The Stratford Festival is almost ready to open for the 2024 season.
Executive Director Anita Gaffney said the first preview is "Something Rotten" which will be on April 16.
"We have seven shows in rehearsal right now," exclaimed Gaffney. "It's absolutely a rocket ship ready to take off around here."
In total, the festival is presenting 12 productions this year.
"We also have things like Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth night and La Cage aux Folles is another musical that we're doing," she explained. "At the Avon, we're doing a new play called Salesman in China. And in all, we've got 12 productions on our four stages and we look forward to welcoming visitors very soon."
Gaffney pointed out the theme this year is "A World Elsewhere."
"I think it really speaks to what Stratford is all about. It's a bit of a world elsewhere," Gaffney continued. "I just had a director come from England, and actually he adapted a production for us of Hedda Gabler. And it's the first time he'd been in Stratford and he got here and said, 'I have landed in theatre heaven.' And so it's wonderful to see Stratford through the eyes of someone who's never been here before."
This year's productions feature far away locations like Illyria, Verona, London, Saint-Tropez, Beijing and even Neverland.
The festival will offer up entertainment until October 27th.
The 2024 Meighen Forum will bring together artists, thought leaders and subject matter experts for a wide range of special events in 2024, many reflecting on the theme of “A World Elsewhere.” Comedy, concerts and special performances are offered throughout the season.
Productions and key dates:
Twelfth Night | By William Shakespeare | Runs April 26 to October 26
Something Rotten! | Book by Karey Kirkpatrick & John O'Farrell | Music & Lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick & Karey Kirkpatrick | Conceived by Karey Kirkpatrick & Wayne Kirkpatrick | Runs April 16 to October 27
Cymbeline | By William Shakespeare | Runs May 10 to September 28
Hedda Gabler | By Henrik Ibsen | A new version by Patrick Marber | From a literal translation by Karin & Ann Bamborough | Runs April 25 to September 28
La Cage aux Folles | Book by Harvey Fierstein | Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman | Based on the play by Jean Poiret | Runs May 6 to October 26
Romeo and Juliet | By William Shakespeare | Runs May 6 to October 26
Wendy and Peter Pan | Adapted by Ella Hickson | From the book by J.M. Barrie | Runs May 21 to October 27
The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? | By Edward Albee | Runs June 26 to September 29
Get That Hope | By Andrea Scott | Runs July 21 to September 28
London Assurance | By Dion Boucicault | Runs August 7 to October 25 |
Salesman in China | By Leanna Brodie & Jovanni Sy | Suggested by the memoirs of Arthur Miller & Ying Ruocheng | Chinese translations by Fang Zhang | Runs August 3 to October 26
The Diviners | Based on the novel by Margaret Laurence | Text by Vern Thiessen with Yvette Nolan | Runs August 7 to October 2