Canadian Stage Company News

As the lights of the audience dim out, the audience on the first floor can hear small footsteps behind them. As the footsteps come closer, voices of children ring out and break the silence. 'People say nice things when you die.' 'They call it a eulogy.' 'Hey, I'll do yours if you do mine!' 'How's that going to work?' 'Oh, right... How about whichever comes first? Deal?' 'If I say yes, can I go?' 'Yes.'

The Canadian Opera Company's 2017/2018 season marked a year in which the organization made significant progress on key goals of its COC365 Strategic Plan by presenting boundary-pushing productions; deepening its commitment to public engagement and relationship-building with diverse communities; and laying the foundation for the exciting revitalization of 227 Front St. E., as reported today at the COC's Annual General Meeting by COC Board Chair Justin Linden and COC General Director Alexander Neef.

An unforgettable love story inspired by one of the most romantic movies of all time. Stephen Sachs directs Deaf actors Deanne Bray (Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye, Heroes) and Troy Kotsur (title role in Cyrano at the Fountain, Big River on Broadway) in Sachs' newest play, inspired by the screenplay for Noel Coward's Brief Encounter. The world premiere of Arrival & Departure will open on July 14 and continue through September 30 at the Fountain Theatre. The cast also features hearing actors Jessica Jade Andres, Adam Burch, Brian Robert Burns, Shon Fuller, Kyra Kotsur, Aurelia Myersand Stasha Surdyke.

An unforgettable love story inspired by one of the most romantic movies of all time. Stephen Sachs directs Deaf actors Deanne Bray (Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye, Heroes) and Troy Kotsur (title role in Cyrano at the Fountain, Big River on Broadway) in Sachs' newest play, inspired by the screenplay for Noel Coward's Brief Encounter. The world premiere of Arrival & Departure will open on July 14 and continue through September 30 at the Fountain Theatre. The cast also features hearing actors Jessica Jade Andres, Adam Burch,Brian Robert Burns, Shon Fuller, Kyra Kotsur, Aurelia Myersand Stasha Surdyke.

Chromolume Theatre will present the Neil Bartram/Brian Hill musical The Story of My Life in the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival, it was announced today. Under the direction of Michael Marchak, the cast will feature (in alphabetical order) Daniel Koh and Andrew Schufman. Music direction is by Richard Berent. The show will run for five performances only at the Hobgoblin Playhouse beginning June 3 at 7:30pm.

The revived, renascent, and reformed Toronto theatre-based band, THE POLKA DOGS, have returned after a 25-year hiatus, with a new album THE BEE officially released on June 1, and an Ontario tour. Starting as a theatre pit band in 1989, the band wowed the world in the 90s with an explosive, raucous, joyous sound of trombone, tuba, banjo, drums and that sultry, fantastic voice of theatre staple John Millard. The band returns with the same original sound, and features all five of its founding members including, Tom Walsh on trombone, Tiina Kiik on accordion, Colin Couch on tuba,John Millard on banjo and vocals, and Ambrose Pottie on drums.

Civic Theatres Toronto today announced a national public naming competition to replace their existing moniker.  

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, the oldest and largest prize awarded to women playwrights writing in the English language. Chosen from over 150 nominated plays, the Finalists are:

Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Paul Kaye, Sarah Niles and Danusia Samal have been cast in B by Guillermo Calderon translated by William Gregory and directed by Royal Court Associate Director (International) Sam Pritchard.

Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Paul Kaye, Sarah Niles and Danusia Samal have been cast in B by Guillermo Calderon translated by William Gregory and directed by Royal Court Associate Director (International) Sam Pritchard.

Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Paul Kaye, Sarah Niles and Danusia Samal have been cast in B by Guillermo Calderon translated by William Gregory and directed by Royal Court Associate Director (International) Sam Pritchard.

Neeraja Ramjee presents BROKEN IMAGES, a psychological thriller by acclaimed Indian contemporary playwright Girish Karnad, August 10-20, 2017 at Red Sandcastle Theatre. This is a one woman show starring Neeraja Ramjee, and directed by award-winning actor, director, and dramaturge Clinton Walker.

???????The Musical Stage Company (formerly Acting Up Stage Company) & Canadian Stage present the Toronto premiere of Sharron Matthews' dynamite cabaret GIRL CRUSH, fresh off its highly acclaimed runs in New York City and Calgary. GIRL CRUSH will play for one night only at Toronto's High Park Amphitheatre on July 24, 2017 at 8 PM.

Neeraja Ramjee presents BROKEN IMAGES, a psychological thriller by acclaimed Indian contemporary playwright Girish Karnad, August 10-20, 2017 at Red Sandcastle Theatre. This is a one woman show starring Neeraja Ramjee, and directed by award-winning actor, director, and dramaturge Clinton Walker.

???????The Segal Centre is proud to present the hit comedy What's in a Name? by Matthieu Delaporte and Alexandre de la Patelliere adapted from the French by Michael Mackenzie. This wild comedy about a scandalous baby name is presented as part of the official program of Montreal's 375th anniversary celebrations, July 9 through July 30.

Tennessee Shakespeare Company, in partnership with the University of Memphis' Department of Theatre & Dance, presents William Shakespeare's madcap, joyous The Comedy of Errors on the U of M's Theatre Mainstage from June 8-18.

Damascus, Syria: 2014. Four friends gather to watch their favorite soap opera on TV - but are all the unspoken passions on the screen? Is anything really what it seems to be? Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents a politically charged and emotionally urgent new play by acclaimed Chilean playwright Guillermo Calderon. Bart DeLorenzo directs the West Coast premiere of Kiss for an April 29 opening at the Odyssey Theatre.

On Friday, March 31, 2017, The League of Professional Theatre Women (LPTW), a not-for-profit organization committed to promoting visibility and increasing opportunities for women in the professional theatre, is pleased to recognize the talents of six outstanding women: Carol Hall, Linda Cho, Lilieana Blain-Cruz, Liesl Tommy, Jess Chayes and Emily Simoness.

Damascus, Syria: 2014. Four friends gather to watch their favorite soap opera on TV - but are all the unspoken passions on the screen? Is anything really what it seems to be? Odyssey Theatre Ensemble presents a politically charged and emotionally urgent new play by acclaimed Chilean playwright Guillermo Calderon. Bart DeLorenzo directs the West Coast premiere of Kiss for an April 29 opening at the Odyssey Theatre.

Canadian history comes to life on the stage of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts this spring when Harry Somers' Louis Riel returns to the Canadian Opera Company. A new production of this uniquely Canadian contribution to the opera world is being conceived by one of Canadian theatre's most acclaimed and inventive directors, Peter Hinton, with the COC's celebrated music director, Johannes Debus, conducting. This production of Louis Riel is proudly presented by the COC and its co-producer, National Arts Centre (NAC), in anticipation of Canada's sesquicentennial and the 50th anniversary of the opera's premiere. Louis Riel is sung in English, French, Michif and Cree with English, French, Michif and Cree SURTITLESTM, and runs for seven performances by the COC on April 20, 23, 26, 29, May 2, 5, 13, 2017 at Toronto's Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts. It will premiere in Ottawa by the NAC on June 15 and 17, 2017.