by Eduardo De Filippo
In a new version by John Murrell and Donato Santeramo
Directed by Antoni Cimolino
World Première Translation
There will be TWO 18-minute intermissions.
This production includes startling sounds, coarse language, pyrotechnics and haze. It also makes use of e-cigarettes/e-cigars.
"a sophisticated and stimulating production" - The Guardian
“Thought-provoking.” – Toronto Star
“A magic trick of a production.” – Intermission
WHAT THE HEART DESIRES, THE MIND BELIEVES.
A funny, thought-provoking and deeply moving play, presented in a new translation by John Murrell and Donato Santeramo. In this comedy we find Otto Marvuglia, a once master illusionist, reduced to performing magic for money at a seaside resort. When one of his tricks seems to go awry, a guest tumbles into a world of illusion as another escapes an unhappy reality.
Setting: Naples area, 1950s.
House Program: Grand Magic
Runtime: Two hours and 37 minutes, including two 18-minute intermissions.
*Please note that all run times are approximate.
Production support is generously provided by Robert & Mary Ann Gorlin, by Dr. M.L. Myers, by Northpine Foundation and by Sylvia Soyka.
Corporate support for the 2023 season at the Tom Patterson Theatre is generously provided by BMO Financial Group.
Photo credits: Geraint Wyn Davies. Photo by Ted Belton.
2023: Otto Marvuglia in Grand Magic. 17th season. Stratford (selected): Elyot Chase, Sir Toby Belch, Sir Peter Teazle, Falstaff, Fluellen, Claudius, Möbius, Cook (Mother Courage), Antony, Duke Vincentio, Leicester, Cymbeline, Malachi Stack, King Arthur, Stephano, Dylan Thomas, Julius Caesar, Bottom, Polonius, Henry Higgins, Henry V, Bassanio, Tom Fashion, D'Artagnan, Richmond, Edward IV, Hortensio, Antipholus of Syracuse, Pericles. Elsewhere: N.Y.C.: King Lear (Lincoln Center); Poetic License; Do Not Go Gentle; Women Beware Women (Red Bull); Canadian Stage's Liv Stein, The Elephant Man; Shaw Festival, five seasons; Prospero, Richard III, Cyrano (Shakespeare Theatre Company); Love's Labour's Lost (RSC); Hamlet, Henry VIII (Chichester); An Enemy of the People (Lyric Hammersmith, London); two seasons, Theatr Clwyd's artistic associate (Welsh National Company). Film/TV: The Scottish Play, ReGenesis, Murdoch Mysteries, 24, Slings and Arrows, Black Harbour, Airwolf, Forever Knight, American Psycho II, Hypercube, One of the Hollywood Ten, Conspiracy of Fear.
(she/her) Birmingham Conservatory, 2019/21
2023: Marta Di Spelta in Grand Magic and Mother, Camazotz Mother, Camazotz Business Person and Voice of Aunt Beast in A Wrinkle in Time. Fourth season. Stratford: Scrivener in Richard III, Marianne in The Miser, Lady Capulet and Tybalt in R + J. Elsewhere (selected): Viola Desmond in Controlled Damage (The London Grand); Portia in The Merchant of Venice, Marina in Pericles, Phaedra in Hippolytus, Maybe Jane in The Yellow Wallpaper (York University); Bluebeard's Bride in The gruesome terror & most brave triumph of Bluebeard's Bride, Irma in The Madwoman of Chaillot (The Lunar Stratagem); Mary Anne Shad in Portraits Patterns Possibilities (Culchahworks); Fabiana Cunningham in The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (Lower Ossington Theatre). Training: MFA York University, Factory Mechanicals, Claude Watson Arts Program, Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre. Awards: Edith Zacks Millman for Extraordinary Achievement in Performance (Queen's University). Online: @beckklloyd. Et cetera: Thanks, Mum.
Birmingham Conservatory 2002
2023: Calogero Di Spelta in Grand Magic and Don Armado in Love's Labour's Lost. 14th season. Stratford (selected): Iago (Othello), Dr. Caius (The Merry Wives of Windsor), James Tyrone Jr. (Long Day's Journey Into Night), God the Son (Paradise Lost), Pentheus (Bakkhai), Laurent (Tartuffe), Biondello (The Taming of the Shrew), Scrub (The Beaux' Stratagem), Andrei (Three Sisters), Apollodorus (Caesar and Cleopatra), Roderigo (Othello), Flaminius (Timon of Athens). Elsewhere: A&R Angels (Crow's Theatre); Pride and Prejudice, Robin Hood (Globe Theatre); A Doll's House (Montgomery/TNB). Film/TV: Fargo, Suits, Republic of Doyle, Murdoch Mysteries, The Ron James Show, Warehouse 13, Lost Girl. Training: National Theatre School of Canada; Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre. Awards: Tyrone Guthrie Award (2003, 2007, 2018), John Hirsch Award (2004) and the Richard Monette Travel Grant (2009).
2023: Zaira Marvuglia in Grand Magic and Helena Percy, Countess of Northumberland in Richard II. Seventh season. Stratford: Wolsey (Wolf Hall); Daya (Nathan the Wise); Norah (Birds of a Kind); Queen Elizabeth (Shakespeare in Love); Matilda (Zastrozzi). Elsewhere: Indecent, The Normal Heart, Stuff Happens (Mirvish /Studio 180); The Message, Scorched, Mrs.Klein, The Collected works of Billy the Kid, Hope Slide, The Retreat (Tarragon); The Glass Menagerie (Grand); The Virgin Trial (ATP); The Millionairess, Blithe Spirit, Heartbreak House, Councillor at Law (Shaw Festival, 13 seasons); My Name is Asher Lev (HGJT/Studio 180). Film/TV: Station Eleven, Albatross, Orphan Black, Working Moms, Fugitive Pieces, Less than Kosher. Directing: Assistant Director Oslo, King Charles the III (Mirvish/Studio 180) Awards: Best actress - Dora (Patience); Capital Critics (A Doll's House); Austin Int. Film Fest (Albatross); 2018 RBC Emerging Director. Sarah commits herself to new play development and mentorship of young performers.
