Stratford reveals casts for 2016 shows

The Stratford Festival has announced the casting for its three big commercial shows of 2016, indicating an exciting mix of veteran talents and potential stars of tomorrow.

Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music may boast big names such as Cynthia Dale, Ben Carlson and Yanna McIntosh in the leading roles, but right by their side will be three younger stars who lit up the stage this past season: Sara Farb ( The Diary of Anne Frank), Gabriel Antonacci ( The Sound of Music) and Alexis Gordon ( Carousel). Gary Griffin directs.

For Shakespeare in Love, young talents Luke Humphrey and Shannon Taylor will lead the cast, aided by stellar support from the likes of Stephen Ouimette, Tom McCamus and Karen Robinson. Stratford will be importing Declan Donnellan, who directed London’s triumphant version, and designer Nick Ormerod for this North American premiere at the Avon Theatre.

Over at the Festival stage, all eyes will be on the new production of A Chorus Line. John Breglio, the producer who controls the rights to the record-breaking Broadway musical, praised director-choreographer Donna Feore’s vision: “I think Stratford audiences will be treated to a unique and truly extraordinary experience.”

Feore and her leading actor, Juan Chioran, provide the experience for the show, with the cast representing the best and brightest young performers that Feore found during a country-wide search.

Danya Tietzen, best known for her work in the Mirvish production of War Horse, which later toured the U.S. and Japan, will be playing Cassie, the dancer searching for one final break to save her career, while the other principal roles will be played by Matt Alfano, Ashley Arnett, Ayrin Mackie, Julia McLellan, Matt Nethersole, Jennifer Rider-Shaw and Cynthia Smith.

For more information, go to stratfordfestival.ca