Stratford Festival's La Cage aux Folles Chooses Pride while Thwarting Prejudice

Downtown Stratford Ontario has come alive with the arrival of La Cage aux Folles at the Avon Theatre. The Stratford Festival has included all the glitz and glam you would expect from the production, but also brings a lot of emotion to the stage. This musical set in the 1970's still challenges the idea of love and acceptance in today's society. Within the building walls on stage of this show there is a nightclub with an adjoining apartment chocked full of comedic hijinks, choregraphed cabaret numbers and songs that range from delightful to devasting.

It tackles the themes of prejudice, mental health and self-worth. With the happiness of a young couple's life in the balance, you see how much the parents will endure to see it through. The range of emotions brought by Stratford Festival's La Cage aux Folles makes it a "must-see" musical.

Georges, the manager of a drag club in St. Tropez, decides to “play it straight” when his son arrives with his fiancé and her ultra-conservative parents. Albin, the club’s star performer and romantic partner to Georges, is dubious about the plan. The ensuing clash unravels truth and consequences with heartwarming grace.

Stratford Festival Celebrates Pride

From June 10 to 16 the Stratford Festival is celebrating Pride Week at The Meighen Forum. All Pride Week Events can be found on the The Meighen Forum calendar, but the week would not be complete with out a trip to see La Cage Aux Folles!

Get Your Tickets for La Cage aux Folles

La Cage aux Folles is now playing at the Stratford Festival's Avon Theatre until October 26th.  Tickets are available at 

https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/WhatsOn/PlaysAndEvents/Production/La-Cage-aux-Folles

or by calling Toll-free: 1 800 567 1600

For more information, visit these links

Website: https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/WhatsOn/PlaysAndEvents/Production/La-Cage-aux-Folles

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stratfest

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StratfordFestival

X / Twitter: https://twitter.com/stratfest

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/stratford-festival

Here's the Buzz on BEEHIVE - The 60s Musical Now Playing at the Drayton Festival Theatre

PARENTS' NIGHT OUT
The Drayton Festival Theatre was all a buzz last night as the 2024 season opened with the Queen Bees of BEEHIVE - The 60s Musical. The night began with an intro by the director David Connolly who made sure everyone knew we would be in for a night of musical theatre with a group that was beyond compare.  His description did not disappoint.  This nostalgic show filled with song and dance had everyone involved including the audience! The memorable songs of the 1960s musical mavens were center-stage, and sometimes off stage during the performance. The spectators were able to travel back in time to hear the girl group hits and solo songstresses sing their hearts out. BEEHIVE - The 60s Musical was flirty and fun for everyone!

Flower power meets girl power in BEEHIVE, a musical celebration of the most powerful and iconic female voices of the 1960s. 
Told from the perspective of six women who come of age in this enigmatic decade, BEEHIVE takes audiences on a nostalgic journey through timeless hits of the era such as “My Boyfriend’s Back,” “Son of a Preacher Man,” “Natural Woman,” “It’s My Party,” “Where the Boys Are,” and “You Don’t Own Me.” From Leslie Gore to Janis Joplin, the Shirelles to the Supremes, and Aretha Franklin to Tina Turner, this toe-tapping production features 40 classic chart-toppers that will put a song in your heart and leave you dancing in the aisles.
Join us for this uplifting and upbeat salute to female empowerment.
Recommended for ages 10 and up.
Running Time: 1 hr and 50 minutes, including 15 min intermission

Grab Your Go-Go Boots and Get Tickets Now!

BEEHIVE - The 60s Musical is playing at the Drayton Festival Theatre in Drayton Ontario until June 23, 2024 with limited tickets available. We suggest getting your tickets before they are gone! 

Tickets are available at 

https://www.draytonentertainment.com/theatres/drayton-festival-theatre/beehive

or by calling the box office 

1-855-DRAYTON

(1-855-372-9866)

A Collaboration of Choir, Chorus, Concert, Community and Colours will bring KWMP's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to Life this February - Enter to Win

I have attended Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat several times over the years, including when Donny Osmond took to the stage in Toronto in the 90s.

While the show has evolved on many stages since then, the story of Joseph and his Brothers still teaches us all about honesty, humility and honouring each other's special gifts.

This February the time tested musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be performed live in Waterloo Region and it is sure to be joyful experience. The show will be a community collaboration between the KWMP and The Grand Philharmonic Children's Choir. Together they will form a chorus that will take you from simple melodies sung by the children, to a rock and roll style concert performed by a Pharoah!

This family-friendly musical production will dazzle you with memorable tunes, delightful energy and inspiring stories of determination.  Your whole family will amazed by the music and lyrics of Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice in KWMP's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat!

Told entirely through song with the help of a main character Narrator, the musical follows preferred son Joseph. After being sold into slavery by his brothers, he ingratiates himself with Egyptian noble Potiphar, but ends up in jail after refusing the amorous advances of Potiphar’s wife. While imprisoned, Joseph discovers his ability to interpret dreams, and he soon finds himself in front of the mighty but troubled, Elvis-inspired, Pharaoh. Joseph’s solution to Egypt’s famine elevates him to Pharaoh’s right-hand man and reunites him with his family.

Grab Your Tickets Before They Are Gone!

Limited tickets are available for KWMP's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I think they would be great for a family outing or a VALENTINE'S DAY Gift!

KWMP's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat will be performed at Knox Waterloo, 50 Erb St. W, Waterloo, ON

from February 16, 2024 - February 18, 2024. Tickets are $29 each and are available at https://kwmp.ca/joseph-in-concert

Speaking of Valentine's Day, I love Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat so much that I am happy to host a giveaway of a Family Four Pack of Tickets to the Friday show!

Enter to Win

Enter for a chance to win a four pack of tickets to the Friday performance of KWMP's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in Waterloo!

The contest listed below (it might take a minute to load the rafflecopter contest form) is for tickets only.  You must provide your own transportation.  Be sure to leave a comment with why you want to win. It works best if you are logged into your Google Account

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A Compelling Story of the Rise from Poverty to Power on Stage in Drayton Entertainment's EVITA

EVITA begins with the story of the celebrated icon being mourned by her devoted followers with one exception, the character Che, who wants to set the record straight on Eva Perón's life. Che is much more cynical about the way she went from an impoverished girl to the revered political leader EVITA. He decides to tell his version of what happened alongside the memories from Eva's point of view.  Sometimes their versions aligned and other times they clashed throughout this stage production.

What sets EVITA apart as a celebrated musical is not only its compelling storyline but also its rich and emotive score. Each note, each lyric, resonates with the passion and fervor of the characters, immersing the audience in a world where emotions run high and dreams clash with reality. The iconic anthem “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” is a haunting ballad that captures Eva’s vulnerability and strength among the other musical compositions that elevate the narrative of Eva Perón's journey. From the somber tone of a funeral to the rousing "Rainbow Tour", EVITA will leave a stamp on your heart and mind.

To the poor masses, she is adored as a saint; to her enemies, she is reviled as a manipulative dictator. Nevertheless, for over thirty years this legendary woman becomes the driving spirit that helps define a nation.

Featuring some of the best loved songs in musical theatre including “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina”, “Buenos Aires”, “Another Suitcase in Another Hall”, and “High Flying, Adored”, Evita is a powerful and riveting theatrical experience not to be missed.

Grab Your Rainbow Tour Members and Get Tickets for EVITA

EVITA is on stage in Cambridge Ontario at the Hamilton Family Theatre until November 5, 2023.  Tickets are available at 

https://www.draytonentertainment.com/theatres/hamilton-family-theatre-cambridge/evita

Good Gal Pals Commiserate Over Bad Breakups in Bittergirl - The Musical - Now Playing at Drayton Entertainment's St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre

Bittergirl - The Musical starts out with a romantic dinner gone wrong and then the hilarity ensues as three women navigate their bad breakups together. At first they challenge themselves with why it came to this, then choose self-improvement over self-loathing, but it all comes to a head when they get together to commiserate over drinks. This musical about heartbreak will have you laughing, cheering and singing as it goes from romantic ballads like "Be My Baby" to girl-power anthems like "I Will Survive".

If you ever had a bad breakup in any stage of life, you will relate to the tale being told on stage. Soon you to will be able to say 

“Yesterday’s heartache is tomorrow’s one liner.”

To learn more about the story of Bittergirl, visit https://www.thebittergirls.com/about

Grab Your Girl Gang and Get Your Tickets to Bittergirl - The Musical

Bittergirl - The Musical is now playing at the St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre in the Village of St. Jacobs from now until December 24, 2023.  With many shows having Limited Availability, now is the time grab your girlfriends, gal pals and/or girl gang and get tickets!

For information and tickets, visit https://www.draytonentertainment.com/theatres/st.-jacobs-schoolhouse-theatre/bittergirl-sst

Drayton Entertainment Came to Slay the Kinky Boots the House Down

 

From Broadway to Cambridge Ontario, Kinky Boots continues to tell the true story of how Big City Life can be embraced by a place known mostly for its industry. The story of the Price and Son shoe factory that needs to be saved to keep the townspeople employed could easily take place in Cambridge Ontario, home of Babcock and Wilcox and the Toyota Manufacturing plant. Last night's opening of the Tony Award-Winning Musical landed with a heart-stopping thud and thunderous applause at Drayton Entertainment's Hamilton Family Theatre. The atmosphere was electric with performances by Sayer Roberts as the easily frustrated Charlie Price, Jos N. Banks as Lola the drag queen that came to slay and KW's own AJ Bridel who brought the house down with her rendition of Lauren's The History of Wrong Guys.  Hear their thoughts on Kinky Boots in the video below.

 

Combining the creative genius of legendary musician Cyndi Lauper and the compelling storytelling of Harvey Fierstein, Kinky Boots delivers an uplifting tale of friendship, courage, and finding one's true self in unexpected places.

Based on a true story, this uplifting mega-musical chronicles the story of Charlie Price, who is struggling to save the men’s shoe factory inherited from his father in Northampton, England.  When all seems lost, a chance encounter with the dazzling drag queen Lola spurs an outrageous idea for creating “women’s boots for women who are men.”  With a little compassion and a lot of understanding, this unexpected pair eventually embrace their differences and outfit themselves for success by creating a sparkling line of sturdy stilettos unlike any the world has ever seen. 

Don’t miss this fresh, fabulous, feel-good musical that will lift you up!

With fun Drayton Entertainment touches like photo opps and signature cocktails, Kinky Boots shows the world that you can't judge a book by its cover but you can definitely define a boot by its heel and sex appeal.

Grab your tickets for a Parents' Night out at Kinky Boots

Please note that this show contains adult themes.

Kinky Boots runs until August 20, 2023.  Many of the showtimes have limited availability left, so grab those stilettos and tickets before they are gone. Tickets available at https://www.draytonentertainment.com

Perfect Wedding at The St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Commits to Big Moments and Big Laughs on the Big Day

While Perfect Wedding has opened at The St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre at the height of wedding season, this pre-wedding scenario has everyone wondering if the ceremony will take place.

It begins as the groom wakes up in the honeymoon suite on what should be his big day, but he soon learns that his stag night prior has now put him in tumultuous turmoil.  This comedic play echos the hilarity of Drayton Entertainment's previous farce productions with the multiple characters trying to cover up what happened in the hotel the night before. Each false tale spun by the groom adds lots of confusion and his frantic behaviour has everyone on edge and wondering if he is ready to commit. Meanwhile, the best man is trying to solidify a big moment with his new girlfriend while keeping his long-time friends on pace to walk down the aisle. Despite his best efforts, seeing his friends off to get married gets more difficult as the day unfolds. When a chamber-maid with an acting background is added to the mix, the ridiculous situation gets extremely out of hand. 

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Get Your Tickets to Perfect Wedding

Perfect Wedding runs until August 27, 2023.  Many of the showtimes have limited availability left, so grab that bouquet of tickets before they are gone. Tickets available at https://www.draytonentertainment.com

Ready for a Culture-Clash Comedy about Curling? Check out The New Canadian Curling Club in Drayton

From now until July 29, 2023 the Drayton Festival Theatre is performing The New Canadian Curling Club. This play features a cast of 5 characters of different cultures that have been brought together to diversify the local curling club.

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When personalities and prejudice clash, the whole program seems doomed to fail. It takes an ultimatum and some understanding of each other's situation to bring the curling team back to the rink, but it also keeps them on their toes both on and off the ice surface.

This story could ring true for small towns everywhere, so it is fitting that this comedic play is being performed in Drayton Ontario, a town with less than 3000 residents. 

Inspired by the local refugee resettlement program, a small town organizes a Learn-to-Curl class to welcome newcomers. But when its organizer slips on the ice and breaks her hip, the rink’s ice maker and former champion curler Stuart MacPhail is forced to step in as head coach. Trouble is, Stuart has some strong opinions about immigrants. What follows is an inspiring and hilarious story of a group of unlikely athletes who face off against local prejudice and claim their identity as “new Canadians”.

Ticket Info for The New Canadian Curling Club - Parents' Night Out

The New Canadian Curling Club is on stage at the Drayton Festival Theatre from July 13 through July 29.  Regular performance tickets are $55 for adults, $34 for youth under 20 years of age. Tickets for select Discount Dates and groups of 20 or more are $45, and small groups of 10-19 are $50. HST is applicable to all ticket prices. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 519-638-5555 or toll free at 1-855-drayton (372-9866), or online at draytonentertainment.com.

The Courtroom Drama A Few Good Men Comes to the Hamilton Family Theatre in Cambridge with a lot of Conviction

Many are familiar with the star-studded 90s classic film, A Few Good Men, based on the play of the same name, and this Drayton Entertainment play will instantly take you back there.

via GIPHY

A Few Good Men opened last night at Drayton Entertainment's Hamilton Family Theatre in Cambridge Ontario to a full house who were full of enthusiasm.  The moment the production started the audience was enthralled in the nostalgia that was on stage. Several gasps were heard as the drama began.  The scenes would take spectators from the courtroom to the front lines and then back again leaving them on the edge of their seats.  Whether it was Colonel Jessep's unabashedly offensive outbursts, Lieutenant Kaffie's quick witty quips, or Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway's unwavering conviction to the law, the dialogue was a reflection of the times and the circumstances they were placed in. 

Sorkin’s riveting courtroom saga tells the story of two marines who stand accused of killing one of their own at the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay. When hotshot young lawyer Daniel Kaffee is tasked with their defense, it looks like a simple case of soldiers behaving badly… until evidence suggests that high-ranking officials may have ordered an illicit disciplinary measure known only as a "Code Red." When fellow lawyer and naval investigator Lieutenant Commander Joanne Galloway suspects a cover up, the legal team must face the highest authorities, putting the entire marine code of honour on trial. Inspired by actual events, this gripping story of conspiracy and corruption in the name of patriotism is a fascinating look at morality in our modern age.

Ticket Info for A Few Good Men - Parents' Night Out

A Few Good Men is on stage at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge from July 5 to July 23.

Regular performance tickets are $55 for adults, $34 for youth under 20 years of age. Tickets for select Discount Dates and groups of 20 or more are $45, and small groups of 10-19 are $50. HST is applicable to all ticket prices. Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 519-621-8000 or toll free at 1-855-drayton (372-9866), or online at www.draytonentertainment.com.

Emilio's A Million Chameleons Puppet Performance is on March 18. 2023 - Enter to Win

We'll start with the Disclaimer - Yes, we did receive complimentary passes to this show, but this just means we're able to offer you a chance to win tickets too! Enter the contest at the end of this post! 

Are you ready for a family-friendly performance this March Break? We have just the thing! Emilio's A Million Chameleons Puppet Performance is happening on March 18. 2023 at The Registry Theatre in Kitchener Ontario.

This live event will include puppets, musical acts, jokes and lessons around the self-esteem theme. 

Emilio runs a circus act with a million chameleons to entertain with music, magic, and amazement. His favourite chameleon is Juan... the shyest little chameleon of them all who, with our help, might just learn to let his inner sparkle shine.

Grab Your Tickets

Be sure to get your tickets before they are gone! Head to https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/emilios-a-million-chameleons-kitchener-on-tickets-546414760257 to purchase your tickets.

For more info about the show, visit http://www.chameleonshow.com

We think this will be a great way to spend some family time together and we are happy to announce we have a contest for a family four-pack of tickets for the show!

Enter to Win

There isn't any time to spare! Enter the rafflecopter contest below (it works best if you are logged in to your Google Account). 

We'll start with the Disclaimer - Yes, we did receive complimentary passes to this show, but this just means we're able to offer you a chance to win tickets too! Enter the contest at the end of this post! 

Are you ready for a family-friendly performance this March Break? We have just the thing! Emilio's A Million Chameleons Puppet Performance is happening on March 18. 2023 at The Registry Theatre in Kitchener Ontario.

This live event will include puppets, musical acts, jokes and lessons around the self-esteem theme. 

Emilio runs a circus act with a million chameleons to entertain with music, magic, and amazement. His favourite chameleon is Juan... the shyest little chameleon of them all who, with our help, might just learn to let his inner sparkle shine.

Grab Your Tickets

Be sure to get your tickets before they are gone! Head to https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/emilios-a-million-chameleons-kitchener-on-tickets-546414760257 to purchase your tickets.

For more info about the show, visit http://www.chameleonshow.com

We think this will be a great way to spend some family time together and we are happy to announce we have a contest for a family four-pack of tickets for the show!

Enter to Win

There isn't any time to spare! Enter the rafflecopter contest below (it works best if you are logged in to your Google Account). a Rafflecopter giveaway

I Have Confidence that you will enjoy Drayton Entertainment's The Sound of Music

Many Christmas traditions include gathering the family together to watch The Sound of Music on TV.  This year Drayton Entertainment wants to bring the tradition to you live on stage in Cambridge.  Bring your whole family to see The Sound of Music performed live before their very eyes this Holiday Season. Together you will enjoy the Rogers and Hammerstein favourites such as Do-Re-Mi, My Favorite Things and Maria's very own affirmation song I Have Confidence.

Each character portrayed is highlighted by their individuality and spunk.  Whether it is teenager Lisel sneaking in through the window, pre-teen Louisa playing pranks, young Kurt learning to dance, or new Governess Maria returning Captain von Trapp's whistle, these quirky moments add to the musical's charm and connect you with the family dynamics of the von Trapp family.  With memorable songs and a multi-layered storyline, I have confidence that you and your family will be delighted by Drayton Entertainment's The Sound of Music.

About The Show

Join us for a timeless classic as our stage becomes alive with the "sound of music. “In this epic love story, aspiring nun Maria leaves the convent to govern the seven mischievous children of Captain von Trapp. Through her youthful vitality and purity of heart, she brings a fleeting moment of happiness to their lives as the shadows of tyranny spread over Europe

Get Your Tickets Now

The Sound of Music is now playing at the Hamilton Family Theatre in Cambridge Ontario.  Various dates and times are available for tickets with the final performance at 2pm on December 24 (Christmas Eve) 2022. 

Regular performance tickets are $53 for adults, $32 for youth under 20 years of age, and $43 for groups of 20 or more

Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 519-621-8000 or toll free at 1-855 DRAYTON (372-9866), or online at  draytonentertainment.com

Set the GPS for the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse to see Drayton Entertainment's Driving Miss Daisy

As the seasons change, so do the Drayton Entertainment shows.  While heading to the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse for the opening of Driving Miss Daisy, I enjoyed the Fall Colours from my car window.  The red and orange leaves reminded me how quickly time passes, which is definitely a theme in Drayton Entertainment's latest production.

Much like this past summer's The Sweet Delilah Swim Club, this play is about how unlikely friendships can evolve over time. It goes to show that no matter your background or current situation, there are many ways to find common ground and learn from one another. Driving Miss Daisy touches on issues like diversity, ageism, and social status. While these are serious topics, the play stays light with the three actors pushing each other's buttons and voicing their many frustrations through the years. See Miss Daisy tackle each annual season a bit differently, whether it be saving her daughter-in-law's Thanksgiving dessert near the beginning of the play, or savouring some Thanksgiving pie with her best friend from a nursing home in her later years.  Each scene shows how her life and attitude towards those closest to her are constantly changing.

 In mid-century Atlanta, an elderly widow named Daisy is determined to maintain her independence. But when she crashes her car and is deemed unfit to drive, her son insists on hiring a chauffeur – a driver named Hoke. Reluctant to accept help from anyone, Daisy and Hoke get off to a rocky start. Over the course of 25 years, the unlikely pair have plenty of time to explore each other's quirks and perks as they share amusing adventures and develop a profound, life-altering friendship that transcends all of the societal boundaries placed between them.

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TICKET INFORMATION

Get your tickets now and enjoy a leisurely drive to the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse.

Tickets are available for purchase online at draytonentertainment.com, in person at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge and St. Jacobs Country Playhouse Box Office, or by calling 1-855-372-9866.