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