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Canada`s Stratford Festival 2007 Season

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Stratford Festival of Canada 2007 Season

For Further Information about the Stratford Festival Of Canada, go to their website at: www.stratfordfestival.ca

A king who loved too late, a moor who loved too well, a lawyer who loved his ideals and a classical hero with a love for adventure are among the characters that populate the 14 plays on the Stratford Festival of Canada playbill for 2007. Artistic Director Richard Monette announced the new season today themed 'The Outsider'.

Mr. Monette said, "Artists by definition are outsiders in society and this is my tribute to all artists. Characters such as Lennie Small, Shylock, Othello and Atticus Finch are all struggling either to be accepted by society or to change it." Mr. Monette added that along with four Shakespeare plays and one revival, the 2007 playbill has nine works never seen on Stratford stages before.

"Not only is 2007 packed with distinct and exciting works but it is also a season long celebration of Richard Monette's creative genius," said Board Chair Kelly Meighen, "At the end of next season, Richard will have contributed 14 seasons as Artistic Director, making him the longest serving artistic director in the Festival's history."

When Mr. Monette takes his bow as Artistic Director after the final performance of the 2007 season, he will leave behind a glorious legacy of achievements. During his tenure, Mr. Monette consistently brought together the finest artists to breathe life into some of the most compelling dramatic works. Under his leadership the Festival established the For All Time Endowment Fund, now just shy of its $50 million goal, which will secure the future of various activities such as artist training, new play development, education initiatives and capital projects. In founding the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre Training, Mr. Monette ensured that the Festival took the lead in training young actors in classical theatre arts. The Festival and Avon theatres were renovated under his guidance. To mark the Festival's 50th season, Mr. Monette oversaw the creation of the fourth stage at Stratford, the Studio Theatre.

"I created the Endowment to ensure the financial security of the Festival," said Mr. Monette. "To make sure the audiences return to the Festival in the years ahead, I encouraged the production of plays that families can enjoy together. The Birmingham Conservatory and the New Play Development programs will secure our artistic future. I want to leave the Festival on solid ground when it comes to audiences, artists and finances."

King Lear featuring and directed by Brian Bedford will open the 2007 season. "It's time for Brian to do Lear," said Mr. Monette. "His many fans are waiting for it. It is arguably Shakespeare's greatest play and the ultimate challenge for an actor." Canadian film and stage actor Graham Greene will make his Stratford debut as Shylock in The Merchant of Venice, directed by Richard Rose. Mr. Monette will have the distinction of directing Stratford Festival's 200th production of a Shakespeare play, The Comedy of Errors. Perhaps the most well known outsider of all time, Othello, directed by David Latham and featuring Philip Akin in the title role, will round up Shakespeare’s works for the season.

Donna Feore will direct and choreograph Rodgers and Hammerstein's first collaboration Oklahoma! "It has incredible music," said Mr. Monette, "it's the granddaddy of musicals." Gershwin's My One and Only directed and choreographed by Michael Lichtefeld will play at the Avon Theatre. Berthold Carrière will be the Musical Director for both shows.

There will be two American classics in the 2007 season. John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men will be directed by Martha Henry and will feature Graham Greene as the gentle giant Lennie Small. Susan H. Schulman will direct the tale of another outsider in Harper Lee's To Kill A Mockingbird. Mr. Monette said "the play provides a new perspective on a much-loved story."

The Studio Theatre will showcase four modern works. Peter Hinton will direct The Odyssey, Nobel Laureate Derek Walcott's Caribbean take on the Greek epic. David Edgar's Pentecost will be directed by Mladen Kiselov. Mr. Monette pointed out, "The play was written before 9/11 but it eerily predicts some of the events that have shaken the world in the last few years." Shakespeare's Will by Vern Thiessen tells the story of Shakespeare's wife Anne Hathaway, an outsider in her own right. It is a one woman show featuring Seana McKenna directed by Miles Potter. Another one woman show The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead will return to the Studio stage after selling to packed houses in the 2006 season. The show features Lucy Peacock and is directed by Geordie Johnson.

Of Oscar Wilde's An Ideal Husband, a play he will direct himself, Mr. Monette said, "It reminds us that things never change. The rich stay rich, the poor get poorer and political scandals are always with us. It is very timely." Brian Bedford will play a cameo in this production as a tribute to Mr. Monette. Diana Leblanc will direct Edward Albee's A Delicate Balance. David Fox will perform the role of Tobias.

"I owe Richard a great deal," said Mr. Hutt, "When he took over in 1994 I was in my 70's and he could have asked me to take a bow. Instead he found challenging roles for me and lengthened my career." Insisting he is not coming out of retirement, Mr. Hutt added, "I am only keeping the promise I made to Richard two years ago, that I would act in his last season."

As part of the celebration of Mr. Monette's last season as Artistic Director, the Stratford Festival will also release his memoirs in the spring of 2007.

Graciously contributed by: Stratford Festival Of Canada