UPCOMING SHOWS
Five productions plus ‘A Tribute to the Rotary Show’ set for winter/spring
Highland Arts Theatre announces five new productions.
The Highland Arts Theatre has announced five new productions for its 2018 winter/ spring season and tickets are on sale now, just in time for the holiday season.
Artistic director Wesley J. Colford says he couldn’t be more excited for the local theatre’s 2018 season.
“Winter is proving to be our busiest time of year,” said Colford. “People make a tradition of giving our ticket packages as gifts to their loved ones and it’s a great time to jump in if you’ve never seen our productions before.”
The mainstage season consists of five new productions, including two musicals, one of which is a new comedy by Colford who previously wrote HAT successes “Heart of Steel” and “Dream.”
Until Dec. 24, you can get all five productions in a package for only $75 — or for only $50 when you buy four packages or more as gifts (saving up to 68 per cent).
“There’s a lot of comedy in this season. I think people are going to laugh a lot,” said Colford, when asked about the tone of the lineup. “Last winter our theme was ‘Breaking Stigma’ and a lot of the shows were much darker than our usual fare in order to reflect that. This year there’s a much better balance and I think people are going to be really surprised and delighted.”
The season starts in January with the return of clown sisters Morro & Jasp, who were among the favourites of last year’s season. This time they have a new show, “Of Mice & Morro & Jasp,” which parodies the famous novel by John Steinbeck and was named one of the Best Canadian Plays of 2014 by the Globe & Mail.
In February, the HAT presents its version of Tennessee William’s classic American play, “The Glass Menagerie.”
In March, there is a new musical comedy penned by Colford set in the 1970s called “Disco Street” which will feature choreography by Cynthia Vokey (“The Nutcracker” and “Dream”).
The April production is an epic retelling of Greek myth of Odysseus by Canadian literary legend Margaret Atwood called “The Penelopiad.”
This award-winning play will be directed by Kristen Gregor who last directed HAT hit “Punch Up” and will feature choreography by Thomas L. Colford, who recently created the equally epic summer dance show “Chiaroscuro.”
Rounding out the season in May is the HAT debut of another Canadian musical, “The Happy Prince” by Lesley Arden and adapted from the short story of the same name by Oscar Wilde.
The musical comedy will be directed by Ron Jenkins, who recently directed “Next to Normal” and “Spelling Bee.”
The production is dedicated to the memory of Cathy Elliot, a Mi’kmaq artist who originated the lead role.
There will be one more tribute coming in June and that’s “A Tribute to the Rotary Show.”
“For almost 30 years, the Sydney Rotary Clubs produced annual musicals at the Vogue, Savoy and St. Andrew’s Hall. We want to honour that legacy with a variety show drawing from some of the best Broadway musicals ever done in Cape Breton.”
The all-new revue will be a major fundraiser for the HAT. The Sydney Rotary Clubs will be coming on board as sponsors and it is their hope to include many of the members of the original shows, as well as second generation Rotarians and the HAT Resident Company.
“If you were involved in the original Rotary shows, we want to hear from you,” said Colford. “Stay tuned for audition information. We want to include as many people as we can in this mammoth undertaking. It may be our biggest show yet.”
Tickets and ticket packages can be purchased at the HAT box office from 11 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday, over the phone at 902-565-3637 or by visiting the website at www.highlandartstheatre.com.