Media Release #19

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, July 23, 2010…. Linda Griffiths’s Age of Arousal begins previews today at the Court House Theatre. Wildly inspired by George Gissing’s novel The Odd Women, artistic director Jackie Maxwell directs this rousing theatrical production set in a surrealistic Victorian England.

It’s 1885, a time of immense passion and confusion, and London faces a population imbalance that leaves it with half a million more women than men. Mary Barfoot (Donna Belleville), an ex-suffragette and proprietor of a secretarial school, leads women to their emancipation through the typewriter. When her lover and business partner Rhoda Nunn (Jenny Young) enrols the three spinster Madden sisters, unexpected passions and secret desires are unleashed as they each learn what being a New Woman can truly mean.

Also featured are Zarrin Darnell-Martin, Sharry Flett, Kelli Fox and Gray Powell.

Age of Arousal is designed by Sue LePage, with lighting design by Alan Brodie, original music and sound design by John Gzowski and movement by Valerie Moore. The stage management team includes Stage Manager Diane Konkin and Assistant Stage Manager Eamonn Reil.

Considered “one of Canada’s originals”, playwright and actor Linda Griffiths has tackled a range of subjects and roles including both Margaret and Pierre Trudeau in her play Maggie & Pierre, poet Gwendolyn MacEwan in Alien Creature and Wallis Simpson in The Duchess.

Age of Arousal begins preview performances Friday, July 23, opens Friday, August 13 and plays in repertory until Sunday, October 10.

Age of Arousal is sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

The Shaw Festival 2010 season runs until November 14 and also features An Ideal Husband, Harvey, The Women, The Cherry Orchard, One Touch of Venus, The Doctor’s Dilemma, John Bull’s Other Island, Half an Hour and Serious Money.

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In the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news 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
Public Relations Director
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, July 21, 2010…Elwood Dowd and his best friend Harvey will continue to delight and charm audiences for an additional 14 performances at the Royal George Theatre. A hit with audiences and critics alike, the Mary Chase Pulitzer Prize-winning play will continue to run until November 14.

Upon making the announcement, Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell noted: “this wonderful gem has been performing to sold-out audiences since previews began in April; we’re thrilled to offer this extension so even more theatre-lovers can enjoy it.”

Directed by Joseph Ziegler, Harvey features Peter Krantz as Elwood Dowd, the mild-mannered eccentric who seems to know everyone in town; Mary Haney as his sister Veta Simmons, Norman Browning as Dr Chumley, as well as Guy Bannerman, Diana Donnelly, Zarrin Darnell-Martin and Gray Powell, with Donna Belleville, Jennifer Dzialoszynski, Peter Millard, Jennifer Phipps and Tim Ziegler. 

Beginning November 2, the additional performances are as follows:

• Tuesday through Friday at 2 p.m. for two weeks ($23 student and $40 senior tickets available)
• Saturday, November 6 and 13 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
• Sunday, November 7 and 14 at 2 p.m.

Tickets for the added shows go on sale July 24. To purchase tickets to Harvey, or other 2010 Shaw Festival productions, please contact the Box Office at 1-800-511-SHAW (7429) or order online at www.shawfest.com.

Harvey is sponsored by Scotiabank Group.

The Shaw Festival 2010 season runs until November 14 and also features An Ideal Husband, The Women, The Cherry Orchard, One Touch of Venus, The Doctor’s Dilemma, John Bull’s Other Island, Half an Hour, Age of Arousal and Serious Money.

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In the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news 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
Public Relations Director
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, July 9, 2010…Two of Bernard Shaw’s most provocative comedies open tonight and tomorrow evening as part of the Shaw Festival’s summer opening weekend. The festivities begin with The Doctor’s Dilemma, a satiric piece that poses some very stimulating questions, at the Festival Theatre and continues Saturday with this season’s lunchtime, the real-time playlet Half an Hour, by the beloved J.M. Barrie at the Royal George Theatre and Bernard Shaw’s farcical fairy tale John Bull’s Other Island at the Court House Theatre.

In celebration of these exciting new theatrical offerings, dignitaries from local government, Canada’s artistic and business communities; and Shaw supporters will attend gala dinners prior to the opening night performances.

