Curated by Robert Markus, Julia Nish-Lapidus and James WallisDirected by Julia Nish-Lapidus and James Wallis
A SHAKESPEARE-INSPIRED MIXTAPE
Shakespeare’s influence on Western culture extends even into your favourite pop hits. Whether it be direct lines from his plays appearing in Top 40 lyrics or whole songs inspired by his plots, whether the borrowers be Taylor Swift, Madonna, Elton John, The Beatles, Prince or Radiohead, Shakespeare is still there, lurking in the mainstream, as cool and as relevant as ever. This lively celebration of terrific tunes affords a great opportunity to introduce a younger audience to Shakespeare’s continuing role in popular culture.
House Program: Play On!
Runtime: One hour and 25 minutes no intermission.
Production support is generously provided by Barbara & John Schubert.
Production Co-Sponsor
2021: Romeo in Play On! Eighth season. Stratford: Ed Gammidge in The Music Man, Phantom in The Rocky Horror Show, Al in A Chorus Line, Henrik Egerman in A Little Night Music, Rolf Gruber in The Sound of Music, Pinball Lad in Tommy, and appeared in Billy Elliot the Musical, Guys and Dolls, HMS Pinafore, Fiddler on the Roof and Carousel. Elsewhere: Johnny alternate in Green Day's American Idiot (first US tour); Hank Majewski in Jersey Boys (Dancap); Gilbert in Anne of Green Gables (Charlottetown). Film/TV: Captain von Trapp in The Pacifier. Training: Etobicoke School of the Arts. Online: Twitter/Instagram: @GabrielNacci. Et cetera: Huge thanks to Stratford and Colin McMurray for this opportunity. Thank you to my wife, Robin Calvert, for being the absolute best. This show is dedicated to his puppy, Sophie.
2021: Richard in Play On! Stratford debut. Jacob MacInnis (they/them) is a Tkaronto-based performer and visual artist. After training for three years at Sheridan College's Music Theatre Performance Program, Jacob has gone on to entertain audiences all over Turtle Island in countless musicals, concerts and cabarets. In 2014 Jacob was nominated for a Dora Mavor Moore Award, and won the Toronto Theatre Critics' Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (James and the Giant Peach, YPT). You can follow Jacob on Instagram @jacobmacinnis, check out their visual art @jacobmacinnisart, or listen to their original music on Spotify, Apple Music, or anywhere you listen. Jacob sends love to all the folx at TH, to their family, and to Tucker. #braverthanbrave
2021: Beatrice in Play On! 11th season. Stratford: Ten seasons including Velma Kelly in Chicago, Janet in The Rocky Horror Show, Josephine in HMS Pinafore, Maggie in A Chorus Line, Sally Simpson in Tommy, Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street. Elsewhere: Jennifer recently revived the role of Sally Simpson in The Who's Tommy In Concert, performing alongside Pete Townshend at The La Jolla Playhouse. She has also performed on stages across Canada: Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre, Charlottetown Festival, Grand Theatre, Theatre Aquarius, Drayton Entertainment, Ross Petty Productions. COVID: Jen became a trained lash extension technician during 2020: @thelashroombyjen. Training: Music Theatre Performance (Sheridan), Acting (Red Deer College). Et cetera: Thank you to YOU, the patron, for returning to the theatre. I am filled with gratitude to be a part of the 2021 Stratford season. Love to Robert, Bruce & TH, Mom and Dad.
