Familiar faces and audience favourites return to the Shaw Festival in 2014

– Key casting and creative teams for upcoming season announced –

Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON – The Shaw Festival is delighted to announce principal casting and creative team details for its 53^rd season.

“This season, we are thrilled to welcome back several familiar faces not seen on the stages of The Shaw for some time,” stated Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell. “It is always a pleasure to have Ensemble members come back and reconnect with their fellow Shaw actors in new ways.”

The Shaw is delighted to welcome back Deborah Hay, Fiona Reid, Mary Haney, Kate Hennig,  Kevin Hanchard, Gord Rand, Thom Marriott, Fiona Byrne, Jonathan Tan, Norman Browning and the beloved Jennifer Phipps.

They will be joining the current Shaw Ensemble that includes Michael Ball, Neil Barclay, Donna Belleville, Kate Besworth, Wade Bogert-O'Brien, Andrew Bunker, Benedict Campbell, Juan Chioran, Julia Course, Sharry Flett, Patrick Galligan, Martin Happer, Kaylee Harwood, Alana Hibbert, Patty Jamieson, Claire Jullien, Lorne Kennedy, Corrine Koslo, Peter Krantz, Catherine McGregor, Patrick McManus, Marla McLean, Jeff Meadows, Jim Mezon, Peter Millard, Julain Molnar, Moya O'Connell, Laurie Paton, Gray Powell, Graeme Somerville, Jay Turvey and Jenny L. Wright.

FESTIVAL THEATRE

Cabaret

Previews – April 10   Opens – May 10   Closes – October 26

Book by Joe Masteroff, lyrics by Fred Ebb, music by John Kander

Based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood

Originally co-directed and choreographed by Rob Marshall

Originally directed by Sam Mendes

Sponsored by TD Bank Group

 

Audience favourite Deborah Hay returns as cabaret singer Sally Bowles

Last seen as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Deborah Hay returns to play Sally Bowles in the Tony-award winning musical Cabaret, playing opposite Juan Chioran as The Emcee. Mr. Chioran made his Shaw Festival debut last season in the musical The Light in the Piazza.

They are joined by a consummate cast that includes Gray Powell as writer Cliff Bradshaw, Corrine Koslo as Fräulein Schneider and Benedict Campbell as Herr Schultz. Lorne Kennedy, Jay Turvey and Jenny L. Wright round out this accomplished group.

Directed by Peter Hinton, musical direction by Paul Sportelli, choreographed by Denise Clarke, set designed by Michael Gianfrancesco, costumes designed by Judith Bowden, lighting designed by Bonnie Beecher and sound designed by John Lott.

 

The Philadelphia Story

Previews – May 15   Opens – June 7   Closes – October 25

By Philip Barry

Sponsored by BMO Financial Group

Moya O’Connell, Gray Powell and Patrick McManus back together in glorious romantic comedy

Romantic sparks are sure to fly when Moya O’Connell as Tracy Lord, Gray Powell as C.K. Dexter Haven, Patrick McManus as Mike Connor and Sharry Flett as Margaret Lord bring Philip Barry's The Philadelphia Story to the stage. Fiona Byrne returns to join in the mayhem as photojournalist Liz Imbrie. The classic romantic comedy will also feature the talents of Thom Marriott, Juan Chioran, Jeff Meadows, Ric Reid and Tess Benger.

Directed by Dennis Garnhum, designed by William Schmuck, lighting designed by Kevin Lamotte and original music and sound designed by Jeremy Spencer.

The Philanderer

Previews – June 26   Opens – July 12   Closes – October 12

By Bernard Shaw

 

Gord Rand to play Shaw’s philandering rake

Gord Rand returns to The Shaw as the charismatic Leonard Charteris opposite Moya O’Connell’s passionate Julia Craven and Marla McLean’s sophisticated Mrs. Grace Tranfield. Distinguished Ensemble member Michael Ball leads a strong supporting cast that includes Jeff Meadows, Ric Reid and Harveen Sandhu.

Directed by Lisa Peterson, in her Shaw debut; designed by Sue LePage and lighting designed by Kevin Lamotte.

COURT HOUSE THEATRE 

 

The Charity that Began at Home: A Comedy for Philanthropists

Previews – April 25   Opens – May 10   Closes – October 11

By St. John Hankin

Fiona Reid returns to head cast of surprising Hankin comedy    

Celebrated Canadian actor Fiona Reid returns to the Shaw Festival after a ten year absence to play Lady Denison, the misguided, but well-meaning matriarch, in Hankin’s rarely-seen comedy. Julia Course will play her good-natured daughter Margery and Martin Happer will be the roguish Hugh Verreker. Popular Ensemble members Graeme Somerville, Laurie Paton, Sharry Flett, Donna Belleville, Jim Mezon and Neil Barclay round out the cast.

Directed by Christopher Newton, designed by William Schmuck and lighting designed by Louise Guinand.