The Doctor’s Dilemma
by George Bernard Shaw
directed by Morris Panych
Opens – July 9    Closes – October 30
Festival Theatre
Sponsored by Bell

With his usual distinctive wit, Shaw tests the humanity of a doctor and presents a moral dilemma. Sir Colenso Ridgeon has discovered a lifesaving cure, but faces an ethical quandary. With only enough of his new cure for tuberculosis left for one patient, whom should he save? Dr. Blenkinsop, a kindly colleague who serves the poor, or the extremely talented but unscrupulous young artist Louis Dubedat, who also happens to have a beautiful young wife?

Half an Hour
by J.M. Barrie
directed by Gina Wilkinson
Opens – July 10    Closes – October 9
Royal George Theatre

One evening, half past the hour, Lady Lilian Garson makes an escape from her confining husband Richard Garson to the arms of her lover Hugh Paton. But when best-laid plans go horribly amiss – can she quickly slip back into her old life in time for dinner at eight? Half an Hour is this season’s lunchtime presentation.

John Bull’s Other Island
by George Bernard Shaw
directed by Christopher Newton
Opens – July 10    Closes – October 9
Court House Theatre

With a business deal in mind, friends and business partners Tom Broadbent and Larry Doyle travel to the small Irish town of Roscullen. Broadbent, the Englishman, already infected with stereotypical impressions of the country, plunges headfirst into love with everything Irish, including Nora Reilly, Doyle’s old flame. Doyle, the hometown boy, only sees a country trapped in its past.

 An Ideal Husband, The Women, The Cherry Orchard, Harvey and One Touch of Venus opened The Shaw’s 2010 season in May.

Now it’s even easier to visit The Shaw and Niagara-on-the-Lake. Tourism Niagara-on-the-Lake has launched a new shuttle service for passengers departing from the GO train in St. Catharines and the GO bus at Fairview Mall. Tourism Niagara-on-the-Lake is offering a special cost of $10 each way per passenger (the one-way cost of the GO train to St. Catharines from Toronto is $16.90). GO passengers are also now able to pre-book their transportation to Niagara-on-the-Lake at the same time they book their ticket to St. Catharines. The shuttle will meet trains and buses seven days per week through until October 12. Shuttle tickets can be booked and pick-up locations confirmed by calling 905-468-1950 or online at www.niagaraonthelake.com.

Endorsed by the Shaw Festival, Executive Director Colleen Blake said this new travel option “provides a cost-effective way for visitors to take in the fabulous attractions Niagara-on-the-Lake has to offer, including The Shaw and our award-winning wineries – it is our pleasure to be a part of this eco-friendly travel option.”

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In the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news 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
Public Relations Director
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, July 7, 2010. . .This year’s Shaw Festival Town Previews of the Oscar Wilde social satire An Ideal Husband raised almost $7,500 and will benefit eight Niagara-on-the-Lake charitable organizations. The cheque presentation to representatives of the chosen organizations is taking place in the Festival Theatre lobby at The Shaw on Thursday, July 8 at 11 a.m. and is hosted by Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell and Executive Director Colleen Blake.

 The Niagara-on-the-Lake charitable organizations receiving support from the 2010 Town Previews program are:

• Music Niagara, $2,000: support for their 2010 concert series: Schumann and his Circle.
• The Friends of Fort George, $1,500: applied towards the expenses of summer student employment program at the Fort and at Brock’s Monument.
• The Niagara Pumphouse Visual Art Centre, $1,000: provide assistance with the cost of employing a student teacher for drop-in children’s summer classes.
• Willowbank School of Restoration Foundation, $1,000: funding for student recruitment school program.
• Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Palliative Care, $650: applied towards the purchase of specialized equipment for clients and their families. 
• Jack Custers’ Bird Sanctuary, $525: financial support for current projects and general maintenance.
• Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library, $500:  support for Summer Reading Club.
• Canadian Cancer Society (Niagara-on-the-Lake branch), $250: sponsorship of the 12^th Annual Golf for a Cure Tournament. 

The Town Previews offer Niagara-on-the-Lake residents the opportunity to purchase discounted tickets to preview performances and proceeds raised are then distributed to various Niagara-on-the-Lake charitable organizations who apply for funding.

The 2010 Season also includes Harvey, The Women, The Cherry Orchard, The Doctor’s Dilemma, John Bull’s Other Island, Age of Arousal, One Touch of Venus, Half and Hour and Serious Money.

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In the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news 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
Public Relations Director
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

 Media Release #16

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, June 30, 2010….Can a life change in 30-minutes? Half an Hour,  J.M. Barrie’s intense story of a woman who’s only got half an hour to change her life, aims to answer this question in real time. Gina Wilkinson, director of last season’s hit Born Yesterday, directs this season’s lunchtime at the Royal George Theatre.

