Lauren Gienow

Recently, Broadway World had the opportunity to chat with Devin Alexander, an ensemble member in Drayton Entertainment’s PETER PAN: THE PANTO about his specific career path, doing a show over the holidays, and his first ever experience doing a Panto!

This season, the Stratford Festival is certainly not shying away from material that addresses pandemics – fictional or historical. Director Sam White’s production of Alice Childress’ WEDDING BAND takes place during WWI when many were falling ill and dying from the influenza virus. It is the story of interracial couple Julia Augustine (Antonette Rudder) and Herman (Cyrus Lane) who are forced to contend with influenza when Herman falls ill, and who have already been contending with another pandemic – that of racism and white supremacy that is arguable even more rampant. This beautiful and heartbreaking play allows us to witness how Julia as a Black Woman, and Julia and Herman as a couple reckon with both external and internal forces that challenge their faith in their relationship and lead them to come to terms with what “dignity” means to them.

Later in the 23/24 season, audiences of the Canadian Opera Company will have the opportunity to experience both Opera, and a Canadian story like they have never experienced it before. HAUI and Sean Mayes' APORTIA CHRYPTYCH: A BLACK OPERA FOR PORTIA WHITE will have its world premiere next June. Tickets are now on sale.

The excitement in the audience on Thursday night was palpable for the World Premiere of FRANKENSTEIN REVIVED – An adaptation written and directed by Morris Panych, with music by David Coulter, based on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. Word on the street was that this was unlike anything audiences had seen before – and it more than lived up to the hype.

A visually stunning and unabashedly queer adaptation of William Shakespeare’s RICHARD II is currently on stage at the Stratford Festival’s Tom Patterson Theatre and it allows for a fascinating exploration into the character’s hopes, fears, and sense of identity. Adapted by Brad Fraser and conceived and directed by Jillian Keiley, this production is set in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s and features disco, drugs, and bathhouses as the backdrop for the tragedy that begets young King Richard II as he attempts to maintain his crown.

If you heard riotous laughter emanating from the Festival Theatre in Stratford on Friday evening, you may already know that MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING has officially opened at the Stratford Festival. The Shakespearean production directed by Chris Abraham, with additional text by Erin Shields, and starring Maev Beaty and Graham Abbey, boasts hilarious comedy from beginning to end. The cast fed off the energy of the audience on Friday night in such a way that this opening night felt particularly wild and special.

The world premiere of Nick Green’s play CASEY AND DIANA had its opening night at the Stratford Festival’s Studio Theatre on Thursday. This production – directed by Andrew Kushnir – is incredibly powerful. Festival veteran Sean Arbuckle is devastating and captivating in what is quite possibly one of the best performances to ever grace this stage, and he is fully supported by an outstanding cast around him.

The Stratford Festival’s much anticipated production of Jonathan Larson's RENT opens tonight at the Festival Theatre. Andrea Macasaet - straight off a star turn originating the role of Anne Boleyn in SIX on Broadway, is making her Stratford Festival debut as Mimi. A few weeks ago, Broadway World had the opportunity to chat with Macasaet about stepping into this role and this show, growing up feeling unrepresented in musical theatre, why the messages in RENT are as poignant as ever, and so much more!

It’s not uncommon to find a King onstage at the Stratford Festival. In fact, Lear and Richard II are making appearances this very season. Other iterations of King Arthur have even walked the boards from time to time. But this is almost certainly the first time a King has trotted across the stage on an imaginary horse whilst his trusted sidekick makes horse hoof sounds with coconut shells. It’s about time! MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT opened last night at the Stratford Festival’s Avon Theatre. To put it simply, it’s silly and it’s a good time – And sometimes, that’s exactly what we’re looking for.

You could feel the excitement stir in the audience from the moment the Stratford Festival’s Opening Night production of KING LEAR began on Tuesday evening. Orchestrations by Sean Mayes immediately set the tone as the audience visibly leaned forward in anticipation at the booming sound of timpani drums. Many an audience member remained leaning forward all night. Director, Kimberley Rampersad’s production - starring Paul Gross in the titular role - moved swiftly with excitement and intention towards its tragic end, keeping a firm hold on the audience the entire way.

