Well, folks, it’s June 21 and officially the start of summer. This means the Orillia Opera House summer theatre series is coming in hot, starting July 5.
We recently had the opportunity to speak to artistic director Jesse Collins.
OrilliaMatters: What can audiences expect from this summer’s theatre series?
Jesse Collins: More of what we’ve been offering for the past seven years: top-notch professional actors in wonderful comedies, where folks see a little of themselves reflected on stage. They say that laughing is like a mini-holiday. We’re helping you take one of those little vacations to get away from it all.
OM: What makes summer theatre different for the actors and director?
JC: The ability to work in a studio theatre environment with actors, directors and designers from all over, all in a beautiful place where the work is good and the time between shows is spent enjoying all that Orillia has to offer. We’re very proud of the quality of the work, but the hospitality of our town is one of the biggest draws.
OM: Why do a summer theatre series, and why do it here in Orillia?
JC: Orillia has a long history of professional theatre, and the best is yet to come. Our growth has meant that we’re attracting more audiences and many exciting theatre professionals, as well as commissioning scripts by playwrights such as Norm Foster, who will have premiered three new plays with our team. Orillia is coming into its own, and the theatre is a part of that. The opera house isn’t a dried-up memory of yesterday; it’s a living, breathing hub of arts activity and excitement that just happens to be a gorgeous, historical icon. It continues to be very present in the lives of the entertainers and audiences that connect here.
Here is what is planned for this summer’s theatre series:
July 5 to 21, Norm Foster’s newest play, Moving In. “When Mark and Gretchen decide to move in together at 50-something, they think they’ve got it all figured out. But their grown-up children have other ideas. Mark’s son, Brett, is a wannabe rock star who says he’ll lend a hand — but never quite gets around to it. Gretchen’s daughter, Rachel, is a cop who flies across the country to arrest her mom’s midlife crisis. Sparks fly and jokes crackle in this new and hilarious show by Canada’s comedy genius.” — Orillia Opera House blurb
This show stars Dan Lett (Shaw Festival, The Shape of Water, Made in Canada, X-Men: Apocalypse, The Kennedys), returning opera house favourite Viviana Zarrillo (Shaw Festival, The Next Step), the wonderful Molly Kidder (Murdoch Mysteries, The Listener, Copper) and Jake Goldsbie (best known for eight seasons on Degrassi: The Next Generation).
July 26 to Aug. 11, the show featured is Bed and Breakfast by Mark Crawford. “Brett and Drew want to move out of their tiny downtown condo and into a house, but they just lost their seventh bidding war in Toronto. When Brett’s beloved Aunt Maggie dies, he unexpectedly inherits the historic family home in a quiet, little tourist town. Unhappy with their careers and frustrated by life in the fast-paced city, the couple decides to make the move and start up a B&B. But when the guys face friction in their new community, they discover the simple life is more complicated than they thought.” — Orillia Opera House blurb
This play stars Thomas Alderson (Stratford Festival, Shaw Festival, Mirvish Productions, Neptune Theatre) and Matt Pilipiak (Soulpepper, Theatre Aquarius, Manitoba Theatre for Young People, Bad Hats Theatre), and is directed by the acclaimed director Fiona Sauder.
The series finishes from Aug. 16 to Sept. 1 with another popular Norm Foster hit, Halfway There. “Vi, Rita, Mary Ellen and Janine are four friends who know everything about everyone in their tiny town. Well, almost everything. They didn’t see Sean coming. He’s a handsome doctor who just moved in for a temporary job at the clinic. And things are about to get interesting in the lives of four old friends.” — Orillia Opera House blurb
This classic features Alison Mackay and Debbie Collins (from last year’s hit productions, Come Down from Up River and Doris and Ivy, among others), Melodee Finlay (Lighthouse Festival, Drayton Festival, Theatre Aquarius) and Reid Janisse (Second City, Port Stanley Theatre Festival).
You can get tickets for this fun summer of theatre here.
Cloud Gallery’s Meet the Artist event with artist Kerry Walford is this Saturday, June 24, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 23 Mississaga St. W., inside Creative Nomad Studios. Come meet the artist, see six new paintings, and enjoy warm beverages and butter tarts in this beautiful space.
The Orillia Museum of Art and History board has tasked its executive director with finding a way to honour Gordon Lightfoot more, here in Orillia, in conjunction with other interested local parties. If you have an idea or a partnership the museum should explore, contact Ninette Gyorody at [email protected].
This Thursday, check out Men in Black at the Orillia Opera House, or Brass Transit there this Saturday. Tickets through orilliaoperahouse.ca.
Other live music this week includes Forever Elvis, an Elvis tribute, at the Orillia Public Library, Kalyna Rakel and Dan Gurman at Couchiching Craft Brewing Co. Friday night, and Valerie Burns and Dave Chun Saturday night at Couchiching Craft Brewing Co.
This Saturday is the Sweet Summer Dessert Festival in downtown Orillia, on Mississaga Street between West and Peter streets. Come enjoy live music, vendors, and lots of sweet treats all day.
Don’t forget, the special Gordon Lightfoot celebration at the Mariposa Folk Festival on the main stage July 7 from 5:10 to 6:30 p.m., with musicians Matthew Barber, Lori Cullen, Dala, The Good Brothers, Meredith Moon, Kevin Fox, Jory Nash, and an All-Star House Band featuring Burke Carroll, Jason Fowler, Anne Lindsay, David Matheson and David Woodhead, with MC David Newland.
Coming up: Canada Day events and See You on the Patio return July 1, a new event by The Big Event on July 29, and more musical events by the Orillia Youth Centre. Details next week.
Have a great week, and if you have arts news, send it to [email protected] by Tuesday at noon to be included.
