"'Heartbreak House' is a profound examination of generational change, of dreams and ambitions shattered by war, of industry and government overturning social programs in favour of exploitation," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
The midsummer fundraiser will feature live music by Gumbo Stew, food from PigOut Niagara, beer and wine from Bella Terra Vineyards, Konzelmann Estate Winery and the Exchange Brewery, a live auction and dancing among the vines.
More than three years after Gordon Lightfoot's death, his music filled St. Mark's Anglican Church as a sold-out audience gathered to celebrate the Canadian icon through the voices and instruments of musicians who knew him.
More than 40 years after the debut of this British farce on the Shaw Festival stage, "One for the Pot" returns with excellent performances that contain the elements needed to make this for-the-masses comedy a laugh riot, writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"Matters of etiquette, rules and styles of play inform. To Wodehouse, the only way to really find a true character is to play golf with him," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
A bevy of giggles, goofs and good times will be had by comedy fans at the end of this month, when the 12th annual Icebreakers Comedy Festival returns to Niagara-on-the-Lake from Jan. 29 to 31.
"Some will mourn the final performances of 'A Christmas Carol' at the Royal George for the foreseeable future. Others will mourn the passing of the theatre itself," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"Why is this production so satisfying? Irving Berlin's songs are pure genius. The orchestra sweeps and swirls us along. We unabashedly sing on request," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
The season includes “Funny Girl,” running April 24 to Oct. 3, with Sara Farb making her Shaw debut as Fanny Brice alongside Qasim Khan as Nick Arnstein. Eda Holmes directs.
"Their shared dreams rise and fall, worn down by circumstances caused by a multitude of factors. These include the onset of the Great Depression, economic uncertainty, job losses and racism," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
The end is near for the Shaw Festival’s Spiegeltent in Niagara-on-the-Lake, with its final show scheduled for Sept. 28. After that, it'll be returning to its original home in Belgium.
Other highlights include the Broadway musical “Funny Girl,” opening April 24 at the Festival Theatre under the direction of Eda Holmes, and the farce “One for the Pot,” directed by Chris Abraham and set to premiere May 27.
"Improv is hard work. If the goal of Murder-on-the-Lake is to take very good care of its audience, this production succeeds admirably," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"Please, bring back the Spiegeltent in whatever future form it may take and do plan more of these innovative, imaginative offerings. Let's have more opportunities to tap, swing and lift our spirits," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
"In 'Major Barbara' of the Salvation Army, we hear the voices of Victorian women aspiring to liberation, to work, to earn money and have the right to social, political, legal and gender equality," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
The new design would keep the theatre’s current face on Queen Street while constructing an entirely new building behind it, what executive director Tim Jennings called a “ghost façade.”
"Despite the absurdity of life and perhaps unreached dreams, our aspirations remain, and we can still find magic in the power of language and theatre," writes Penny-Lynn Cookson.
In response to editor-in-chief Richard Harley's July 31 editorial, The Lake Report, writes Garth Turner, "embraces the size, the massing, the demolitions, the height, the truck bays, the big-box architecture, the gobbling-up of a residential street and the three or more years of construction chaos involved."
Dozens of classic, exotic and sport vehicles are expected to show up on the lot at 1537 Niagara Stone Rd. in Virgil next Saturday for people to come and enjoy, with no entry fee for participants or spectators.
The garden party will once again be held at one of NOTL's most distinctive heritage homes — the Georgian-style residence at 83 Gage St., owned by Peter Howe and Judy McLeod.
Jessica Sevier is set to open for Tenille Townes at the Jackson-Triggs Amphitheatre for this year's Summer Concert Series, on Aug. 21. "It's going to be a very fun, high-energy acoustic," she says.
Yellow Door's theatre director hopes audiences will embrace a little “hakuna matata” when his cast of young performers takes the stage in "The Lion King" on July 19.
The Rotary Club hopes guests will don their best cocktail attire and enjoy an evening of live music, dancing, and what it calls “Niagara’s finest food and wine.”
The company has launched a second climate-controlled Freedom Jet vessel, five years after introducing the first, giving more guests a choice: Stay dry inside a glass-enclosed dome or get drenched up front in the open-air seats.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is set to celebrate Canada’s 158th birthday in style this Tuesday, with a full day of festivities ranging from fireworks to fine art and free museum access.
