Announcing the casting for the 2022 Summer Season. As previously announced, this season, the 30th, will feature two highly anticipated world premieres: Alex Poch-Goldin’s The Great Shadow, directed by Cynthia Ashperger, and Maja Ardal’s Wishful Seeing, based on the novel of the same name by Janet Kellough, published by Dundurn Press and directed by Managing Artistic Director Kim Blackwell. Between the two plays, the 45+ actors will play over 150 characters including Hollywood studio heads, gossip columnists Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons, saddlebag preachers (think “Murdoch Mysteries”), and sleuthing teenage girls – à la Nancy Drew (circa 1850).

Blackwell is thrilled about the upcoming season, "It is exciting to be announcing this stellar group of actors who will be joining us for the 2022 summer season. They are a diverse mix of seasoned and emerging performers, as well as local and ‘out-of-towners.’ They will bring so much talent to the barnyard stage and will breathe life into the plays."

The Great Shadow will feature several actors making their 4th Line debuts including: Thomas Fournier, Sochi Fried, M. John Kennedy, Robert Morrison, Julia Scaringi, Salvatore Scozzari and Indigo Chesser. Chesser can be seen later this month as one of the orphans in the Peterborough Theatre Guild’s upcoming production of Annie.

Returning to the 4th Line stage in The Great Shadow are Colin A. Doyle, Matt Gilbert, Justin Hiscox, Mark Hiscox,, Sarah McNeilly, Emma Meinhardt, Kelsey Powell, Madison Sheward and Shelley Simester (the lead actress in 4th Line’s 2012 production of Queen Marie.) The cast will feature 26 professional and volunteer actors.

Wishful Seeing will feature two beloved local performers: 4th Line Founder and Creative Director Robert Winslow as Reverend Thaddeus Lewis and Co-Creator/Performer of The Verandah Society, Megan Murphy as Mrs. Small. Making their 4th Line debuts in Wishful Seeing are Kate Bemrose as Martha Renwell and Tavaree Daniel-Simms as James Small.

Returning to 4th Line in Wishful Seeing are JD Nicholsen (Co-creator/Performer of 4th Line’s 2021 production of Christmas Comes to Mind: A Night of Story & Song), Kait Dueck, Naomi Duvall, Justin Hiscox, Mark Hiscox, Ryan Tobin and Hilary Wear. The cast will feature 19 professional and volunteer actors.

The Great Shadow

World Premiere

By Alex Poch-Goldin

Directed by Cynthia Ashperger

Musical Direction and Original Compositions by Justin Hiscox

Costume Design by Laura Delchiaro

Set Design by Esther Vincent

Fight Direction by Edward Belanger

Choreography by Bill Coleman

July 5 – July 23

Previews: June 28, 29, 30, July 1

30th Anniversary Opening Night: Saturday, July 2, 2022

Tuesday to Saturday at 6 pm

Wishful Seeing*

World Premiere

Written by Maja Ardal

Directed by Kim Blackwell

Musical Direction & Original Composition by Justin Hiscox

Costume Design by Korin Cormier

Fight Direction by Edward Belanger

Choreography by Madison Sheward

August 4 – August 27

Previews: August 2, 3

Opening Night: Thursday, August 4, 2022

Tuesday to Saturday at 6 pm

* Based on the novel of the same name by Janet Kellough, published by Dundurn Press.

The stage management teams include: Sarah Flanigan, Rachel LaChanse, Anastasiya Popova and Jess Gordon. The 2022 season includes an impressive 67 actors, designers and technicians. Including 4th Line Theatre’s full-time staff, the company will be employing just over 75 people between May and September of this year.

Tickets, gift certificates and picnics for 4th Line Theatre productions can be purchased by phone at 705-932-4445 or toll-free at 800-814-0055, online at www.4thlinetheatre.on.ca, or at 4th Line Theatre’s Box Office at 4 Tupper Street, Millbrook.