Theatre Aquarius is thrilled to present the World Premiere of Steel City Gangster, a new telling of the legendary criminal career of Rocco Perri, Canada’s “King of the Bootleggers” and larger-than life organized crime boss, and the woman behind his throne, Bessie Starkman.

Hamilton audiences are equally excited by the chance to experience this hometown story of crime, punishment, anger, betrayal, revenge, violence and madness, and by the fact that the Theatre Aquarius production of Steel City Gangster is a world premiere of a new work by one of Canada’s most celebrated playwrights, George F. Walker.

George F. Walker is one of Canada’s most prolific and popular playwrights. Since beginning his theatre career in the early 1970s, Walker has written more than 30 plays and has created screenplays for several award-winning Canadian television series. Walker’s plays have been presented in more than 700 productions across Canada, the United States, and around the world. He has received nine Chalmers Awards, five Dora Awards, three Governor General’s Awards (including a 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award) and the Order of Canada.

Steel City Gangster is Directed by Theatre Aquarius Artistic Director Ron Ulrich. The Set and Costume Design is by Doug Paraschuk, Lighting Design by Sihobahn Sleath and Sound Design by Ranil Sonnadara. The show stars Oliver Becker, Amos Crawley, Shannon Currie, Maria Dinn, Tony Munch, Salvatore Scozzari and Caroline Toal. The Stage Manager is Beth Bruck, with ASM Josephine Ho, and Apprentice Stage Managers Emily Maxwell and Stephen Pike.

Steel City Gangster will run from March 13 – 30^th, 2019, with performances Tuesdays – Saturdays at 7:30pm, and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1pm.  Tickets range from $30 - $85. Opening Night is March 15th at 7:30pm. Tickets may be ordered online at theatreaquarius.org or by calling the box office at 905.522.7529 (toll free 1.800.465.7529), or in person at the Dofasco Centre for the Arts, 190 King William Street, Hamilton. 

 Theatre Aquarius is Hamilton’s regional professional theatre. We produce work of the highest quality, premiere new plays, develop the skills of professional artists, invest in youth and families and contribute to the quality of life in this region. We house two performing spaces and offer 9 plays every season. Theatre Aquarius acknowledges the support of the Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts, The City of Hamilton, the Incite Foundation for the Arts, The Hamilton Future Fund, The Hamilton Community Foundation and Ron and Donna Patterson (46^th Season Sponsors).