The Dream is almost here. Reserve your seat!

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Get the most out of this summer’s A (musical) Midsummer Night’s Dream by reserving your seats today: until July 25, THE EARLY BARD CATCHETH THE WIN!

A Driftwood experience is unlike any other. With actors and audience all sharing the same space under an evening sky, anything can happen! Make sure you’ve got the best seats ‘on the lawn’ this summer and reserve your seats in advance. Book your seats by July 25 and be entered into our EARLY BARD CATCHETH THE WIN contest, with nightly draws for Driftwood swag and complimentary snacks at the show!

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE NOW!

Seats can be reserved for almost every show in Driftwood’s 25th anniversary season. We’ve asked our illustrious leader, Jeremy Smith, who has attended more Driftwood shows than anyone (except his parents), to give the low-down on why reserved seats are so awesome.

That would be Artistic Director Jeremy Smith, showing audience members first-hand the benefits of reserved seating.

Here are Artistic Director Jeremy Smith’s TOP SIX REASONS for reserving your seats in advance:
  1. Get best seats. “I like sitting a little further back in a comfy chair, but my kids love getting up close on cushions. Regardless of your preference, reserved guests are guaranteed the best seats for hearing and sight lines”.
  2. Arrive when you want. “With two young kids in tow, I can’t always get out of the house on time. If I get to the show later than I’d like, we have to sit way in the back and park my three-year old on my lap for two uncomfortable house because she can’t see over everyone else’s heads (sometimes being the boss doesn’t come with special perks).  Reserved guests can arrive anytime they like (prior to show time) and know that they’ll still have great seats.”
  3. Hassle-free seating. “You may notice a pattern here, but as the dad, I’m always carrying the furniture. That’s four chairs plus the diaper bag. With a reservation upgraded to include a lawn chair or cushion, all you need to do is show up – we’ll have your seats waiting for you.”
  4. Be in the know. “Making the trip with family in tow only to find that the show’s been cancelled is a bummer. Reserved guests are the first to know if we have to move to a back up venue or cancel a show due to poor weather. We update all reserved guests by email on the day of your show as decisions are made.” 
  5. Flexible Choice. “We do our best to make sure that the show goes on, but sometimes we have to cancel or move the show inside. Some of our back-up venues are wild – an experience unto themselves – but I’m really charmed by experiencing Driftwood under the open sky. If a show is cancelled or there’s bad weather, reserved guests have the flexibility of moving their reservation to another show or receiving a charitable tax receipt for the value of their reservation.”
  6. WIN BIG. “Who doesn’t like winning free stuff?! My kids go crazy over autographed posters and programs. Everyone who reserves a seat prior to July 25 will be entered into the EARLY BARD CATCHETH THE WIN contest. At every show we’ll be drawing a winner to receive a copy of the Dream poster signed by the cast, a copy of our 2012 Dream cast recording (sing along at home!), and complimentary snacks for the show for everyone in your reservation (max. 10 people). You won’t even have to share your free Dr. Pepper!”  

Clearly, booking your seat early is the best way to get in on the Driftwood action, so don’t delay: reserve your seats for Driftwood Theatre’s A (musical) Midsummer Night’s Dream today!

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE NOW!

Rosalynde (2018) cast members Geoffrey Armour (left) and Ngabo Nabea (right, standing) explain the virtues of reserved seating to guests. Photo by Dahlia Katz.

Dream Cast Announcement

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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

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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/

 

Trafalgar 24 raises $20,000 for Driftwood Theatre

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Emerging creator Hannah Rittner selected as the 2019 Beyond The Bard resident playwright

On Friday, March 8 Driftwood Theatre kicked off its 25th season with yet another extraordinary TRAFALGAR 24, the most unique site-specific theatre event around. Over the course of one day, 24 theatre artists from across Ontario descended upon Trafalgar Castle to write, rehearse and perform six new plays set within the rooms, halls, nooks and crannies of Whitby’s very own 19th century castle.

The 24-hour event was capped off by an evening of public performance featuring Driftwood’s signature Trafalgar 24 Silent Auction and dessert reception. The event raised nearly $20,000 in support of Driftwood Theatre’s upcoming 25th annual Bard’s Bus Tour featuring William Shakespeare’s magical (musical) A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

By jury selection, emerging Toronto playwright Hannah Rittner was selected from among six participating playwrights to receive a five-week paid residency with Driftwood Theatre to develop her short play, I Am Amazed And Know Not What To Say, which was created specifically for the event. Mr. Rittner will work this summer alongside Driftwood’s company of artists to revise and expand her script, with dramaturgical support, rehearsals and public readings.

“When I first heard of this opportunity, I felt like it was unlike anything I had gone after before – all night writing and putting something up on the spot amidst the distinct environment of the Whitby castle,” writes Ms. Rittner. “I look forward to discovering my relationship to this place by looking deeply into the past in order to create a sensuous, beautiful, and emotionally riveting experience for the audience.”  

The TRAFALGAR 24 jury consisted of Toronto producer Derrick Chua, Cameco Capitol Arts Centre (Port Hope) Artistic Director Susan Ferley, Living Room Arts Studio Executive Director Mary Krohnert, Driftwood Theatre Artistic Director Jeremy Smith, OnStage theatre critic Joe Szekeres, and special audience guest Sherry MacLeod.

Participating TRAFALGAR 24 artists were remaining playwrights Wallis Caldoza, Matth Hertendy, Rebecca Ostroff, Polly Phokeev, Melissa Taylor; directors Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster, Katrina Darychuk, Claren Grosz, Mark McGrinder, Leighton Alexander Williams, and Alison Wong; and performers Belinda Corpuz, Sarah Deller, Oliver Dennis, Andrea Houssin, Megan Miles, Dan Mousseau, Rose Napoli, Andy Pogson, Anand Rajaram, Jamie Robinson, Neta J. Rose, and Hillary Warden.

TRAFALGAR 24 was hosted by performer and award-winning Artistic Director (Bad Hats Theatre) Fiona Sauder.

TRAFALGAR 24 is proudly supported by leading partners RBC Foundation (RBC Emerging Artists Project), Deighton Associates (Castle Sponsor) and HMA The BENEFITS People (Reception Sponsor), and performance sponsors Mason Bennett Johncox, Lloyd’s Pest Control, W.B. White Insurance and Nice Bistro.

Driftwood Theatre is generously supported by the Ontario Arts Council. The Bard’s Bus Tour is grateful for the ongoing support of Tour Sponsor Ontario Power Generation.