One night, half past the hour, Lady Lilian Garson (Diana Donnelly) makes an escape from her confining husband Richard Garson (Peter Krantz) to the arms of her beloved Hugh Paton (Gord Rand). But when best-laid plans go horribly amiss – can she quickly slip back into her old life in time for dinner at eight?

Also featured in this real time race are Michael Ball, Norman Browning, Jennifer Dzialoszynski, Peter Millard, and Laurie Paton.

Half an Hour is designed by Tyler Sainsbury with lighting design by Kirsten Watt. The stage management team includes Stage Manager Meredith Macdonald and Assistant Stage Manager Leigh McClymont.

The plays of J.M. Barrie have long been a staple at the Shaw Festival. Peter Pan, his most well-known play, has been produced twice by The Shaw, as well as other one-acts, Shall We Join the Ladies (1996) and The Old Lady Shows her Medals (2002).

Half an Hour began preview performances Friday, June 18, opens Saturday, July 10 and plays in repertory until Saturday, October 9.

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In the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news 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
Public Relations Director
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Media Release #15

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, June 23, 2010…. John Bull’s Other Island, Bernard Shaw’s farcical fairy tale, is currently in previews at the Court House Theatre. Artistic Director Emeritus Christopher Newton directs the Shavian satirical story that had King Edward VII in stitches and solidified Shaw’s career as a playwright.

With a business deal in mind, friends and business partners Tom Broadbent (Benedict Campbell) and Larry Doyle (Graeme Somerville) travel to the small Irish town of Roscullen. Broadbent, the Englishman, already infected with stereotypical impressions of the country, plunges headfirst into love with everything Irish, including Nora Reilly (Severn Thompson), Doyle’s old flame. Doyle, the hometown boy, only sees a country trapped in its past.

Also featured are Jim Mezon as Peter Keegan, with Guy Bannerman, Mary Haney, Thom Marriott, Patrick McManus, Craig Pike, Ric Reid, David Schurmann, Jonathan Widdifield and Tim Ziegler.

John Bull’s Other Island is designed by Design Director William Schmuck with lighting design by Louise Guinand. The stage management team includes Stage Manager Beatrice Campbell and Assistant Stage Manager Barry Burns.

First performed on November 1, 1904 at London’s Royal Court Theatre, John Bull’s Other Island was directed by Shaw and Harley Granville Barker. There have been four previous productions at the Shaw Festival of this unromantic look at the romance of Ireland — in 1964, 1985 and 1998, directed respectively by Andrew Allan, the Festival’s first Artistic Director, Denise Coffey and Jim Mezon.

John Bull’s Other Island began preview performances Friday, June 18, opens Saturday, July 10 and plays in repertory until Saturday, October 9.

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In the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news 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
Public Relations Director
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Media Release #14

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, June 9, 2010….The Doctor’s Dilemma, the first of two productions by the Shaw Festival’s namesake, begins previews tomorrow at the Festival Theatre. Morris Panych directs this comic piece that poses some very relevant questions: when medical resources are limited, should a doctor decide who receives treatment and should those who can afford treatment be the first in line to receive it?

With his usual distinctive wit, Shaw tests the humanity of a doctor and presents a moral dilemma. Sir Colenso Ridgeon (Patrick Galligan) has discovered a lifesaving cure, but faces an ethical quandary. With only enough of his new cure for tuberculosis left for one patient, who should he save? Dr. Blenkinsop (Ric Reid), a kindly colleague who serves the poor, or the extremely talented but unscrupulous young artist Louis Dubedat (Jonathan Gould), who also happens to have a beautiful young wife (Krista Colosimo)?

Also featured are Michael Ball as Sir Patrick Cullen and Thom Marriott as Sir Ralph Bloomfield Bonington, with Wade Bogert-O’Brien, Catherine McGregor, Patrick McManus, Kelly Penner, Cherissa Richards and Jonathan Widdifield.

The Doctor’s Dilemma has set design by Ken MacDonald, costume design by Charlotte Dean and lighting design by Alan Brodie. The stage management team includes Stage Manager Dora Tomassi and Assistant Stage Manager Leigh McClymont.

First performed on November 20, 1906, at the Royal Court Theatre in London, The Doctor’s Dilemma has had three previous incarnations at the Shaw Festival — in 1969, 1991 and 2000, directed respectively by Dillon Evans, Paul Lampert and Christopher Newton.

