Latest news with #StratfordFestival
Calgary Herald
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Calgary Herald
Stratford Festival mourns the loss of actor Michael Blake, co-star of ATP's King James
Actor Michael Blake, who played a variety of roles during 10 seasons at the Stratford Festival, has died, the company announced on Monday. Article content Blake, 53, was considered one of the most gifted actors of his generation. He played an extraordinary variety of parts and did so with an ability and ease that was rare, the Festival said in a release. Article content Article content 'Each part Michael played was powerfully realized,' Stratford Festival artistic director Antoni Cimolino said. 'His work was true and realistic. His portrayals had an integrity that was compelling. It drew you into his reality.' Article content Article content Blake also performed at theatres across Canada, as well as on film and TV, but he will be remembered in Stratford for bringing to life a variety of characters — an unforgettable Othello, a heartbreaking Macduff in Macbeth, a good-hearted Master Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor, a delightfully villainous Don John in Much Ado About Nothing, a commanding Cominius in Coriolanus, an excellent Duke of Clarence in Richard III, and Albany in King Lear. Those performances have been captured on film, the Festival said. Article content Article content It total, Blake performed in 25 Stratford productions between 2011 and 2023, including Errico in Napoli Milionaria!, Mr. Balance in The School for Scandal, George Deever in All My Sons, Edmund in King Lear, Dumaine in All's Well That Ends Well, Cleante in Tartuff, and Sebastian in Twelfth Night. Article content
CTV News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Stratford Festival mourns the loss of veteran actor Michael Blake
Michael Blake as Don John in the 2023 production of "Much Ado About Nothing" at the Stratford Festival. (Courtesy: Stratford Festival) Michael Blake, a Canadian actor best known for his work with the Stratford Festival, has passed away. He spent 10 seasons with the theatre company, performing in a total of 25 productions between 2011 and 2023. 'Mr. Blake was one of the most gifted actors of his generation,' a press release from the Stratford Festival said. 'He played an extraordinary variety of parts and did so with an ability and ease that was rare.' Michael Blake Stratford Festival actor Michael Blake as Othello in the 2019 production of "Othello" at the Stratford Festival. (Courtesy: Chris Young/Stratford Festival) Blake shined in both starring and supporting roles, including the titular Othello, Macduff in Macbeth, Master Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor, Don John in Much Ado About Nothing, Cominius in Coriolanus, Duke of Clarence in Richard III, Albany in King Lear, Errico in Napoli Milionaria!, Mr. Balance in The School for Scandal, George Deever in All My Sons, Edmund in King Lear, Dumaine in All's Well That Ends Well, Cleante in Tartuff, and Sebastian in Twelfth Night. Michael Blake Stratford Festival actor Michael Blake as Macduff in the 2016 production of 'Macbeth' at the Stratford Festival. (Courtesy: David Hou/Stratford Festival) The Stratford Festival said it was a consolation to know that his performances on stage will be preserved on film. 'Each part Michael played was powerfully realized,' Antoni Cimolino, the festival's artistic director, explained in the release. 'His work was true and realistic. His portrayals had an integrity that was compelling. It drew you into his reality. We will all remember him both for his art and his person. He was a member of our artistic family, and he will be deeply missed. We send our condolences to Michael's family and to his many friends and colleagues facing this difficult loss.' Michael Blake Stratford Festival Michael Blake as Macduff in the 2016 production of 'Macbeth' at the Stratford Festival. (Courtesy: David Hou/Stratford Festival) Blake was born in Toronto and graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada. He also played Adult Simba in The Lion King at the Princess of Wales Theatre, as well as various other theatre productions across Canada. The Stratford Festival said they will honour his legacy by dedicating a production to Blake in their upcoming 2026 season.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Beloved Stratford Festival actor Michael Blake dies at 53
