Stratford Festival extends to December for the first time ever
With strong ticket sales and continuing demand, the Stratford Festival is expanding their extended show catalogue.
This season the festival takes the unprecedented step of extending four shows, 'Annie', 'Macbeth', 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' and 'Anne of Green Gables'.
They are also extending their production of Annie longer than ever before, with an extra six weeks of added shows, taking the festival into December for the first time ever.
It is a move that makes a lot of sense for the star of' Annie'.
'It starts about like two weeks before Christmas, and then our big finale scene is in Mr. Warbucks mansion, and it's decorated for Christmas' said Harper Rae Asch, who plays Annie.
The young actor is excited to be part of a Stratford Festival first.
'I'm very excited because now Annie is going to be the longest running show in festival history,' she said.
Stratford Festival leadership now is the right time to try something new.
'It's a reflection of how well the productions are being received so far this year, and it also meets an aspiration, that we've had over the last few years to experiment with some holiday programing,' said Anita Gaffney, executive director of the Stratford Festival.
Harper Rae Asch
Harper Rae Asch seen on July 18, 2025. She plays Annie in Stratford Festival's production of 'Annie' (CTV News/Jeff Pickel)
After a sluggish 2024 season Gaffney said a longer season will help them get back on more solid footing.
'We're seeing this year's sales are a nice bump ahead of the previous year, so we wanted to take this chance to add some more opportunity to exceeds our goals so that we're in a balanced financial place,' said Gaffney.
Staff acknowledge the move is not without risk.
'We don't know if this is going to work, we don't know what the weather's going to be like., so there is some risk there, but there is great benefit opportunities,' said Gaffney.
More information about the Stratford Festival and tickets can be found online.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
12 minutes ago
- CBC
Putting the jazz in jazz festival: Genre's influence focus of Halifax music fest
Jazz festivals across North America regularly feature artists whose music falls outside the genre, but some musicians at this year's Halifax Jazz Festival are highlighting jazz's influence on the rest of pop music. Headliners for this year's festival stretch across various genres such as folk, rock and hip-hop. Jazz can be heard in each one of those styles of music, according to one musician who specializes in the genre. "Jazz inspires pop music and pop music inspires jazz," said Quebec jazz bassist Carl Mayotte, whose band the Carl Mayotte Quintet performed at the festival this year. Mayotte, who completed a master's degree in jazz performance at McGill University, hosted one of several "jazz labs" that are part of the festival's year-round educational programming. The labs offer the public an interactive look at how a musician works on their craft and produces music. Despite peaking in the 1920s, Mayotte said jazz has had a lasting effect on different types of music that have been popular throughout the decades since. Folk, prog-rock, R&B and hip-hop are just some examples of types of music that have borrowed elements of jazz, he said. "Rap is like the [child] of jazz," Mayotte said. 'Jazz is for everyone' The Halifax festival's mandate has always included an educational component, said one organizer. "We like to do a lot of our workshops prior to the concert so people can come and learn from the artists and then go see them perform later in the day," said Andrew Jackson, the festival's artistic director. "That's a really special way to just get more out of the music as well." Several jazz musicians are part of the festival every year but typically perform at venues away from the main stage on the Halifax waterfront. Jazz is not as represented as other genres, Jackson said, which is why it's important to have education be part of the annual event. "[Jazz] music is for everyone. And so being able to, like, unlock some of those mysteries is really important to us," he said. For Mayotte, an event that has the word jazz in its name should be promoting jazz music in some way. There are a lot of talented young jazz musicians in Canada who just want the opportunity to perform live and events like the Halifax festival should be making space for them alongside the larger mainstream acts, he said. Mayotte, who also teaches music in schools, said there will always be an interest in jazz because young people are naturally drawn to it. "Because there's this kind of child play in jazz and there's this kind of feeling to be free in it, like how this concept of liberty is really implied in jazz," he said.
CTV News
41 minutes ago
- CTV News
Atlantic Entertainment Expo draws large crowds in first event for Saint John, N.B.