The Doctor’s Dilemma begins preview performances Thursday, June 10, opens Friday, July 9 and plays in repertory until Saturday, October 30. The Doctor’s Dilemma is sponsored by Bell.

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In the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news 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
Public Relations Director
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, May 26, 2010. . . Through a curtain of humour, great ideas, struggles and relationships will be revealed and examined during the 49^th season of the Shaw Festival. Commencing tonight with Oscar Wilde’s witty intrigue An Ideal Husband — a play about blackmail, political corruption and scandal, four other productions will also open this week: the Canadian premiere of the Tom Murphy version of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard; the Kurt Weill, Ogden Nash, S.J. Perelman madcap musical One Touch of Venus; the Mary Chase Pulitzer Prize-winning charmer Harvey; and the clever, cut-throat Clare Boothe Luce comedy The Women.

The Shaw Festival’s Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell joins The Shaw’s Board of Governors Chair Janet McKelvey and the rest of the Company in celebrating the start of the season and says of this week’s events: “After weeks of exploring, building, rehearsing, previewing and honing, we proudly open the first five shows in our 2010 season — a truly rich showcase for our wonderfully talented company.”

The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, representing Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II; along with special guests from all levels of government, colleagues from the cultural sector and generous leading patrons and corporate sponsors will be in attendance. Federal government officials attending will include Mr. Kevin Johnson, US Consul General (Toronto); Ms. Marta Moszczenska, Canadian Consul General (Buffalo); and Mr. Ashley Prime, British Deputy Consul General (Toronto). Provincial government officials attending will include The Honourable Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture; The Honourable Gerry Phillips, Deputy Government House Leader and Minister Responsible for Seniors; The Honourable Monique Smith, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Government House Leader; The Honourable John Wilkinson, Minister of Revenue; Ms. Donna Cansfield, MPP Etobicoke Centre and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing; Mr. Kim Craitor, MPP Niagara Falls; Mr. Drew Fagan, Deputy Minister, Tourism and Culture; and Ms. Julia Munro, MPP York-Simcoe. Lord Mayor Gary Burroughs, Mayor of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, and Mr. Peter Partington, Regional Chair, Regional Municipality of Niagara; will also be in attendance, as will members of the Arts community including Mr. William Boyle, CEO, Harbourfront Centre; Ms. Pat Bradley, Theatre Officer, Ontario Arts Council; Mr. John Brotman, Executive Director, Ontario Arts Council; Ms. Kari Cullen,National Arts Centre Consultant – Project Niagara; Ms. Martha Durdin, Chair, Ontario Arts Council; Ms. Julia Foster, Chair, National Arts Centre; Mr. John Goddard, Executive Director, Theatre Ontario; Mr. Peter Herrndorf, President and CEO, National Arts Centre; Ms. Linda Intaschi, Associate Producer, Mirvish Productions; Mr. Matthew Jocelyn, Artistic and General Director, CanadianStage Company; and Mr. Brian Sewell, Executive Producer, Mirvish Productions.

The Shaw Festival’s 2010 season runs from April 1 to October 31 and will also feature The Doctor’s Dilemma, John Bull’s Other Island, Age of Arousal, Half an Hour and Serious Money.

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In the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news 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
Public Relations Director
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, May 25, 2010…The Women and One Touch of Venus, two productions highlighting varied manifestations of love, relationships and marriage are currently in previews at the Shaw Festival. 

At the Festival Theatre, Clare Boothe Luce’s 1930s Broadway hit The Women is a revealing look into the lives of the ladies-who-lunch. Mary Haines, a Manhattan socialite, discovers her husband is cheating on her and soon realizes her girlfriends are no help to her at all. Directed by Alisa Palmer, this clever, cut-throat, humorous glimpse into the secret society of women captures a world where the weapons de jour are manicured claws and the objective is to maintain social status by either leaving, stealing or winning back husbands.

Entirely populated by the “fairer sex”, the cast of The Women includes Jenny Young as Mary Haines and Deborah Hay as Sylvia Fowler, with Beryl Bain, Celeste Brillon, Lisa Codrington, Nicolá Correia-Damude, Julia Course, Saccha Dennis, Ijeoma Emesowum, Sharry Flett, Kelli Fox, Patty Jamieson, Heather McGuigan, Moya O’Connell, Melanie Phillipson, Helen Taylor, Jacqueline Thair, Wendy Thatcher, Kate Wilson and Jenny L. Wright.