Toronto actor Michael Blake, who spent 10 seasons at the Stratford Festival, has died. In a news release, the festival called Blake, 53, 'one of the most gifted actors of his generation. He played an extraordinary variety of parts and did so with an ability and ease that was rare.' Blake was well known at Stratford for his Shakespearean roles, which included Macduff in 'Macbeth,' Master Page in 'The Merry Wives of Windsor,' Don John in 'Much Ado About Nothing,' Cominius in 'Coriolanus,' the Duke of Clarence in 'Richard III,' Albany in 'King Lear' and Dumaine in 'All's Well That Ends Well.' In 2019, he played the lead in the festival's 'Othello.' In her review for the Star , Karen Fricker praised Blake's performance. 'Blake's Othello is beautifully spoken, poised and feline: in all ways attuned to the world around him,' she wrote. 'He's succeeded by contradicting in practice the low expectations that society has of him. Which is not to say he's crafty; he's savvy and principled.' Blake performed in 25 Stratford productions between 2011 and 2023, including 'Napoli Milionaria!' 'The School for Scandal,' 'All My Sons' and 'Tartuff.' The festival noted that Blake also appeared at theatres across Canada, and in film and television, including 'Due South,' 'The Expanse,' 'The Lost Symbol' and 'Murdoch Mysteries.' According to his biography, Blake was born in Toronto and graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. He played the adult Simba in the original Toronto run of the musical 'The Lion King'; was an inaugural member of the English acting company of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and was a member of the first graduating class of the Soulpepper Academy in Toronto. 'Each part Michael played was powerfully realized,' artistic director Antoni Cimolino said in the news release. 'His work was true and realistic. His portrayals had an integrity that was compelling. It drew you into his reality. 'We will all remember him both for his art and his person. He was a member of our artistic family and he will be deeply missed.' Funeral details have yet to be announced. The festival said it will dedicate a production to Blake's memory in 2026. This story has been edited from an earlier version that gave an incorrect age for Michael Blake.
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Beloved Stratford Festival actor Michael Blake dies at 54
Toronto actor Michael Blake, who spent 10 seasons at the Stratford Festival, has died. In a news release, the festival called Blake, 54, 'one of the most gifted actors of his generation. He played an extraordinary variety of parts and did so with an ability and ease that was rare.' Blake was well known at Stratford for his Shakespearean roles, which included Macduff in 'Macbeth,' Master Page in 'The Merry Wives of Windsor,' Don John in 'Much Ado About Nothing,' Cominius in 'Coriolanus,' the Duke of Clarence in 'Richard III,' Albany in 'King Lear' and Dumaine in 'All's Well That Ends Well.' In 2019, he played the lead in the festival's 'Othello.' In her review for the Star , Karen Fricker praised Blake's performance. 'Blake's Othello is beautifully spoken, poised and feline: in all ways attuned to the world around him,' she wrote. 'He's succeeded by contradicting in practice the low expectations that society has of him. Which is not to say he's crafty; he's savvy and principled.' Blake performed in 25 Stratford productions between 2011 and 2023, including 'Napoli Milionaria!' 'The School for Scandal,' 'All My Sons' and 'Tartuff.' The festival noted that Blake also appeared at theatres across Canada, and in film and television, including 'Due South,' 'The Expanse,' 'The Lost Symbol' and 'Murdoch Mysteries.' According to his biography, Blake was born in Toronto and graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. He played the adult Simba in the original Toronto run of the musical 'The Lion King'; was an inaugural member of the English acting company of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and was a member of the first graduating class of the Soulpepper Academy in Toronto. 'Each part Michael played was powerfully realized,' artistic director Antoni Cimolino said in the news release. 'His work was true and realistic. His portrayals had an integrity that was compelling. It drew you into his reality. 'We will all remember him both for his art and his person. He was a member of our artistic family and he will be deeply missed.' Funeral details have yet to be announced. The festival said it will dedicate a production to Blake's memory in 2026.
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Star
Beloved Stratford Festival actor Michael Blake dies at 54
Michael Blake as Othello at the Stratford Festival with Amelia Sargisson as Desdemona. David Hou/Stratford Festival
