Dream Cast Announcement

In celebration of Shakespeare’s 455th Birthday, Driftwood Theatre is very excited to announce the cast of its 25th annual Bard’s Bus Tour production of A (Musical) Midsummer Night’s Dream

For our 25th season, Driftwood imagines A (Musical) Midsummer Night’s Dream as an outdoor summer theatre experience for the entire family. Four lovers and one group of hapless tradespeople experience a chaos-filled night in the forest as they stumble across the mischievous Puck and the magical denizens of the faery kingdom.

Directed by founding Artistic Director D. Jeremy Smith, the A (musical) Midsummer Night’s Dream ensemble includes founding company member Steven Burley (all three previous Dreams; The 39 Steps, Bruce County Playhouse;) as Bottome, Driftwood’s 2017 Artist-in-Residence Ahmed Moneka (Abduction from the Seraglio, Canadian Opera Company; Moskitto Bar; Moneka Arabic Jazz; Trafalgar 24, Driftwood Theatre) as Puck, returning company member Siobhan Richardson (Kate in The Taming of the Shrew, Driftwood; The Penelopiad, Grand Theatre London; ) as Titania/Hippolyta, and welcomes back James Dallas Smith (Ipperwash, Native Earth/Blyth; Trafalgar 24, Driftwood Theatre) to his first Bard’s Bus Tour role since 2002’s As You Like It as Oberon/Theseus.

Returning company members are joined by fresh faces Nick Dolan (Once, Theatre St. John’s) as Demetrius, Nathaniel Hanula-James (National Theatre School) as Lysander, Kelsi James (Theatre Sheridan) as Helena, and Marissa Orjalo (Sheridan/UTM) as Hermia.

Using Shakespeare’s text A (musical) Midsummer Night’s Dream is a colourful, rocking, rolling, funktastic, jazz-infused musical celebration of theatrical proportions; with everything performed live and entirely A Cappella. Originally created by Driftwood in 2004 and performed again in 2012, A (musical) Midsummer Night’s Dream reunites composers Kevin Fox (The Swingle Singers, Cadence) and Tom Lillington (Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Hampton Avenue) with director Jeremy Smith.

“It’s about community, companionship and love,” said Driftwood Artistic Director Jeremy Smith. “Dream reminds us of the importance of putting down our devices, stepping away from our screens, and making the kind of tangible connections which encourage empathy, understanding and respect.”

A (musical) Midsummer Night’s Dream creative team includes production designer Julia Kim (Judas Noir, Obsidian Theatre; assistant designer, Stratford Festival), dramaturge Myekah Payne (Obsidian Theatre; Rosalynde, Driftwood), and stage manager Kelsey Rae. The creative team is supported by Movement Coach Jennifer Dallas, Movement Coach Associate Jessie Garon, and Apprentice Stage Manager Angela Mae Bago.

Solve for X Cast Announcement

Driftwood Theatre proudly announces the cast for its upcoming Play in a Pub reading of Alicia Richardson’s Solve for X, May 1 at the Social Capital Theatre (154 Danforth Avenue, Toronto), 7:30pm.

Bringing Ms. Richardson’s script to life over a few good pints will be Lovell Adams Gray (A Few Good Men, Theatre Aquarius; Judas Noir, BDB Productions/Obsidian), Natasha Mumba (School Girls: The African Mean Girls Play, Obsidian Theatre; Henry V, Dracula, Middletown; Shaw Festival; Hamlet, Driftwood), Leighton Alexander Williams (Dixon Road, Judas Noir, Obsidian Theatre) and Cliff Saunders (The Cherry Orchard, Modern Times Theatre; The Heir Apparent, Chicago Shakespeare; Les Misérables, Broadway).

Solve for X tells the story of Maxine (Mumba) trapped inside the mind of Cooper (Adams-Gray) and tasked by the mysterious maintenance worker (Saunders) of Cooper’s brain to unravel the mystery of a horrible crime hidden within the memories of Cooper’s relationship to his best friend TJ (Williams).

Solve for X was originally created and staged for Driftwood’s 24-hour play-creation festival Trafalgar 24 on March 9, 2018. Ms. Richardson was subsequently provided with a five-week paid residency to develop her work.


Driftwood Theatre Group

Driftwood Theatre is Ontario’s leading outdoor, summer theatre company, celebrating 25 years on the road with its award-winning Bard’s Bus Tour, reaching over 46 communities and 100,000 people across Ontario. We believe in theatre for everyone in Ontario, regardless of where you live or how much money you might have in your pocket. Driftwood Theatre is generously supported by the Ontario Arts Council.

Play in a Pub is an informal series or readings bringing together celebrated members of the theatre community to read new Canadian plays over a pint.


Driftwood Theatre presents

Play in a Pub: Solve for X, by Alicia Richardson

Myekah Payne | Dramaturge 

Cast: Lovell Adams Gray, Natasha Mumba, Leighton Alexander Williams, Cliff Saunders

May 1, 2019 | 6:30pm doors | 7:30pm reading

The Social Capital Theatre | 154 Danforth Avenue, Toronto (just East of Broadview subway station)

Admission is by donation.


For more information please call 844-601-8057 or visit driftwoodtheatre.com/see/playinapub/

 

Vocalist and Apprentice Musical Director Job Posting

Driftwood Theatre’s 2019 Bard’s Bus Tour is looking for a vocalist and apprentice musical director for its production of William Shakespeare’s A (musical) Midsummer Night’s Dream

The Bard’s Bus Tour is an annual summer Ontario tradition, touring to outdoor venues in communities across the province for 25 years.

The vocalist and apprentice musical director will join their voice to a company of eight actors and one musical director in Driftwood’s A Capella musical adaptation of Shakespeare’s most magical comedy. As a learning work-opportunity, the apprentice musical director will be provided with additional training in musical direction, composition and arrangement under supervision of the musical director.

The successful candidate will: have at least two years of professional experience or training in choral singing; demonstrated vocal percussion skills; and have an ability to communicate effectively and work productively with artists and theatrical staff.

Driftwood Theatre is dedicated to reflecting Canada’s rich diversity on and off stage in all of its work. Diverse artists of all backgrounds regardless of age, disability, ethno-cultural identity or gender are encouraged to apply.

Contract dates: June 24 – August 18, 2019.

Salary: $650/week + per diems during overnight touring

A (musical) Midsummer Night’s Dream is an original rocking, rolling, funktastic, jazz-infused a cappella musical, adapted from William Shakespeare’s text by composers Kevin Fox (Swingle Singers, Cadence) and Tom Lillington (Nathaniel Dett Chorale, Hampton Avenue) and director Jeremy Smith.

Vocalists/Apprentice Musical Directors are invited to make application by sending a brief cover letter and resume (as one pdf file) by email to Artistic Director, Jeremy Smith (jsmith@driftwoodtheatre.com).

Application deadline EXTENDED: April 30, 2019