1995 Stratford Festival Season

[David Akin]

Listmembers may be interested to learn of the playbill for the 1996
Stratford Festival at Stratford, Ontario Canada. The season was announced by
artistic director Richard Monette October 26, 1995.
 
At the Festival Theatre:
 
Shakespeare: King Lear
Directed by Richard Monette. Previews May 6. Opens May 27. Closes Nov. 3.
Designed by Patrick Clark. Lights by MIchael J. Whitfield. William Hutt to
play Lear.
 
Meredith Willson: The Music Man
Previews May 10. Opens May 29. Closes Nov. 3
Directed and choreographed by Brian Macdonald. Musical direction by Berthold
Carriere. Designed by Debra Hanson. Lights by Harry Frehner.
 
Peter Shaffer: Amadeus
Previews May 7. Opens May 31. Closes Nov 1.
A revival of the 1995 Stratford production directed by Richard Monette
featuring Brian Bedford (Salieri), and Stephen Ouimette (Mozart).
 
Lillian Hellman: The Little Foxes
Previews July 28. Opens Aug. 2. Closes Oct. 13.
Directed by Richard Monette. Designed by Guido Tondino. Costumes by Ann
Curtis. With Brian Bedford (Horace Giddens), Martha Henry (Regina Giddens),
Diana Leblanc (Birdie Hubbard), Tim MacDonald (Leo Hubbard), and William
Hutt (Benjamin Hubbard).
 
At the Avon Theatre
 
Georges Feydeau: A Fitting Confusion
Previews May 17, Opens May 28. Closes Sept. 14.
>From a translation by Norman R. Shapiro. Directed by Richard Monette. Sets
by Morris Ertman. Costumes by Martha Mann. Music by Berthold Carriere.
Lights by Harry Frehner. Sound by Keith Handegord. Cast includes Barbara
Bryne (Mme. Aigreville), Wayne Best (M. Dartagnan), Bernard Hopkins
(Etienne), barry McGregor (Bassinet), Stephen Ouimette (Dr. Moulineaux),
Chick Reid (Mimi).
A co-production with The Citadel Theatre of Edmonton, Alberta.
 
Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice
Previews May 10. Opens May 30. Closes Nov. 1
Directed by Marti Maraden. Designed by Phillip Silver. Costumes by John
Pennoyer. Lights by Louise Guinand. Douglas Rain to play Shylock.
 
Lewis Carroll adapted by James Reaney: Alice Through the Looking Glass.
Previews June 14. Opens June 21. Closes Oct. 30
A revival of the 1994 Stratford production. Directed by Marti Maraden.
Costumes by John Pennoyer. Sets by Stephen Britton Osler.
 
William Luce: Barrymore
Previews Sept. 10. Opens Sept. 13.
A new production featuring guest artist Christopher Plummer based on the
life of John Barrymore. A co-production with Live Entertainment Corp.
Following the Stratford debut, Livent will tour the production to several
U.S. cities prior to a Broadway engagement in February, 1997.
 
At the Tom Patterson Theatre
Shakespeare: As You Like It
Previews June 16. Opens June 20. Closes Sept 14.
The Young Company. Directed by Richard Rose. Designed by Charlotte Dean.
Lights by Kevin Fraser.
 
Tennessee Williams: Sweet Bird of Youth
Previews June 15. Opens June 22. Closes Sept. 15
Directed by Diana Leblanc. Designed by Astrid Janson. With Lewis Gordon
(Boss Finley), Martha Henry (Princess Kosmonopolis)., Geordie Johnson
(Chance Wayne), Tom McCamus (Tom Junior), and Chick Reid (Miss Lucy).
 
Samuel Beckett: Waiting For Godot
Previews July 7. Opens July 13. Closes Sept. 13
Directed by Brian Bedford. Sets by Ming Cho Lee. Lights by Michael J.
Whitfield. With James Blendick (Pozzo), Joe Dinicol (The Boy), Tim MacDonald
(Lucky), Tom McCamus (Estragon), and Stephen Ouimette (Vladimir).
 
Also: Four authors have confirmed they will be part of the  festival's
Celebrated Writers Series including Harold Bloom, Jane Urquhart, Judith
Thompson, and Jane Smiley. Dates TBA.
 
The Stratford Festival (which boasts North America's largest repertory
company) can be reached at (519) 271-4040.
 
 
David Akin                      jdakin at mail.foxnet.net
Staff Reporter                  VOX 807-343-6200
Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal   FAX 807-343-9409