Birmingham Conservatory 2022/23
2023: Rosa Intrugli in Grand Magic and Katharine in Love's Labour's Lost. Second season. Stratford: Mistress Shore in Richard III and appeared in All's Well That Ends Well. Elsewhere (selected): Annie in Meditaysh (Concord Theatricals); Jessica in Geurilla Brunch Warfare, Grace in The Women Cannot Breathe (New Voices Festival); Marina in Lover Lover (Subverting Something); Ellie in Let's Talk About (Theatre TOnight/Canadian Stage). Film/TV: Charlie in The Price of Fitting In (MarVisa Entertainment/Neshama Productions). Training: TMU, Birmingham Conservatory. Awards: 2018 Theatre Ontario Award (Armstrong Acting Studios). Et cetera: All my love to Mom, Dad, Liam and Sophie.
(she/her)
2023: Neighbour in Grand Magic and appears in Love's Labour's Lost. Second season. Stratford: The Miser, Hamlet. Elsewhere: Schoolhouse, Macbeth, The Ruins, Frankenstein, In This Light, As You Like It, Iliad by Fire (Two Planks); A Midsummer Night's Dream, As You Like It (Shakespeare BASH'd); Old Man and the River (Theatre Direct); The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Goodnight Moonand the Runaway Bunny (Mermaid Theatre); As You Like It, King Lear, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Antony and Cleopatra, The Merchant of Venice, The Taming of the Shrew, Cinderelly (Shakespeare by the Sea). Film/TV: Complusus, King & Pawn. Recordings: Ophelia available on Spotify and Apple Music. Composer: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Co-Composer As You Like It (Shakespeare BASH'd). Awards: Merritt Award for Outstanding Performance in a Leading Role (Schoolhouse). Training: Dalhousie University. Online: @hilary_adamss. Et cetera: Big love to my whole family, thank you for all your support.
2023: Signora Marino in Grand Magic and Lady Scroop in Richard II. 12th season. Last season, Sarah was seen as Sian Ap Dafydd in 1939 and Siri/Jessica in Hamlet-911. Other Stratford credits: The Front Page, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Paradise Lost, Treasure Island, Romeo and Juliet, The Importance of Being Earnest, Richard III, Private Lives, The Merchant of Venice, Macbeth and The Cherry Orchard. Elsewhere: The Antipodes, Marjorie Prime (Coal Mine); Mustard, The Small Room at the Top of the Stairs, Communion (Tarragon); Domesticated, A Whistle in the Dark, Marion Bridge (Company Theatre); The Penelopiad (Nightwood). Film/TV: Anne with an E, Murdoch Mysteries, Ginny & Georgia. Training: George Brown Theatre School. Awards: Dora Awards for Marion Bridge and The Penelopiad, Toronto Critics Award for Marjorie Prime. For Max.
2023: Harry Percy in Richard II, Waiter in Grand Magic and understudy in Love's Labour's Lost. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: A Few Good Men, Twelve Angry Men, The Miracle Worker, The Birds and the Bees, Death of a Salesman, Brighton Beach Memoirs (Drayton); The Cider House Rules reading (Talk is Free); Suitcases/Provenance workshop (Canadian Stage). Film/TV: Jump, Darling (opposite Cloris Leachman), In The Dark, Murdoch Mysteries, Man Seeking Woman, Bitten, Reign, Close Encounters. Radio/Recordings: Strange Loops (audiobook). Training: The Randolph College for the Performing Arts. Online: Instagram @tomsdup. Et cetera: Thomas dedicates this season to his family; blood and chosen. Hi Mom!
(he/him)
2023: Groom in Richard II, Waiter in Grand Magic and understudy in Love's Labour's Lost. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Gilbert Blythe in Anne of Green Gables - The Musical, Tell Tale Harbour (The Charlottetown Festival); Cinderella, Elf the Musical, Hello, Dolly!, Les Misérables: School Edition, Evita, A Christmas Carol, Home for the Holidays (Grand Theatre); The Great Cosmic Crisis (Theatre Direct); 365 Days/365 Plays, Everybody, The Most Offending Soul Alive, Bonus Points If You Have Air Conditioning (National Theatre School) Training: The National Theatre School of Canada. Online: www.justineddy.ca, @jstneddy. Et cetera: Justin is an emerging producer, playwright and creator.
Birmingham Conservatory, 2022/23
2023: Gennarino Fucecchia in Grand Magic and Moth in Love's Labour's Lost. Second season. Stratford: Duke of Norfolk in Richard III and appeared in All's Well That Ends Well. Elsewhere: Zach in Unsafe (Canadian Stage); Isaac in Isaac's Eye (Unit 102 Actor's Co); Jerry Lee Lewis in Million Dollar Quartet (Theatre Aquarius, Segal Centre, Citadel Theatre); Lee Piper in Jerusalem (Crow's Theatre). Composer: Margaret Atwood's Angel Catbird (2018); Turnin' (2019) and Graham's General Store (2021). All my love to Kelly and Raindog at home.
