Big Announcement at Mirvish

Big changes may be coming to King Street if David Mirvish gets his way.  Check out this article from Saturday's Globe and Mail, about the future of the Princess of Wales and Mirvish's theatre empire.


* Photo of David Mirvish from the G&T's Peter Power.

And check here to see the promo video for the project.  

Mirvish 2013 Subscription Season Announced.

Mirvish Productions has announced the subscription shows for next season, and there are a lot of great show to get excited about.  Not only is Mirvish bringing the multi-Tony award winning The Book of Mormon, but Sister Act and La Cage Aux Follies will also be landing in Toronto next year.  Plus a whole lot more!!!!


Click here to see the full line-up and to get special early bird pricing on subscription tickets.  Official tour dates have not been announced yet but expect to see the full season line up soon.  

Preview: HAIR

It was a smash hit a few years ago when it was revived in New York, and its triumph return to the Royal Alex took place this week! It has already opened to strong reviews and we are excited to see such a moving and provocative piece of theatre in town over the holiday season!

“HAIR is more than just a musical: it is a social and cultural phenomenon, a jubilant assertion of life and freedom.”

So wrote critic Michael Billington in The Guardian, of the London staging of this joyous new production of the mother of all rock musicals!

It’s the ’60s; war rages in Vietnam, and a group of friends in New York’s East Village turn on, tune in and sing out in celebration of love, life and freedom. The first great rock musical, Hair has some of the most rousing and soulful songs ever written for the stage, including Let the Sun Shine In, Easy to be Hard, Good Morning Starshine, Aquarius and the infectious title song, Hair. It will more than make you want to sing along; It will make you want to go on stage and dance (and maybe you will)! You must not miss this vibrant, joyous piece of living theatre!

On until December 31st!

For tickets or more info please click the header!

War Horse Toronto Rehearsals Begin!!!

What an exciting day for many local theatre artists who began work today on the upcoming production of War Horse in Toronto!

Rehearsals have officially commenced!

For info or tickets to the piece please click the header!

Hair - Toronto Premiere

Opening next week is the hit musical HAIR!

This holiday season is offering some major power brokers in terms of musical theatre in the city! Make sure to check them out!

For more info or for tickets please click the header.

Preview: Mary Poppins

Opening to strong reviews from both the critics and theatre go-ers is the adorable Mary Poppins. Tickets are pricey and there is no rush system applying to this tour, however, we have heard that it is well worth the price!

Show Description:

Mary Poppins marks the first collaboration between Disney, producer of the acclaimed The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, and Cameron Mackintosh, legendary producer of the record-breaking The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Les Misérables. The result is a new musical so extraordinarily enchanting you’ll have just one word for it: “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!”

Since the curtain first rose on Mary Poppins, critics and audiences alike have been raving. This effervescent hit has astonished over six and a half million people worldwide with its pure Broadway magic. With four productions currently running on three continents, Mary Poppins is one of the biggest stage musical successes in recent years. This consummate production features the irresistible story and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Disney films of all time, plus brand, new breathtaking dance numbers and astonishing stage-craft to make it everything you could ever want in a hit Broadway show.

Now on stage to Jan 8 at the Princess of Wales Theatre: 300 King Street West Toronto!

For tickets or for more info please click the header!

Canadians in Mary Poppins

A nice little piece from thestar.com and toronto.com on some of our Canadian talent in the upcoming premiere of Mary Poppins.

Check it out below or click the header!

Canadians in Mary Poppins. - Opinion, Columns, Arts... - Toronto.com

Preview: Musicals That Fly: Amelia

Up-and-coming, Toronto-based Theatre 20 is thrilled to present, in concert, Musicals That Fly: Amelia: The Girl Who Wants to Fly. This is the story of Amelia Earhart, her meteoric rise to fame, and her mysterious disappearance while attempting a solo World flight. Amelia's story has fascinated playwrights and storytellers for generations.

