Monthly Archives: July 2017

News Flash

Watermark Extends Summer Season

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We are pleased to announce that the Watermark Theatre’s 2017 10thAnniversary summer season will be extended by one week to September 2nd, 2017. The theatre has seen an increase in season ticket passes by 28% so far this summer and individual tickets are already outpacing last summer’s incredible showing of “Blithe Spirit” and “The Glass Menagerie”, which saw a 30% increase in individual tickets over the previous season.

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This summer’s productions of “Barefoot in the Park” by Neil Simon and “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” by George Bernard Shaw have both received outstanding critical and audience response. The Guardian called our production of “Mrs. Warren’s Profession”, “…the most satisfying piece of theatre I’ve seen on Prince Edward Island…Highly recommended”. The Buzz said about the show, “…delivered with intelligence and sensitivity…I am so whole-heartedly grateful for the Watermark Theatre”. “Barefoot in the Park” was equally well regarded, with The Guardian saying about the show, “…hard work, talent, charm and honesty can help carry the day…played with genuine commitment”. The Buzz added, “…a comedy about relationships, full of zingy dialogue and zany antics…a great summer evening”.

Four performances of “Barefoot in the Park” will be added on August 28th and 31st at 7:30PM, as well as on September 2nd at 1:30PM and 7:30PM.Three performances of “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” will be added on August 29th and 30th, as well as September 1st, all at 7:30PM.

“We are, of course, thrilled that we’re able to add extra performances and play right into Labour Day weekend”, says Artistic Director Robert Tsonos, “we’ve had such a wonderful response from audiences so far this season and we’re expecting crowds to increase even more over the rest of the summer”.

The romantic comedy “Barefoot in the Park” is a 1963 play about a free-spirited bride and her buttoned-down groom who settle down to some rocky happily-ever-aftering in a New York City walk-up, occasionally invaded by the bride’s wacky mother and the quirky bohemian who lives in the attic.

George Bernard Shaw’s beautifully crafted “Mrs. Warren’s Profession“, written in 1893, tells the story of Mrs. Kitty Warren who worked her way out of the London slums and now lives abroad, having provided her daughter Vivie with the education and means to grow into a smart, independent young woman of strong convictions. When Mrs. Warren returns, mother and daughter discover that neither is the woman they thought they knew.

Tickets can be purchased at watermarktheatre.com or 902-963-3963

For more information or an interview please contact Andrea Surich at 902-963-3963 or generalmanager@watermarktheatre.com

On Stage

Pea Power at the Watermark

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Cat’s Pajamas Theatre Company is pleased to announce their production of
“Princess & The Pea”
BY REBECCA L. BYARS AND LANE RIOSLEYpresented by Watermark Theatre, North Rustico P.E.I.
4 Shows Only
Thursday August 10th at 10:30AM
Saturday August 12th at 10:30AM
Thursday August 17th at 10:30AM
Saturday August 19th at 10:30AM

“The Cat’s Pajamas Theatre Co. is back at The Watermark with another classic story to tell! The Princess and the Pea is an adaptation of the classic tale in which a young Prince searches far and wide for true love, regardless of his mother, The Queen’s dissatisfaction. This tale is sure to make you giggle as we explore themes of acceptance, true love, and the importance of a good night’s rest!

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Directed by Suzanne Wilkie & Becca Griffin
Starring Robyn Vienot, Becca Griffin, Brielle Ansems, Carly Billings

Tickets only $10  (+hst and service charge)

Call 902-963-3963 or go to http://www.ticketwizard.ca
Watermark Theatre, 57 Church Hill Ave., North Rustico, PE

Suzanne Wilkie is so excited to be directing her first show with The Cat’s Pajamas! She grew up on PEI and after a brief hiatus in Toronto has returned to this beautiful Island. Her favourite place to rehearse in Charlottetown is right smack-dab in the middle of a park. Suzanne loves beach days, coffee dates with friends, and creating fun theatre!
Becca Griffin, leader of The Cat’s PJs, is a local entertainer who loves to laugh and play music! You may remember seeing her as the Old Farm Cat or the Mother Duck in last year’s production of “The Ugly Duckling!” Becca loves to practice playing her new ukulele (Marilyn), and singing for strangers on the street.
Brielle Ansems is a local singer-songwriter who loves to connect with people through music and theatre. She’s very excited to be heading to Holland College’s School of Performing Arts Theatre Program this fall to further explore the wonderful world of making people feel things.
Robyn Veinot is an island girl who loves music and theatre! She also loves spending most of her time with her niece and nephew. You may remember seeing her in The Cat’s Pajamas production of A Hurried History by the Loonies that Live Here! or in the Confederation Centre’s Christmas productions of Robin Hood and Aladdin.
Music

Channeling Patsy Cline

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In this unforgettable tribute to the legendary Patsy Cline, Canadian country music star Lisa Brokop will take the audience on a journey back to the hey-day of country music, performing some of Cline’s most memorable songs including Walkin’ After Midnight, I Fall to Pieces, She’s Got You, Sweet Dreams, and Crazy.

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A number of Brokop’s own career hits will also be featured, including Give Me a Ring Sometime, Take That, How Do I Let Go, and her top-10 smash hit Better Off Broken.

Lisa Brokop is at the Harbourfront Theatre Friday, August 11th, at 7:30 PM.

On Stage

See the Seussical

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An adaptation of the Broadway musical for young audiences, Seussical™ brings together Dr. Seuss’s much loved books, Horton Hears a Who!, Horton Hatches the Egg, and the story of Gertrude McFuzz. Narrated by the Cat in the Hat, it centers on Horton the Elephant’s quest to save the people of Whoville, who live on a tiny speck of dust. This fantastical musical exemplifies the philosophy that “a person’s a person no matter how small. Seussical is at the Guild through August 10.
Music

Reignited at the Watermark

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Curated by Rob Oakie, Classic Music Reignited features Island musical artists interpreting classic composers. To commemorate Canada’s sesquicentennial the 2017 series will consist of all Canadian composers.