Birmingham Conservatory 2017/18
2023: Henry Bolingbroke in Richard II, Mariano D'Albino in Grand Magic, and King of Navarre in Love's Labour's Lost. Fifth season. Stratford: All's Well That Ends Well, Richard III, Henry VIII, The Crucible, The Neverending Story, An Ideal Husband, Julius Caesar, To Kill a Mockingbird. Elsewhere (selected): Montague/Steve in Serving Elizabeth (Thousand Islands Playhouse); Eribo in The Neverending Story (NAC); Othello in Othello (Driftwood Theatre); Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost, Leontes in The Winter's Tale (Dauntless City Theatre); Aaron in Titus Andronicus (Seven Siblings Theatre); Lysander and Robin Starveling in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Humber River Shakespeare). Film/TV: The Kings of Napa (OWN); The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu); Mayday (Discovery); See No Evil (Discovery ID). Training: Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre; Brock University (Performance Concentration). Et cetera: Love, peace, and SOULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TRAIN.
2023: Mrs. Which and Camazotz Mother (voiceover) in A Wrinkle in Time and Matilde Di Spelta in Grand Magic. 11th season. Stratford (selected): Eve, Richard III; Widow Capilet, All's Well That Ends Well; Duchess of Norfolk, Henry VIII; Morla, The Neverending Story; Lady Montague, Romeo and Juliet; Constance, The Madwoman of Chaillot; Marina, Pericles; Bianca, The Taming of the Shrew; Katherine, Henry V; Miss Hoyden, The Relapse. Elsewhere: Canada and the UK including Juliet, Romeo and Juliet (Chesterfield Repertory, England); Caroline, Childhood/Infancy (King's Head Theatre, London); Kate Hardcastle, She Stoops to Conquer (Arts Club Theatre); Lady Nijo, Top Girls (Grand Theatre). Film/TV: Recently: Guillermo del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities; Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey; J.J. Abrams/Stephen King's 11/22/63; A Family Man, Gerard Butler; Cardinals, Touchpoint Films. Et cetera: I'm grateful to have had such a rich, varied career and to be supported by my wonderful family. For Gina, hearts and stars.
(they/them)
2023: King Richard II in Richard II and Roberto Magliano in Grand Magic. Second season. Stratford: Smash in Every Little Nookie, John Brooke in Little Women. Elsewhere: Trout in Trout Stanley (Factory Theatre); Tom in The Glass Menagerie (Grand Theatre); Creator/Performer in Black Boys (Saga Collectif/Buddies in Bad Times); Belize in Angels in America (Arts Club); Leonardo da Vinci in Botticelli in the Fire, Isaac in Sunday in Sodom (Canadian Stage); Philip Clandon in You Never Can Tell (Shaw Festival). Training: National Theatre School of Canada. Et cetera: Stephen is a wandering poet who creates their own Poetic-Dreamscape-Odysseys. They seek to create work that activates the soul and takes us into a world of imagination. Like Willy Wonka. Stephen loves you.
2023: Lord Ross in Richard II, Nathaniel in Love's Labour's Lost and appears in Grand Magic. Second season. Stratford: Hamlet, Death and the King's Horseman. Elsewhere: Duke Vincentio in Measure for Measure, Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing, Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night (Repercussion Theatre); Bottom in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Canadian Stage); Sir in Encore (Tableau D'Hôte); Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in The Mountaintop (Persephone Theatre). Film/TV/Video Games: VFC, La Maison Bleue, Outriders. Training: Dawson College, Soulpepper Academy. Awards: Outstanding Lead Performance META for Martin in MOB (Centaur Theatre). Online: matthewkabwe.com, agencebridgetdechene.com. Et cetera: Matthew sends wishes of love and thanks to everyone who has supported him. Matthew is thrilled to be returning to the Stratford Festival for his second season. Matthew is also B.
(they/she)
2023: Amelia Taddei in Grand Magic and Man With Red Eyes Servant, Aunt Beast, Camazotz Child and Camazotz Business Person in A Wrinkle in Time. Second season. Stratford: Finally There's Sun (2021). Elsewhere: The Man That Got Away (Buddies in Bad Times); Serving Elizabeth (Theatre Aquarius); Dixon Road (Musical Stage Company/Obsidian); Blackout, Baapii Roho, Uncovered- the music of Carole King, Uncovered- the music of ABBA (Musical Stage Company); Orphan Song (Tarragon); Into the Woods (Talk Is Free Theatre). Training: Bachelor's in Musical Theatre Performance. Awards: two-time Dora Award nominee and Harold Award-winner. Online: @germaine.k. Et cetera: Thank you to my dear ones, always, for their support. Thank you, reader, for coming. I am grateful for the chance to share this experience with you.
Birmingham Conservatory 2013/14
2023: Gregorio Di Spelta in Grand Magic and Father, Camazotz Business Person and Voice of Man with Red Eyes in A Wrinkle in Time. Eighth season. Stratford: Richmond (Richard III), Victor (The Miser), Slender (Merry Wives…), Kruger (Front Page), Benvolio (Romeo and Juliet), Allardyce (Treasure Island), Wickers (Breathing Hole), Lennox (Macbeth), Silvius (As You Like It), Kastril (Alchemist), Young Soldier (Mother Courage). Elsewhere: Petruchio (St. Lawrence); Jacob Mercer, Salt-Water Moon (NAC); Laurie, Vimy (GCTC); Clown, The 39 Steps (Stage West); David Jung, Rockbound (Two Planks); Michael, Elephant Song (Beothuk Street); Dromio of Ephesus, Comedy of Errors (SBTS); Jerry, Zoo Story (Reid Theatre). Film/TV: On the Count of Three, Pain Killer, Titans, What We Do In The Shadows, Murdoch Mysteries, Uninvited Guest, Played, Beauty and the Beast, Republic of Doyle, Covert Affairs, Life with Derek. Training: Birmingham Conservatory; Ryerson, BFA Acting. Awards: Peter T. Donaldson Award; Amelia Hall Award; Elephant Song: Walter Chambers Scholarship, D.A. Matthews Scholarship. Et cetera: Proud Newfoundlander.
