Stage Door News
Stage Door News
In June of 1979, at the age of just 39, Joe Clark was sworn in as Canada’s 16th Prime Minister. By Christmas, it was all over.
The 1979 Group presents 1979, a new comedy by Michael Healey (Proud, The Drawer Boy), directed by Miles Potter (The New Canadian Curling Club / Blyth Festival, The Drawer Boy), for a limited run at the Berkeley Street Theatre, Downstairs, January 9-27, 2019.
A naive, honourable, and stubborn statesman, Joe Clark insists on sticking to his principles during the dying days of his new government. Friends, family, and foes all have an opinion about what Joe should do; everything he can to remain in power.
Alberta Theatre Productions (ATP) produced the world premiere of 1979 in April 2017 and received six Betty Mitchell Award nominations, including Performance for all three cast members, as well as Play for Healey, Direction for Potter and Production for ATP. A second production was presented that same summer at both the Shaw Festival, and the Great Canadian Theatre Company in Ottawa.
This new Toronto production features the original Calgary cast of three portraying one dozen characters: Christopher Hunt (eight-time Betty Award winner including 1979), Jamie Konchak (2018 Betty Award-winner Miss Caledonia), and Philip Riccio (Jerusalem, John / The Company Theatre) as Joe Clark. 1979 marks Healey’s second foray into political satire, following Proud, a play about Stephen Harper, also directed by Miles Potter.
A hilarious play about trust, power, and ambition, 1979 looks at the rapidly changing world of conservative politics in Canada, and around the world, at the end of an era when politicians were still elected to serve all of the people, not just their base.
1979
Written by Michael Healey
Directed by Miles Potter
Starring Christopher Hunt, Jamie Konchak,
and Philip Riccio as Joe Clark
Set Design by Steve Lucas
Lighting Design by Nick Blais
Costume Design by Jennifer Lee Arsenault*
Sound Design by Thomas Geddes*
Projection Design by Scott Reid*
*original designs created for the 2017 world premiere at Alberta Theatre Projects, Calgary
Produced by The 1979 Group, Michael Healey and Marcie Januska
The Berkeley Street Theatre, 26 Berkeley Street, Downstairs
Opening Night: Thursday, January 10, 2019 @ 8pm
Tuesday – Saturday @ 8pm, Sunday @ 2pm
Artsworker/Student/Senior tickets: $19.79
Regular tickets: $25, $50 & $75
includes tax and service charges
To purchase tickets online visit canadianstage.com or call 416.368.3110
Photo: Philip Riccio as Joe Clark in ATP production of 1979. ©Benjamin Laird Arts Photography.
2018-10-15
Toronto: The 1979 Group presents Michael Healey's new comedy "1979" January 9-27, 2019