The production stars Theatre 20 founding artist Eliza-Jane Scott. The story-driven Canadian musical is written by John Gray of Billy Bishop Goes to War fame. This concert is the heart of Theatre 20's Musicals That Fly series.

Amelia: The Girl Who Wanted to Fly is directed is by Sarah Phillips, with Musical Direction by our friend Michael Barber. For more information on tickets click the header. And to learn more about the show visit the P.E.I county website, Festival Players.

We will be in attendance on Monday, October 3rd, for the only scheduled performance of Amelia: The Girl Who Wanted to Fly. The show starts at 8pm at the Panasonic Theatre. You can also purchase tickets here. Or by calling 416.872.1212, and in person at the Mirvish Box Office.

Preview: Private Lives

Opening at the Royal Alex is Sir Noël Peirce Coward's Private Lives. The piece is starring Kim Cattrall and Paul Gross. It premiered in London and is heading to Broadway via Toronto. For tickets click the header!

Music from Chess

Mirvish is doing a big push for their production of Chess. Check out the clips of "One Night in Bangkok" and "I Know Him So Well." Chess is a personal favourite of mine and Justin's, mostly because it has one of the best scores in modern musical theatre, and the most WTF storyline. And because I played Florence at St Mike's.

Preview: Calendar Girls

Based on the hilarious and award winning film, Calendar Girls, makes its North America debut. The show, about a group of women's league ladies who raise money by selling a risque calendar, features an all Canadian cast. Justin and I have been looking forward to this show all season. The heart-warming tale of love and friendship should translate perfectly to the stage. And while it isn't a big budget musical there is bound to be something in Calendar Girls for any theatre lover. A great story, with loveable characters and a powerful message. Don't miss Calendar Girls on now at the Royal Alexander Theatre.

Featuring:

Fiona Highet stars as Annie and Fiona Reid as Chris, with Kathryn Akin (Cora), Terri Cherniack (Ruth), Barbara Gordon (Jessie), Kyra Harper (Brenda/Lady Cravenshire), Kimberley Rampersad (Elaine), Brigitte Robinson (Marie) and Jane Spence(Celia). The men in the cast will be Dan Lett (John Clarke) and Sweeney MacArthur (Rod) and Gordon Tanner (Lawrence and Liam). Christine Brubaker, Burgandy Code, Susan Henley and Derek Moran fill the company's understudy positions.

The show is directed by Marti Maraden

Calendar Girls runs until May 28th. Click the header for more ticket information and to watch the promo video.

Mirvish announces new line-up for upcoming season

David Mirvish announced the line-up yesterday for the upcoming year at Mirvish Productions. In attempts to keep Toronto as a major theatre hub in the world, Mr. Mirvish has shows coming direct for London's West End and from Broadway. Direct from London is Noel Coward's hit show Private Lies starring award winning actress Kim Cattrall (it is premiering here prior to making its way to Broadway, a la Priscilla). Also from London is the award winning War Horse. From Broadway we have Mary Poppins and Hair making their way north for a month or two run. Rounding out the six shows announced is the North American premiere of a UK production of Chess and The Blue Dragon, set in modern-day Shanghai and directed by Robert Lepage.

For more information and for a list of already announced productions making their way to the Toronto stage please visit mirvish.com.

For an article written about the entire upcoming season at Mirvish please click here to be redirected to The Globe and Mail.

Preview: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

It is opening weekend over at the Canon Theatre for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. The Stratford Festival’s summertime sensation comes to the Toronto stage with most of the original cast in tow. Acclaimed director Des McAnuff bring us the 'scintillating, sexy and spectacular staging of the great Stephen Sondheim musical farce' (mirvish.com).

Liza saw the show years ago when it premiered on Broadway with Whoopi Goldberg and Nathane Lane so it will be interesting to hear what she has to say about the current Canadian piece. We have heard some great things, and audiences in Stratford seemed to love it so we are both excited to see it over the weekend! If you would like to see it, you do have about a month of dates to choose from!

