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| | caption = Festival Logo | | caption = Festival Logo | ||
| | location = Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada | | location = Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada | ||
| | founded = 1962<ref name="Canadian Encyclopedia">{{cite web |last1=Gardner |first1=David |title=Shaw Festival |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/shaw-festival |website=The Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref> | |||
| | founded = 1962 | |||
| | founders = Brian Doherty |
| founders = Brian Doherty and Calvin Rand | ||
| | directors = Tim Carroll, Tim Jennings | | directors = Tim Carroll, Tim Jennings | ||
| | selector = | | selector = | ||
| | play_type = |
| play_type = Plays by or in the spirit of George Bernard Shaw | ||
| | date = April–December each year | | date = April–December each year | ||
| | website = {{URL|http://www.shawfest.com}} | | website = {{URL|http://www.shawfest.com}} | ||
| }} | }} | ||
| The '''Shaw Festival''' is a |
The '''Shaw Festival''' is a ] ] in ], ], Canada. It is the second largest ] company in North America, second only to Canada's ].<ref name="Hmood">{{cite web |last1=Hmood |first1=Zahraa |title=Change of the stage: 60 years of the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, explained |url=https://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/local-niagara-on-the-lake/life/2022/04/23/change-of-the-stage-60-years-of-the-shaw-festival-in-niagara-on-the-lake-explained.html |website=St.Catharines Standard |access-date=24 April 2022}}</ref> The Shaw Festival was founded in 1962. Originally, it only featured productions written by ], but changes were later implemented by ] and ] that widened the theatre's scope. As of 2019, the theatre company was considered to be one of the largest 20 employers in the ].<ref name="July 2020">{{cite web |title=Shaw Festival cancels most of its 2020 season, but tries to salvage some shows |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamilton/shaw-festival-cancels-most-of-its-2020-season-but-tries-to-salvage-some-shows-1.5659938 |website=CBC News}}</ref> | ||
| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| The Festival's roots can be traced to 1962 when |
The Festival's roots can be traced to 1962 when Brian Doherty and Calvin Rand staged a summertime "Salute to Shaw" at the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Calvin Rand, co-founder of Ontario’s Shaw Festival, dies at 87 |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2017/01/05/calvin-rand-co-founder-of-ontarios-shaw-festival-dies-at-87.html |website=Toronto Star |publisher=The Canadian Press |access-date=31 May 2022}}</ref> For eight weekends, Doherty and his crew produced Shaw's ''Don Juan in Hell'' and ''Candida''.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Shaw Festival 1962: Candida |url=https://vitacollections.ca/notlheritage/details.asp?ID=2693162 |website=Niagara on the Lake Public Library |access-date=31 May 2022}}</ref> | ||
| ] took over management of the company in 1967. During his tenure, he established the Festival Theatre.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rae |first1=Lisbie |title=Paxton Whitehead |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/paxton-whitehead |website=The Canadian Encyclopedia |access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref> ], ], and ] were among those who attended performances at the Shaw Festival Theatre during its inaugural season in 1973.<ref name="Hmood" /> ] was the interim artistic director for the 1974–75 season.<ref name="Charlebois">{{cite web |last1=Charlebois |first1=Gaeton |title=van Bridge, Tony |url=https://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=van%20Bridge%2C%20Tony |website=Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia |publisher=] |access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref> Christopher Newton had declined previous offers to serve as artistic director for the Shaw Festival before accepting the position in 1979.<ref name="Morrow">{{cite web |last1=Morrow |first1=Martin |title=Former Shaw Festival artistic director Christopher Newton paved exciting new path for Canadian theatre |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-former-shaw-festival-artistic-director-christopher-newton-paved/ |website=The Globe and Mail |access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref> In a 2011 interview with the ], Newton stated that he "hadn't really liked Bernard Shaw very much" and that he "made no secret of that fact."<ref name="Nestruck">{{cite web |last1=Nestuck |first1=J. Kelly |title=Christopher Newton: What Shaw taught me |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/christopher-newton-what-shaw-taught-me/article1322451/ |website=] |access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref> Under Newton, the theatre produced plays that were written during the lifetime of Shaw (1856–1950).