“We tried out a lot of new things this year, and the amazing thing is not how well so many of them worked, but how open and commit­ted everyone was to them. More or less every new idea, whether it was Secret Theatre, personalized show introductions, or open rehearsals, required not just hard work but a willingness to abandon established ways of doing things; the company rose to the challenge in every department. So did the audience,” said Tim Carroll, Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival. “What I hope we have achieved in my first season, through the incredible work of so many people, on either side of the stage and in every part of the organization, is to win the trust of our audience. At the beginning of the year, some people were worried about what ‘two-way theatre’ might be: over the course of it, we showed that it simply means that there is no substitute for real human encounters.”

In early 2017, The Shaw’s Board of Governors accepted their Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce’s 40+ recommendations for creating a more inclusive Shaw. The Shaw also updated its anti-harassment and safe working practices policies over the summer and the Board adopted these in November of 2017. All of these improvements were built into The Shaw’s new strategic plan for the Festival, and many have already been implemented.

“The new plan is aimed at making The Shaw a theatre deeply connected to its audience and deeply imbedded in its community; a theatre inspired by the spirit of Bernard Shaw where we create truly unforgettable theatrical encounters,” said Peter Jewett, Chair of the Board. “The Shaw’s new strategic plan recognizes that our strength comes from our remarkable repertory ensemble and the craftspeople, artisans and arts workers who support them. It charges us to deepen their training and enhance their opportunities to interact with each other and with their patrons, audiences and communities, and it emphasizes that to do this well will require us to be careful stewards of our resources and thoughtful shepherds of our future.”

In support of this new strategic vision, the Shaw Festival’s Board of Governors determined that the Anchorage property was no longer needed as a future building site. This decision trigged a buyback clause in the original agreement and the property has been returned to Vintage Hotels’ ownership.

Executive Director Tim Jennings reported that the Shaw Festival’s 12-month period ending November 30, 2017 showed an operating surplus of approximately $65K. This was an increase in net revenues of $660K and a reduction in operating expenses of $184K compared to the same period in 2016.

Mr. Jennings also reported that “We were also able to pay off $1.25 million of our operating debt and $800K of our capital debt, and we invested another $2.5 million into eliminating a large list of historical capital deficiencies. Thanks in large part to a matching grant from Canadian Heritage we received in 2016, we are on track to eliminate all capital deficien­cies by the end of 2018.”

The Shaw Festival had the best fundraising year in the company’s history, with operating contributions in excess of $9 million – up $400K from last season. Additionally, Frances and Tim Price’s endowed gift of $2.5 million – of a $3 million total multi-year gift – supported the creation of the Andy Pringle Creative Reserve, and Marilyn and Charlie Baillie’s endowed gift of $1 million created the Christopher Newton Internship program, which will support emerging artists at The Shaw as of 2018.

Of this success, Mr. Jennings said “With these and many other generous gifts, 2017 saw over $1.7 million in new, permanently endowed money received by the Festival’s Endowment Foundation and additional payments and pledges will continue this trend well into 2020. These gifts are eligible for a matching program at Heritage Canada, so the actual impact should be very close to double the dollars donated.”

Finally, Mr. Jennings noted that The Shaw has changed its fiscal year-end from November 30 to December 31 to align the company’s year-end with the calendar year and in recognition that with the addition of A Christmas Carol the Festival now runs into December. The change in the company’s year-end necessitated a 13^th stub month in the audited year. This resulted in two Decembers – traditionally a high expense and low income month for the Festival – in the 13-month financial statements for 2017. This anomaly means the Festival shows a loss of $890k for the 13-month period, however this was well ahead of the organization’s projections for the extra month. The statements will return to a normal 12-month period in the future.

