Our friends in Voices of Broadway, a choir which includes John Biehn, who played John Harris in A Theatre of Our Own, and Wilbur in The Miller and His Men, will be performing tonight (Saturday, January 18th) at 7:30PM at CentreSpace, in the Bishop Cronyn Memorial Church. The show is called Broadway Blitz.
John Biehn in Broadway Blitz
January 18, 2014Opening night of ‘A Theatre of Our Own’!
November 30, 2013We had a very satisfying opening night this evening, with people saying awfully nice things about the show. We were also delighted to see write-ups about ‘A Theatre of Our Own’ in The London Free Press (by Joe Belanger) and the Western Gazette (by Brent Holmes). There are two remaining showings of ‘A Theatre of Our Own’ — on Saturday (Nov 30th) at 2PM and at 7PM. Here are some photos from our dress rehearsals (taken by Dale Armstrong) to whet your appetite!
Max and Grace: London gruffness and London assurance
November 18, 2013Max Harkaway is a crusty old squire with a heart of gold, especially when it comes to his niece, Grace. Grace Harkaway loves her uncle unreservedly, and tolerates his moods with equanimity. Grace must choose between marrying an elderly gentleman (and keep her estate), and a young dandy (and lose her fortune). Max is worried that Grace will be unhappy marrying for money. Here we see the contrast between Max’s gruffness, as he tries to steer her towards a more suitable match, and Grace’s assurance and tenderheartedness.
“A Theatre of Our Own” Hallowe’en costume party
November 14, 2013We held a costume fitting for “A Theatre of Our Own” on Hallowe’en. Here’s a sneak peek…
WWI military musical entertainment at SpringWorks: The Maple Leaves
May 15, 2013
Poster for the StillWaters production of “The Maple Leaves” at the SpringWorks Festival in Stratford
Our friends at StillWaters Productions are re-creating a slice of WWI military musical entertainment this week at the SpringWorks Festival in Stratford. Written by Heather Debling, and directed by Gada Jane, The Maple Leaves tells the story of a soldier seconded to perform with a military troupe of female impersonators in WWI:
1917. Somewhere in France. New recruit Billy Haven arrives eager to kill his first Hun. Instead of picking up a rifle, Billy is ordered to put on a dress and start singing.
Billy is forced to join The Maple Leaves: a group of soldiers who travel all around the front putting on performances to boost morale. His commanding officer is Captain Ashby, the most famous female impersonator on the Western Front. Although initially skeptical of the men’s efforts, a glimpse of trench warfare soon has Billy embracing his new role as ‘Madeline.’
Billy and the other men find refuge in the safe space they’ve created, far away from Jerry’s shells and snipers. But as Billy’s popularity grows, a rivalry develops that threatens the safety of everyone in the group.
As the men grapple with their internal demons and traumatic memories of the front, their illusion of safety crumbles, forcing Billy to determine where his duty truly lies.
The Maple Leaves offers audiences a glimpse into this little known side of Canadian military life. Based on the real-life experiences of groups like The Dumbells, The Maple Leafs, and The Y Emmas, the play juxtaposes the horrors of trench warfare with exuberant performance numbers of WWI favourites such as “Your King and Country Want You,” “If You Were the Only Girl in the World,” and “Mademoiselle from Armentieres.”
What: The Maple Leaves
Where: Factory 163, in Stratford ON — 163 King Street.
When: Wednesday, May 15th at 6PM & Saturday, May 18th at 12 PM.
Tickets: http://www.springworksfestival.ca or 1-888-559-5077.
Cost: $20+HST
Audience Advisory: Coarse Language
Remembering the Garrison (and its theatre) at Eldon House on Remembrance Day
November 10, 2012Garrison Theatricals’ Mark Tovey will be giving a Remembrance Day lecture on Sunday, November the 11th at 2PM at the Eldon House Interpretive Centre. Mark will be theatrically assisted by John Biehn (who played the comic role of Wilbur in The Miller and His Men), by Roxanne Lutz of Misstorical Fiction, and by writer Erin Moxam. History will be mixed with drama as John, Roxanne, and Erin bring characters from London’s past to life through readings of diary entries, letters, and newspaper reviews. The Londoner Online led with this story on their front page this morning (Remembering the Officers of the London Garrison).
Update: See Roxanne Lutz’s account of the afternoon (with photos!) over at Misstorical Fiction (Playing the Past with Fellow time Travellers).
Garrison Theatricals participates in Eldon House ghost event
November 10, 2012Garrison Theatricals’ Mark Tovey played the ghost of officer Wenman Wynniatt at Eldon House on October 18th, in a very well-attended event organized by Eldon House and Roxanne Lutz of Misstorical Fiction. Mark wandered the house and grounds of Eldon House dressed in an officers’ uniform, appearing and disappearing as the occasion required!
This article in The Londoner (The Ghosts of Eldon House’s Past, by Shobhita Sharma) includes an evocative picture of Mark as Wynniatt. Roxanne Lutz has a detailed and richly illustrated post (The Great Eldon House Ghost Hunt 2012) over at Misstorical Fiction.
St. Paul’s Cathedral Tours
June 20, 2012St. Paul’s Cathedral offers guided tours on the first Sunday of each month until December 2, 2012. We’re always keen to tell you about chances to tour buildings built in London ON the 1840s, especially buildings with connections to the Garrison.
The cornerstone of St. Paul’s Cathedral (472 Richmond St.) was laid in 1844, after St. Paul’s Church, a frame building constructed in 1834, caught fire, and burned to the ground. The narthex (lobby area) contains a monument to the 23rd Royal Welsh Fusiliers, “who fell in the Battle of Alma in the Crimea in 1854.” The transept contains the military colours of former London regiments.
When: First Sunday of each month until December 2nd, 2012.
(Sunday, July 1st, August 5, September 2nd, October 7th, November 4th, December 2nd)
Time: 11:30am – 12:00pm
Where: St. Paul’s Cathedral, 472 Richmond St., at the corner of Queens and Richmond Streets.
Eldon House’s River Walk
June 3, 2012We always love to tell you about opportunities to experience a slice of early London history here at Garrison Theatricals, and here is one of them. Eldon House periodically hosts one of Museum London’s walking tours, the River Walk:
“Eldon House’s highly-regarded River Walk explores the founding of London, historic events such as the Great Flood, and discovers nature in this interactive walking tour around the Thames River.”
Details:
Saturday, June 9th or Saturday July 21st.
Time: 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
Where: Meet on the front lawn for Museum London.
Cost: Free.
(Museum London will be offering six different walking tours on Saturdays in June and July, from 10:30 to 12:00PM, rain or shine).
Two of Miller’s Men in Broadway By Request
May 26, 2012Two cast members from Miller and His Men (John Biehn and Neila Lawson), are part of the Broadway Singers’ “Broadway By Request” today (May 26th, 2012) in the Wolf Performance Hall in the Central Library. Performances are at 2PM and 7:30PM.
The Broadway Singers will be singing selections from Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Carousel, Chess, Guys and Dolls, and Wicked. Should be a wonderful time!
Details:
Saturday, May 26, 2012 – Season Finale
The Broadway Singers Present:
Broadway by Request
Location: Wolf Performance Hall
251 Dundas St., Central Library, London, Ontario
Matinee 2:00 pm
Evening 7:30 pm
Price: $20.00