One-Tank Trip for
June 22/13
(c) By Jim Fox
The curtain is rising on scenic theatre trips
around Southern Ontario this summer.
Combined with some
of the best theatre experiences is a one-stop-shopping reservations portal that
allows visitors to book their getaway packages online.
This includes theatre
tickets and accommodations, heritage tours and fine dining as well as hiking
and relaxing beach escapes.
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| The Drayton
Festival Theatre is a renovated 1902 opera house and former town hall. (Barbara
Fox photo) |
All the world’s a stage
From world-class
Shakespeare productions and musical favourites to Monty Python’s hilarious take
on the search for the Holy Grail, theatre buffs should be able to find
something on the playbill to keep them entertained.
That’s just within
the tourism region made up of Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington as promoted
by a new group called Regional Tourism Organization Four.
It was incorporated
by a volunteer board and supported by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture
and Sports.
“We’re
incredibly fortunate to have 12 professional theatre venues in our region,”
said Napier Simpson, the organization’s chief marketing officer and director of
operations.
“They offer guests
great variety and terrific entertainment value, whether they want to see a
smaller, more-intimate production or something on a much grander scale,” he
added.
 |
| The cast of Oliver!
in the classic rags-to-riches musical playing at the Drayton Festival Theatre.
|
With plays by
William Shakespeare at its foundations, the Stratford Festival has set the
standard for classical theatre across North America for more than 50 years from
its home base in the picturesque city on the Avon River.
Among the 12 plays being
performed this summer in Stratford are Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure
through Sept. 21; the classic rock band The Who’s Broadway hit, Tommy, until
Oct. 19; and Noel Coward’s enduring comedy, Blithe Spirit, to Oct. 20.
stratfordfestival.ca
Up around the bend
Over in Grand Bend,
on the shores of Lake Huron, are the perfect spots for summer theatre at the
Huron County Playhouse and Playhouse II.
They’re part of
seven intimate theatre venues operated by Drayton Entertainment and offering more
than two dozen productions.
Other venues are
the Drayton Festival Theatre; St. Jacobs Country Playhouse and Schoolhouse
Theatre; Cambridge’s Dunfield Theatre; and King’s Wharf Theatre in
Penetanguishene.
“The Drayton
Experience is all about discovering hidden gems in unique communities
throughout Ontario," said Alex Mustakas, artistic director and CEO.
These “extremely
intimate” theatres offer big-time Broadway-calibre productions at small-town
prices where audiences “can’t help but become emotionally invested, he added.
Among the plays in
this season’s line-up at Drayton are the gourmet farce Too Many Cooks, July
10-27 and Oliver! from Aug. 14-31.
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| Rebecca Auerbach
and J.D. Nicholsen star in Dear Johnny Deere, just ending a limited run at the
Blyth Festival. (Photo by Terry Manzo) |
Monty Python’s Spamalot
runs from June 26-July 13 at the Huron Country Playhouse and from July 17-Aug.
3 at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse.
The new 500-seat
Dunfield Theatre beside the Grand River in Cambridge, presents Sorry, I’m
Canadian, July 10-Aug. 3, the Buddy Holly Story, Aug. 7-31 and Lend Me a Tenor,
Sept. 25-Oct. 12. For show details and tickets:
www.draytonentertainment.com;
1-855-372-9866
Other scenic
small-town theatre experiences include the Blyth Festival in Huron County that has
been providing a year-round venue for original Canadian productions since 1975.
This season, the
theatre is producing six plays, including the Beyond the Farm Show, June 26-Aug.
16 and Yorkville – the Musical, from July 3-Aug. 11.
blythfestival.com
Booking a getaway
to take in any of these productions and exploring the surrounding countryside
can be accomplished at
betterweekending.ca
Another resource is
the link to the 21 members the Association of Summer Theatres 'Round Ontario:
summertheatre.ca
Take off, eh
Ready for takeoff at the Great Lakes
International Air Show, June 28-30 at the St. Thomas Airport, are the Canadian
Forces’ Snowbirds and the supersonic CF-188 Hornet.
 |
| Members of the
Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association will fly their restored aircraft at the
St. Thomas air show. |
This is “one of the
best air shows in North America,” said Allan Weatherall, director of media relations,
and will feature air-race pilot Pete McLeod of London and aerobatic legend Sean
Tucker from California.
Watch for a CC-150
Hercules, CH-146 Griffon and the Great War Flying Museum, the Boeing B-17
Flying Fortress, the P-51C Mustang and Harvards.
“They will join a
terrific display of flying and static aircraft,” Weatherall said.
Air show days are
June 29 and 30, with the flying events from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
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