Sales for the 2018 season have set a record high for the on-sale period with the Season’s Pass sold out, several performances already nearing capacity and a week of performances already added to Of Marriage and Men. The Shaw Festival’s 2018 season is on stage April 4 with a playbill that features The Magician’s Nephew, Grand Hotel, Mythos: A Trilogy – Gods. Heroes. Men., The Hound of the Baskervilles, Stage Kiss, Of Marriage and Men: A Comedy Double-Bill, O’Flaherty V.C., Oh What a Lovely War, The Orchard (After Chekhov), The Baroness and the Pig, Henry V, Secret Theatre and A Christmas Carol (on stage November 14 – December 23). Tickets for the 2018 Festival season are available through the Box Office at 1-800-511-SHAW and online at www.shawfest.com.

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About the Shaw Festival

Inspired by the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival creates unforgettable theatrical encounters in any way we want. The Shaw Festival is a place where people who are curious about the world gather to share the unique experience of live theatre and real human encounters. For more information, please visit www.shawfest.com.

Connect with the Shaw Festival

Media Contacts:

An avid supporter and a devoted volunteer of the performing arts and athletic community, Sheila Brown recently completed her second term as Board Chair of Young People’s Theatre, the oldest professional theatre company in Toronto as well as the first and largest presenter of theatre for young audiences in Canada. Having joined the board in 2007, she remains a member of the YPT Advisory Committee. A two-term Chair and five year member of the Granite Club’s Figure Skating Committee, she is also a member of the Athletics Panel. For eight years, Ms. Brown has held leadership roles with a range of provincial and national level competitive synchronized figure skating teams. She is currently the manager and treasurer of the Meraki Intermediate, a national level synchronized skating team. Her work history includes leadership roles in the pharmaceutical industry, in sales, marketing and government relations. She has experience in the lab environment of a major community hospital and holds an Honours BSc in Pharmacology, Toxicology and Genetics from Western University and a MBA from the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago. A qualified highland dance instructor, Ms. Brown was a highland dancer in her youth and competed nationally, representing Canada as a member of the Canadian Folk Dancers at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland.

As a CA and CPA, Vivien Dzau has spent the last 19 years of her professional life in the taxation area of EY (formerly Ernst & Young), particularly in the firm’s international taxation practice. In addition to previously serving as a member of the Shaw Festival Board from 2010 to 2015, Ms. Dzau has also volunteered on the boards of the Victoria Order of Nurses, Ottawa Carlton, as Treasurer; on the board of Waterfront Toronto, as Chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee; and on the board of Dixon Hall, as Chair of the Governance Committee as well as Board Chair. Recent appointments include Vice Chair of the Capital Campaign for the Dixon Hall Music School’s new youth centre and the At-Risk Youth Program for disadvantaged youth in the newly revitalized Regent Park. Active in many other community engagements, Ms. Dzau has been a mentor and Champion for Mentoring Partnership; volunteered as a Big Sister, with the CNIB and Covenant House; and has been active politically in a variety of roles.

Tim Johnson is the executive producer of the acclaimed documentary RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World and an experienced museum executive. In recent years, he has guided development of two memorials of national significance honouring First Nations’ contributions to Canada – The Six Nations & Native Allies Commemorative Memorial (Queenston Heights Park), and the First Nations Peace Monument (Thorold). He serves as the artistic producer of FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre’s annual Celebration of Nations in St. Catharines. Formerly the Associate Director for Museum Programs at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian, Mr. Johnson, a member of the Mohawk community, managed the museum’s largest organizational group across its facilities in Washington and New York. Under Mr. Johnson’s leadership, the Museum produced a long list of critically acclaimed exhibits, programs, award-winning books and films, lectures, events, and periodicals, creating an era that significantly advanced the institution’s museology and reputation. His exhibit, Up Where We Belong: Native Musicians in Popular Culture, served as the basis for RUMBLE: The Indians Who Rocked the World. He remains an active member in his home community of Six Nations of the Grand River and continues to work with several prestigious Indigenous art, education and communication institutions. In 2016, Mr. Johnson received the Dreamcatcher Foundation Award for Art and Culture for his significant contributions to Indigenous arts, media and heritage programs over a distinguished 35-year career.

