co-producing relationship, they will premiere Mike Bartlett’s brilliant “future history” play, KING CHARLES III, which imagines what may happen when Queen Elizabeth II dies and her son Charles ascends the British throne. Director Joel Greenberg has assembled a stellar cast of superb Canadian actors, with Shaw Festival star David Schurmann leading the company in the title role. Also starring are Jeff Meadows, Shannon Taylor, Wade Bogert-O’Brien, Jessica Greenberg, Guy Bannerman, Gray Powell, Patrick Galligan, Amy Rutherford, Sam Kalilieh and Karl Ang.
With the Musical Stage Company, Mirvish will co-produce the five-time Tony Award-winning musical, FUN HOME. Director Robert McQueen’s cast spans three generations of Canadian talent. The cast includes acclaimed veterans of Canadian theatre and screen, Evan Buliung and Cynthia Dale, performers who have already built an excellent body of work; Laura Condlln and Sara Farb, who are still in the early years of their careers; and young performers such as Hannah Levinson, who only at the age of 11 has already starred in Matilda The Musical and Grey Gardens.
The three newly announced bonus shows that are not on subscription are:
•The Canadian premiere of GOBSMACKED!, a new entertainment that combines breathtaking a cappella performances and mind-blowing beat boxing. Direct from sell-out runs in London, Hong Kong and Edinburgh, this all-singing, all-beatboxing, all-awesome theatrical experience features three-time undefeated UK Beatbox Champion and current World Team Champion Ball-Zee and an international cast of world-class vocalists. This show pushes vocal boundaries to deliver a slick, musically accomplished, high energy spectacular with not a single musical instrument used.
•The return of the record-breaking smash hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL, the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and many more. Motown shattered barriers, shaped our lives and made us all move to the same beat.
•Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. This production, which retains the beloved story and thrilling score, boasts exciting new special effects, scenic and lighting designs, staging and choreography and has been hailed by critics as “bigger and better than ever before.”
THE 7-SHOW MAIN SUBSCRIPTION is priced from $239 to $719
The North American Premiere of
NORTH BY NORTHWEST
Adapted by Carolyn Burns
Directed by Simon Phillips
September 19 – October 29, 2017 – Royal Alexandra Theatre
Every twist, every thrill, every hairbreadth escape from Alfred Hitchcock's supreme comedy of suspense is retained for this stunning new stage adaptation from director Simon Phillips (Priscilla Queen of the Desert).
Roger O. Thornhill is a suave and successful advertising executive, abducted by thugs who insist he is a man called George Kaplan. There's obviously been a mix up. When they don't believe him, that's infuriating. When they try to kill him, that's frightening. And when they pin a murder on him, that's time to run!
From New York to North Dakota, Thornhill is chased by spies, Feds, crop-dusting planes, and the inevitable cool blonde. Years before the James Bond films there was NORTH BY NORTHWEST–a lightning-paced thriller that mixes glamour with espionage for a truly irresistible cocktail. This is an unmissable theatrical spectacle, where the magic of film and theatre collide live on stage.
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The National Theatre's acclaimed production of
THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME
A New Play by Simon Stephens
Adapted from the novel by Mark Haddon
Directed by Marianne Elliott
October 10 - November 19, 2017 – Princess of Wales Theatre
The National Theatre’s Olivier and Tony Award-winning production of THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME makes its Canadian debut at the Princess of Wales Theatre.
Tony Award winner Marianne Elliott (War Horse) directs this “triumphant” (Sunday Telegraph) adaptation by two--time Olivier Award--winning playwright Simon Stephens, who brings Mark Haddon's internationally best-selling novel to thrilling life on stage.
Fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone has an extraordinary brain, exceptional at math while ill--equipped to interpret everyday life. He has never ventured alone beyond the end of his road, he detests being touched, and he distrusts strangers.
When Christopher falls under suspicion for killing his neighbour's dog, his detective work to identify the true culprit takes him on a frightening journey that upturns his world.
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The North American Premiere of
The Old Vic production of
DR. SEUSS’S THE LORAX
Adapted by David Greig
Music & Lyrics by Charlie Fink
Directed by Max Webster
December 10, 2017 - January 21, 2018 – Royal Alexandra Theatre
Long before “going green” was mainstream, the character the Lorax spoke for the trees and warned of the dangers of disrespecting the environment. The powerful message of THE LORAX has enlightened generations about the importance of seeing the beauty in the world around us and our responsibility to protect it.
This classic story has been brilliantly adapted for the stage by David Greig, with music and lyrics by Charlie Fink, and directed by Max Webster, in a dazzling new show direct from London's acclaimed Old Vic theatre. This funny, moving, and inspiring production that The Independent calls “terrifically inventive”, is a riot of eye-popping colour, gorgeous puppetry, and infectious original music. You won't want to miss it!
