The cast for the Stratford Festival 2018 season was just released with highlights including Martha Henry as Prospero, Seana McKenna as Julius Caesar, André Sills as Coriolanus, and Daren A. Herbert as Harold Hill in the “Music Man.”
“I’m so happy to be welcoming back to our acting company such good friends as Dan Chameroy, Jonathan Goad, Irene Poole, Tom McCamus and André Sills,” said artistic director Antoni Cimolino. “I’m also thrilled to welcome to the Festival so many talented newcomers including Beryl Bain, Jonelle Gunderson, Daren A. Herbert, Andrea Rankin, Amelia Sargisson and Danielle Wade.
Coriolanus
(June 9–October 20)
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Robert Lepage
Avon Theatre
Created in collaboration with Ex Machina
André Sills in the title role. A veteran of the Birmingham Conservatory and four seasons at the Stratford Festival, Sills has been at the Shaw Festival most recently, with leading roles in “’Master Harold’… and the Boys” and “An Octoroon.”
The production will also feature Graham Abbey as Tullus Aufidius, Michael Blake as Cominuis, Tom McCamus as Menenius Agrippa, Stephen Ouimette as Junius Brutus, Lucy Peacock as Volumnia and Tom Rooney as Sicinius Velutus.
The Tempest
(May 10–October 26)
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Antoni Cimolino
Festival Theatre
Martha Henry, who began her Stratford career playing Miranda in the 1962 production of “The Tempest,” will mark her 44th season by playing Shakepeare’s Prospero in the Stratford Festival 2018 season.
Ms Henry will be joined by an impressive cast of Stratford veterans, including Graham Abbey as Antonio, Michael Blake as Caliban, Brent Carver as Ariel, Tom McCamus as Stephano, Stephen Ouimette as Trinculo and André Sills as Sebastian.
Julius Caesar
(July 31–October 27)
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Scott Wentworth
Festival Theatre
Seana McKenna, who has played nearly all of Shakespeare’s leading ladies, as well as the traditionally male roles of Richard III and Jaques, will play Julius Caesar in the Stratford Festival 2018 season. She will be joined by Michelle Giroux as Mark Antony, Jonathan Goad as Brutus and Irene Poole as Cassius.
The production will also feature Monice Peter as Portia and Joseph Ziegler as Caska.
The Comedy of Errors
(May 15–October 14)
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Keira Loughran
Studio Theatre (tentative)
Beryl Bain, Jessica B. Hill, Qasim Khan and Josue Laboucane will play the two pairs of twins at the centre of “The Comedy of Errors.”
Bain, who makes her debut at Stratford Festival 2018 season, will play Dromio of Syracuse. Her twin, Dromio of Ephesus, will be played by Laboucane. Hill and Khan will play Antipholus of Syracuse and Antipholus of Ephesus, respectively.
Also in the cast are Juan Chioran, Sébastien Heins, Andrea Rankin and Amelia Sargisson.
MUSICALS
Key casting is now complete for the Stratford Festival’s 2018 musicals, both of which will be directed and choreographed by Donna Feore. Dan Chameroy returns to the company after five seasons to play Dr. Frank N. Furter in “The Rocky Horror Show”. Jennifer Rider-Shaw, who most recently played Josephine in “HMS Pinafore,” will play Janet.
Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show
(April 27–October 31)
Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard O’Brien
Directed and Choreographed by Donna Feore
Avon Theatre
By arrangement with Rocky Horror Company Limited
Dan Chameroy plays Dr. Frank N. Furter with Jennifer Rider-Shaw as Janet.
Sayer Roberts, who made his Stratford debut this season in “HMS Pinafore” and “Guys and Dolls,” will play Brad. They will be joined in this cult classic by Robert Markus as Riff Raff, Erica Peck as Magenta, Steve Ross as the Narrator and Kimberly-Ann Truong as Columbia.
Also in the cast are Eric Abel, Gabriel Antonacci, Colton Curtis, Henry Firmston, Bonnie Jordan, Heather Kosik, Bethany Kovarik, George Krissa, Trevor Patt and Jason Sermonia.
Meredith Willson’s The Music Man
(April 17–November 3)
Book, Music and Lyrics by Meredith Willson
Story by Meredith Willson and Franklin Lacy
Directed and Choreographed by Donna Feore
Festival Theatre
Stage and screen star Daren A. Herbert – known for key roles in the Hollywood blockbusters “This Means War” and “Dreamgirls” as well as the series “Smallville” and “Breakout Kings” – makes his Stratford debut as Harold Hill.