Sharon Levite currently serves as Buffalo Spree Publishing Inc.’s President and CEO. As president and CEO, Ms. Levite continues to build upon Buffalo Spree Publishing Inc.’s 50-year history of showcasing Western New York as a beautiful and vibrant place to live, work and play. Buffalo Spree Publishing produces 30 publications and events, has over 700,000 readers and over 1,400 advertising partners in the Buffalo and Rochester markets, and prints over 2 million pieces every year. Buffalo Spree Publishing has also won over 75 national awards for design and editorial from the North American Mature Publishers Association and the City and Regional Magazine Association, including three General Excellence awards.

Eugene Lundrigan is Head of Business Strategy for Sun Life Investment Management. Mr. Lundrigan has accountability for business strategy, product development and marketing for the Sun Life Investment Management group of companies. He has over 20 years of experience in financial services and an extensive background in investments, investment governance, strategy and marketing. He joined Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada (Sun Life) in 1997 and has held a range of senior level positions. He has also served as the investments representative on the pension plan committees of several Sun Life businesses. Raised in Baie Verte, Newfoundland, Mr. Lundrigan has a Bachelor of Commerce from Carleton University and an MBA (Finance) from McMaster University. He is also a CFA charterholder and member of CFA Toronto Society.

Corinne Rice is a long-time Shaw Festival supporter, ardent sponsor of the arts and education, and lover of travel. Appreciating the critical importance of education to every child’s development, Mrs. Rice, along with her husband Victor, has provided a number of educational scholarships to students. She has continued to be involved with the Just Buffalo Literary Center and its highly respected Babel series. She is also an active supporter of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy for over twenty-five years, including a period as Chair. Born and educated in England, Mrs. Rice was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters by Canisius College and has attended every opening performance of the Shaw Festival since 1979.

The Shaw Festival’s 2018 season is on stage April 4 through October 28. The playbill features The Magician’s Nephew, Grand Hotel, Mythos: A Trilogy – Gods. Heroes. Men., The Hound of the Baskervilles, Stage Kiss, Of Marriage and Men: A Comedy Double-Bill, O’Flaherty V.C., Oh What a Lovely War, The Orchard (After Chekhov), The Baroness and the Pig, Henry V, Secret Theatre and A Christmas Carol (on stage November 14 – December 23). Tickets for the 2018 Festival season are available through the Box Office at 1-800-511-SHAW and online at www.shawfest.com.

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About the Shaw Festival

Inspired by the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival creates unforgettable theatrical encounters in any way we want. The Shaw Festival, home to Two-Way Theatre, is a place where people who are curious about the world gather to share the unique experience of live theatre. For more information, please visit www.shawfest.com.

Connect with the Shaw Festival

Media Contacts:

Please visit www.shawfest.com/films for the most up-to-date Shaw Film Series schedule.

The annual Shaw Festival Film Series is presented by the Shaw Festival in association with Film Circuit, the Toronto International Film Festival’s film outreach programme.

The Shaw gratefully acknowledges the Friends of the Festival Film Series who have made this initiative possible, particularly major sponsors John and Carol Walker. The Shaw Festival Film Series is generously supported by the St. Catharines Standard, Niagara Falls Review and the Welland Tribune.

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About the Shaw Festival

Inspired by the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival creates unforgettable theatrical encounters in any way we want. The Shaw Festival, home to Two-Way Theatre, is a place where people who are curious about the world gather to share the unique experience of live theatre. For more information, please visit www.shawfest.com.

Connect with the Shaw Festival

Media Contacts:

The nine feature films scheduled every Saturday at 3 p.m. (doors open at 1:30 p.m.), beginning December 23 until February 17:

Gourmet eats will be available from Gooddine Catering before each Saturday screening.

Seven documentaries presented every Friday at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.), starting January 5 until February 16:

Prices:

Single Pass: $12
Feature Films Pass (9 screenings): $99
Doc Pass (7 screenings): $59
General admission seating
All prices include tax
Call 1-800-511-SHAW (7429), visit www.shawfest.com/films or
drop by the Festival Theatre Box Office to purchase tickets.