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COME FROM AWAY
Book, Music & Lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein
Directed by Christopher Ashley
Begins February 13, 2018 – Royal Alexandra Theatre
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!
After a sold-out, standing-room-only Toronto engagement before heading to Broadway, COME FROM AWAY will return in a Canadian production.
Starring Saccha Dennis, Steffi Didomenicantonio, Barbara Fulton, Lisa Horner, James Kall, George Masswohl, Ali Momen, Jack Noseworthy, Cory O’Brien, Kristen Peace, Eliza-Jane Scott, Kevin Vidal, Susan Dunstan, Kate Etienne, Amir Haidar, Jeff Madden, David Silvestri and Cailin Stadnyk.
It's been called the “edge of the world.” The weather is wild, but the locals never lack for warmth. And it's here, in Newfoundland, where a remote town became the epicenter of a remarkable true story filled with unusual characters, unexpected camaraderie and uncommon generosity.
COME FROM AWAY is the breathtaking new musical that Toronto embraced with open arms and had audiences leaving the theatre night after night claiming they were “proud to be Canadian!”
Mirvish Subscribers are invited back to “The Rock” once again to feel the excitement of this “big-hearted, thoroughly enjoyable new musical!” (Toronto Star).
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David Mirvish & Aubrey Dan present
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
Music & Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Book by Craig Lucas
Directed and Choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon
March 27 - April 29, 2018 – Princess of Wales Theatre
CANADIAN PREMIERE!
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS is the new Tony Award-winning musical about an American soldier, a mysterious French girl, and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war.
Acclaimed director/choreographer and 2015 Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon (National Ballet of Canada’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, The Winter’s Tale) brings the magic and romance of Paris into perfect harmony with unforgettable songs from George and Ira Gershwin in the show that earned more awards than any other musical in the 2015 season!
McGee Maddox, a former Principal Dancer with The National Ballet of Canada since 2014 and known for his roles in Onegin and Swan Lake, will join the AN AMERICAN IN PARIS cast this April and will be in the production when it visits Toronto in 2018. Maddox will star as Jerry Mulligan, the role made famous by Gene Kelly in the 1951 American musical film.
The New York Times raves, “AN AMERICAN IN PARIS is a triumph! Pure joy!” and the Wall Street Journal declares, “Once you've seen it, you'll find it hard to settle for less ever again.” Don't miss this stunning Broadway hit when it arrives in Toronto!
The Toronto engagement of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS will be presented by two Toronto theatrical impresarios, David Mirvish and Aubrey Dan.
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Michael Harrison and David Ian’s production of
ANNIE THE MUSICAL
Book by Thomas Meehan, adapted from the comic strip Little Orphan Annie
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Martin Charnin
April 3 - May 6, 2018 – Ed Mirvish Theatre
Set in 1930s New York during The Great Depression, brave young Annie is forced to live a life of misery and torment at Miss Hannigan’s orphanage. Her luck changes when she is chosen to spend Christmas at the residence of famous billionaire, Oliver Warbucks. Meanwhile, spiteful Miss Hannigan has other ideas and hatches a plan to spoil Annie’s search for her true family.
The much-loved score includes the classics It’s A Hard Knock Life, Tomorrow and Easy Street.
The original Broadway production received seven Tony awards including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. In 1982, ANNIE was adapted for the big screen directed by John Huston with a cast including Carol Burnett, Bernadette Peters and Albert Finney, and in 2014 a further feature film was released, directed by Will Gluck, with a cast including Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx.
This new production, which celebrates the musicals’ 40th anniversary, comes to us direct from London’s West End where it is currently playing to sold-out houses.
The West End production is directed by Nikolai Foster, with sets and costumes designed by Colin Richmond, choreography by Nick Winston, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound design by Richard Brooker and orchestrations and musical direction by George Dyer.
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The Lincoln Center Theater Production of
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s
THE KING AND I
Directed by Bartlett Sher
July 10 – August 12, 2018 – Princess of Wales Theatre
Two worlds collide in the Lincoln Center Theater production of this “breathtaking and exquisite” (The New York Times) musical, directed by Bartlett Sher. One of Rodgers & Hammerstein's finest works, THE KING AND I boasts a score that features such beloved classics as Getting To Know You, I Whistle a Happy Tune, Hello Young Lovers, Shall We Dance, and Something Wonderful.
Set in 1860s Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher whom the modernist King, in an imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children. Winner of the 2015 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, THE KING AND I is “too beautiful to miss” (New York Magazine).
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THE 3-SHOW OFF-MIRVISH SEASON
$130 (rear orchestra) or $180 (front orchestra) • New this season: Student Subscription $75
The Factory Theatre Production of
SALT-WATER MOON
By David French
Directed by Ravi Jain
October 12 – 29, 2017 – Panasonic Theatre
Ambition tore them apart. Can the stars guide them back together?
