The third production in The Foster Festival's 10th anniversary summer of laughter is the world premiere of Mechanically Inclined by Steve Ross, playing at the Mandeville Theatre, Ridley College, St Catharines, for a very limited run - just 13 performances, August 14-24.

Mechanically Inclined is the second treasure to come out of the Fostered Playwrights Festival and is a beautiful and comic love letter to the theatre. Steve Ross has crafted a wonderful group of misfits that find themselves struggling to make heads or tails of their roles in a first-time community production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream, exactly the kind of group you’d find in community theatres across this country. People who have a shared passion they try to escape to from their complicated lives, but of course that is easier said than done.

The six characters in Mechanically Inclined mirror the Shakespearean characters they portray (who are also rehearsing a play for their king) in a way that illustrates how little has changed when amateurs come together to pursue their passion.

In this play within a play within a play, Life imitates Art, and Art Life.

Don’t miss this hilarious new comedy by Stratford Festival favourite, Steve Ross. Now in his 23rd season at the Stratford Festival, you may have seen Steve in La Cage Aux Folles or Something Rotten last season. Born and raised in the Niagara Region, Steve had his beginnings in the community theatres of Grimsby, Smithville and St. Catharines. This led to stints at both Brock University and The National Theatre School of Canada where he studied acting.

Mechanically Inclined stars Brad Austin as Terry Finn, Shauna Black as Abby Taylor, Ben Skipper as Ben Flatley, Pierre Simpson as Robert Browning, Chris Vergara as Jacob Moynihan and Blair Williams as Mason Adams.

Mechanically Inclined is directed by Jamie Williams with the design team of Beckie Morris (Set Designer), Alex Amini (Costume Designer), and Stacy Graham (Lighting Designer). Michael Panich is the Stage Manager and Sarah Flanigan is the Apprentice Stage Manager.

For tickets visit fosterfestival.com.