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July 23rd Canadian Composers – Female
The Music of k.d. lang, Alanis Morissette, Feist
Performed by: Kelley Mooney, Katie McGarry, Marlee & Morgan Saulnier
August 6th Canadian Composers – Bands
The Music of Barenaked Ladies, The Band, April Wine
Performed by: Dylan Menzie, Nick Doneff, Ben Aitken
August 20th Canadian Composers – Male
The Music of Kim Mitchell, Gino Vanelli, Stan Rogers
Performed by: Richard Wood & Gordon Belsher, Tim MacPherson, Logan Richard
All performances are at 7:30 PM at the Watermark Theatre in North Rustico.
On Stage

Banned and Beautiful Says The Guardian

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The Lord Chamberlain’s Examiner declared Mrs. Warren’s Profession “immoral and otherwise improper for the stage” in 1893. It was banned in England.

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This summer it is in repertory at the Watermark Theatre in North Rustico.

“Director Robert Tsonos shows such finesse in bringing this play to life that it is likely the most satisfying piece of theatre I’ve seen on Prince Edward Island.

“Highly recommended.”

Colm Magner, The Guardian

On Stage

Why Support the Victoria Theatre?

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Why Support the Victoria Playhouse?

Donate Now

 

The Victoria Playhouse, housed in the historic Victoria Community Hall, has produced 35 professional Festival Seasons, and is firmly established as a treasured Island tradition.

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As a not for profit organization we rely upon the support of individuals, businesses and public funders to help us present the annual Playhouse Festival. Your donation will help ensure the historic theatre in the tiny community of Victoria by the Sea continues to thrive. Thank you.

On Stage

Fortunate Casting Announced for Misfortune

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The Charlottetown Festival is in top gear this month, and producers are already preparing for the next round of productions, including the world premiere of A Misfortune, sponsored by Key Murray Law.

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The bittersweet Canadian musical plays a short run from September 7-22 at Confederation Centre’s cabaret theatre, The Mack. With just nine performances on deck, blink and you may miss it, so this is one theatre event to circle on the calendar.

A Misfortune follows Ivan, a young lawyer (Connor Lucas) and Sofya, a married woman (Kelsey Falconer), in pre-revolutionary Russia on a walk through the woods; their friendship has reached an impasse.

Soon they gather with three friends (Réjean Cournoyer, Brendan Wall, and Melanie Phillipson) for a dinner party in the country. With each drink, more sordid secrets are revealed. Adapted from a short story by Anton Chekhov, one of the world’s most celebrated and enduring writers, A Misfortune is a romantic, darkly comedic musical about small moments and momentous decisions. We follow Sofya’s journey from innocence and youth towards knowledge and self-actualization.

A Misfortune is directed by Festival alumna Eliza-Jane Scott, who wowed audiences in Mamma Mia! last year, and recently landed a lead role in the musical phenomenon, Come From Away, playing this winter with Mirvish.

A Sheridan College graduate, Lucas is currently performing in the Adam Brazier-led revival of Anne of Green Gables–The Musical™ and also appeared in two previous Young Company productions, The Voices of Canada and We Are Canadian. Falconer is playing Josie Pye in Anne™ as well this summer and is a recent graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The Blyth, Ontario native has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe as well as in workshops for the hit Proclaimers musical, Sunshine on Leith.

Cournoyer is a household name at the Festival, having starred in Mamma Mia! last year, as well as memorable roles in Evangeline, Alice Through the Looking-Glass, The Founding Father, and Anne™.

Wall performed here last year in the acclaimed Festival/Soulpepper musical Spoon River. He is currently appearing with Soulpepper’s Festival in New York City, in Of Human Bondage and Spoon River, which is drawing international attention and strong reviews, including from the New York Times. Wall has also performed in the award-winning War Horse (West End and Mirvish) and Once (Mirvish).

Phillipson is also presently performing in Anne™, and made her Festival debut in last year’s Belles Soeurs: The Musical. The Moose Jaw native has appeared across Canada with Mirvish, Tarragon, and seven seasons at the Shaw Festival.

Scott Christian is the musical’s composer, orchestrator, and music director with lyrics from Wade Bogert-O’Brien, and book and additional lyrics by Kevin Michael Shea.

Special thanks are extended to the Government of Canada for their support of Confederation Centre; and to The Charlottetown Festival title sponsor, CIBC. Appreciation is extended to media sponsors Ocean 100, Hot 105.5, CTV, and The Guardian.

 

Music

Wainwright This Monday in Victoria

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With an undeniable voice and an arsenal of powerful songs, Martha Wainwright is a beguiling performer and a refreshingly different force in music.

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Martha was born in New York City to folk legends Kate McGarrigle and Loudon Wainwright III. She is Rufus Wainwright’s sister and they often collaborate in shows and on records. Martha is also half-sister to Lucy Wainwright Roche and they recently made a record together, ‘Songs In The Dark’ to much acclaim including a JUNO nomination. Martha tours her music around the world to sold-out audiences on several continents.

She has spent time on the silver screen playing characters in Martin Scorsese’s “Aviator” and more recently in the HBO special “Olive Kitteridge” alongside Frances McDormand. Currently Martha is finishing up a book titled “Stories I Might Regret Telling You” which, like her songs, is a window into her life without artifice, pretension or fakery.

Martha Wainwright is at the Victoria Playhouse on July 24th at 7:30 PM.