The First World War is over, and every day the villages of Newfoundland are abandoned for a new life in the big city. Under the light of the moon, two former lovers meet to confront their past choices and contemplate a possible future together.
Award-winning director Ravi Jain has re-imagined David French's beloved Canadian classic about love, loss, and reconciliation with spellbinding results. Factory Theatre's critically acclaimed smash-hit production returns to ask the question, “Can you ever truly return home?”
Starring Kawa Ada, Mayko Nguyen and Ania Soul.
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The Studio 180 Theatre Production of
KING CHARLES III
Written by Mike Bartlett
Directed by Joel Greenberg
Feb 10 – March 4, 2018 – Panasonic Theatre
THE QUEEN IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE KING?
Charles. Camilla. William. Kate. Harry. One family holds the future of Great Britain in its hands. But what will the future be? The Queen is dead. The “King-in-waiting” finally ascends the throne. Defying centuries of tradition, Charles boldly attempts to reassert the Crown's power, landing himself–and his country–in a royal mess.
Exploring power and betrayal, the internationally acclaimed play, KING CHARLES III, skillfully reveals the people beneath the crowns as nuanced flesh and blood, and turns a Shakespearean lens on relationships in the world's most famous and exposed family.
Following sold-out runs in London's West End and on Broadway, Mike Bartlett's award-winning new play comes to Toronto for its Canadian premiere.
Starring David Schurmann, Jeff Meadows, Shannon Taylor, Wade Bogert-O’Brien, Jessica Greenberg, Guy Bannerman, Gray Powell, Patrick Galligan, Amy Rutherford, Sam Kalilieh and Karl Ang.
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The Musical Stage Company Production of
FUN HOME
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Book & Lyrics by Lisa Kron
Based on the Graphic Novel by Alison Bechdel
Directed by Robert McQueen
April 13 – May 6, 2018 – Panasonic Theatre
WINNER! 2015 Tony Award
Best Musical
Best Book of a Musical
Best Score
WINNER! Best Musical–New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, Obie Award, Lucille Lortel Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, and Off-Broadway Alliance Award.
Alison, a 43 year-old lesbian cartoonist, struggles to untangle her complex relationship with her deceased father. Moving between past and present, Alison relives an unusual childhood growing up in a funeral home, her sexual awakening, and unanswerable questions about her father's secret life.
This groundbreaking new musical based on Alison Bechdel's best-selling graphic memoir was the winner of 5 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and has received worldwide critical acclaim for its stunning musical score and heartbreaking storytelling.
Starring Evan Buliung, Laura Condlln, Cynthia Dale, Sara Farb, Hannah Levinson, Jasper Lincoln, Liam MacDonald, Eric Morin and Sabryn Rock.
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8 GREAT BONUS SHOWS
To Add to Your Theatre Experience! Not included in the 2017/2018 subscription packages
The North American Premiere
David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl, Randy Lennox and Tony Smith present
Jim Steinman’s BAT OUT OF HELL THE MUSICAL
Book, Music & Lyrics by Jim Steinman
Directed by Jay Scheib
Choreography by Emma Portner
October 14 – December 24, 2017 - Ed Mirvish Theatre
BAT OUT OF HELL THE MUSICAL, Jim Steinman's epic tale of love, rebellion, and rock `n' roll, is set to explode onto stage this October!
The streets are heating up as young, rebellious leader Strat falls in love with Raven, the beautiful daughter of the most powerful man in post-apocalyptic Obsidian.
This high-octane new musical tears through seventeen of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf's greatest hits including I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That), Paradise by the Dashboard Light, You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night), Two Out of Three Ain't Bad, Bat Out of Hell and two new Steinman originals written for the show.
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The Hope and Hell Co. Production of
DISGRACED
By Ayad Akhtar
Directed by Robert Ross Parker
November 11 - 26, 2017 - Panasonic Theatre
RETURN ENGAGEMENT!
A New York dinner party. A shattering cultural collision. When discussion turns to politics and religion, the match is lit on a combustible powder keg of identity politics.
After smashing box office records last season, the Hope and Hell Co. production of DISGRACED returns for a strictly limited engagement. This provocative and daring tale that The Globe and Mail calls “excellent” and “fearless” is a must-see for all theatre-goers!
Starring Raoul Bhaneja, Karen Glave, Ali Momen, Alex Poch-Goldin and Birgitte Solem.
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A NETworks Production
ELF The Musical
November 21 to 26, 2017 – Princess of Wales Theatre
Toronto Premiere
ELF The Musical is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern-day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF.
Based on the beloved 2003 New Line Cinema hit, ELF features songs by Tony Award nominees Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Tony Award winners Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Tony Award winner Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone).