The annual Shaw Festival Film Series is presented by the Shaw Festival in association with Film Circuit, the Toronto International Film Festival’s film outreach programme.

The Shaw gratefully acknowledges the Friends of the Festival Film Series who have made this initiative possible, particularly major sponsors John and Carol Walker. The Shaw Festival Film Series is generously supported by the St. Catharines Standard, Niagara Falls Review and the Welland Tribune.

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About the Shaw Festival

Inspired by the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival creates unforgettable theatrical encounters in any way we want. The Shaw Festival, home to Two-Way Theatre, is a place where people who are curious about the world gather to share the unique experience of live theatre. For more information, please visit www.shawfest.com.

Connect with the Shaw Festival

Media Contacts:

“We’re thrilled that so many of you have has chosen to celebrate the holidays with us. We can’t wait to show you what we’ve been cooking up!” says Tim Carroll, Artistic Director.

A Christmas Carol stars Michael Therriault alongside Patty Jamieson, Andrew Lawrie, Emily Lukasik, Marla Mclean, Jeff Meadows, Sarena Parmar, PJ Prudat, Graeme Somerville and Jonathan Tan.

A Christmas Carol is on stage from November 15 to December 23 (opening November 25). In keeping with spirit of the season, food and money donations will be collected for Project Share at all performances. For people who have missed out on 2017, tickets for the 2018 production of A Christmas Carol go on sale December 9.

The Shaw would like to thank the generous support of A Christmas Carol by production sponsor Shaw Guild, official hotel partner Vintage Hotels, along with additional support provided by Hodgson Russ LLP, Simpson’s Pharmacy Virgil and Simpson’s Apothecary Niagara-on- the-Lake.

Cast: (in alphabetical order)

Creative & Production:

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About the Shaw Festival

Inspired by the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival creates unforgettable theatrical encounters in any way we want. The Shaw Festival, home to Two-Way Theatre, is a place where people who are curious about the world gather to share the unique experience of live theatre. For more information, please visit www.shawfest.com.

Connect with the Shaw Festival

Media Contacts:

“Andy is a friend and was responsible for my joining the Shaw Festival’s Board of Governors. I could not be more excited to see a fund created in his honour that champions the kind of forward-thinking business investment that Andy himself endorses,” says Tim Price. “In Tim Carroll, I see a new energy at The Shaw – an audience-focused and transparent framework. It’s a Shaw Festival that Frances and I are proud to support! And we challenge others who believe in the new vision for the Shaw Festival to join us in giving to the Andy Pringle Creative Reserve.”

Mr. Pringle served as the chair of The Shaw from 2013-2016 during which time he championed new ideas and experimentation with the theatre business models. Mr. Pringle, who is chair of RP Investment Advisors and on the board of Fidelity Canada, is a noted philanthropist and communitarian, currently serving as chair of the Toronto Police Services Board as well as the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (CANFAR). He is a past chair of Upper Canada College and of the PC Ontario Fund, and has previously served on the boards of the Walrus Foundation, the Atlantic Salmon Federation and many other charities. In June 2016, Mr. Pringle was awarded the Order of Canada. Mr. Pringle lives in Toronto with his wife, broadcaster Valerie Pringle.

“To have Tim and Frances lead off the creation of this fund with a gift of such generosity is really touching and hugely inspiring!” says Andy Pringle. “The Shaw is on a terrific course with the executive team of Tim Carroll and Tim Jennings at the helm. I know they will find and develop excellent new projects to move the company forward and I am happy to somehow be a part of that.”

Artistic Director Tim Carroll lauded both the Prices, noting: “We are so lucky to have leaders like Tim and Frances in our corner. Andy’s legacy at The Shaw and across Canada has been enormous and for philanthropists like the Prices to be so generous in supporting us and in honouring Andy in this way is truly game changing. We can’t thank them enough!”

Tim Price, a Shaw Festival board member since 2016, is chairman of Brookfield Funds, a division of Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and a leading asset manager with more than $200 billion worth of assets under management in property, renewable energy and infrastructure. He and wife Frances are among Canada’s leading philanthropists, both serving on the boards of many of Canada’s most important cultural and charitable institutions.

