Stage Door News

Niagara-on-the-Lake: The Shaw Festival announces the casts and creative teams for the 2025 season

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

The casts and creative teams for the 2025 season were named today by the Shaw Festival’s Artistic Director Tim Carroll.

“It’s great to welcome back some familiar and much-loved faces – both behind the scenes and on our stages. They will ensure that we bring fresh energy and passion not only to our well-known classics but also to those works you may not have heard of yet, but soon will never forget,” said Tim Carroll. “I hope you will try every dish on this rich and varied Shaw Festival menu.”

The Shaw Festival’s 63rd season begins April 9 and runs until December 21. All performances during the 2025 season are now scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.

FESTIVAL THEATRE

THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE

Co-Adapted for the stage by Selma Dimitrijevic and Tim Carroll

Based on the novel by C.S. Lewis

Directed by Selma Dimitrijevic

Costumes designed by Judith Bowden

Lighting designed by Kevin Lamotte

Original music and sound designed by Ryan deSouza

Puppetry by Brendan McMurtry-Howlett

Illusions designed by Kelly Wong

Choreography by Genny Sermonia

April 9 - October 4

This delightful new adaptation of C.S. Lewis’s classic story is brought to life by David Adams, Alana Bridgewater, Kristi Frank, Élodie Gillett, Alexandra Gratton, Jeff Irving, Graeme Kitagawa, Stewart Adam McKensy, Jade Repeta, Kiera Sangster, Michael Therriault and Shawn Wright.

ANYTHING GOES

Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter

Original Book by P.G. Wodehouse & Guy Bolton Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse

New Book by Timothy Crouse & John Weidman

Directed and choreographed by Kimberley Rampersad

Music direction by Paul Sportelli

Set and costume designed by Cory Sincennes

Lighting designed by Mikael Kangas

Associate choreographer: Matt Alfano

May 2 - October 4

Mary Antonini is Reno Sweeney in The Shaw's fresh 2025 revival of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes. This timeless tale of romance, intrigue and hijinks on the high seas also features the triple talented David Adams, Matt Alfano, Celeste Catena, Sharry Flett, Kristi Frank, JJ Gerber, Élodie Gillett, Alexandra Gratton, Jeff Irving, Graeme Kitagawa, Allan Louis, Stewart Adam McKensy, Cheryl Mullings, Jade Repeta, Kiera Sangster, Michael Therriault, Jay Turvey and Shawn Wright.

WAIT UNTIL DARK

By Frederick Knott

Adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher

Directed by Sanjay Talwar

Set designed by Lorenzo Savoini

Costumes designed by Ming Wong

Lighting designed by Louise Guinand

Original music and sound designed by John Gzowski

June 25 - October 5

Kristopher Bowman, Sochi Fried, Martin Happer and Bruce Horak play a high-stakes game of cat and mouse in this heart-stopping thriller of a production.

ROYAL GEORGE THEATRE

TONS OF MONEY

By Will Evans and Valentine

Directed by Eda Holmes

Set and costumes designed by Judith Bowden

Lighting designed by Kevin Lamotte

Original music by Andy Ballantyne

April 11 - October 5

Mike Nadajewski is the crafty, but failed inventor, Aubrey Allington in this madcap, fast-moving farce. Joining him on his side-splitting, laugh-a-minute gamble are Julia Course, Qasim Khan, Marla McLean, André Morin, Graeme Somerville and Lindsay Wu.

MAJOR BARBARA

By Bernard Shaw

Directed by Peter Hinton-Davis

Set and costumes designed by Gillian Gallow

Lighting designed by Bonnie Beecher

Original music and sound designed by Allen Cole

June 1 - October 5

Gabriella Sundar Singh takes on the role of Barbara Undershaft in the Peter Hinton-Davis production of Bernard Shaw’s enduring masterpiece, Major Barbara. Fiona Byrne, Patrick Galligan, Patty Jamieson, André Morin, Taurian Teelucksingh and Lindsay Wu also take on Shaw's inimitable wit and incisive dialogue in this three-act social satire.

MURDER-ON-THE-LAKE

A Spontaneous Theatre Creation

By Rebecca Northan and Bruce Horak

Directed by Rebecca Northan

Set designed by Judith Bowden

Costumes designed by Rose Tavormina

Lighting designed by Jeff Pybus

July 26 - October 4

Kristopher Bowman, Cosette Derome, Sochi Fried, Virgilia Griffith, Martin Happer,

Bruce Horak, Rebecca Northan and Travis Seetoo will have the entire audience deducing who had the means, motive and opportunity in this fresh new spin on the whodunit.

JACKIE MAXWELL STUDIO THEATRE

GNIT

By Will Eno

Directed by Tim Carroll

Set and costumes designed by Hanne Loosen

Lighting designed by Kevin Lamotte

Music direction, original music and sound designed by Claudio Vena

June 19 – October 4

Qasim Khan is Peter Gnit in this rollicking existential comedy based on a faithful, unfaithful and willfully American reading of Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt. Julia Course, Patrick Galligan, Mike Nadajewski and Gabriella Sundar Singh round out the cast of this very cautionary tale about – among other things – how the opposite of love is laziness.

BLUES FOR AN ALABAMA SKY

By Pearl Cleage

Directed by Kimberley Rampersad

Set and costumes designed by Christine Ting-Huan Urquhart

Lighting designed by Chris Malkowski

Original music and sound designed by Miquelon Rodriguez

August 2 – October 4

The Canadian premiere of this dynamic drama depicts the glamour and true essence of Harlem during its transformative Jazz Age. Virgilia Griffith makes her Shaw Festival debut as free-spirited, former Cotton Club chanteuse Angel Allen, alongside JJ Gerber and Allan Louis.

MATURE CONTENT

SPIEGELTENT

DEAR LIAR

By Jerome Kilty

Adapted from the correspondence between Bernard Shaw and Mrs. Patrick Campbell

Co-created by Marla McLean and Graeme Somerville

May 18 - September 27

Marla McLean and Graeme Somerville present a witty and moving two-hander that follows the long-lasting relationship between two renowned artists through their correspondence and some scenes written by Shaw for "his Stella" – a.k.a. Mrs. Patrick Campbell.

THE ROLL OF SHAW - THROUGH THE WARDROBE

Created by Travis Seetoo

June 5 – September 25

A follow-up to last season’s The Roll of Shaw, the improvised adventure with Travis Seetoo and Cosette Derome involves the beloved characters from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

LA VIE EN ROSE - CABARET

An evening in Paris

Directed by Jay Turvey with

Music direction by Paul Sportelli

Choreographed by Matt Alfano

June 6 – September 25

A cabaret with songs made famous by Edith Piaf and others. Performed by Matt Alfano, Mary Antonini, Celeste Catena, Patty Jamieson, Cheryl Mullings, Jay Turvey and Kelly Wong.

MAY I HAVE THE PLEASURE?

The precious and nearly lost art of social dancing

Created by Alexis Milligan

June 18 – September 26

Everyone is invited to partake or just enjoy the sights and sounds of the precious and nearly lost art of social dancing. Featuring Allison McCaughey and Sharry Flett.

ELLA AND LOUIS

A concert of jazz and blues classics.

July 20 - September 28

Alana Bridgewater and Jeremiah Sparks perform jazz and blues classics, including songs made famous by musical legends, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.

Additional casting and creative team updates for the upcoming Shaw Festival season will be available at www.shawfest.com. Holiday season cast and creative teams will be announced later in the year.

Visit www.shawfest.com