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THE ILLUSIONISTS – LIVE FROM BROADWAY
Directed and Choreographed by Neil Dorward
December 12 - January 14, 2018 – Princess of Wales Theatre
RETURN ENGAGEMENT!
The world's best-selling magic show is returning to Toronto!
This mind-blowing spectacular showcases the jaw-dropping talents of seven of the most incredible Illusionists on earth. THE ILLUSIONISTS–LIVE FROM BROADWAY has shattered box office records across the globe and dazzles audiences of all ages with a powerful mix of the most outrageous and astonishing acts ever to be seen on stage. This non-stop show is packed with thrilling and sophisticated magic of unprecedented proportions.
Starring Darcy Oake (The Grand Illusionist), Jeff Hobson (The Trickster), An Ha Lim (The Manipulator), Charlie Frye (The Eccentric), Raymond Crowe (The Unusualist), Colin Cloud (The Deductionist) and Jonathan Goodwin (The Daredevil).
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Drayton Entertainment Presents
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
December 12, 2017 to January 7, 2018 – Panasonic Theatre
On December 4, 1956, history was made when an extraordinary twist of fate brought together then-rising star Johnny Cash, unknown Jerry Lee Lewis, veteran musician Carl Perkins, and chart-topper Elvis Presley for the first and only time at Sun Records in Memphis, the studios of legendary record producer Sam Phillips, for what would be one of the greatest jam sessions of all time. MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET brings that legendary night to life, featuring a score of rock hits including Blue Suede Shoes, Fever, That’s All Right, Sixteen Tons, Great Balls of Fire, Walk the Line, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, Who Do You Love?, Matchbox, Folsom Prison Blues, Hound Dog and many more.
This new production with an all-Canadian cast of the Broadway musical is produced by Drayton Entertainment, who toured the show throughout their circuit of theatres in southwestern Ontario throughout 2017. This will be the production’s Toronto premiere. Don’t miss your chance to discover the true story of one unforgettable night that made rock’n’roll history!
Starring Matt Cage, Scott Carmichael, Tyler Check, J. Sean Elliott, Gerrad Everard, Zachary Knowles, Laura Mae Nason and Aaron Solomon.
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RAIN–A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES
March 12 - 18, 2018 – Princess of Wales Theatre
RAIN–A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES celebrates the 50th anniversary of the release of “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band!” For the first time ever, RAIN will bring the historic album to life in its entirety for this psychedelic multimedia spectacular along with all your favourite early tunes.
This mind-blowing performance takes you back in time with the legendary foursome delivering a note-for-note theatrical event that is the next best thing to seeing The Beatles. Experience the world's most iconic band and come celebrate 50 years of “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band”.
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GOBSMACKED!
Phil Bathols, Steven Howard & Andrew Kay present
GOBSMACKED!
Created by Jack Blume & Nic Doodson
Directed by Alexandra Spencer-Jones
March 14 to 25, 2018 - Panasonic Theatre
GOBSMACKED! is a new entertainment that combines breathtaking a cappella performances and mind-blowing beat boxing. Direct from sell-out runs in London, Hong Kong and Edinburgh, this all-singing, all-beatboxing, all-awesome theatrical experience features three-time undefeated UK Beatbox Champion and current World Team Champion Ball-Zee and an international cast of world-class vocalists. This show pushes vocal boundaries to deliver a slick, musically accomplished, high energy spectacular with not a single musical instrument used.
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Kevin McCollum, Doug Morris & Berry Gordy, in association with Work Light Productions
MOTOWN THE MUSICAL
May 22 – June 3, 2018 – Princess of Wales Theatre
It began as one man’s story… became everyone’s music… and is now Broadway’s musical. MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is the true American dream story of Motown founder Berry Gordy’s journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson and many more. Motown shattered barriers, shaped our lives and made us all move to the same beat.
Staging by Schele Williams, choreography by Patricia Wilcox and Warren Adams, scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Peter Hylenski, projection design by Daniel Brodie, and hair and wig design by Charles LaPointe.
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Cameron Mackintosh presents
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
June 7 – 30, 2018 – Princess of Wales Theatre
Cameron Mackintosh’s spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA features a brilliant new scenic design by Paul Brown, Tony Award-winning original costume design by Maria Björnson, lighting design by Tony Award-winner Paule Constable, new choreography by Scott Ambler, and new staging by director Laurence Connor. The production, overseen by Matthew Bourne and Cameron Mackintosh, boasts many exciting special effects including the show’s legendary chandelier. The beloved story and thrilling score - with songs like “Music of the Night,” “All I Ask Of You,” and “Masquerade” - will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this PHANTOM one of the largest productions now on tour.
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Photo: Izad Etemadi.
2017-09-25
Toronto: David Mirvish announces additions and changes to the 2017/18 season