Globe’s new season has something for all tastes
Globe Theatre’s 2018-19 season will include a little bit of everything.
Ruth Smillie, artistic director and CEO of Globe Theatre, unveiled the new season, which will feature musicals, comedy, fantasy and serious drama.
Smillie took a few minutes recently to go over the six productions that will grace the main stage:
MAMMA MIA
An irresistibly funny, smashhit musical based on the music of ABBA.
Running from Sept. 19 to Oct. 14 “This was the first show we actually licensed for next season. We’ve been wanting to do it for a while, but the rights weren’t available, so we jumped 18 months and we were able to secure the rights. It’s going to be a lot of fun. Stephanie Graham is directing and choreographing. We like to start with a bang and this is the bang.”
THE HOBBIT
Based on the bestselling novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit follows Bilbo Baggins, a quiet and contented Hobbit who is whisked away on an epic adventure.
Running from Nov. 28 to Dec. 23 “Kim Selody adapted this (story) and he is one of only a few writers who have been able to acquire the rights to the Tolkien books to adapt into a play. It’s done with puppets and masks and of course there’s a dragon at the end. It’s a great journey that’s family focused. Courtenay Dobbie, who directed Sleeping Beauty and Shout Sister, is coming back for this play .... I think our audience knows we’re not interested in replicating movies. We’re interested in creating our own imaginative world for the show.”
BED AND BREAKFAST
Brett and his partner Drew leave the comfort of Toronto to open a bed and breakfast in a quiet tourist town and quickly discover that the simple life isn’t so simple. Running from Jan. 16, to Feb. 3 “A couple of years ago, I was on a playwrights guild jury for best comedy and read 48 plays, including this one. It didn’t actually win the prize, but in my view it should have. I loved it. Ashlie Corcoran is the director for this piece. It was originally done at the Thousand Islands Playhouse in Gananoque, Ont., where she was the artistic director. It’s all physically theatre based, so it’s two actors doing incredibly speedy character changes through the show, like not even a piece of costume, just a gesture.”
A coming-of-age story about Gracie, born into a polygamous community and who challenges her beliefs when she is deemed old enough for marriage at 15.
Running from Feb. 27, to March 17, 2019
“It’s a new play. It was done last season at the Belfry Theatre as part of the Alberta Theatre Projects. Joan MacLeod is one of the finest Canadian playwrights in my view. She writes mostly solo-performer plays by devout women. This is a play that follows a young girl from the time she’s about 14 to about the time her community decides it’s time for her to be married and her recognition that this is not what she feels she can do. It’s a powerful and beautiful piece. Judy Wensel is going to be directing that one.”
MAKING TREATY 4
This production is a captivating conceptual performance that explores the historical and contemporary significance of Treaty 4.
Running from April 10, 2019, to April 28, 2019
“This started as a class that was offered by Jesse Archibald-Barber at the First Nations University of Canada in January 2017. There were 24 students in the class and they created a workshop production based on scenes that were created in the class. They also had an elder working with them as well. Jesse approached me last April to see if I would work with them as a director on the project. They did another version of the piece at the Riddell Centre in August, which I saw. It was very powerful. We began the conversation with the core group in August and we’ve been working together ever since. Jesse and four of the original artists in the company are working on expanding the original version into a full-length production. It’s been incredibly rewarding and gratifying. It’s inspiring work.”
DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Clocks and candles come to life in this delightful family musical based on the award-winning animated film.
Running from May 22, 2019, to June 16, 2019
“We’re finding that that time of year is when people are more able to travel and they’re not as frightened of snow storms or rain. It’s one of my all-time favourite musicals. It’s an inspiring story and the music is so great. Stephanie Graham is going to be directing and choreographing.”