World premieres, a ‘Chicago’ coup and a venue to unite acting greats
The Stratford Festival’s artistic director Antoni Cimolino discusses the theatre company’s historic 2020 season
A brand-new complex — the Tom Patterson Theatre — isn’t the only reason the Stratford Festival’s 2020 season feels so momentous. The 15 shows being staged include Colm Feore’s return to Shakespeare in “Richard III,” Donna Feore’s new production of “Chicago” and world premiere work from Ann-Marie MacDonald, Morris Panych, Daniel MacIvor and Steven Page.
“Richard III” will open the new theatre, echoing the programming for the festival’s inaugural season in 1953, when the titular role was played by Alec Guinness. “All’s Well That Ends Well” will also be revived from the festival’s first year for a season crafted by artistic director Antoni Cimolino as a study of power. With tickets now on sale, Cimolino pulls the stage curtain back for an early preview of a pivotal season in the theatre festival’s history.
Much Ado About Nothing
By William Shakespeare Opens May 25
Festival Theatre
The popular comedy about the high-concept hurdles two couples overcome on the journey toward happily ever after stars festival favourites as the sparring lovers Beatrice and Benedick: Maev Beaty (“King Lear”) and Graham Abbey (“Coriolanus”), who previously co-starred in Molière’s “Tartuffe.” Meanwhile, their younger counterparts Hero and Claudio will be played by a pair of fresh faces: Andrea Rankin, who, in her third season, also plays Ophelia in “Hamlet,” and Kaleb Alexander, making his festival debut.
Chicago
Book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse; lyrics by Fred Ebb; music by John Kander
Opens May 26
Festival Theatre
One of the top-selling tickets, the new production of “Chicago,” directed and choreographed by the festival’s masterful Donna Feore, is the first to be staged outside of New York or London in 30 years. Staging the dastardly dames on the festival theatre’s thrust stage means there’s nowhere to hide, a challenge that gives audiences a unique viewpoint on the all-new choreography. “Everything becomes much more available, as if you’re in a nightclub,” Cimolino says.
Wendy & Peter Pan
Adapted by Ella Hickson from the book by J.M. Barrie Opens May 27
Avon Theatre
This new vision of the classic story commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company sees Neverland from Wendy’s point of view. Those who think they know the story will find surprises in this adaptation, which features a new younger brother for the Darling family. “If you don’t cry at the end of this, you don’t have a heart,” Cimolino warns with a chuckle.
Hamlet
By William Shakespeare Opens May 28
Festival Theatre
The heart of Shakespeare pounds in one of his most famous plays. For Cimolino, it speaks to the season’s theme of power. “People are really polarized and rallying behind different causes,” he says. “I wanted to look at the history of power in theatre and how power is gained. Is it through the truth or is it through making stories up that aren’t entirely true?”
Monty Python’s Spamalot
Book and Lyrics by Eric Idle; music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle
Opens May 29
Avon Theatre
The musical spoof on Arthurian legends based in part on the 1975 comedy “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” stars Jonathan Goad as King Arthur. Cimolino notes that Goad was the last actor to play Hamlet at Stratford. “You get to see these works of art that at times can be irreverent and downright silly and delicious, but they’re being done by people of extraordinary calibre,” he says.
Richard III
By William Shakespeare
Opens May 30
Tom Patterson Theatre
Before tickets went on sale to the general public Jan. 3, demand was already so strong to see Colm Feore (“House of Cards”) return to Stratford as the ruthless king that the festival decided to add additional dates. Part of the appeal is surely seeing Feore re-team with Cimolino as director to devour a Shakespearean role after his explosive turn as King Lear in 2014. But this cast is stacked with festival greats eager to break in the new stage at the Tom Patterson, including Seana McKenna, Martha Henry and Lucy Peacock. “Everybody wanted to be part of that company,” Cimolino says.
All’s Well That Ends Well
By William Shakespeare Opens June 11
Tom Patterson Theatre
This year will mark Seana McKenna’s 28th season with the Stratford company. Last year, she took a year off after her commanding performance as Julius Caesar in 2018, but she returns to christen the Tom Patterson, both in “Richard III” and a new production of “All’s Well” as the Countess of Rossillion.
Three Tall Women
By Edward Albee
Opens June 12
Studio Theatre
Edward Albee’s 1991 drama about three women — one in her 90s, one in her 50s and one in her 20s — stars festival aristocracy Martha Henry and Lucy Peacock alongside rising company players Mamie Zwettler and Andrew Iles. Additional shows were added after strong ticket pre-sales.
Here’s What It Takes
Music and Lyrics by Steven Page; book by Daniel MacIvor; additional music and lyrics by Craig Northey
Opens June 30
Tom Patterson Theatre
The world-premiere musical about the dynamics in a band sounds like the best of Steven Page’s Barenaked Ladies songs: funny and emotional. “He’s drawing on his own experience, but it’s not autobiographical,” Cimolino says. “And the songs have so many earworms.”
An Undiscovered Shakespeare
By Rebecca Northan, with Bruce Horak and Kevin Kruchkywich
Opens July 13
Tom Patterson Theatre
This production, improvised at every performance based on an audience member’s love story, will christen the new 200seat cabaret space Lazaridis Hall.
In the first half-hour, an actor in the guise of William Shakespeare conducts the how-we-fell-in-love interview. After an intermission, the company acts out the story (in iambic pentameter, no less).
“It’s not only funny and entertaining, it’s also at times very moving,” Cimolino says.
Wolf Hall
Adapted by Mike Poulton from the book by Hilary Mantel Opens Aug. 13
Avon Theatre
The rags-to-riches rise of Thomas Cromwell (Geriant Wyn Davies, who also co-directs with ted witzel), adviser to King Henry VIII (“Coriolanus” star André Sills), is a master class in political machinations.
The Rez Sisters
By Tomson Highway Opens Aug. 14
Studio Theatre
Tomson Highway’s 1986 classic about seven women plotting to win “the biggest bingo in the world” will be animated by a contemporary spirit under the directorial eye of Jessica Carmichael. “The events that have happened since the writing of this play will very much be part of their interpretation of the work,” says Cimolino, who says Highway himself will be involved with the production. Still, he doesn’t expect much variation from the original text. “New plays capture the pulse of now, but classic plays remind us that we’ve done this before,” he says. “They underline eternal truths.”
Hamlet-911
By Ann-Marie MacDonald Opens Aug. 19
Studio Theatre
Playwright and novelist AnnMarie MacDonald has penned a postmodern riff on Hamlet that follows an actor cast as the Danish prince who is unable to take the stage. His story is twinned with a teenager online questioning “to be or not to be?” in this world premiere. “What Ann-Marie has done so brilliantly is taken the various themes and ideas that are in ‘Hamlet’ and explored them in a beautifully funny and also very compelling way,” Cimolino says.
The Miser
By Molière, in a new version by Ranjit Bolt
Opens Aug. 19
Festival Theatre
Opening late this summer, the comedy about siblings who fear losing their inheritance will star Colm Feore in the title role and will be directed by the festival’s artistic director, Antoni Cimolino himself.
Frankenstein Revived
Written and directed by Morris Panych; music by David Coulter
Opens Aug. 20
Tom Patterson Theatre
This world premiere from playwright Morris Panych, who premiered a dance-driven adaptation of “Moby Dick” at Stratford in 2008, draws on Mary Shelley’s classic monster tale for a reimagined work of theatre and dance. “His storytelling is extraordinary,” Cimolino says.
“We’ve had a series of workshops on this piece over the last four years and I can’t wait to share it with people.”
Tickets and details are available at stratfordfestival.ca.