<ref name="Morrow" /> His decision to move the Shaw Festival away from the direction of ] was controversial, which resulted in some members of the board directors to propose firing him, but they were not successful.<ref name="Morrow" /> The theatre stopped running at a financial deficit during Newton's tenure.<ref name="Morrow" /> His successor, ], was appointed in 2003 and expanded the theatre's scope further to include works that were set in the same time period as Shaw.<ref name="Dabkowski">{{cite web |last1=Dabkowski |first1=Colin |title=Shaw Fest's Jackie Maxwell looks back on 14-year tenure |url=https://buffalonews.com/sports/bills/shaw-fests-jackie-maxwell-looks-back-on-14-year-tenure/article_fd0d521f-e03d-5732-bd1e-39f3010152ba.html |website=] |access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref> By doing so, she was able to allow "strategic integration of female, Canadian and nonwhite voices into the festival's programming and casting".<ref name="Dabkowski" /> In 2003, a production of ''The Coronation Voyage'' was the first time a show that was written by a living playwright was featured at the Shaw Festival.<ref name="Dabkowski" /> | |||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| With the addition of actor and director ] as Artistic Director in 1966, the Festival gained huge international publicity and its productions garnered sold-out performances. Morse also joined the company as actor during this season. ] took over management of the company with the 1967 season and under his leadership the Festival gained new heights. He served for twelve seasons as Artistic Director of the Shaw Festival; during his tenure, he was able to push through a plan of building the purpose-built 869-seat Festival Theatre to expand considerably the capacity for audiences at Niagara-on-the-Lake. ], ], and ] were among those who attended performances at the Shaw Festival Theatre during its inaugural season in 1973. ] was interim artistic director for the 1974–75 season. | |||
| In 1980, ] joined the company as Artistic Director and continued to foster its development with the addition of a third theatre, the Royal George. Outstanding directors such as ], ], and ] (who became Resident Director in the early 1990s) were hired. | |||
| Under Christopher Newton, the Festival's mandate became more narrowly defined: to produce plays written during the lifetime of Shaw (1856–1950), "plays about the beginning of the modern world," as Newton was quoted. In Newton's last years as Artistic Director, the mandate was widened to also include contemporary plays which are set within Shaw's lifetime (1856—1950). His successor, ], was appointed in 2003 and expanded the mandate further to include works by "contemporary Shavians" such as ] and ]. She produced many plays written and directed by women. | |||
| In the summer of 2015, it was announced that Tim Carroll would take over as artistic director and Tim Jennings as executive director. They announced Carroll’s inaugural 2017 season in August 2016. Under its current mandate, the Shaw Festival celebrates the life and spirit of Bernard Shaw by creating theatre that is as entertaining and provocative as Shaw himself.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.shawfest.com/2017/07/28/the-shaw-festival-renames-theatre-in-honour-of-former-artistic-director-jackie-maxwell/|title=The Shaw Festival renames theatre in honour of former Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell – Media Releases from Shaw Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada|website=news.shawfest.com}}</ref> | |||
| In 2020, most of the productions scheduled for that season were cancelled due to the ].<ref>{{cite web |title=Shaw Festival |
In the summer of 2015, it was announced that Tim Carroll would take over as artistic director and Tim Jennings as executive director. They announced Carroll's inaugural 2017 season in August 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.shawfest.com/2017/07/28/the-shaw-festival-renames-theatre-in-honour-of-former-artistic-director-jackie-maxwell/|title=The Shaw Festival renames theatre in honour of former Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell – Media Releases from Shaw Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada|website=news.shawfest.com}}</ref> In 2020, most of the productions scheduled for that season were cancelled due to the ].<ref name="July 2020" /> The theatre company reduced financial losses through production cancelletions, donations, government subsidies, and insurance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Law |first1=John |title=Shaw Festival posts surplus in comeback 2021 season |url=https://www.niagarafallsreview.ca/entertainment/stage/2022/03/04/shaw-festival-posts-surplus-in-comeback-2021-season.html |website=Niagara Falls Review |access-date=4 May 2022}}</ref> | ||
