Foster Festival unveils cast for 2018 season
Some longtime Shaw Festival performers will once again hit the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre this summer for the Foster Festival’s third season.
The company devoted to the work of prolific Canadian playwright Norm Foster will present three shows, including two world premieres, from June 27 to Aug. 25.
Jim Mezon, one of Shaw’s most familiar actors/directors, takes the reins for the season opener Wrong For Each Other June 27 to July 13. The 1993 comedy has a divorced couple (newcomer Julia Porter and Stratford veteran Daniel Briere) meeting by chance at a big-city restaurant, where they go through the peaks and valleys of their marriage.
Mezon has starred in some of the Shaw Festival’s biggest productions over the years. The 2017 season was his 33rd with the company. He is not slated for any Shaw productions in 2018. “We are delighted to have Jim Mezon joining us this year,” says Foster Festival artistic director Patricia Vanstone. “After Jim saw the quality of our work last season, we began discussing his involvement in the Foster Festival. It’s an ongoing ‘Foster Family Affair’ since his talented wife Catherine McGregor starred in Lunenburg last season. What luck to have such talent here in Niagara.”
Another Shaw veteran, Peter Krantz, stars in the season’s second production, the world premiere of Foster’s Maritime drama Come Down From Up River (July 18 to Aug. 3). He’ll join Kirsten Alter and Amanda Parsons.
The season concludes with another premiere, Foster’s fastpaced comedy Renovations For Six (Aug. 8 to 25). It has the largest cast of the season with Niagara Falls-born Wes Berger and former Shaw performers Nora McLellan and William Vickers joining Kevin Hare, Cosette Derome and three-time Gemini winner Leah Pinsent.
Both world premieres will be directed by Vanstone. Peter Hartwell returns to design all three productions.
“We’ve hit it out of the park with a stellar company of actors who understand the humour and heart of Norm Foster’s iconic writing,” says Vanstone. “I’m chomping at the bit to get into rehearsals and watch this talented crop of Canadian performers bring his work to life.”
After their St. Catharines runs, Wrong For Each Other and Come Down From Up River will tour parts of Ontario. Come Down From Up River will also be part of Theatre New Brunswick’s 50th anniversary season in November.
Foster Festival’s executive director Emily Oriold says advance ticket sales are up 80 per cent from the same time last year.
For tickets, visit www.fosterfestival.com