2023: Signorina Zampa in Grand Magic and Maria in Love's Labour's Lost. Second season. Stratford: Marlene in Hamlet-911 and understudy in Every Little Nookie. Elsewhere (selected): Juliet in Measure for Measure (Repercussion Theatre); Lily in The In-Between, Old Witch in Little Witch (Geordie Theatre); K in HBD2Me (Carousel Players); Fourteen in Plucked (SummerWorks Festival). Training: National Theatre School, Birmingham Conservatory.
2023: Oreste Intrugli in Grand Magic and Dumaine in Love's Labour's Lost. Second season. Stratford: Lord Grey, Forrest in Richard III and appeared in All's Well That Ends Well. Elsewhere: Hasan in The Men in White (Factory Theatre), Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing (Dauntless City Theatre), Bobby in Tough! (Canadian Rep), Alonso in The Tempest (Shakespeare by the Bow). Film/TV: 13: The Musical (Netflix), Nine Films About Technology (FX/Hulu). Radio/Recordings: Librarian of Childhood Studies in Borrowings (The Boundless Library). Training: University of Calgary (2015), National Voice Intensive. Awards: Recipient of the Marilyn Perkins Annual Award in Music, Art & Drama. Et cetera: Chanakya dedicates this season to his friends, mentors, family and his love. He would also like to recognize and thank his agent, Karen Bernstein (KB Artists Management), for her constant support.
2023: Signora Zampa in Grand Magic and Duchess of York in Richard II. Second season. Stratford: Disability Consultant and Dramaturg for Richard III. Acting: Angel in How it Ends, Jenny Diver in The Threepenny Opera (Sick + Twisted); Anne in Shakespeare's Will, Richard III in Richard III, the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, Ariel in The Tempest (Shakespeare in the Ruins). Playwriting: Head - the Anne Boleyn Musical (Shakespeare in the Ruins, published by Scirocco Drama); How it Ends (Sick + Twisted/Prairie Theatre Exchange published by Playwrights Canada Press). Training: National Theatre School. Et cetera: Debbie is a founder and former AD of Shakespeare in the Ruins and the current founding AD of Sick + Twisted Theatre. She lives in Winnipeg (Treaty 1) and in a cabin on the shore of Lake Winnipeg (Treaty 2). Love always to Arne, Gislina and Solmund.
2023: Waiter in Grand Magic, Forester in Love's Labour's Lost and understudy in Richard II. Second season. Tyler was coerced into acting by his grade eight English teacher and has not yet found a way to stop. Selected Credits include: The Cop in Blind Date (Charring Cross Theatre and Edinburgh Fringe); Ash in Evil Dead: The Musical, Officer Lockstock in Urinetown: The Musical, Padraic in The Lieutenant of Inishmore (Ground Zero Theatre/ Hit & Myth Productions); Lewis Hake in The Mystery of Evelyn Strange (Vertigo Mystery Theatre); The Hero in Iraq and Back (Ghost River Theatre); Little John in Robin Hood (Alberta Theatre Projects); The man in Laughing Wild, Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet (Seraph Theatre Company); Malcolm in Little Malcolm and His Struggle Against the Eunuchs (Dark Forest Theatre).
2023: Mrs. Who and Camazotz Mother (voiceover) in A Wrinkle in Time and Signora Locascio in Grand Magic. Second season. Stratford: Grace in Every Little Nookie and understudy in Little Women. Elsewhere: Lila in Bang Bang, Laertes in Prince Hamlet, Geschwitz in LULU v.7, Claudette in How Black Mothers Say I Love You, Black Woman in We Are Proud to Present....Audio Books/Recordings:The Book of Negroes (Lawrence Hill); The Second Life of Samuel Tyne (Esi Edugyan); Henry G20 (Christine Brubaker). Film/TV:The Last of Us, American Gods, What We Do in the Shadows, Workin' Moms, Slo-Pitch. Producing: Co-founder of 2Skins Entertainment - slate includes Ghoulz n Gyaldem, Black femme horror review podcast; Rooted Imagination, Transformations Project, NAC; P!GS, a short available on CBC Gem; DEFUND, one of TIFF's Top Ten Canadian Short Films of 2021. Online: @djpaulydij
(he/him) Birmingham Conservatory 2012/13
2023: Sir John Bushy in Richard II, Marcade in Love's Labour's Lost and Waiter in Grand Magic. Sixth season. Stratford: The Neverending Story, The Crucible, Shakespeare in Love, The Aeneid, The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, Love's Labour's Lost, King John, Antony and Cleopatra, Mother Courage and Her Children, Romeo and Juliet, Three Musketeers, Merchant of Venice. Elsewhere: The Neverending Story (National Arts Centre); Ajax in Afghanistan, Intuition of Iphigenia, Elektra in Bosnia (WIW, Greece Tour); Phaedra, The Bacchae, Agamemnon (Hydrama Centre, Greece); Serious Money (Nightwood); Russian Dolls (Buddies); Machina Nuptialis (Corpus); Bent (Theatre Engine). Film/TV/Radio: The Strain, Murdoch Mysteries, Bay Street in The Drop ('23), Gus in ****** Roommate. Training: TMU, Birmingham Conservatory (under Martha Henry). Awards: Lindsay Thomas Award. Online: @fishermans_enemy23. Et cetera: Dedicated to Martha.
