Latest news from the Shaw Festival

I've had a flurry of news releases from both the Shaw and Stratford Festivals cross my desk in the last couple of weeks, so let's get the updates on both Festivals this week in my arts blog:  we'll do Shaw this evening and Stratford on the weekend.

The big news earlier this week from the Shaw Festival is that ticket sales for the current season have already outsold 2012, with seven weeks still to go.  Revenues are exceeding $15-million against last year's $13.8-million, which means they are ahead by $1.2-million.  That's pretty good news in itself.

The icing on the theatrical cake this season is the fact Shaw's production of Tom Stoppard's Arcadia became the most successful production yet in the five-year history of the Studio Theatre.  The 30-performance run was sold out before it even opened, and unfortunately they could not extend the run beyond September 7th due to other commitments for the Studio Theatre space.  But I hear suggestions it might be brought back again; not next season, but likely in the future.

With seven weeks to go before the end of the 2013 season, Shaw has also announced their popular Niagara Neighbours fall promotion is now underway until September 30th, with Niagara Region and greater Buffalo area residents able to purchase specially-priced tickets at savings up to half off.  The sale is only on until September 30th, but you can buy tickets for the remainder of the season for performances of Guys and Dolls, Enchanted April, Lady Windermere's Fan, Major Barbara, Faith Healer and Peace in our Time:  A Comedy.

The hit musical Guys and Dolls has been extended until November 3rd, and it is certainly one of the runaway best shows of the season at Shaw.  If you have not seen this production yet, do yourself a favour and catch the show.  It is well worth seeing before the extended run comes to a close.

Other shows at Shaw I would recommend this late in the season include:  Oscar Wilde's Lady Windermere's Fan, which receives a spectacular production by director Peter Hinton at the Festival Theatre; Matthew Barber's Enchanted April, also at the Festival Theatre; the musical The Light in the Piazza at the Court House Theatre; W. Somerset Maugham's Our Betters at the Royal George Theatre; and Shaw's Major Barbara, also at the Royal George.  All are good bets, especially the ones that are part of the Niagara Neighbours promotion until September 30th.

Looking ahead to next season, the 2014 playbill looks pretty impressive at this early stage.  Here's a quick look at what to expect next season at the Festival Theatre:  the big musical will be the Tony Award-winning Cabaret, to be directed by Peter Hinton; also planned is The Philadelphia Story, the romantic comedy from 1939 by Philip Barry, made famous with the film version starring Katherine Hepburn.  This production will be directed by Dennis Garnhum.  Rounding out the 2014 playbill at the Festival Theatre will be Shaw's The Philanderer, which dates from 1893.  This will mark the first time in a couple of seasons a Shaw play will be staged at the larger Festival Theatre, and I think that should make a lot of people happy who lamented only smaller stages were hosting the Festival's namesake's plays in the recent past.  This production will be directed by two-time Obie Award winner Lisa Peterson, who describes herself as a Bernard Shaw fan.

Full details on the rest of the 2014 playbill and what shows are still available for this season, including the Niagara Neighbours promotions, can be had by logging on to www.shawfest.com or calling 905-468-2172.  Out of town you can call 1-800-511-SHAW (7429).

Also don't forget my season reviews are all archived on my blog; just go to the index on the right to access previous blog entries.  And my ratings for each show this season appear on the Calendar page on the website at www.finemusic.ca

I think the Shaw Festival should be commended for bouncing back after a couple of lean years when sales were down, and with careful trimming of expenses including reducing the size of the acting company, they have proven they can do more with less.  Their 2013 season has turned out to be a vintage year, and well worth your time here in the heart of Niagara wine country.

Enjoy the theatre!

September 19th, 2013.