2021: Co-curator of Play On! and Singer in Why We Tell the Story. Fourth season. Stratford: Up Close and Musical (Stratfest@Home), The Rocky Horror Show, Tommy, The Music Man, Fiddler on the Roof. Elsewhere: Dear Evan Hansen (Mirvish); Lil' Red Robin Hood (Ross Petty Productions); Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Theatre Aquarius); Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang, Seussical, James and the Giant Peach (YPT); Our Town, Sweeney Todd (Shaw Festival); UnCovered: Queen and Bowie (Musical Stage Company); Dream a Little Dream, Shrek (Grand Theatre); Chicago, Twist and Shout (Drayton Entertainment); Next to Normal (Citadel Theatre/Theatre Calgary); The Rocky Horror Show, A Christmas Carol (Citadel Theatre); Jesus Christ Superstar, Chicago (Mayfield); Hunchback (Catalyst). Film/TV: If I Only Had Christmas (Hallmark Channel). Training: BFA, University of Alberta. Online: robertmarkus.com. Instagram: @rjbmarkus. Et cetera: Special thanks to family, friends, TH, and JRS, for their constant support.
2021: Co-curator and co-director of Play On! Fourth season. Stratford: Assistant director of Macbeth, Bunny, Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar. Elsewhere: Director: Romeo and Juliet, Love's Labour's Lost, Macbeth, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Edward II (staged reading), King John, The Changeling (staged reading), Twelfth Night, Volpone (staged reading), Othello, A Midsummer Night's Dream (co-director) (Shakespeare BASH'd - also Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director); Shakespeare in Hospitals (Spur of the Moment Collective); As You Like It (Theatre by the Bay); Reasons to Be Pretty (Labute Cycle); Titus Andronicus (Hart House Theatre); Henry IV Part 1 and 2 (Theatre Erindale); The Tom and Gertie Letters Project (Springworks); Pygmalion, The Revenger's Tragedy, The Duchess of Malfi (Ryerson); Romeo & Juliet (& Joni) (Untitled Productions - co-director workshop). Training: Ryerson Theatre School. Online: @ShakesBASHd; shakespearebashd.com. Et cetera: Thanks to Julia for everything.
2021: Lighting designer of Why We Tell the Story, You Can't Stop the Beat, Play On!, Freedom and Finally There's Sun. Ninth season. Stratford: Lighting designer, Othello, The Comedy of Errors. Assistant lighting designer, six seasons (2011-2016). Selected credits: A Chorus Line, Tommy, A Word or Two, Jesus Christ Superstar. Studio Theatre technical director, 2013. Elsewhere: Honour Beat (Grand), After the Fire, The Particulars (Punctuate, The Theatre Centre); Kinky Boots, Newsies (Drayton Entertainment); Salt-Water Moon (Mirvish, Factory, Why Not); Wildfire (RARE, Soulpepper); The Emancipation of Ms. Lovely, The Breath in Between (Crow's); Superior Donuts (Coal Mine); Laurier (Charlottetown Festival, TNB); Beaver (Storefront); Noises Off (Soulpepper); A Line in the Sand, The Crackwalker (Factory Theatre); Hana Hashimoto (Carousel Players). Training: National Theatre School of Canada. Et cetera: Course Lecturer at Ryerson University, Instructor at the NTSC, General Manager of Lights On Stratford, a two-time Dora nominee and a 2020 Pauline McGibbon Award nominee.
2021: Stage manager of Play On! 24th season. Stratford: Stage manager credits (selected): Wendy & Peter Pan (interrupted by COVID), Mother's Daughter, The Matchmaker, Titus Andronicus, Evita, West Side Story. Assistant stage manager credits (selected): Treasure Island, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, South Pacific, The King and I, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Henry V, Much Ado About Nothing. Elsewhere: Stage manager credits (selected): Ring of Fire, Hana's Suitcase, Annie, Twist and Shout (Grand Theatre); My Fair Lady (Drayton Entertainment). Et cetera: To my loved ones, here and in Shanghai, let's enjoy the adventures.
2021: Production stage manager of the Festival Theatre Canopy and Studio Theatre. 25th season. Stratford: Shows include Chicago (interrupted by COVID), Billy Elliot, A Chorus Line, Crazy for You, Fiddler on the Roof, Camelot, Oklahoma!, West Side Story, 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 including A Christmas Carol for the Stratford Hospice. 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. I am so grateful to be back at work.
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