Star Talks returns to Stratford Festival

(News Release)

Richard Ouzounian interviews Festival’s leading players

July 5, 2013… The Stratford Festival is pleased to welcome back Toronto Star theatre critic Richard Ouzounian for a second season of Star Talks in Stratford.

The four-part interview series began on July 7 (and continues in August) in the Festival lobby with an interview during the matinee of The Three Musketeers with cast members Graham Abbey, Jonathan Goad, Luke Humphrey and Mike Shara.

Offered as part of the new Forum, a series of activities and events designed to make a visit to Stratford an immersive, all-encompassing cultural experience, Star Talks gives patrons an exclusive opportunity to get to know the productions through some of the Festival`s most entertaining artists.

“Richard Ouzounian is an engaging conversationalist with an encyclopaedic knowledge of theatre, and I am delighted to have him back for another series,” says Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino. 

“Our audiences love to talk about our plays and players, and The Forum is designed to feed that intense interest they have to reflect on the work they see on our stages. Offering more ways to explore, participate and interact with us only enriches their theatre experience and Star Talks is an excellent opportunity to do just that.”

Join Mr. Ouzounian in conversation with various actors and artistic staff after selected matinée performances:

Thursday, August 8
Festival Theatre Lobby
following the matinée of Fiddler on the Roof
Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino

Tuesday, August 13
Tom Patterson Theatre
following the matinée of Waiting for Godot
Brian Dennehy
This Star Talk is open only to patrons attending the matinée performance of Waiting for Godot.

Sunday, August 25
Festival Theatre Lobby
following the matinée of The Merchant of Venice
Scott Wentworth

In October 2009, the Toronto Star launched Star Talks, a series of public conversations and debates in partnership with the Toronto Public Library. Star Talks includes both one-on-one interviews by Star journalists with leading figures in a variety of fields as well as panels of experts on major issues facing Toronto and the surrounding areas. Thousands of people have attended these events, which have been described (by the Globe and Mail) as competing “with the best of the city’s cultural event circuit.”

Admission is free. Seating is limited.

Support for the inaugural season of The Forum is generously provided by Kelly and Michael Meighen and the Province of Ontario, in partnership with the University of Waterloo, with media sponsorship provided by The Walrus. Support for the Speakers Series is generously provided in memory of Dr. W. Philip Hayman.

The Festival’s new Toronto bus service Stratford Direct is now available twice daily on performance days for only $20 return. Reservations can be made through the box office.

Support for Stratford Direct is generously provided by The Peter Cundill Foundation.

The Stratford Festival’s 2013 season runs until October 20, featuring Romeo and Juliet, Fiddler on the Roof; The Three Musketeers, The Merchant of Venice, Tommy, Blithe Spirit, Othello, Measure for Measure, Mary Stuart, Waiting for Godot, Taking Shakespeare, and The Thrill, along with more than 150 events at The Forum.

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