Shaw Festival Announces 2007 Season

Media Release #16

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, September 27, 2006 . . . Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell officially announced the Shaw Festival 2007 season today; a season in which Ms. Maxwell continues to explore vital and provocative stories that resonate with the wit, relevance and insight for which Bernard Shaw himself was well known.

In making the season announcement, Jackie Maxwell noted: “Richly diverse choices continue next season with innovative and intoxicating work that will stimulate and engage our audiences. The season’s lineup combines a range of classics, newly commissioned translations and a world premiere that showcase the unparalleled artistry of our Ensemble.”

The 2007 playbill includes ten productions, on the Festival’s three Niagara-on-the-Lake stages: the Festival Theatre, the Court House Theatre and the Royal George Theatre.

Two plays by the Festival’s namesake are re-examined this season. Jackie Maxwell presents the controversial Shavian heroine on the Festival stage, while Alisa Palmer directs Shaw’s humorous perspective on a very special battle of the sexes in , at the Royal George.

The Shaw’s mainstage also features the debut of acclaimed American director Molly Smith, who presents Jerry Herman’s musical Mack and Mabel. Based on the original book by Michael Stewart with revisions by Francine Pascal, this dazzling musical chronicles one of Hollywood’s legendary love stories during the silent film era. Sharing the Festival stage is Hotel Peccadillo by Morris Panych, a brand-new adaptation of George Feydeau and Maurice Desvalliėres’ wildly comic French farce, L’hôtel du libre échange.

The elegiac family tale A Month in the Country, After Turgenev by Brian Friel, based on the original by Ivan Turgenev, and directed by Tadeusz Bradecki kicks off the Court House season. Revisiting the playwright of the hugely successful Return of the Prodigal, we present St. John Hankin’s delicate The Cassilis Engagement – A Mothers Comedy, directed by . The rich history of the Irish theatre continues to be explored with Lady Augusta Gregory’s The Rising of the Moon and Spreading the News, two delightful jewels which will form the lunchtime production of The Kiltartan Comedies. We are also thrilled to present the world premiere of Tristan, a musical adaptation from Thomas Mann’s brilliant short story set in a spa in the German Alps, with book, music and lyrics by Jay Turvey and Shaw’s Music Director Paul Sportelli, and directed by Eda Holmes.

Associate Director Neil Munro dives into the explosive sexual politics of Somerset Maugham’s The Circle, which joins The Philanderer on the Royal George stage. Munro also explores the struggle between puritanism and sensuality when he directs Tennessee Williams’ Summer and Smoke.

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Regular ticket prices for the 2007 season range from $45 to $95 including GST. For Special Matinees, student tickets are $22 and senior tickets are $35. Lunchtime ticket prices are $25. Sunday night performances are available all season from $45 to $55 and, for patrons under 30, $30 tickets are available for most performances. Preview prices are $45 - $65

Tickets for the 2007 season go on sale to Shaw Festival Members according to Membership level starting November 11 to November 18 by mail, fax, online, phone or in person. Tickets go on sale to groups on January 3. For the general public tickets go on sale January 2 by mail, fax or online and on January 6 by phone or in person.

The 2007 Season is proudly presented by HSBC Bank Canada/HSBC Bank USA

See next page for the 2007 Season at a Glance.

Shaw Festival’s 2007 Season At a Glance

Production Author Director Previews Opens Closes Stage Saint Joan (1923) Bernard Shaw Jackie Maxwell April 21 May 9 October 27 Festival Royal The Circle (1919) Somerset Maugham Neil Munro April 10 May 10 October 28 George A Month in the Country, After Brian Friel, Tadeusz April 29 May 11 October 6 Court House Turgenev Ivan Turgenev Bradecki (1850/1992) Mack and Mabel Jerry Herman, Molly Smith April 3 May 12 October 28 Festival (1974) Michael Stewart The Philanderer Royal Bernard Shaw Alisa Palmer May 1 May 12 October 7 (1893) George The Cassilis Engagement – Christopher St. John Hankin May 29 June 15 October 5 Court House A Mothers Comedy Newton (1907) Georges Feydeau, Hotel Peccadillo Maurice Desvalliėres, Morris Panych May 31 June 16 October 7 Festival (1894/2006) Morris Panych Summer and Smoke Royal Tennessee Williams Neil Munro June 23 July 6 October 27 (1947) George The Kiltartan Comedies Lady Augusta Gregory TBC June 20 July 7 October 6 Court House (1904/1907) Jay Turvey, Tristan (2005) Eda Holmes July 12 July 28 October 6 Court House Paul Sportelli

* titles and dates subject to change

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Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com for other Shaw Festival media releases.

For more information, or to download images from our image bank to accompany this release, members of the media may contact:

Odette Yazbeck Jennifer Murphy Public Relations Director Public Relations Co-ordinator 905-468-2153 or 905-468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 222 1-800-657-1106 ext. 224 [email protected] [email protected]