Opening Night of the 2023 season of the Stratford Festival is almost upon us, and for the first time in nine years, the Festival is staging a production of KING LEAR. A few weeks ago, BroadwayWorld had the opportunity to chat with the production’s director, Kimberley Rampersad about her vision for this production, what it means to be doing this show now, the complexity of the piece, the stellar company she is working with, and why Lear is a favourite of many a Shakespeare fan.

After a fully cancelled 2020 season and an out-door-under-a-tent 2021 season, the main stages at the Stratford Festival have finally seen some action this year. Over at the Festival Theatre, the Donna Feore choreographed and directed production of CHICAGO is a huge hit! Two major reasons for this are the phenomenal performances by the two leads. BWW had the opportunity to chat with Roxie and Velma themselves - Chelsea Preston and Jennifer Rider-Shaw, to find out what it has been like to finally do the show they had been waiting two years to mount.

If you live in Stratford, Ontario, you may have heard the buzz around town about a new play at the Stratford Festival’s Studio Theatre. Written by Jani Lauzon and Kaitlyn Riordan, 1939 had its world premiere last week and audiences sprung to their feet to show just how moved they were by this beautiful, powerful, and witty piece of new work.

Originally scheduled for the 2020 season, THE MISER, starring Colm Feore and directed by Antoni Cimolino, is currently playing at the Stratford Festival’s Festival Theatre stage. This Moliere comedy of manners fits right into current times, and this new adaptation by Ranjit Bolt is filled with pop culture references that elicit many a chuckle and belly laugh from the audience. The deliciously funny cast is in fine form and Feore appears to be having the time of his life.

Friday Sept. 9th marks the final 'Funny Forum Friday' - A comedy series programmed by Mark Selby, showcasing top comedy talent at the Tom Patterson Theatre's Lazaridis Hall. After a successful 4 weeks of some of the best comedians the world has to offer, the series is being closed out by the hilarious comedy sister duo, Flo & Joan, who will be coming to Stratford directly from the Edinburgh Comedy Festival. Opening for Flo & Joan is the hilarious Patrick Haye.

If you are a theatre-goer looking to venture outside your comfort zone, or if you often don’t feel seen or represented by the societal norms typically presented in modern theatre pieces – then Sunny Drake’s new play EVERY LITTLE NOOKIE might be exactly what you are looking for. That’s not to say that folks who don’t identify with either statement won’t also enjoy this play though. To read the production synopsis, you might expect an awkward comedy with hijinks galore, but what you will actually get (beyond it indeed being very funny), is a proudly queer play about human connection, found family, sexual awakenings, and very real and relatable struggles like co-parenting, illness and aging, and affordable housing. You will also witness delightful performances by this small yet mighty cast.

Previews have just begun at the Stratford Festival's Studio Theatre for the World Premiere of HAMLET-911 and BroadwayWorld had the opportunity to speak with one of the creative forces behind this innovative and exciting new production. BWW chatted with HAUI over zoom about art, the exploration the abstract over a narrative, process vs product, and what audiences can expect from the projections in this new production.

For the sixth time in the Stratford Festival’s history, a production of ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL is being mounted. It is fittingly being performed at the brand new Tom Patterson Theatre alongside RICHARD III. This is relevant because these were the two plays that launched the inaugural season of the Stratford Festival, 70 years ago. This current production delves into this head-scratcher of moral uncertainties with superb performances by all.

A beloved story has been adapted for the stage and for the whole family at the Stratford Festival this season and it had its world premiere last Thursday night. Playwright Jordi Mand's LITTLE WOMEN--based on the novels Little Women and Good Wives by Louisa May Alcott is being brought to life on stage by Director Esther Jun and a fabulous company. Though this is part of the Schulich Children’s Plays programming, there is a kind of combined accessibility and maturity to this production that will allow it to be enjoyed by everyone.

Lakota Knuckle, Breanna Willis, Devin Alexander, Kyla Musselman, Christine Desjardins, and Jordan Goodridge are the Swings for CHICAGO. Their job is to know every ensemble track and be ready to go on at a moment’s notice if an ensemble member is either out, or is going on as understudy for someone else. Recently, Broadway World had the opportunity to chat with all six Swings over Zoom to learn all about what it means to be the unsung (until now) heroes of theatre and how this unique season is providing even more unique challenges and opportunities.