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
Dec 15, 2010 - Jan 16, 2011
Canon Theatre,
244 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON
416 872 1212

Performance Schedule:
Tuesday - Saturday 8PM
Wednesday, Saturday & Sunday 2PM

FGor tickets please click here!

Mirvish and Sony Centre announce affiliation deal

Photo: RICK EGLINTON/TORONTO STAR

Mirvish Productions and the Sony Centre are joining forces to cross-promote and co-produce programming, announced David Mirvish and Dan Brambilla, CEO of the not-for-profit Sony Centre. Both companies are major heavyweights in the Toronto theatre community and the new partnership has got a lot of people talking.

According to Ouzounian in The Star; "both men revealed that they will immediately start offering their patrons special arrangements to purchase tickets for the other’s shows; help each other with cooperative publicity and make the spacious (3,200-seat) Sony available for up to 10 weeks a year for Mirvish-Brambilla co-productions that would demand the increased capacity and production facilities" (Thestar.com)

It will be interesting to see how this all pans out, however, to read the full article in The Globe and Mail regarding this merge, click here!

REVIEW: Priscilla, Queen of the Spectacle

Priscilla Queen Of The Desert: the musical is brash, bright, and ballsy. Pun definitely intended. From the first notes She (Priscilla) comes at you full throttle with her disco pulse, reigning supreme as the queen of extravaganza musicals.

All the components are there, a great cast, stunning costumes, and a kick ass soundtrack. If you were looking for a quiet, contemplative night at the theatre you'd better look elsewhere. But good luck trying to pull your eyes away from the bright lights and good times at the Princess of Wales Theatre.

You are in for some surprise too. As with any great story there is more to Priscilla than meets the eye, or ear, as the case may be. And this production holds up to the original film. Audiences are definitely in for one wild and heart-warming ride.

The cast, fronted by Broadway veteran Will Swenson, Priscilla legend Tony Sheldon and up-and-comer Nick Adams sizzle together onstage. The trio have great chemistry, and the ensemble sound and look amazing onstage. Swenson's Tick/Mitzi sets the perfect tone for the shows more challenging and heavier themes. While, Mr. Sheldon, who originated the role of Bernadette in the Australian production, is a clear star. Surprisingly, Priscilla will mark his Broadway debut and we'd bet he gets nominated for a Tony. Nick Adams, (pictured above) as the young, bratty but lovable, Felicia holds his own, but lacks some of the nuance and depth of character that Swenson and Sheldon bring. Perhaps it is a case of life imitating art and vise-versa. Felicia is a naive and tender young man, full of piss and vinegar, and still learning. Like his character, Mr. Adams seems a little under developed in the role. His inconsistency with the accent was problematic, but if he's anything like Felicia, Adams will continue to rise to the challenge. It is a big opportunity for him and he is a joy to watch.

As we mentioned the costumes are a real highlight of this show. With over 300 different pieces, the sheer volume of colour, size and boldness will overwhelm the senses. Considering the large cast and the choreography the costumes only add to the sheer magnitude of the production. They help to emphasis the concept of space, which is so vital to the original film. How to convey the immensity of the Australian outback onstage is a considerable challenge. But the costumes, in all their grandness lend themselves to thinking about this show and Its larger than life attitude.

And then there is the bus. Priscilla herself. This show would be impossible to produce without one, and the use of a rotating platform and mechinised door allowed for scenes both inside and outside of the bus, creating very effective divisions of space. Of course there is an outrageous quality to putting a bus on a stage but it is essential to the telling of the story and if you can't make Priscilla a spectacle perhaps it shouldn't be made at all. Big musicals definitely have a place in the current climate of successful musical theatre and Priscilla is the grande dame of them all.

For those who fear that Priscilla may be playing to a niche audience or that it will seem shallow rest assured there is a lot that goes deeper to this show. Some of the criticism of the stage production has centred around a perceived sanitization of the original film's grit and ugliness. But we'd argue that there is still a lot of tension lingering under all the gloss and glitter. The characters still face social, sexual and gender identity issues with tenacity and diva fierceness.