Danielle Wade, winner of CBC’s “Over the Rainbow” will also make her Festival debut as Marion Paroo. The musical comedy will feature Denise Oucharek as Mrs. Paroo, Steve Ross as Mayor Shinn, Mark Uhre as Marcellus Washburn and Blythe Wilson as Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn.
Also in the cast are Eric Abel, Gabriel Antonacci, Sean Arbuckle, Devon Michael Brown, Megan Caines, Mariah Campos, Colton Curtis, Christine Desjardins, Henry Firmston, Mark Harapiak, Bonnie Jordan, Heather Kosik, Bethany Kovarik, George Krissa, Monique Lund, Robert Markus, Lily McEvenue, Reid McTavish, Marcus Nance, Trevor Patt, Jennifer Rider-Shaw, Sayer Roberts, Genny Sermonia, Jason Sermonia and Kimberly-Ann Truong.
MODERN CLASSICS
To Kill a Mockingbird
(May 4 to November 4)
Based upon the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Harper Lee
Dramatized by Christopher Sergel
Directed by Nigel Shawn Williams
Festival Theatre
The Schulich Family Play for 2018
Atticus Finch will be played by Jonathan Goad, returning for his 14th season. He was last seen at Stratford in the title role of 2015’s “Hamlet.”
Jean Louise, the Narrator, will be played by Irene Poole. Directed by Nigel Shawn Williams, the production will also feature Matthew G. Brown as Tom Robinson, Tim Campbell as Heck Tate, Jonelle Gunderson as Mayella Ewell, Randy Hughson as Bob Ewell and Joseph Ziegler as Judge Taylor.
Also in the cast are Marion Adler, Jacklyn Francis, Brad Hodder, Roy Lewis, Monice Peter and Rylan Wilkie.
Long Day’s Journey Into Night
(May 5 to October 13)
By Eugene O’Neill
Directed by Miles Potter
Studio Theatre (tentative)
Seana McKenna and Scott Wentworth play Mary and James Tyrone. The pair were recently seen together in this season’s “The Madwoman of Chaillot.”J
James Tyrone Jr. will be played by Gordon S. Miller.
An Ideal Husband
(May 11 to October 28)
By Oscar Wilde
Directed by Lezlie Wade
Avon Theatre
Tim Campbell and Brad Hodder lead the cast.
Campbell, marking his 10th season in 2018, will play Sir Robert Chiltern. Hodder, a veteran of six seasons, will play Lord Arthur Goring. His recent credits include Thom in “The Virgin Trial.” Joseph Ziegler will play Lord Caversham.
Napoli Milionaria
(August 2 to October 27)
By Eduardo De Filippo
In a new translation by John Murrell, commissioned by the Stratford Festival
From a literal translation by Donato Santeramo
Directed by Antoni Cimolino
Avon Theatre (tentative)
Tom McCamus plays Gennaro Iovine with Brigit Wilson as Amalia.
McCamus’s recent Stratford highlights include the title role in “King John” and Fennyman in “Shakespeare in Love.”
Wilson’s comedic credits include Mrs. Candour in this season’s “The School for Scandal” and Toinette in “The Hypochondriac.” This warm-hearted comedy will also feature Michael Blake as Errico, Tom Rooney as Riccardo Spasiano and Johnathan Sousa as Amedeo.
NEW WORKS
Brontë: The World Without
(June 6 to October 13)
By Jordi Mand
Directed by Vanessa Porteous
World première: A Stratford Festival commission
Studio Theatre
The famous Brontë sisters will be played by Beryl Bain, Jessica B. Hill and Andrea Rankin.
Bain, who recently starred as Camae in the Grand Theatre’s production of “The Mountaintop,” will play Charlotte. Rankin, who makes her debut at Stratford Festival 2018 season, will play Anne. Hill returns for her fourth season to play Emily.
Paradise Lost
(August 1 to October 14)
By Erin Shields
A theatrical adaptation of John Milton’s Paradise Lost
Directed by Jackie Maxwell
World première: A Stratford Festival commission
Studio Theatre
Lucy Peacock is featured as Satan.
Returning for his second season, Qasim Khan will play Adam. Amelia Sargisson, who recently performed in Canadian Stage’s Shakespeare in High Park, will play Eve in her Stratford debut. The production also features Juan Chioran and Gordon S. Miller.
TICKETS
Members can purchase tickets starting November 12, 2017.
Non-Members starting online on January 5, 2018 and by phone (1-800-567-1600) or in-person on January 6, 2018 at 9 am.
This story is sponsored by Avery’s Inn Next Door, luxurious suites located a 5 minute walk from the Stratford Festival Theatres.
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