2023: Gervasio D'Aloisi in Grand Magic, Bishop of Carlisle in Richard II and Boyet in Love's Labour's Lost. 20th season. Stratford: Chicago, The Miser, Finally There's Sun, Music Man, Rocky Horror, Guys and Dolls, The Lion, the Witch…, Shakespeare in Love, Hamlet, The Alchemist, Crazy for You, Tommy, Grapes of Wrath, The Misanthrope, Kiss Me, Kate, Cyrano de Bergerac, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Odyssey, Midsummer Night's Dream, Coriolanus. Elsewhere: goldfish (Here For Now); Every Brilliant Thing, The Foursome, For the Pleasure… (New Stages); Fleeto, Oh, the Humanity, 4th Graders (Tiny Room); London Road (Dora Award), Indian Ink, Into the Woods, Dream (Canadian Stage); Assassins (Dora Award) (TIFT); Frog and Toad (MTYP); Orson's Shadow (Pilot Group); A New Brain (Musical Stage Company); Shrek, A Christmas Story (Grand); The Producers (Mirvish/Neptune); Seussical, Sylvia (Aquarius); The Three Musketeers (Chicago Shakespeare); Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Citadel); Three Sisters (ATF).
Birmingham Conservatory 2010/2011
2023: Berowne in Love's Labour's Lost, Head Waiter in Grand Magic and Thomas Mowbray in Richard II. Eighth season. Stratford: Hamlet, Death and the King's Horseman, School for Scandal, Timon of Athens, Merchant of Venice, She Stoops to Conquer, Alice Through the Looking-Glass, Anne Frank, Oedipus Rex, Hay Fever, Three Musketeers, Much Ado, Henry V, Grapes of Wrath. Elsewhere: 15 Dogs (Crow's Theatre); A Few Good Men (Drayton); The Matchmaker (Arts Club); Sleuth (Mayfield); Stag and Doe (Neptune); The Gamblers (Talk is Free); Chasse-Galerie (Storefront/Soulpepper). Film/TV/Video Games: Caillou, Immortals: Fenyx Rising, Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, Redwall, Wind at My Back. Training: Circle in the Square, Birmingham Conservatory, UofT. Et cetera: Tyrone dedicates this season to his parents Booth and Janet-Laine. With love beyond measure.
2023: Edmund Duke of York in Richard II, Holofernes in Love's Labour's Lost and understudy in Grand Magic. 11th season. Stratford: Hamlet, The Miser, The Front Page, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Paradise Lost, Timon of Athens, The Changeling, Shakespeare in Love, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, The Aeneid, Taming of the Shrew, Possible Worlds, The Beaux' Stratagem, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Richard III, Julius Caesar, Bartholomew Fair, Shakespeare's Universe. Elsewhere: Dock Spider (Magnus Theatre); The 4th Graders Present An Unnamed Love Suicide (Tiny Room); Jerusalem (OTM/Company Theatre); Silence, Art (Grand Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Western Canada Theatre); Hound of the Baskervilles, Robin Hood (Globe Theatre); Pitmen Painters, Boeing Boeing (Theatre Aquarius); Vigil, Lawrence and Holloman (Prairie Theatre Exchange); Having Hope at Home (Neptune); Twelfth Night, The Tempest (Hartford Stage); Pride and Prejudice (Theatre Calgary/NAC); The Lonely Diner (Blyth Festival); Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth (NAC).
2023: Dull in Love's Labour's Lost, Angel in Richard II and understudy in Grand Magic. 13th season. Stratford: Little Women, Every Little Nookie, The Physicists, Pericles, The Trojan Women, The Swanne, As You Like It, The Comedy of Errors, Hamlet, Long Day's Journey…. Elsewhere: The Wedding Party (Crow's, Vancouver Arts Club); The River (Coal Mine); The Africa Trilogy (Volcano/Luminato); The Real World?, Rune Arlidge, Lion in the Streets, Motel Hélène (Tarragon); Body and Soul, Blood (Passe Muraille); Escape from Happiness (Factory); Doc, Leaving Home, The Price, Our Town, Miss Julie (Soulpepper); Macbeth, Othello (NAC); A Moon for the Misbegotten (Centaur); Streetcar Named Desire, How I Learned to Drive, Suddenly Last Summer (Citadel). Film/TV: American Gods, Cardinal, Remember, One Week, Men With Brooms, The Detail, Reign, Orphan Black, Slings and Arrows. Awards: Two Doras; Amelia Hall Guthrie. Et cetera: Love to C & A.
(he/him) Birmingham Conservatory, 2015/16
2023: Duke of Aumerle in Richard II, Brigadiere in Grand Magic and understudy in Love's Labour's Lost. Sixth season. Emilio Vieira is a Toronto-based actor-creator. Stratford Festival credits include: Richard III, The Miser, The Tempest, Coriolanus, Napoli Milionaria!, Tartuffe, Macbeth, All My Sons, Bunny. Elsewhere: The Three Musketeers (RMTC); february: a love story (Globus Theatre); Cymbeline (Shakespeare BASH'd); Towards Youth: a play on Radical Hope (Crow's Theatre); Measure for Measure, Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, Titus Andronicus (Shakespeare in High Park); Tartuffe (Canadian Stage); Coriolanus (Dartmouth, New Hampshire). Emilio trained under the direction of Martha Henry and Stephen Ouimette in the Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre. Thank you for supporting live theatre. Watch february: a love story on demand at februarytheplay.com. Instagram: @suddensparkcollective @emiliovieira.
2023: Sir Justin Green in Richard II, Waiter in Grand Magic and understudy in Love's Labour's Lost. Second season. Stratford: Jean Delorme in 1939. Elsewhere: Flute/Philostrate in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare BASH'd); Private Harris in Timothy Findley's The Wars (Grand Theatre); Chip Tolentino in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Hart House Theatre); Algernon Moncrieff in The Importance of Being Earnest (Theatre Erindale). Film/TV: Save the Date (Watersign Productions); Revenge of the Black Best Friend (CBC Gem). Training: Theatre and Drama Studies Program, University of Toronto Mississauga and Sheridan College. Online: johnwamsley.ca. Instagram: @wamsley. Et cetera: For Mom, Dad, Meagan and Andrew. Thank you for everything.
Playwright of Grand Magic.