The first project supported by the Price’s gift will be the 2018 world premiere of Mythos: A Trilogy – Gods. Heroes. Men. written by and starring Stephen Fry and directed by Tim Carroll.

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About the Shaw Festival
Inspired by the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival creates unforgettable theatrical encounters in any way we want. The Shaw Festival strives to develop a two-way theatre experience and is a place where people who are curious about the world gather to share the unique experience of live theatre. For more information, please visit www.shawfest.com

Connect with the Shaw Festival

Media Contact:
Laura Hughes
Senior Communications Manager
905-468-2153 / 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
lhughes@shawfest.com

Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (November 2, 2017) — Artistic Director Tim Carroll announces the Shaw Festival’s 2018 ensemble. This season’s 56 actors will take to the stage in 14 productions, plus numerous Secret Theatre experiences.

“I was thrilled to see the way this company and our audience engaged with each other last season. The connection between those of us who work at The Shaw and our visitors is deepening into a real sense of community,” says Tim Carroll, Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival. “All of us at the Festival are looking forward to sharing the next part of the journey with our wonderful, loyal audience.”

The Shaw Festival’s 2018 season goes on sale to Friends of The Shaw beginning November 4 and the public on December 9. Tickets are available through the Box Office at 1-800-511-7429 and online at www.shawfest.com.

FESTIVAL THEATRE

ROYAL GEORGE THEATRE

JACKIE MAXWELL STUDIO THEATRE
The Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre is sponsored by Paradigm Capital Inc.

VARIOUS VENUES

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About the Shaw Festival
Inspired by the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival creates unforgettable theatrical encounters in any way we want. The Shaw Festival, home to Two-Way Theatre, is a place where people who are curious about the world gather to share the unique experience of live theatre. For more information, please visit www.shawfest.com.

Connect with the Shaw Festival

Media Contact:
Laura Hughes
Senior Communications Manager
905-468-2153 / 1-800-657-1106 ext. 2222
lhughes@shawfest.com

Premiering in 2019, this new adaptation of the Mahabharata is co-directed by Ravi Jain (Canada) and Jenny Koons (USA) and features a cast from the South Asian diaspora and a world-class creative team comprised of artists from Canada, USA and the United Kingdom.

“In 2014 we were commissioned by the Pan Am Games, and created a piece called Gimme Shelter, which looked at a small portion of the Mahabharata called the Bhagavad Gita. It was an incredible opportunity to play with international collaborators and engage with large questions, and portion of a massive epic,” says Ravi Jain, artistic and general director of Why Not Theatre. “Thanks to the Canada Council’s New Chapter Fund and the support of the Shaw Festival, we are now diving deeper into the full depths of the Mahabharata. It’s an incredible labyrinth – a gripping story steeped in deep philosophical and religious ideas. We’re thrilled to be assembling an international team to re-examine this seminal classic through a contemporary lens. In line with Why Not Theatre’s constant examination of who gets to tell what stories on our stages, this will be a rare western exploration of the text that will feature a cast composed entirely of members of the South Asian diaspora.”

“The Mahabharata is rooted in fundamental questions of action and inaction in the face of instability and conflict. I cannot think of a timelier epic to explore when each day’s headlines force us to face life and death decisions and consequences across nations and borders,” says co-director Jenny Koons.

“I called Ravi Jain to ask him if he would be interested in doing a version of the Mahabharata, only to find that he was already working on a plan! Talk about the stars aligning. Ravi is collecting a thrilling group of artists to do what The Shaw does best: breathe new life into an old masterpiece,” says Tim Carroll, artistic director of the Shaw Festival.

Often compared in significance to the Iliad or the Odyssey, the Mahabharata is one of the great works of world literature – a kaleidoscopic portrait of gods and humans living every passion to its fullest that has shaped Indian thought for over 4000 years. The scale and difficulty of the work has meant that it is rarely produced outside of India.

