Latest news with #Mirvish
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Vanessa Sears takes another run at Shakepeare's Juliet in jukebox musical '& Juliet'
TORONTO - Canadian stage actress Vanessa Sears is resurrecting her role as hopeless romantic Juliet Capulet, with a playful pop music twist. Mirvish Productions says the Deep River, Ont., native leads the all-Canadian cast of jukebox musical '& Juliet,' which returns to Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre later this year. Sears is deeply familiar with William Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers. She played Juliet in the Stratford Festival's 2024 production of the dramatic love story. '& Juliet' will have her portray a more comedic version of the character. The musical imagines what might've happened if Romeo and Juliet had gone their separate ways. The book was penned by Toronto playwright David West Read and propelled by the pop hits of Swedish producer Max Martin, including tracks 'Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely,' 'Since U Been Gone' and 'Roar.' '& Juliet' has a limited run from Dec. 3, 2025 to March 22, 2026. Tickets are already on sale through the Mirvish website. Sears is a familiar face in Mirvish productions, having previously starred in their 2015 production of 'Kinky Boots' and is set to appear in 'Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812' this summer. Other Canadians in the new '& Juliet' cast include David Silvestri, who starred in 'Come From Away;' Julia McLellan, who had parts in 'Kinky Boots' and 'Six;' and Stratford and Shaw Festival veteran George Krissa. The musical made its North American premiere in July 2022, leading to a successful Broadway run later that year as theatre productions gradually resumed after COVID-19 closures. 'The cast consists of artists we know and love from past productions,' said theatre producers David and Hannah Mirvish in a joint statement. 'Others we've been following on stages around the city and beyond, and some exciting new talent (will make) their professional debuts.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vanessa Sears takes another run at Shakepeare's Juliet in jukebox musical ‘& Juliet'
TORONTO – Canadian stage actress Vanessa Sears is resurrecting her role as hopeless romantic Juliet Capulet, with a playful pop music twist. Mirvish Productions says the Deep River, Ont., native leads the all-Canadian cast of jukebox musical '& Juliet,' which returns to Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre later this year. Sears is deeply familiar with William Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers. She played Juliet in the Stratford Festival's 2024 production of the dramatic love story. '& Juliet' will have her portray a more comedic version of the character. The musical imagines what might've happened if Romeo and Juliet had gone their separate ways. The book was penned by Toronto playwright David West Read and propelled by the pop hits of Swedish producer Max Martin, including tracks 'Show Me the Meaning of Being Lonely,' 'Since U Been Gone' and 'Roar.' '& Juliet' has a limited run from Dec. 3, 2025 to March 22, 2026. Tickets are already on sale through the Mirvish website. Sears is a familiar face in Mirvish productions, having previously starred in their 2015 production of 'Kinky Boots' and is set to appear in 'Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812' this summer. Other Canadians in the new '& Juliet' cast include David Silvestri, who starred in 'Come From Away;' Julia McLellan, who had parts in 'Kinky Boots' and 'Six;' and Stratford and Shaw Festival veteran George Krissa. The musical made its North American premiere in July 2022, leading to a successful Broadway run later that year as theatre productions gradually resumed after COVID-19 closures. 'The cast consists of artists we know and love from past productions,' said theatre producers David and Hannah Mirvish in a joint statement. 'Others we've been following on stages around the city and beyond, and some exciting new talent (will make) their professional debuts.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025.