Born in Naples on May 24, 1900, into a theatrical family headed by actor Eduardo Scarpetta, Eduardo De Filippo made his own stage debut in early childhood, in a play written by his father, and already had a burgeoning acting career when he was called up in 1920 for two years of military service. By the end of the decade, he had won renown as a comic actor and had begun to embark on a parallel career as a playwright. In 1931, with his brother Peppino and sister Titina, he cofounded the Teatro Umoristico I De Filippo Company; then, in 1945, Eduardo and Titina formed Il Teatro di Eduardo. De Filippo wrote some forty plays, many of which have gained international recognition. Besides La Grande Magia (1948) they include Napoli Milionaria! (1945, produced by the Stratford Festival in 2018), Natale in casa Cupiello (1930), Filumena Maturano (1946), Sabato, Domenica, e Lunedi (Saturday, Sunday, Monday, 1959) and L'arte della commedia (The Art of Comedy, 1964). As an actor, De Filippo appeared in over a dozen films, including Casanova farebbe cosi! (Casanova Would Do It That Way!, 1942) and Pier Paolo Pasolini's I racconti di Canterbury (The Canterbury Tales, 1971). He wrote the screenplay for a film adaptation of Napoli Milionaria!, known in English as Side Street Story (1950), as well as directing and acting in it. In November 1980 he received an honorary degree in letters from the University of Rome and in 1981 was appointed a life senator. He died in Rome on October 31, 1984.
2023: Co-adaptor of Grand Magic. One of Canada's most frequently produced playwrights, John Murrell has had his plays translated into more than twenty languages and performed in more than thirty-five countries. They include Waiting for the Parade, Memoir, Farther West, Democracy, Taking Shakespeare, and Fat Jack Falstaff's Last Hour. He is also an esteemed translator of theatre, including works by Sophocles, Chekhov, Ibsen, and eight plays by contemporary Quebec playwright, Carole Fréchette. Murrell was the librettist for three operas by John Estacio and one by Bramwell Tovey. He was an Officer of the Order of Canada, a member of the Alberta Order of Excellence, and a recipient of the Governor General of Canada's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement.
2023: Co-adaptor and dramaturge of Grand Magic. Second season. Stratford: Literal translator, Napoli Milionaria!Elsewhere: Artistic Director of Matera Film Festival. Dramaturge for The Spectator's Odyssey, or dell'Inferno (St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts). Producer/Director of Injury Time (Theatre Five, Kingston); Words, in the dark (Poor Alex Theatre, Toronto) and An Evening to Celebrate the Life and Work of Dario Fo and Franca Rame (The Arts and Letters Club Theatre, Toronto). Teaching: Donato is a Professor in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures at Queen's University. He is cross-appointed to the School of Drama and Music and is associated with the Cultural Studies Graduate Program. He also holds an appointment at the Graduate School of the University of Rome II. Writing: Author of monographs on Luigi Pirandello and Edward Gordon Craig and Co-editor of Red Cars, an Original Screenplay by David Cronenberg and Contemporary Theatre in Canada.
2023: Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival. Director of Grand Magic. 36th season. Stratford: Directing credits include Richard III; The Miser; Birds of a Kind; The Merry Wives of Windsor; The Tempest; Napoli Milionaria!; The School for Scandal; Macbeth; The Hypochondriac; Hamlet; The Alchemist; King Lear; The Beaux' Stratagem; Mary Stuart; The Merchant of Venice; Cymbeline; The Grapes of Wrath; Bartholomew Fair; Coriolanus; As You Like It, featuring original music by Barenaked Ladies; King John; Love's Labour's Lost, with Brian Bedford; Twelfth Night, with William Hutt; The Night of the Iguana; and Filumena, with Richard Monette. A crowning achievement of his tenure as Artistic Director is the building of the new Tom Patterson Theatre, which opened in 2022, winning a number of architectural awards. He was also instrumental in establishing the Festival's Endowment Foundation, which now stands in excess of $90 million, as well as in the renovation of the Avon Theatre and the creation of the Studio Theatre. Elsewhere: The Canadian première of ENRON (Theatre Calgary); Twelfth Night (Attic Theatre, Detroit); A Woman of No Importance (Hilberry Theater, Detroit). A champion of the arts and culture, Mr. Cimolino served as the Founding Chair of Culture Days, a nation-wide celebration of arts and culture in Canada. He has initiated collaborations with several prestigious theatre companies, including Montreal's Théâtre du Nouveau Monde, Ottawa's National Arts Centre, New York's Lincoln Center and City Center, San Francisco's American Conservatory Theater and the Chicago Shakespeare Theater.
2023: Set and lighting designer of Grand Magic and associate set designer of Wedding Band. 10th season. Stratford: The Miser - lighting; A Midsummer Night's Dream - costumes; Mother's Daughter - set and costumes; Two Gentlemen of Verona - set and lighting; The Front Page, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Timon of Athens, Agamemnon, Electra, Bereav'd of Light, Fellini Radio Plays, Walk Right Up and Shadows - set; The Flies - set and costumes. Elsewhere: Set: Mahabharata (WhyNot Theatre/Shaw). Set and lighting: Network (Citadel/RMTC); New (MTC); Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo (Crow's/Modern Times). Designs for Soulpepper, Pershing Square Theatre, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Ballet Nacional de Cuba, Joffrey Ballet, and regional theatres throughout Canada. Awards: Dora Awards: Lighting design for Julius Caesar (Crow's); set and projection design for Rose (Soulpepper); set and lighting design for Of Human Bondage (Soulpepper). Et cetera: Member of the Associated Designers of Canada. www.lorenzosavoini.com.