The message in Priscilla is about self-discovery and the constant journey that is life. And who's to say that should not be set to disco music? Priscilla is running in Toronto for 12 weeks! We highly recommend this one. It's a real crowd pleaser!

For tickets or more info click here!

LM and JH

Preview: PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT

Opening this week at the Princess of Wales Theatre is the highly anticipated and much talked about PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL. On the eve of opening night the vibe around PRISCILLA was really buzzing as it was announced that the one and only Bette Midler was joining the production team of the show!

EAP is getting the opportunity through a dear friend in the arts to see the show tonight! We will be reviewing the show and it should be up on the blog in a few days.

Based on the Oscar-winning film, PRISCILLA tells the outrageous and, yet at the same time, moving tale of three friends who to have been booked to perform a drag show at a resort in Alice Springs, a resort town in the remote Australian desert. They head west from Sydney aboard their flamboyant bus, Priscilla and thus the story begins.

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL had its world premiere in Sydney in 2006. It traveled in the sub continent and received much critical praise in Melbourne and New Zealand, becoming the most successful Australian musical of all time. The London production is now in its second smash hit year in the West End at the Palace Theatre. Beyond Toronto and Broadway, further international dates are also in discussion for productions in Brazil, Scandinavia and Germany.

PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL
At the Princess of Wales Theatre
300 King Street West

For tickets or more info on the show click the header or click here!

(Courtesies: Mirvish.com)

An exciting season at Mirvish

EAP has only been back in town for two months but already we are excited by all the theatre we have seen lately, Legally Blonde, South Pacific, Love, Lost and What I Wore, Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and Ride the Cyclone at SummerWorks. We have enjoyed all of them, although admittedly, some more than others. If what we have seen so far is any indication get ready for a great theatre season for 2010-11. But nobody is exciting us more than Mirvish.

Mirvish is kicking off their season with a bang, bringing Priscilla Queen of the Desert the Musical, direct from Its debut in Sydney, and a run in London's West End. Priscilla has a limited engagement at the Princess of Wales before the show makes Its Broadway debut early next year. Priscilla appeals to us because it is making Its North American premiere here, and nothing makes the folks at Emerging Art Productions more excited than seeing new shows coming to Toronto first. The show is also exciting because it will feature a number of Canadians in title roles and in the chorus.

Add that to the current Mirvish line-up of, Banana Shpeel, the Cirque Du Soleil, vaudeville inspired musical, currently on at the Cannon, Rock of Ages, at the Royal Alexander, and Love, Loss, and What I Wore, the new musical by Nora Ephron at the Panasonic, and there is definitely something for everyone over the next few weeks. Following Banana Shpeel, in October, a well-known favourite returns to the Cannon. Wicked flies into Toronto again on the 20th. A Funny Thing... , Billy Elliot, The Secret Garden, Sweet Charity and the return of The Lion King round out this season's musical options.


Billy Elliot will likely be a huge hit for Mirvish, and The Lion King will surely draw big houses. I haven't seen Billy Elliot yet, although Justin loved it in London. I am definitely looking forward to the Toronto production. The Secret Garden is a personal favourite of mine. The music is beautiful and the story is timeless. It isn't as well known as it should be, so I am happy to see Mirvish bringing it to Toronto. I am sure audiences here will enjoy a well done production of The Secret Garden.

Mirvish is also producing a couple of plays this season. Canadian comic Rod Beattie's new show Wingfield:Lost and Found begins January 12th. And the much anticipated Calendar Girls, based on the hilarious film of the same name, and fresh from Its West End debut, will begin in April. Calendar Girls will feature an all Canadian cast, and if it is half as good as the film or the London production it is sure to be a hit here. All of EAP's shows of interest are available as part of Mirvish's subscription season. If you would like more information on subscription you will find the link here. And click the header to see the full Mirvish line-up in detail.