Toronto Star
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
‘The Lion King' is concluding its run in Toronto, but there's still time to catch the beloved musical this summer
The bad news: Disney's 'The Lion King' is officially concluding its Toronto run. The good news: Theatre fans can still catch the critically acclaimed musical at the Princess of Wales Theatre until the end of August. On Tuesday, producers David and Hannah Mirvish announced that the Disney juggernaut will conclude on Aug. 30. By that date, the production will have been performed 345 times to an estimated audience of over a quarter-million. 'We take great pride in the current Toronto production of 'The Lion King,'' David Mirvish said in a statement, which noted that the vast majority of professionals employed by the production are Canadian. 'The talent both on and off the Princess of Wales stage is exemplary. They represent a new generation of artists and artisans, some of whom were not even born when the original Toronto production was staged in 2000.' ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Directed by Julie Taymor and featuring music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice, 'The Lion King' musical debuted on Broadway nearly 30 years ago and still runs there today. The latest Canadian production — it's the second time the musical has been produced by the Mirvish family — arrived at the Princess of Wales Theatre last November and was met with critical acclaim. Stage Review 'The Lion King' is the most anti-Disney show ever. This thrilling new Mirvish production proves why that's a good thing Joshua Chong Star theatre critic Joshua Chong called the production 'the most anti-Disney show ever.' '('The Lion King') offers a glimpse not only of what Disney once was, but also of what it could be,' Chong wrote. '(A) show derived from nothing except the timeless theatrical impulse to stimulate the imagination.' Mirvish also announced a 'relaxed performance' of the 'The Lion King' taking place on Aug. 1, which is designed to provide an accessible and welcoming environment for all audiences. In September, the Princess of Wales Theatre will be taken over by the Toronto International Film Festival, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this fall. Critic's Notebook Here's what to expect from Toronto theatres in 2025-26: More American shows, the return of two icons and second chances Joshua Chong If you can't make it out this summer, fret not: there are currently eight productions of 'The Lion King' taking place across the world, from Paris to Tokyo to Mexico City. 'I was a teenager when the original production began,' Hannah Mirvish wrote in a statement. 'It was incredible to see that show as an audience member. But the experience and thrill of working on this production is even bigger. It's everything I could have hoped for and more.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The Lion King' circle of life to end in Toronto after less than a year
TORONTO — "The Lion King" will soon utter its final roar in Toronto. Mirvish Productions announced Tuesday that the last performance of the critically acclaimed and award-winning musical will take place Aug. 30 at the Princess of Wales Theatre. It's a shorter run than many expected for a production of its calibre, but the company's director of sales says producers determined it was better to close the show on "a really high note" than gamble with uncertainties that may come up later this year. "You don't want to go out struggling," John Karastamatis added. The stage adaptation of the 1994 Disney animated film opened in November, featuring a cast of mostly Canadian performers and crew, with high expectations for an extended run. Before opening, David Mirvish told The Canadian Press he hoped the production might last at least a couple of years. He projected it would break even after 26 to 36 weeks of performances. By the time it closes, the show will have played 43 weeks and a total of 345 shows, reaching an expected audience of more than 250,000 people. Karastamatis said the production is profitable. "We've accomplished what we set out to do, we have a new generation of artists on the stage and we've had great audiences," he said. "It's kind of a gut feeling, but it's hard to tell the future, especially nowadays." Karastamatis described several factors that could negatively affect ticket sales for a show as long-running as "The Lion King." For instance, a new political climate has reduced cross-border travel. "We're not getting Americans up here. Canadians aren't going to the United States either. So it's a whole new world," he said. "Our hope for this summer is that Canadians will make up the difference." Producers weighed other factors, too. One was that come fall "The Lion King" would be headed into a new theatre season and possibly deemed an "old show" in a busy market of new projects. "The Lion King" first ran in Toronto from 2000 to 2004, and has since seen a number of travelling versions roll through the city. Last year's return was touted as an open-ended run, a significant investment that hired more local talent and occupied a single theatre for an extended period. Toronto's "The Lion King" production was an oversized ambition from the start. Last fall, Mirvish rented an old Toronto Catholic school to house its massive cast, crew and costumes, because there wasn't an existing rehearsal space in the city that could accommodate them. As the show got underway, it faced another hurdle when, a day before it opened, its star Simba was sidelined by injury. Actor Aphiwe Nyezi missed the first two-and-a-half months of the run but returned to "The Lion King" in mid-January. He was temporarily replaced by the lead from the musical's ongoing North American tour. Open-ended productions aren't especially common in Toronto, and their long-running success is never a guarantee. Mirvish's last one was the $25-million "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child," for which it spent another $5 million to renovate and retrofit the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre. That show ended in 2023 after just 13 months. Before "The Lion King" closes, Mirvish plans to host a "relaxed performance" for the Aug. 1 matinee. The special version will cater to neurodivergent audiences with noises and music played at a lower level. There will also be an opportunity to book a "touch tour" that day, which gives ticket holders an opportunity to touch the props and costumes before the show. The closure of "The Lion King" comes just before this year's Toronto International Film Festival, which uses the Princess of Wales Theatre as one of its main screening rooms. The festival runs from Sept. 4 to 14. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 13, 2025. David Friend, The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
