Pirates, Widows and Mysterious Guests - Buoyed by patrons’ enthusiasm for live theatre in the glow of the post-pandemic world, TOT’s General Director Guillermo Silva-Marin announces the company’s exciting 2023-2024 Season presented in the comfort of the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts. Getting things underway on October 20, 21, and 22, 2023 will be Gilbert and Sullivan’s rollicking The Pirates of Penzance conducted by Jennifer Tung in her TOT debut. She will lead a cast that includes Soprano Ana Isabella Castro making her TOT debut, Alexander Cappellazzo as the gullible pirate apprentice, Karen Bojti as pirate conspirator alongside Pirate King Sebastien Belcourt and Gregory Finney as Major-General Stanley in a production that will surprise and stimulate our ‘woke’ world! 

Operetta fans look forward every year to TOT’s holiday show and this year, everyone’s favourite widow will be onstage. Franz Lehar’s immortal The Merry Widow opens on December 29, 2023, with further performances on December 30, 31, and January 2, 2024, with Derek Bate leading the orchestra and a stellar All-Canadian cast that includes debuting soprano Jonelle Sills as the wealthy and sought after widow, co-starring with Nathan Keoughan as the dashing Count Danilo. 

“And”, says Silva-Marin, “the world of musical entertainment is so diverse, we are thrilled to present the Canadian Premiere of El Huésped del Sevillano (The Guest at the Inn) from 1926 by Jacinto Guerrero as our season finale” This production, featuring an almost completely new generation cast includes Lucia Santilly, Diana Di Mauro and Tonatiuh Abrego led by the incomparable Kate Carver conducting performances on May 3, 4, 5, 2024.

Also, back this season will be TOT’s popular Cabaret Series at the Edward Jackman Centre – 947 Queen Street East. The three relaxed and fun afternoons will feature Vienna Mine with the music of Lehár and Kálmán on November 18, 2023, The Gershwin Brothers on February 3, 2024, and the fascinating melodies of Spain in Viva la Zarzuela on March 23, 2024. Emerging artists will be featured and patrons can enjoy wine and tasty treats in a charming and congenial cabaret setting.

Best of all, TOT will keep ticket prices unchanged at pre-pandemic levels!

TOT is grateful for support from the Canada Council for the Arts, Toronto Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, the Jackman Foundation, the Dalglish Family Foundation, Bedolfe Foundation, The Mary-Margaret Webb Foundation, The Estate of Sylvia McPhee, and media sponsor Classical 96.3 FM. Performances take place at the wheelchair-accessible St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts, situated in the downtown theatre district, close to public transit and municipal parking. For information, call the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts at 416-366-7723, 1–800-708-6754, www.TOLIVE.com.