February brings thoughts of summer theatre already!

I don't know if it is the result of the uncommonly mild winter we've been experiencing this year, but I am already thinking ahead and anticipating the summer theatre season at both Shaw and Stratford.  Both seasons look good, and with the arrival this week of season brochures from both festivals, I was able to dive in and start picking my dates for reviewing shows again this summer, which I believe will be my 30th consecutive year attending both Shaw and Stratford.

The Shaw brochure arrived first, and I was fearful the big blowout for the 50th season last year would result in a scaled-back season this year.  Recent news the Shaw Festival ran a deficit last year in spite of record attendance was also cause for concern.  The quality was certainly there last year and people showed up to take it all in, with several productions being both box-office and critical successes.  The flagship production of My Fair Lady was nearly a sellout all season long and far and away their most successful show ever.  But heavy promotion of the season to achieve those attendance records resulted in the shortage at the end of the year.

This year, I'm told, promotion of the season will be scaled back somewhat, but those worrying quality would suffer should have their fears allayed early on with a look at the playbill this season.  The big musical and, some would say, the big gamble, is the mounting of Ragtime, which has always proven to be a fascinating vehicle yet difficult to properly stage, it seems.  Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell tackles this musical beast at the Festival Theatre, with an all-star cast including Thom Allison, Patty Jamieson and Jay Turvey, among others.  The other biggie at the Festival Theatre is Sir Noel Coward's Present Laughter, directed by longtime Shaw actor David Schurmann.  This is the sort of thing you would naturally expect former artistic director Christopher Newton to undertake, but he is directing at Stratford this season; more on that later.

Other shows at Shaw this season worth keeping an eye on are His Girl Friday at the Festival Theatre; Shaw's The Millionairess at the Court House Theatre; Ibsen's Hedda Gabler at the Court House; Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti at the Court House Theatre; and Shaw's Misalliance over at the Royal George Theatre.

Much was written last season when the upcoming playbill was announced, as no Bernard Shaw play was to be staged on the Festival stage this year.  I understand their concern, yet economics dictate Shaw only warrants a smaller venue in this day and age and his plays will do just fine, thank you very much.  For more on the Shaw season and to purchase tickets, call 1-800-511-SHAW or go to www.shawfest.com.

Meantime, The Stratford Shakespeare Festival gears up for their 60th season this year, and they will be pulling out all the stops, much as Shaw did last year, with much to celebrate.  The production that will likely get most of the attention this year doesn't even open until August 2nd:  Christopher Plummer returns to perform his one-man show A Word or Two, taking the audience on an autobiographical journey of the actor's storied career.  Whether or not Plummer wins an Oscar for his performance in Beginnings last year, people will likely pack the Avon Theatre for this show, which only runs to August 26th.

But that's not all at Stratford this year.  Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing at the Festival Theatre opens the season May 28th, starring Ben Carlson and Deborah Hay, and directed by that former Shaw Festival artistic director, Christopher Newton.  I am really looking forward to this one, seeing what insights Newton brings to the Bard's lighthearted work, assisted by designer Santo Loquasto whose work for the National Ballet of Canada over the years has been amazing.

The big musical coming up will be Warren & Dubin's classic 42nd Street, highlighted by the return of singer/dancer Cynthia Dale after a long hiatus, opening in May at the Festival Theatre as well.  But there are three more musical offerings this season, as Gilbert & Sullivan make a welcome return to the Avon stage with a new production of The Pirates of Penzance, starring Sean Arbuckle as the Pirate King and Amy Wallis as Mabel Stanley; and the family offering this year is the musical You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown at the Avon Theatre, featuring Donna Feore as choreographer and director.  The final musical offering is the World Premiere of Wanderlust by Morris Panych with music by Marek Norman, based on the poems of Robert Service.  That's another one I am particularly looking forward to.

Other offerings at Stratford this season include:  Shakespeare's Cymbeline and Henry V, Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker and Sophokles' Elektra at the Tom Patterson Theatre.  It promises to be a season full of surprises, so I would advise booking tickets early this year for some of the more interesting offerings, especially Plummer's A Word or Two.  For tickets, call 1-800-567-1600 or go to www.stratfordshakespearefestival.com.

Here's to summer approaching!

February 18th, 2012.