| ==Artistic Directors== | ==Artistic Directors== | ||
| * ] (1963–1965) | * ] (1963–1965)<ref name="Canadian Encyclopedia" /> | ||
| * ] (1966) | * ] (1966)<ref name="Canadian Encyclopedia" /> | ||
| * ] (1967–1977) | * ] (1967–1977)<ref name="Canadian Encyclopedia" /> | ||
| * ] (1974 – 1975)<ref name="Charlebois" /> | |||
| * Leslie Yeo (1979) | |||
| * ] (1979)<ref>{{cite web |title=Actor-director Leslie Yeo dies |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/actor-director-leslie-yeo-dies-1.590361 |website=CBC Arts |access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (1980–2002) | * ] (1980–2002)<ref name="Nestruck" /> | ||
| * ] (2003–2016) | |||
| * ] (2003–2016)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ouzounian |first1=Richard |title=Jackie Maxwell's Shaw Festival contract extended |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/2014/03/25/jackie_maxwells_shaw_festival_contract_extended.html |website=] |access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref> | |||
| * ] (2017–) | |||
| * ] (2017–)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Shaw Festival at 60: What’s next? |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/adv/article-the-shaw-at-60-whats-next/ |website=The Globe and Mail |access-date=5 May 2022}}</ref> | |||
| ==Theatres== | ==Theatres== | ||
| ⚫ | ] | ||
| On June 12, 1973, the Shaw Festival opened its first permanent theatre, on the '''Queen's Parade'''.<ref name="Hmood" /> | |||
| Dates listed are when the theatre's association with the Shaw Festival began; The Court House and Royal George theatres predate the festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shawfest.com/visit/theatres/|title=Theatres - Shaw Festival Theatre}}</ref> | Dates listed are when the theatre's association with the Shaw Festival began; The Court House and Royal George theatres predate the festival.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shawfest.com/visit/theatres/|title=Theatres - Shaw Festival Theatre}}</ref> | ||
| * Festival Theatre (1973, 856 seats) | * Festival Theatre (1973, 856 seats) | ||
| * Royal George Theatre (1980, |
* Royal George Theatre (1980, 305 seats) | ||
| * Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre (2004, |
* Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre (2004, 267 seats) | ||
| '''Former venue''': Court House Theatre (1962–2017, 327 seats)''<ref name="shawfest.com">{{cite web|url=http://news.shawfest.com/2017/08/23/shaw-festival-announces-2018-season/|title=Shaw Festival Announces 2018 Season – Media Releases from Shaw Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada|website=news.shawfest.com}}</ref> | '''Former venue''': Court House Theatre (1962–2017, 327 seats)''<ref name="shawfest.com">{{cite web|url=http://news.shawfest.com/2017/08/23/shaw-festival-announces-2018-season/|title=Shaw Festival Announces 2018 Season – Media Releases from Shaw Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada|website=news.shawfest.com}}</ref> | ||
| == See also == | == See also == | ||
| ⚫ | {{Portal|Theatre}} | ||
| * ] | * ] | ||
| * ] | |||
| * ] | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
| Line 60: | Line 60: | ||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| ⚫ | {{Portal|Theatre}} | ||
| *{{official website|http://www.shawfest.com|Shaw Festival Online}} | *{{official website|http://www.shawfest.com|Shaw Festival Online}} | ||
Latest revision as of 18:24, 11 December 2024
Theatre festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
 Festival Logo | |
| Location | Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1962 |
| Founded by | Brian Doherty and Calvin Rand |
| Directors | Tim Carroll, Tim Jennings |
| Type of play(s) | Plays by or in the spirit of George Bernard Shaw |
| Festival date | April–December each year |
| Website | www |
The Shaw Festival is a Charitable theatre festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada. It is the second largest repertory theatre company in North America, second only to Canada's Stratford Festival. The Shaw Festival was founded in 1962. Originally, it only featured productions written by George Bernard Shaw, but changes were later implemented by Christopher Newton and Jackie Maxwell that widened the theatre's scope. As of 2019, the theatre company was considered to be one of the largest 20 employers in the Niagara Region.
History
The Festival's roots can be traced to 1962 when Brian Doherty and Calvin Rand staged a summertime "Salute to Shaw" at the Court House Theatre. For eight weekends, Doherty and his crew produced Shaw's Don Juan in Hell and Candida.