The Mahabharata is one of the 200 exceptional projects funded through the Canada Council for the Arts’ New Chapter program. With this $35M investment, the Council supports the creation and sharing of the arts in communities across Canada. This ambitious production will also receive support from the London-based partner Complicité.

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About Why Not Theatre

Why Not Theatre is an agile, international theatre company based in Toronto, Canada, rooted in the values of innovation, community and collaboration. Our work is inventive, cross-cultural, and reflects our passion for the exploration of difference. We challenge the status quo by examining what stories are being told and who is telling them. More than just a theatre company, we develop creative strategies to build a healthier and stronger arts ecology. We MAKE and tour critically-acclaimed and award-winning new work, SHARE resources with other companies and artists to produce and tour their work, and PROVOKE change through new producing models and the presentation of work for new audiences. We are led by a core team of Founding Artistic Director Ravi Jain, Managing Director Owais Lightwala, Executive Producer Kelly Read and Associate Producer Sandra Henderson. www.theatrewhynot.org

About the Shaw Festival

Inspired by the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival creates unforgettable theatrical encounters in any way we want. The Shaw Festival, home to Two-Way Theatre, is a place where people who are curious about the world gather to share the unique experience of live theatre. For more information, please visit www.shawfest.com.

Connect with the Shaw Festival

Media Contacts:

Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON (October 1, 2017) — An audience gathered this morning in Niagara-on-the-Lake for the final Secret Theatre experience of the season. Under the direction of Ben Sanders, a cast featuring Benedict Campbell, Diana Donnelly, Patrick Galligan, Jeff Meadows, Peter Millard, Gray Powell, PJ Prudat, Graeme Somerville and Sara Topham delighted a small audience with a morning of theatre.

Patrons can sign up for the Secret Theatre Club at www.shawfest.com to receive alerts about events coming in the 2018 season. Prices and availability will vary.

Secret Theatre is sponsored by Niagara Oast House Brewers.

Cast: (in alphabetical order)
Benedict Campbell
Diana Donnelly
Patrick Galligan
Jeff Meadows
Peter Millard
Gray Powell
PJ Prudat
Graeme Somerville
Sara Topham

Creative & Production:

The Shaw Festival’s 2017 season is on stage April 5 through October 15. The playbill features Me and My Girl, Saint Joan, Dracula, 1837: The Farmers’ Revolt, Androcles and the Lion, Wilde Tales, The Madness of George III, Dancing at Lughnasa, An Octoroon, Middletown, 1979 and Secret Theatre.

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About the Shaw Festival

Inspired by the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival creates unforgettable theatrical encounters in any way we want. The Shaw Festival, home to Two-Way Theatre, is a place where people who are curious about the world gather to share the unique experience of live theatre. For more information, please visit www.shawfest.com.

Connect with the Shaw Festival

Media Contacts:

“Michael is not just one of the best actors I have ever worked with, he is one of the great comedians,” says Tim Carroll. “His Scrooge will be probably the most energetic Ebenezer of all time.”

Helping Scrooge on his journey to festive cheer are Shaw Festival ensemble members Patty Jamieson, Andrew Lawrie, Emily Lukasik, Marla McLean, Jeff Meadows, Sarena Parmar, PJ Prudat, Graeme Somerville and Jonathan Tan.

This magical holiday experience features set and costumes by Christine Lohre, lighting by Kevin Lamotte, music direction by Paul Sportelli, and movement and puppetry by Alexis Milligan.

A Christmas Carol previews November 15, opens November 25 and plays through December 23. Tickets – starting from $35 – are available through the Box Office at 1-800-511-SHAW and online at www.shawfest.com. Group rates are available.

A Christmas Carol is sponsored by the Shaw Guild with additional support from Vintage Hotels, the Official Hotel Partner for this production.

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About the Shaw Festival
Inspired by the spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival creates unforgettable theatrical encounters in any way we want. The Shaw Festival, home to Two-Way Theatre, is a place where people who are curious about the world gather to share the unique experience of live theatre. For more information, please visit www.shawfest.com.

Connect with the Shaw Festival

Media Contacts: