Steve Somerville
The voice of the new centre for performing arts is Colin Fox, (centre), reciting Shakespeare, as part of the inaugural season announced Wednesday at a ceremony at Cosmo Music. He is surrounded by singing performers Mark Allan, Matt Selby, Elodie Gillett and Renée Strasfeld.
Richmond Hill
June 05, 2008 10:10 PM
David Fleischer
From Alice’s Restaurant to Rosecrantz and Guildenstern, the stage is set for the first season at Richmond Hill’s new performing arts centre.
“Our season is diverse, innovative and truly has something for everybody,” said Mayor Dave Barrow at the unveiling of the lineup, held in the lobby of Cosmo Music’s new 55,000-square-foot megastore on Leslie Street, north of Major Mackenzie Drive.
The vision of having a theatre for York Region has been in the works for at least 26 years and this council is proud to be making it a reality, he said.
A quartet of singers kicked off the event, performing Jason Robert Brown’s “The New World.”
The voice of the theatre, Colin Fox, followed, reciting the “All the world’s a stage” soliloquy from As You Like It. Mr. Fox introduced theatre manager Michael Grit, who picked up the theme of the song.
“Our new world will bring neighbours together to learn more about each other. And our new world will create experiences for our audiences, that will live on in memories forever,” he said, revealing the calendar for the 2008-09 season.
Local pop stars RyanDan open the theatre Oct. 31 and headline the “Curtain Up” grand opening, scheduled for Nov. 1.
The rest of the theatre’s first week demonstrates the diversity of acts set to come.
“Our inaugural season reflects not only our community, but also the world,” Mr. Grit said.
- The Centennial Pipe Band performs two shows of Scottish music on Nov. 2, followed by Toronto jazz singer Sophie Milman on Nov. 4.
- On Nov. 6, new tenants Opera York get their first shot at the stage with their presentation of Bizet’s Carmen. They also perform Tosca in March, and classical music remains at the fore on Nov. 9 with Orchestra Internazionale d’Italia.
- The Women Fully Clothed comedy show arrives for two shows, Nov. 11 and 12.
- Taking advantage of our diverse community is an important part of the programming, exemplified by the 10-day run of fu-GEN Theatre Company’s Banana Boys, a play looking at “what it is to be a yellow guy in the Great White North,” in the words of fu-GEN’s Nina Lee Aquino.
- The Peking Acrobats (March 29) are one more example of this effort, as is the debut performance of Soheil Parsa’s play, Hallaj (Feb. 3-8).
- Touchmark Theatre’s production of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (Feb. 26-28) is another of the season’s theatrical offerings.
- Well-known musicians take the stage throughout the year, including guitarist Jesse Cook (Jan. 21), The Jim Cuddy Band (Feb. 12), Chantal Kreviazuk (April 7) and folk legend Arlo Guthrie (May 11).
- Musical theatre lovers can enjoy Michael Burgess’s holiday concert with the Richmond Hill Philharmonic (Dec. 5), local singer Jackie Richardson’s New Years Eve Dinner, as well as Mamma Mia star Louise Pitre (Feb. 14), and Cynthia Dale on May 13.
- Family events include Arthur Live! (March 1) and Big Comfy Couch (April 11).
Community groups are an important part of the theatre’s mandate and Shadowpath Theatre, Cantabile Chorale of York Region and the York Symphony Orchestra are among those who will take advantage of the 631-seat main hall and the 150-seat rehearsal hall.
The Reel Thing Film Festival, which has taken place at Silver City for the last few years, also moves to the centre in January.
The theatre’s eduction director, Eli Lukawitz, highlighted the co-op opportunities and other programs that will provide opportunities for students across the region.
You will have to wait until the fall to take your seats, but the box office is already open.
For a complete list of 2008-09 season performers, tickets and other information, visit
www.richmondhill.ticketwindow.ca,
www.richmondhill.ca/theatre or call 905-787-8811.