Paxton Whitehead took over management of the company in 1967. During his tenure, he established the Festival Theatre. Queen Elizabeth II, Indira Gandhi, and Pierre Elliot Trudeau were among those who attended performances at the Shaw Festival Theatre during its inaugural season in 1973. Tony Van Bridge was the interim artistic director for the 1974–75 season. Christopher Newton had declined previous offers to serve as artistic director for the Shaw Festival before accepting the position in 1979. In a 2011 interview with the Globe and Mail, Newton stated that he "hadn't really liked Bernard Shaw very much" and that he "made no secret of that fact." Under Newton, the theatre produced plays that were written during the lifetime of Shaw (1856–1950). His decision to move the Shaw Festival away from the direction of museum theatre was controversial, which resulted in some members of the board directors to propose firing him, but they were not successful. The theatre stopped running at a financial deficit during Newton's tenure. His successor, Jackie Maxwell, was appointed in 2003 and expanded the theatre's scope further to include works that were set in the same time period as Shaw. By doing so, she was able to allow "strategic integration of female, Canadian and nonwhite voices into the festival's programming and casting". In 2003, a production of The Coronation Voyage was the first time a show that was written by a living playwright was featured at the Shaw Festival.
In the summer of 2015, it was announced that Tim Carroll would take over as artistic director and Tim Jennings as executive director. They announced Carroll's inaugural 2017 season in August 2016. In 2020, most of the productions scheduled for that season were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario. The theatre company reduced financial losses through production cancelletions, donations, government subsidies, and insurance.
Artistic Directors
- Andrew Allan (1963–1965)
- Barry Morse (1966)
- Paxton Whitehead (1967–1977)
- Tony Van Bridge (1974 – 1975)
- Leslie Yeo (1979)
- Christopher Newton (1980–2002)
- Jackie Maxwell (2003–2016)
- Tim Carroll (2017–)
Theatres
On June 12, 1973, the Shaw Festival opened its first permanent theatre, on the Queen's Parade.
Dates listed are when the theatre's association with the Shaw Festival began; The Court House and Royal George theatres predate the festival.
- Festival Theatre (1973, 856 seats)
- Royal George Theatre (1980, 305 seats)
- Jackie Maxwell Studio Theatre (2004, 267 seats)
Former venue: Court House Theatre (1962–2017, 327 seats)
See also
References
- ^ Gardner, David. "Shaw Festival". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ Hmood, Zahraa. "Change of the stage: 60 years of the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, explained". St.Catharines Standard. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- ^ "Shaw Festival cancels most of its 2020 season, but tries to salvage some shows". CBC News.
- "Calvin Rand, co-founder of Ontario's Shaw Festival, dies at 87". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- "The Shaw Festival 1962: Candida". Niagara on the Lake Public Library. Retrieved 31 May 2022.
- Rae, Lisbie. "Paxton Whitehead". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ Charlebois, Gaeton. "van Bridge, Tony". Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. Athabasca University. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ Morrow, Martin. "Former Shaw Festival artistic director Christopher Newton paved exciting new path for Canadian theatre". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ Nestuck, J. Kelly. "Christopher Newton: What Shaw taught me". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- ^ Dabkowski, Colin. "Shaw Fest's Jackie Maxwell looks back on 14-year tenure". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- "The Shaw Festival renames theatre in honour of former Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell – Media Releases from Shaw Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada". news.shawfest.com.
- Law, John. "Shaw Festival posts surplus in comeback 2021 season". Niagara Falls Review. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
- "Actor-director Leslie Yeo dies". CBC Arts. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- Ouzounian, Richard. "Jackie Maxwell's Shaw Festival contract extended". Toronto Star. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- "The Shaw Festival at 60: What's next?". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
- "Theatres - Shaw Festival Theatre".
- "Shaw Festival Announces 2018 Season – Media Releases from Shaw Festival Theatre, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada". news.shawfest.com.
Bibliography
- Holmes, Katherine, ed. (1986). Celebrating!: twenty-five years on the stage at the Shaw Festival. Erin, Ontario: Boston Mills Press. ISBN 0-919783-48-1.