Maev Beaty News

Expect Theatre's PlayME - the podcast that transforms Canadian plays into audio dramas - announces the launch of the PlayME Network, a new broadcast arm that will partner with some of Canada's leading theatre companies from across the country. PlayME Network will feature shows from PlayME partners' regular seasons, transformed into audio dramas. Founding PlayME Co-Artistic Directors Laura Mullin and Chris Tolley are pleased to announce that the inaugural PlayME Network partners are Toronto's Tarragon Theatre, Factory Theatre and The Musical Stage Co.; Ottawa's Great Canadian Theatre Company; Edmonton's Citadel Theatre and Newfoundland's Artistic Fraud.

DAUGHTER, the most talked about show of the 2016 SummerWorks Performance Festival, will have its mainstage premiere at The Theatre Centre, November 7-19, 2017.

DAUGHTER, the most talked about show of the 2016 SummerWorks Performance Festival, will have its mainstage premiere at The Theatre Centre, November 7-19, 2017.

The Stratford Festival midseason openings are upon us, and first up was Director Chris Abraham's much anticipated production of Moliere's TARTUFFE at the Festival Theatre. The translation by Ranjit Bolt (with some updates to reflect current politics) finds the perfect tone and allows a French satire from 1664 to feel incredibly (almost frighteningly) relevant right now. An excellent company, led by the fantastic Tom Rooney had the audience absolutely howling. This is definitely one to see!

At one of their very popular community meals yesterday, The Theatre Centre made its first programming announcement for 2017/2018 with a continued focus on Residency work, supporting artists, and filling the role of culture and community hub for the neighbourhood and beyond.

The 38th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards for the 2016-2017 season were handed out in a star-studded ceremony in Toronto on the evening of Monday, June 26 at the Elgin Theatre of the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre, hosted by acclaimed actor and musician Raoul Bhaneja, a Maple Blues Award winner and Gemini, Dora and Canadian Comedy Award nominee.

Stratford Festival's Artistic Director, Antoni Cimolino is directing one production this season and it is Richard Brinsley Sheridan's THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL. Mounted on the Avon Theatre stage, this production boasts a fabulous company and a commentary on society that is far from outdated.

At a press conference held May 30 in the lobby of the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts, the Toronto Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA) announced 235 nominations for the 38th Annual Dora Mavor Moore Awards, which recognize excellence in the performing arts in Toronto.

Hannah Moscovitch's BUNNY is enjoying its World Premiere at the Stratford Festival's Studio Theatre this season. The performance that I attended was completely sold out, so it appears that audiences are enjoying it too! Directed by Sarah Garton Stanley, with Design by Michael Gianfrancesco, this play will be a unique experience from the get-go. The intimacy of the Studio Theatre has the audience very present and engaged at the beginning, and the beauty and originality of the play maintains that engagement throughout.

We are thrilled to be kicking off an incredible year of programming with one of three of our own projects that are all emerging from The Theatre Centre's Residency Program this year.  

In the fall of 2016, theatre maven and master teacher Adam Lazarus will launch Play On Theatre. Focusing solely on supporting artists developing new work, Play On Theatre is a completely unique performance training centre in Canada.

After a period of brisk advance sales to Members, the Stratford Festival is opening its box office to the public this Friday, January 8.

The World Premiere of THE LAST WIFE, written by Kate Hennig and directed by Alan Dilworth, took place earlier this month at the Stratford Festival's Studio Theatre. BWW recently had the opportunity to see the show, and found it to present an intriguing combination of history, drama, humour and feminism. 

SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER opened recently at Stratford Festival's Avon Theatre. As you watch it, it quickly becomes apparent as to why this play has withheld the test of time. Laugh out loud humour, beautiful set design, and an excellent cast make for an enjoyable evening (or matinee) at the theatre.

On Thursday May 29th, THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK opened at the Stratford Festival. It was an honest, stunning production that featured beautiful performances by all involved.

Swift advance sales have prompted the Stratford Festival to extend the runs of four productions, just as the box office has opened to the public. Performances of Carousel, The Alchemist, The Physicists and The Last Wife have been added to the schedule.

Last night, Theatre Passe Muraille (TPM) opened their production of The De Chardin Project, by Adam Seybold, a Dora Award winner for Outstanding New Play in the Independent Theatre category. A multi-award-winning team is involved in this production - featuring Maev Beaty and Cyrus Lane, directed by Alan Dilworth, with designers Lorenzo Savoini and Thomas Ryder Payne. The De Chardin Project is in the TPM Mainspace from November 20 to December 14, 2014.

Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino's King Lear, starring Colm Feore, is entering the record books as one of the Festival's top-selling Shakespeare productions of all time. To meet the overwhelming demand for tickets, the production is being extended until October 25.

Love between parents and their offspring should be unconditional. As soon as King Lear puts conditions on the love of his daughters, his life unravels: he goes mad. But what really drives him crazy? Is it remorse resulting from his bad decisions? Is it stress, worrying about his daughters? Or is simply old age - dementia or perhaps Alzheimer's? Colm Feore has blended all three, in a gritty portrayal of Lear. One of Shakespeare's tragedies, this play opens the 2014 season at Stratford Festival. Feore is impressive as Lear with an equally good cast in this superior production.

Tarragon Theatre, under the artistic direction of Richard Rose, proudly presents the world premiere of Soliciting Temptation by Governor General Award winner and Tarragon playwright-in-residence Erin Shields. Directed by Tarragon's Assistant Artistic Director Andrea Donaldson, this compelling drama shines a light on the complexities of sex tourism and our preconceptions about love. Starring Soulpepper stalwart Derek Boyes and emerging artist Miriam Fernandes, Soliciting Temptation opens tonight, April 9 and runs to May 4 (with previews from April 1) in Tarragon's Extraspace.