And don't forget that, on December 6th, Mirvish's is presenting, An Evening with Stephen Sondheim. Mr Sondheim, perhaps the greatest musical theatre composer ever, has a new book out this fall, and will be on hand at the Princess of Wales for an intimate interview/conversation with critic Robert Cushman. Des McAnuff, Artistic Director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival will host. And you are invited! Ticket information is available here. See you at the theatre.

LM

Banana Shpeel opening

Banana Shpeel has just opened here in Toronto and it is getting a fair share of praise which is nice to see. Check out the video below to see if it suits your fancy.

For tickets click the link or go to mirvish.com

Banana Shpeel

The Canon Theatre
September 14th - October 10th 2010

Performance Schedule:

Tuesday - Saturday 7:30 PM
Saturday & Sunday 1:30 PM
Added Performances:
Wednesday September 29 & October 6 at 1:30 PM
Sunday September 19 & September 26 at 6:30 PM

Official Website click here!

Everyone is rooting for Dancap

The Globe and Mail is certainly rooting for them. This marks the third or fourth article about Dancap in as many weeks. Even Richard, over at The Star, is filling his pages with Dancap news. Granted the latest news from Dancap is not entirely positive. Recent layoffs and no announcement as of yet about the 2011 season is worrying.

Despite setbacks, Dancap are still getting lots of press for South Pacific, which opened August 12th and runs till September 5th. The reviews for South Pacific have been glowing. And The Star is in love with Jason Howard, who plays the charismatic lead, Emile de Becque.

Mr. Howard, actually lives here in Toronto. He works in opera, primarily elsewhere, which is unfortunate. But, in my opinion that is a big boon for this productions, and DanCap. Ticket sales have been "solid" according to both The Star and The G&M. Last fall I saw the Tony Award winning production at Lincoln Centre. It was magical and difficult to reproduce on the road. But audiences and critics here are loving the tour. EAP's own Justin Haley is going to see it this week, so we are all eager to hear what he thinks.

I am glad that Aubrey Dan has found a way to keep Dancap downtown, at least for the summer. I think South Pacific and Miss Saigon were solid choices for the summer series at the Four Season Centre. Both shows are the right scale for that house. It is an opera house, lest we forget. So any musical that goes in there must have enough weight to soar to the fifth circle. Getting a contract for the next four years with the Fours Season Centre was a smart, safe move. Ensuring Dancap will stay relevant downtown and in a house that should carry big budget crowd pleasers. Otherwise known as money makers. It isn't the right theatre venue for a lot of the more contemporary musical theatre out there, which is a shame. But if Dan can continue to put solid blockbuster musicals up there it will definitely keep Dancap viable. What about a run of Ragtime or Sunday in Park with George for 2011?

On another note, it really is a shame that Dancap didn't win out against Mirvish for access rights to the Yonge Street houses. Don't get me wrong I am a Mirvish fan and respect their clout in the city. But isn't there room for Dancap and some healthy competition? Of course I don't know any of the details related to the legal squabbles over the Canon and Panasonic Theatres, but it still seems a shame to me.

Aubrey doesn't appear to be going anywhere though, admitting to a "few setbacks" but generally remaining optimistic, and assuring everyone that there will be a subscription series for 2011. And I agree with his and the Globe's assessment that, "Dancap’s presence as a 'proven entity' has forced competitors to raise the bar, benefiting Toronto’s theatregoers."

Mirvish responded in typical Don Drapper style regarding Dancap's impact on their business saying, “we haven’t raised or lowered our game in any measurable way.”

As for Aubrey Dan and Dancap - keep it up! Everyone is rooting for you.

image courtesy of The Globe and Mail

Love, Loss and What I Wore

Check out our girl Sharron in Love, Loss and What I Wore at the Panasonic Theatre.

It is getting stellar reviews and has an all star cast at the moment.

Click the header or the title of the show to grab tickets.