2023: Composer of Grand Magic. Third season. Stratford:1939, The Rez Sisters. Factory Theatre:Apple, Claudius, Amazon Dream, The Leisure Society, Better Living, Escape from Happiness, Beyond Mozambique, The Rez Sisters. Canadian Rep Theatre:Pacamambo, How Do I Love Thee, Armstrong's War, Tideline. Other Theatre:Moonlodge (Soulpepper Theatre); Sunshine & Shadows (Orillia Opera House); Possible Worlds (Helen Gardiner Phelan Playhouse); The Matador (York Street Theatre); Days of Wine and Roses (Hart House Theatre). CBC Radio Dramas:A Dream Within a Dream, The Pet, Alligators in the Lake, A Few Words About Harold, Ultimate Destination, Everything She Wants, The Most Beautiful Girl in Town, What Friends Do, Puppy Love. Online:waynekelso.com. Et cetera: Wayne celebrates his Métis heritage by dedicating this season to his late grandmother, Laura Gladue-Reid.
2023: Supervising fight director for the 2023 season. 12th season. Stratford: Supervising Fight Director 2022, Associate: 2013-2020 seasons, Assistant: 2004, 2009 seasons. Elsewhere: Fight director - Bengal Tiger... (Crow's Theatre); Black Drum (Soulpepper); Peter and the Starcatcher, Sweet Charity, Cyrano (Shaw); Don Giovanni, War and Peace (COC). Film/TV Stunts (selected): The Boys (four seasons), See, FUBAR, Jack Reacher, What We Do In The Shadows, The Lost Symbol, Hardy Boys, The Man from Toronto, It Chapter Two, X-Men: Dark Phoenix, Schitt's Creek, Murdoch Mysteries, Ginny & Georgia, Jupiter's Legacy, Supergirl, Impulse, I Was Lorena Bobbitt, Save Me, Frankie Drake, Titans, Umbrella Academy, The Expanse, Designated Survivor, Suicide Squad, Dark Matter, Killjoys, 12 Monkeys, Bitten, The Strain, Pompeii, Orphan Black, Total Recall. Training: Supreme Fight Master Elite Level 3. BFA, Ryerson University. Awards: SAG nomination, Best Stunt Ensemble, 2021, 2023 Paddy Crean. Online: @GeoffScovell.
(he/him) Langham Directors' Workshop 2023
2023: Assistant director of Grand Magic. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: As a director: Stiles and Drewe's 3 Little Pigs (Carousel Theatre); How to Believe in Anything (Dreamphase Productions); Big Queer Filipino Karaoke Night! (Davey Calderon); The Nether (Firehall Arts Centre). As an actor: Owen Meany in A Prayer for Owen Meany (Ensemble Theatre Company); Bruno in Benevolence (Ruby Slippers Theatre); Marcellus in The Music Man (Gateway Theatre); Garrett in 100 Saints You Should Know (Pacific Theatre). Voiceover: Elliot in Night Passing (Arts Club Theatre). Training: Bachelor in Performance Studies (Capilano University); Diploma in Fine Arts (Douglas College). Awards: Ray Michal Award for emerging director in 2020; Ovation award - Dogfight (Awkward Stage Productions). Online: IG @phildashil. Et cetera: Loving the journey - Much love to mom and sis. Laughing with Duck. To the memory of my father, Lam Kit Ming.
2023: Assistant set and costume designer of Grand Magic. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Costume Design: Cosi Fan Tutti (Essex Opera Festival); The Sea and Flare Path (Slamming Door Collective); The Foreigner (Chemainus Theatre); Million Dollar Quartet and It's a Wonderful Life (Theatre NorthWest); Wet (Itsazoo); The Wolves (With a Spoon/Pacific Theatre). Costume Supervisor: The Gretchen Question (Fuel Theatre). Set Design: Look No Hands (Tiny Giant/Edinburgh Fringe). Television: Designer/Maker: Secret Body (BBC Scotland). Training: MFA - Performance Costume (University of Edinburgh). Awards: Two-time Jessie Richardson nominee for Best Costume Design - Small Theatre. Online: www.chantalshortdesign.com. Et cetera: For Christopher, Martha, Peter, Becky, and Linda Riches: I'm here because of you.
2023: Assistant lighting designer of Grand Magic, and Richard II. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: The Royale (The Citadel Theatre); Martyr (ARC); In Studio, Brantwood (Sheridan College); Fixer: A New Musical (Imagination Works); Ralph and Lina (Ahuri Theatre); This Is How We Got Here,Ipperwash, Inner Elder, I Call Myself Princess, HUFF (Native Earth); AMAAL, IMPACT 21 (MT Space); SPAWN (Wild Woman Theatre); Other Side of The Game (Obsidian Theatre); Good Morning Viet Mom (Cahoots Theatre); Boblo, Sea Sick (Theatre Centre). Training: Technical Production (Humber College, 2008). Awards: Dora Audience Choice Award Outstanding Production (Brantwood, 2016). Online: @bcbIV. Et cetera: For Boni and Pat. May your love for each other continue to be an example.
2023: Assistant lighting designer of Grand Magic and Wedding Band. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Assistant lighting designer of Peter's Final Flight (Ross Petty Productions) and Contemporaneity (Anandam Dance Theatre); lighting designer of The Late Wedding (Theatre at York), Fruits of Labour (Devised Theatre Festival), Art Of Time (Dance at York), Music Media Concert (MMC at York) and Thirumagal (Veenix Productions); sound designer of Our Mothers and Fathers (playGround Festival). Film: Technical director of Sacrifice (Film at York). Upcoming: Lighting designer of Do You Think You're Better Than Me (Fringe Festival). Training: Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours in Theatre Production from York University. Awards: Canadian College Cricket Women's Nationals MVP and Women's Ontario Cup MVP & Best Bowler 2019; Trustee Lister Leadership Award 2017; GSHA Student Council Vice President Award and Senior Girls Athlete of the Year 2017. Instagram: @superstarsimran.
