Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Orillia Opera House announces lineup for its 2013 summer season


For immediate release (January 8, 2013) – It may be the dead of winter, but it’s never too early to start thinking about summer theatre at the Orillia Opera House.  Laugh Out Loud Productions returns for its fourth season and the Opera House proudly announces the 2013 lineup:
(L to R) Robin Clipsham, Sam Rosenthal, Kristi Frank and
Matt Cassidy as they appeared in Laugh Out Loud's 2012 production of
"Murder in Noirville" . Photo by Max Durnford.
 The 39 Steps  by Patrick Barlow
  • Forever Plaid by Stuart Ross
  • Same Time, Next Year by Bernard Slade
  • The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield
Ticket prices are regular $34 each, group rate is $31 and $28 for children 16 and under (plus tax).  Season Flex Pacs for the entire season are also available for $116. For tickets, visit the Box office (11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. until curtain time on performance day), call (705) 326-8011 or 1-888-ORILLIA, or go online at www.orilliaoperahouse.ca

The 39 Steps by Patrick Barlow
June 11 to July 12
Opening night: Wednesday, June 12,at 7p.m.

Under the direction and design of Laugh Out Loud’s returning artistic directors, Dave Campbell and Tim Webb, the season begins with the award-winning stage adaptation of the Alfred Hitchcock film classic The 39 Steps.

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty Python and you have a fast-paced whodunit for anyone who loves the magic of theatre! This 2-time Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning treat is packed with nonstop laughs, over 150 zany characters (played by a ridiculously talented cast of 4), handcuffs, missing fingers and some good old-fashioned romance!

In The 39 Steps, a man with a boring life meets a woman with a thick accent who says she's a spy. When he takes her home, she is murdered. Soon, a mysterious organization called “The 39 Steps" is hot on the man's trail in a nationwide manhunt that climaxes in a death-defying finale! A riotous blend of virtuoso performances and wildly inventive stagecraft, The 39 Steps amounts to an unforgettable evening of pure pleasure.

 Forever Plaid by Stuart Ross
July 16 – August 9
Opening night: Wednesday, July 17 at 7p.m.

The season continues with another Orillia Opera House premiere, the first appearance of the popular musical “Forever Plaid.”  The Heavenly Musical Hit has proven to be one of the most popular and successful musicals since it premiered in 1990.

This deliciously goofy revue centres on four young, eager male singers in the 1950s who were killed in a car crash on the way to their first big concert. Miraculously revived for a posthumous chance to fulfill their dreams, they perform the show that never was. Singing in the closest of harmony, squabbling boyishly over the smallest intonations and executing their charmingly outlandish choreography with over-zealous precision, the "Plaids" are a guaranteed smash, with a program of beloved songs and delightful patter that keeps audiences rolling in the aisles when they're not humming along to some of the great nostalgic pop hits of the 1950's

Same Time Next Year by Bernard Slade
August 13 – September 13
Opening night: Wednesday August 14 at 7p.m.

The third production of the season is the timeless Bernard Slade romantic comedy Same Time, Next Year. The fresh, touching, and hilariously funny story is of lovers Doris and George, married – to other people – who meet by chance while on separate business trips in 1951. The pair vow to rendezvous each year in the same place, and end up finding a connection that transcends the initial spark of passion to span a quarter century’s worth of love, loss, joy, conflict, but ultimately a common ground that sustains their unique friendship. 

Same Time, Next Year is a delicious tryst about the complexities of human relationships and the phenomenon of love. One of the most popular romantic comedies of the past century, Same Time, Next Year ran four years on Broadway. It remains one of the world's most widely produced plays and was also made into a successful feature film in 1978.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield
September 17 – 27
Opening night: Wednesday, September 18 at 7p.m.

Closing out the season, audiences are is for a comedy roller-coaster ride when Laugh Out Loud takes on The Bard! The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) is all 37 Plays in 97 minutes!

An irreverent, fast-paced romp through the Bard’s plays, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) was London’s longest-running comedy – 10 years in the West End at the Criterion Theatre! 

Join these madcap men in tights as they weave their wicked way through all of Shakespeare’s comedies, histories and tragedies in one wild ride that will leave you breathless and helpless with laughter.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) is one of the world's most frequently produced plays, and has been translated into several dozen languages. Fast paced, witty, and physical, it's full of laughter for Shakespeare lovers and haters alike.  Why go elsewhere to see just one Shakespeare play when you can see them all right here at one time!

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The City of Orillia and the Orillia Opera House are pleased to continue its on-going association with Laugh Out Loud Productions, producing quality theatre programming for our thousands of summer visitors.

Over the past three summer theatre seasons, many highlights took place at the Laugh Out Loud shows including visits from special guests such as Alex Mustakas (Artistic Director and CEO of Drayton Entertainment), Peter Caldwell (Director and CEO of the Ontario Arts Council) and Aubrey Dan (CEO of Dancap Productions). 

Les Stroud ,aka TV’s “Survivorman” opened the second season, theatre critic Richard Ouzounian called the 2011 season ‘eclectic’ and honoured the production of Moving Day as a ‘Top Pick” that summer, and Peter Colley – world-renowned playwright, and Order of Canada Recipient – came to Orillia to work with our team on the creation of the Ontario premiere of Murder in Noirville.

The creative team works diligently during the winter and spring months to assemble the talented ensemble of cast members required to make this sort of season a success.

Each and every season of summer theatre has included Dora Award Winning actors and nominees (awards which recognize excellence in Canadian Theatre), as well as multiple Guthrie Award Winners (Stratford).

No strangers to accolades themselves, Artistic Director Dave Campbell is a Governor General's Award nominee, and in 2012 was a nominee for a Broadway World Award in the U.S., while Tim Webb recently placed #1 of “Emerging Creative Minds to Watch” by SOFI Design Magazine, Miami.
 

Media Contact Information:

Darcy Hoover                                                                                    Joe Kim
Marketing Manager                                                                         Communications Manager
Department of Parks, Recreation & Culture                               (705) 325-8929
705 325 4283                                                                                    jkim@orillia.ca

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