The Women is designed by Design Director William Schmuck, with lighting design by Lighting Design Director Kevin Lamotte and original music composed by Lesley Barber. The stage management team includes Stage Manager Diane Konkin and Assistant Stage Manager Eamonn Reil.

At the Royal George Theatre, the goddess of love graces the stage in the Kurt Weill, Ogden Nash, S.J. Perelman madcap musical One Touch of Venus. Mayhem ensues when a statue of Venus (Robin Evan Willis) comes to life through the magic of a ring. Falling for a barber named Rodney Hatch (Kyle Blair), she pursues him all over New York and settles into domestic bliss. But can she be domesticated? Will this wild woman allow herself to be tamed?  

Directed by Associate Director Eda Holmes, this season’s musical also features Deborah Hay as Molly Grant and Mark Uhre as Whitelaw Savory, with Beryl Bain, Neil Barclay, Saccha Dennis, Patty Jamieson, Gabrielle Jones, Billy Lake, Colin Lepage, Anthony Malarky, Julie Martell, Heather McGuigan, Melanie Phillipson, Louie Rossetti, Ken James Stewart, Jonathan Tan, Jacqueline Thair, Jay Turvey and Kelly Wong.

One Touch of Venus has musical direction by Ryan deSouza and choreography by Michael Lichtefeld, with set design by Camilla Koo, costume design by Michael Gianfrancesco and lighting design by Bonnie Beecher. The stage management team includes Stage Manager Allan Teichman and Assistant Stage Manager Annie McWhinnie.

One Touch of Venus
Music by Kurt Weill, lyrics by Ogden Nash and book by Ogden Nash and S.J. Perelman
Based on The Tinted Venus by F.J. Anstey
Presented through special arrangement with R&H Theatricals. 

The Women began preview performances Wednesday, May 12, opens Saturday, May 29 and plays in repertory until Saturday, October 9. The Women is sponsored by Lombard Insurance Company.

One Touch of Venus began preview performances Sunday, May 16, opens Friday, May 28 and plays in repertory until Sunday, October 10. One Touch of Venus is sponsored by TD Music.

The Shaw Festival’s 2010 season runs from April 1 to October 31 and also features An Ideal Husband, The Doctor’s Dilemma, The Cherry Orchard, John Bull’s Other Island, Age of Arousal, Harvey, Half an Hour and Serious Money.

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In the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news 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
Public Relations Director
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com

Media Release #11

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, May 14, 2010…Colleen Blake, Executive Director of the Shaw Festival, announced today that the theatre festival has received $2.6 million in continued funding through the Marquee Tourism Events Program (MTEP), the temporary two-year stimulus package introduced as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.

“The Shaw Festival is very grateful to our MP, the Honourable Rob Nicholson, and to the Government of Canada for their ongoing support of the Shaw Festival,” said Blake. “MTEP proved to be extremely helpful in 2009, contributing to a major increase in sales for The Shaw. This timely injection of financial support in 2010 will certainly have a significant economic impact for The Shaw, our community partners and the entire Niagara Region.”

This new influx of funding will allow the Shaw Festival to enhance already existing marketing initiatives and current media campaigns, as well as efforts focused on expanding The Shaw’s market reach and broadening its audience demographic.

A powerful regional and provincial economic force, The Shaw’s performance season critically affects the health of many area industries that rely on Shaw visitors during this period. A recent Economic Impact Study conducted by Enigma Research noted that:

• Total economic impact of The Shaw Festival is estimated at $76.6 million annually
• The Shaw Festival attracts an estimated 78,300 tourists throughout the season nearly half travelling from outside Canada
• The Shaw Festival supports hundreds of jobs – an equivalent of 1150 year-round jobs in the Niagara Region – and also supports $20.9 million in tax revenue at all levels of government.

The Shaw Festival is just one of several of Canada’s annual, world-class marquee tourism events that have been granted funding under the MTEP 2010 funding program.

The Shaw Festival’s 2010 season runs from April 1 to October 31 and features An Ideal Husband, The Women, The Doctor’s Dilemma,The Cherry Orchard, John Bull’s Other Island, Age of Arousal, Harvey, One Touch of Venus, Half an Hour and Serious Money.

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In the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever-broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com/news 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
Public Relations Director
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
odette@shawfest.com

Jenniffer Anand
Public Relations Coordinator
(905) 468-2153 or 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2224
janand@shawfest.com