From time to time I’ll be writing about some of the best rural theatres that might be of interest to fans of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival.

The 4th Line Theatre is about 75 minutes east of downtown Toronto. Their outdoor performances are a unique theatrical experience. The stage is setup near working farms and performers conjure theatrical magic under the blue sky.

The 4th Line Theatre’s New Play Development program is gaining a reputation for producing ground breaking, new work by offering Canadian artists a challenging, supportive and exciting creative experience. The photo below is from the new musical “Queen Marie” about Ontario’s Marie Dressler, the toast of Vaudeville and one of Hollywood’s best loved stars.

The show closes August 4th, many of the remaining performances are sold out.

In 1930-31 Dressler won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in “Min and Bill,” acting opposite Wallace Beery. In 1933 Dressler and Beery appeared in “Tugboat Annie.” As you can see from the image below, the 4th Line Theatre does a magnificent job of capturing the period.

Starting August 13th, the 4th Line Theatre presents the premiere of Sky Gilbert’s “St. Francis of Millbrook.”

Gilbert is the co-founder and artistic director of the critically acclaimed Toronto theatre company Buddies in Bad Times.

The play is the story of Luke, who in 1992 works on his family’s farm, plays hockey, adores Madonna and is trying to deal with his emerging sexual identity.

Toronto’s Now Magazine has called 4th Line one of the “best out of town theatres” for several years in a row.

For all the details about the 4th Line Theatre click HERE