Pre-Season InsightsMarch and April 2013Talks on the season's Shakespeare plays in Toronto, Hamilton and Guelph. For details, click here.Jordan Peterson: The Necessity of VirtueFestival Theatre Lobby
Wednesday, June 12, at 11 a.m.Regular contributor to TVO’s Big Ideas, University of Toronto professor and clinical psychologist Jordan Peterson examines the necessity of virtue as evidenced in the story of Measure for Measure. Admission: $10.John de Chastelain: Ancient Grudges and New Mutinies Tom Patterson Theatre, Saturday, June 15, at 10 a.m. Canada’s former Chief of the Defence Staff and former ambassador to the U.S. reflects on the Prince of Verona’s role as peacekeeper in Romeo and Juliet and relates it to his own experiences in the military and through the United Nations. Admission: $20.Support for the appearance of John de Chastelain is generously provided in memory of Dr. W. Philip Hayman.Sally Armstrong: Ascent of Women: A Remarkable Story of World-Wide Change Studio Theatre, Sunday, June 16, at 10 a.m. Journalist, author and human rights activist Sally Armstrong is a three-time winner of the Amnesty International Media Award and a Member of the Order of Canada. Her latest book, Ascent of Women, comes out in March 2013. Admission: $20.Barbara Kyle: Elizabeth and Mary, Rival Queens: A Study of Leadership Lost and WonFestival Theatre lobby, Wednesday, July 10, at 11 a.m.Ms Kyle, author of Blood Between Queens, published in May 2013, will sign books following her talk. Free admission.Marlis Schweitzer: Breaking with Tradition: Fiddler on the Roof and the 1960s Generation GapFestival Theatre lobby, Friday, July 12, at 11 a.m.Marlis Schweitzer is an associate professor of theatre at York University. Free admission.Jian Ghomeshi: To 1982 and BackStudio Theatre, Friday, July 12, at 5:30 p.m.The host and co-creator of CBC’s national cultural-affairs program Q uses his national bestseller, 1982, as a jumping-off point, as he shares hilarious and poignant anecdotes and insights of his journey from outside to inside: growing up Persian in Thornhill to being an award-winning, internationally renowned media personality. Admission: $20.William Whitehead: Language: Powers and Comic PerilsFestival Theatre lobby, Wednesday, July 24, at 11 a.m.Documentary writer and partner for forty years of the novelist Timothy Findley, Mr. Whitehead will sign copies of his book Words to Live By following his talk. Free admission.Lois Kivesto: Music With Her Silver Sound: Orchestral Interpretations of Shakespeare's Romeo and JulietFestival Theatre lobby, Wednesday, July 31, at 11 a.m.Lois Kivesto is a researcher for Canadian Stage. Free admission.Priscilla Costello: Astrology and Shakespeare: The Secret Key to The Merchant of VeniceFestival Theatre lobby, Thursday, August 1, at 11 a.m.Priscilla Costello is a counselling astrologer. Free admission.Graham Roebuck: Waiting for Godot: The Comedy of DespairFestival Theatre lobby, Wednesday, August 7, at 11 a.m.Graham Roebuck is an emeritus professor of English at McMaster University. Free admission.Sean Kennedy: Beckett: Longing and BelongingFestival Theatre LobbyWednesday, August 14, at 11 a.m.St. Mary’s University and Beckett expert Sean Kennedy looks at the themes of identity and belonging in the Irishman’s work, particularly Waiting for Godot. Free admission.Stanley Wells: Sex and Love in Verona, Venice and ViennaStudio Theatre, Friday, August 16, at 5 p.m.Stanley Wells is Honorary President, Life Trustee and former Chairman of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, emeritus professor of Shakespeare studies at the University of Birmingham and general editor of the Oxford and Penguin Shakespeares. Admission: $20.Stephen Lewis: Disability, Disillusion and Self-Discovery Avon Theatre, Saturday, August 17, at 10 a.m. Leader of Ontario’s New Democratic Party in the 1970s, Stephen Lewis later became Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations and the UN’s special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. He is currently the Board Chair of the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Admission: $20. Alex Bulmer: The Insight of BlindnessUniversity of Waterloo, Stratford Campus125 St. Patrick StreetSaturday, August 17, at 5:30 p.m.Canadian-born writer and theatre artist Alex Bulmer, now based in the U.K., shares her experience creating disabled-led art after losing her sight. Her work includes Breathe, a multidisciplinary performance piece that opened the sailing events at the London Olympics. Admission: $10.Stephen Landrigan and Qais Akbar Omar: Shakespeare in KabulFestival Theatre lobby, Thursday, August 22, at 11 a.m.The authors will sign copies of their book, Shakespeare in Kabul, following the talk. Free admission.Alisa Solomon: Fiddler’s Fortunes: The Mighty Afterlife of a Broadway MusicalUniversity of Waterloo, Stratford Campus125 St. Patrick StreetSaturday, September 21, at 10 a.m.Former theatre critic and cultural and political reporter for The Village Voice, Alisa Solomon directs the Arts and Culture concentration in the MA program at Columbia Journalism School. Admission: $10.Lobby Talks Informal chats by Director of Communications David Prosser in the Festival Theatre lobby at 11 a.m. Free admission. • Romeo and Juliet Thursday, June 27; Thursday, July 4; Wednesday, July 17; Thursday, September 5; and Wednesday, September 11. • The Merchant of Venice Tuesday, July 30; Tuesday, August 6; Friday, August 23; Tuesday, August 27; Friday, September 6; and Tuesday, September 10.
Support for the inaugural season of The Forum is generously provided by Kelly and Michael Meighen