Stage Door News

Niagara-on-the-Lake: Casting for the Shaw Festival’s two holiday shows announced

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Before long Niagara-on-the-Lake will be dressed in holiday style and the Shaw Festival’s stages will be filled with holiday cheer. The sell-out hit of the last two seasons, A Christmas Carolreturns to the Royal George Theatre with Michael Therriault as Scrooge. Adding to the festive magic, Kyle Blair, Kyle Golemba, Kristi Frank and Kimberley Rampersad kick up their heels in The Shaw’s first holiday musical with Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn at the Festival Theatre.

Casting for the Shaw Festival’s holiday season:

A CHRISTMAS CAROL

By Charles Dickens
Adapted and originally directed by Tim Carroll

Directed by Molly Atkinson
Designed by Christine Lohre
Lighting designed by Kevin Lamotte
Original music and original music direction by Paul Sportelli
Music direction by Patrick Bowman
Movement and puppetry by
Alexis Milligan

Previews Nov. 13 ◆ Closes Dec. 22

The Royal George Theatre will once again be home to Charles Dickens’s classic tale of redemption. Michael Therriault stars as everyone’s favourite miser in this magical production that captures the imagination of the young and young at heart.
 
This holiday classic also features Patty Jamieson (Mrs. Dilber), Andrew Lawrie (Bob Cratchit), Marie Mahabal (Belle), Marla McLean (Mrs. Crachit), Sarena Parmar (Christmas Past), PJ Prudat (Emily), Sanjay Talwar (Christmas Present) and Graeme Somerville (Mr. Hubble) reprise their roles in this holiday favourite.

Age Recommendation: 6+


Irving Berlin’s
HOLIDAY INN

Based on the film from Universal Pictures
Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin; book by Gordon Greenberg and Chad Hodge

Directed by Kate Hennig
Music direction by Paul Sportelli  
Choreography by Allison 
Plamondon
Designed by Judith Bowden
Lighting designed by Kevin Lamotte
Sound designed by John Lott

Previews Nov. 16 ◆ Closes Dec. 22

Jim Hardy (Kyle Blair) trades in the bright lights of showbiz for a quiet farmhouse. Linda Mason (Kristi Frank), a tap-dancing schoolteacher catches his eye, and together they turn the farmhouse into a spectacular inn, open only on holidays. But Jim’s new life starts to unravel when the rest of his old New York song and dance trio – Ted Hanover (Kyle Golemba) and Lila Dixon (Kimberley Rampersad) – come to town. The Festival Theatre is home to this cherished holiday classic featuring a cornucopia of timeless Irving Berlin songs including Heat Wave, Chasing the Blues Away, Blue Skies, Cheek to Cheek, Easter Parade and White Christmas.
 
Also checking into Holiday Inn are David Ball, Carla Bennett, Élodie Gillett, Timothy Gledhill, Kayla James, Amanda Mattar, Allison McCaughey, Kevin McLachlan, Drew Plummer, Andrew Prashad, David Andrew Reid, Kiera Sangster, Travis Seetoo, Jacqueline Thair, Jay Turvey and Jenny L. Wright.
 
Age Recommendation: 10+


Visitors who want even more holly jolly Christmas activities can attend the Shaw Festival’s two Beyond the Stage holiday-themed offerings:

TAP DANCE FOR DUMMIES

Have a toe-tapping good time with the whole family during this playful introduction to the basics of tap dance led by an actor from Holiday Inn. Happening Saturdays beginning November 30, this workshop is fun for all ages and experience levels. Tickets are $10 per person.

HOLIDAY INN TRIVIA

Calling all trivia buffs! In teams of 2-8 people, patrons will test their knowledge of holiday theatre and film musicals in this 40-minute trivia challenge happening at 6 p.m. in the Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre prior to all evening performances. Tickets are $5 per person.

The Shaw Festival’s 2019 season is on stage April 6 through December 22 featuring a playbill that includes The Horse and His Boy, Brigadoon, The Ladykillers, Man and Superman with Don Juan in Hell, Rope, Getting MarriedThe Russian Play, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Glass Menagerie, Sex, VictorySecret Theatre, A Christmas Carol and Holiday Inn. Tickets for the 2019 Festival season are available through the Box Office at 1-800-511-SHAW and online at www.shawfest.com.

Photo: Niagara-on-the-Lake. © 2018 Cosmo Condina.