2023: Assistant sound designer of Grand Magic, Wedding Band and Richard II. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Sound design and composition credits include Gaslight (Vertigo Theatre); The Importance of Being Earnest (Theatre Calgary); All I Want For Christmas, The Pink Unicorn (Lunchbox Theatre); Grace & Glorie, Lilia! (Rosebud Theatre). Original compositions have been featured in Parts & Labour (Fieldwork), Alberta Kitchen Party (Alberta Theatre Projects) and Flibbertigibbet's Story Exhibit (Quest Theatre). Alixandra also works as a composer for musical theatre. Her musical Home for the Holidays made its world premiere at Lunchbox Theatre in December 2022. Online: alixandracowman.com. Et cetera: Born in Regina and based in Calgary, Alixandra is a prairie woman through and through. She is thrilled to be spending time surrounded by the incredible artists at the Stratford Festival this year. Boundless gratitude to Conrad for the neverending love and support.
2023: Stage manager of Grand Magic and assistant stage manager of Wedding Band. Ninth season. Stratford: Stage manager of The Miser, Othello, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Changeling, Breath of Kings: Redemption and Oedipus Rex. 17 seasons with the Shaw Festival, production stage manager from 2003 to 2011. Favourite productions with the Shaw Festival include My Fair Lady, Gypsy, You Can't Take It With You, Detective Story, All My Sons, Chaplin, The Madras House, Man and Superman, Peter Pan and Lady Windermere's Fan. Productions with the Grand Theatre, Drayton Entertainment, Canadian Stage, Manitoba Theatre Centre, Mirvish Productions, National Arts Centre, Blyth Festival, Factory Theatre, Tarragon Theatre.
2023: Assistant stage manager of Grand Magic. Stratford debut. Elsewhere:Tell Tale Harbour, Anne of Green Gables: The Musical (The Charlottetown Festival); Tell Tale Harbour (NL ACC Tour); A Christmas Carol, Cottagers & Indians, The Drawer Boy (Watermark Theatre); Beneath Springhill (Firebrand Theatre); Good Time Radio Variety Show (Victoria Playhouse); Anne & Gilbert: The Musical (The Guild). Training: Humber College's Theatre Arts: Technical Production Program. Et cetera: Samantha is from Charlottetown, PE.
2023: Assistant stage manager of Grand Magic, Love's Labour's Lost and Wedding Band. Third season. Stratford: Apprentice stage manager of All's Well That Ends Well, A Midsummer Night's Dream. Elsewhere: Stage manager of Adam's Unplugged Puppet Party (The Pucking Fuppets Co.); The '94 Club (Crave Productions); Folks Like Us (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia). Assistant stage manager of La Bête and The Other Place (Talk Is Free Theatre). Apprentice stage manager of Light (Tarragon Theatre); A Christmas Carol (Sudbury Theatre Center); Come Down From Up River (Theatre Orangeville); Driving Miss Daisy (Victoria Playhouse Petrolia). Training: BFA with Honours in Performance Production and Design, TMU School of Performance. Awards: Jean A. Chalmers Apprentice Achievement Award, 2022. Et cetera: Lily is so proud to be back at the Stratford Festival, and would like to thank her family, friends, and professors for all their love and support!
2023: Production stage manager of the Tom Patterson Theatre and stage manager of Wedding Band. 17th season. Stratford: Production stage manager of the Studio Theatre (2018, 2019); Stage manager - Freedom Cabaret 2.0: Black Music That Shaped the Dream of America, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Julius Caesar, Romeo and Juliet (2017), Bunny, Possible Worlds, Hirsch; Assistant stage manager - Tartuffe, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, Evita, Kiss Me, Kate, Macbeth, Rice Boy, Romeo and Juliet (2008), Caesar and Cleopatra, My One and Only, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Duchess of Malfi, The Blonde, the Brunette and the Vengeful Redhead; Apprentice stage manager - Noises Off; Production coordinator - Just Short of Reality (Stratfest@Home). Elsewhere: University of Waterloo, Inter Arts Matrix, Theatre Sheridan, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Tarragon Theatre, Theatre Erindale, Theatre Direct Canada/Eldritch Theatre, Theatre Passe Muraille/Obsidian Theatre Company, Bluewater Summer Playhouse, Charlottetown Festival. Training: Sheridan College.
2023: Production stage manager of the Tom Patterson Theatre and stage manager of Rent. 27th season. Stratford: Shows include Chicago, Billy Elliot, A Chorus Line, Crazy for You, Fiddler on the Roof, Camelot, Oklahoma!, My Fair Lady, Man of La Mancha, Hello, Dolly!, The King and I and others. Elsewhere: Over 40 years as a stage manager in live entertainment including gala events, music concerts, opening ceremonies and fundraising events. Over 25 years with the Canadian Opera Company as a stage manager; production stage manager and resident director of Jersey Boys, Toronto; 25 years as a singer/dancer and choreographer in Canadian theatre; associate director/choreographer to her mentor, Alan Lund. Et cetera: Love to Paul, daughters Stephanie and Jennifer, son-in-law Andrew, and her grandchildren, Kennedy, Koston and Connor. Happy to be working through this pandemic!!
(she/they)
2023: Tom Patterson Theatre production assistant. Stratford debut. Elsewhere: Brianna has stage managed for Toronto Dance Theatre, Director's Lab North, Just For Laughs Montreal, and Toronto Fringe's 2021 Primetime Festival. She has also worked as the Assistant Stage Manager for TouchX (Kaeja Dance), Digital Production Coordinator for Toronto Fringe's 2022 Next Stage Festival and as the Dresser for Bentboy and Snow White (YPT). Training: McMaster University, Theatre and Film, The National Theatre School of Canada, Production Design and Technical Arts.
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