Sculptor Brian Muir, who created the mask Darth Vader wears in the Star Wars franchise, is pictured talking to a fan during Atlantic Entertainment Expo in Saint John, N.B., on July 20, 2025. (Avery MacRae, CTV Atlantic) Thousands of maritime pop-culture fans made there way to Saint John, N.B., this weekend for the 2025 Atlantic Entertainment Expo (AEX). The family focused experience was held at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre, marking the first time the event has made its way to the port city. Over the two-day event visitors, many of whom cosplayed as their favourite characters from various games and shows, were treated to gaming displays, panels, and hundreds of unique vendor tables. This year's AEX was highlighted by special guest Brian Muir, who is best known for creating the original Darth Vader helmet. His sculpting work has been featured in Indiana Jones, James Bond, the Harry Potter series and dozens of other films. Lead organizer Alex Maine said a pop-culture event of this size and style hasn't been tried in Saint John since 2017. 'Saint John's a great city, and there's a great community vibe here,' he said. 'Pop culture is something everyone can appreciate so it's great to see all of the fans.' Proto Monkey Creations A selection of Proto Monkey Creations handcrafted leather goods are pictured at a vendor's table during the Atlantic Entertainment Expo in Saint John, N.B., July 20, 2025. (Avery MacRae, CTV Atlantic) Jennifer Carignan was one of the vendors at the event during the weekend with her Proto Monkey Creations table. She handcrafts leather goods in Nova Scotia, including masks, wallets and suits of armour for a variety of series. 'This has been awesome,' Carignan said. 'It's been impressive the people coming out and supporting the event, the cosplayers, it's been amazing.' The sentiment is shared by Chris Craig, who was joined by his 501st Atlantic Garrison Star Wars Legion. He and his team spent much of the weekend in iconic Star Wars costumes much to the delight of fans. He said the success of the event doesn't surprise him. 'Everybody comes together, and they have a sense of camaraderie,' Craig said. 'They can get together, and they can see some of the other vendors – see all the different products that are selling or making or whatever. They can do something that they love and hang out with like-minded people.' Atlantic Entertainment Expo Vendors and guests are pictured at the Saint John Trade and Convention Centre during the Atlantic Entertainment Expo on July 20, 2025. (Avery MacRae, CTV Atlantic) That sense of belonging inspired Allie Coburn to try cosplay for the first time. She dressed up as the character Dante from the video game Limbus Company for the event. 'It's really cool to see just how many people with these similar and wide range of interests are here in the area,' Coburn said. 'When there's events like this where it's celebrated, it feels like people can kind of really show off what they love and their niche hobbies and niche interests and be themselves in a way around other people who are similar to them.' 'I find it great to look at all the creative outlooks,' said cosplayer Amadna Reinhart. She came dressed as Barbie with Joe Hatfield who came as Ken. 'To just to see other people's face light up when you're cosplaying their favorite character, and they want to run up to you and greet you and have a picture, it's just amazing.' Maine said what makes the event a success is the passionate fans that attend each year. He said everyone enjoys the celebration for a different reason. 'It's very easy to be anxious or intimidated by an event like this,' said Maine. 'But you'll actually very quickly find out that this event is for all ages and for everyone.' Star Wars helmets A storm trooper's naks is displayed next to Darth Vader's helmet. (Avery MacRae, CTV Atlantic) For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTV News
41 minutes ago
- CTV News
Orléans young violinist wins $25K music prize
Justin Saulnier, 20, plays the violin before a performance at the Carleton-Dominion Chalmers Centre in Ottawa on Sunday, July 20, 2025. (Camille Wilson/CTV News Ottawa) Ottawa's Justin Saulnier, a 20-year-old violinist, has reached the highest level of national recognition by winning a prestigious music award. Saulnier received the Michael Measures First Prize reward of $25,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts. The rising star made his orchestral debut at 12-years-old with the Ottawa Chamber Orchestra. He's performed with major orchestras across Canada, including the Montreal Symphony Orchestra and the National Arts Centre, and won multiple national competitions. He currently studies at McGill University with violinist Andrew Wan. Saulnier will perform as a featured soloist with 91 of Canada's top young musicians at the National Youth Orchestra of Canada on Sunday evening at the Carleton-Dominion Chalmers Centre. This story will be updated