The Sea

Previews – June 3   Opens – July 11   Closes – October 12

By Edward Bond

Sponsored by James F. Brown

Rich ensemble assembled to present first Bond play at the Festival

Fiona Reid will appear as Louise Rafi, opposite Patrick Galligan as Hatch, Wade Bogert-O’Brien as Willy Carson, Peter Millard as Evens and Julia Course as Rose Jones in Edward Bond’s blackly comic view of pre-WWI England, The Sea. Billy Lake, Patty Jamieson and Kelly Wong are also featured in the Festival’s first production of this important writer’s work.

Directed by Eda Holmes, set designed by Camellia Koo, costumes designed by Michael Gianfrancesco, lighting designed by Kevin Lamotte and original music and sound designed by John Gzowski.

 

A Lovely Sunday for Creve Coeur

Previews – June 28   Opens – July 12   Closes – October 11

By Tennessee Williams

Sponsored by Vintage Hotels

 

Strong female cast featured in seldom seen Tennessee Williams play

A quartet of female Ensemble members will bring Tennessee Williams’ tender and very funny one-act play to life. The Shaw Festival welcomes back Kate Hennig to play the ever hopeful Bodey, roommate to Deborah Hay’s starry-eyed school teacher Dorothea. They will be joined by Julain Molnar as manic-depressive neighbour Miss Gluck and Kaylee Harwood as social-climber Helena.

Directed by Blair Williams and designed by Cameron Porteous.

ROYAL GEORGE THEATRE

 

Arms and The Man

Previews – April 4   Opens – May 9   Closes – October 18

By Bernard Shaw

Sponsored by Scotiabank

Shaw’s most popular comedy moves to the Royal George

Martin Happer and Kate Besworth will take the stage as the outrageous Sergius Saranoff and his hero worshipping fiancé Raina Petkoff, along with Graeme Somerville as the “chocolate-cream soldier” Captain Bluntschli and Laurie Paton as Catherine Petkoff. Norman Browning, Peter Krantz and Claire Jullien will join them in Shaw’s delightful comedy about love, war and class.

Directed by Morris Panych, set designed by Ken MacDonald, costumes designed by Charlotte Dean, lighting designed by Jason Hand and original music by Ryan deSouza.

When We Are Married

Previews – May 7   Opens – June 6   Closes – October 26

By J.B. Priestley

Sponsored by CIBC

 

Thom Marriott returns to face matrimonial mayhem in J.B. Priestley’s enduring comedy

Real-life couple Thom Marriott and Claire Jullien are one of three thoroughly befuddled couples who find themselves in a state of matrimonial chaos on their silver wedding anniversary in When We Are Married. Patrick Galligan and Kate Hennig, Catherine McGregor and Patrick McManus are the remaining perplexed pairs. Ijeoma Emesowum, Kate Besworth, Charlie Gallant, Mary Haney and Peter Krantz also appear in this glorious comedy.

Directed by Joseph Ziegler, set designed by Ken MacDonald, costumes designed by Sue LePage and lighting designed by Louise Guinand.

 

Juno and the Paycock

Previews – June 28   Opens – July 25   Closes – October 12

By Sean O’Casey

Mary Haney leads cast in O’Casey classic

Mary Haney returns for her 28^th season to play the spirited matriarch Juno Boyle alongside Jim Mezon’s “paycock” — Captain Jack Boyle. Mr. Mezon celebrates his 30^th season at The Shaw in 2014. They will be joined by Benedict Campbell as Joxer Daly and a cast that includes Andrew Bunker, Corrine Koslo, Charlie Gallant, Marla McLean, Gord Rand and perennial audience favourite Jennifer Phipps as Mrs. Tancred.

Directed by Jackie Maxwell, designed by Peter Hartwell, lighting designed by Bonnie Beecher and original music by Paul Sportelli.

STUDIO THEATRE

The Mountaintop

Previews – July 16   Opens – July 26  Closes – September 7

By Katori Hall

Sponsored by Paradigm Capital

 

Kevin Hanchard is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., alongside Alana Hibbert’s Camae

Kevin Hanchard, who stunned Shaw audiences in Topdog/Underdog and charmed them in The Millionairess, returns to play Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. opposite Alana Hibbert as young hotel maid Camae. Ms. Hibbard is best remembered for her touching portrayal of Sarah in The Shaw’s 2012 production of Ragtime.

Directed by Philip Akin, designed by Judith Bowden, lighting designed by Kevin Lamotte and projections designed by Andrew Smith.

For a complete casting and creative team listing, visit www.shawfest.com.

2014 season ticket on-sale dates to note:

• Members’ Special Priority Booking Period: November 9, 2013 to December 15, 2013

Telephone, in-person, online, fax and mail orders are currently being accepted

• General Public: January 8, 2014

Fax, mail and online beginning January 8

By phone and in-person beginning January 11.

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About the Shaw Festival

The Shaw Festival is a theatre company inspired by the work of Bernard Shaw. We produce plays from and about his era and contemporary plays that share Shaw’s provocative exploration of society and celebration of humanity.