DRAYTON – Drayton Entertainment is finally welcoming audiences back to all of its theatres across the province this year, including four local venues.
Officials of the not-for-profit charitable arts organization say their stages will be alive with memorable music, entertaining stories, joyful laughter, heartfelt applause, and maybe even a few tears as audiences, artists, volunteers, musicians, backstage crew, and more celebrate the return of live theatre with 15 productions on stage during the 2022 season, notes a March 28 press release.
The 2022 season will run from May 25 to Dec. 31.
“It’s exciting and emotional at the same time because we’ve waited so long for the return of live entertainment,” says Alex Mustakas, artistic director of Drayton Entertainment.
“That said, full recovery will be a multi-year effort, so this season looks a little different.
“There are one or two fewer shows as we cautiously resume operations, but the top-quality entertainment experience and customer service audiences have come to expect remain the same.”
Although the province has lifted restrictions for theatres, allowing for 100 per cent capacity, Drayton Entertainment recognizes that patrons have different degrees of comfort.
With the aim of making the return to live theatre as easy as possible for everyone, the organization will offer show schedules with varying capacities and protocols that gradually change as the season progresses.
From May through July, audiences can choose from performances at 100% capacity with no proof of vaccination required, limited capacity (33% reduced) with no proof of vaccination required, and limited capacity (33% reduced) with proof of vaccination required.
From August through December, audiences can choose from performances at 100% capacity with no proof of vaccination required and limited capacity (33% reduced) with no proof of vaccination required.
The Drayton Entertainment Duty of Care adheres to local and provincial health guidelines and is subject to change in response to current conditions throughout the season, the release notes.
The 2022 season is as follows:
Drayton Festival Theatre
- Sorry, I’m Canadian 2! from June 1 to June 18;
- Buying The Farm from June 29 to July 16; and
- Good Ol’ Country Gospel from Aug. 11 to 28.
Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge
- Fiddler on the Loose from June 1 to June 18;
- On Golden Pond from July 20 to Aug. 6;
- It Runs in the Family on stage Aug. 11 to 28;
- Good Ol’ Country Gospel from Oct. 27 to Nov. 12; and
- The Sound of Music from Nov. 24 to Dec. 24.
St. Jacobs Country Playhouse
- Mamma Mia! from June 15 to July 9;
- The Sweet Delilah Swim Club from July 27 to Aug. 13;
- Driving Miss Daisy from Oct. 6 to 22;
- American Son from Nov. 2 to 20; and
- Wizard of Oz: The Panto from Dec. 1 to 31.
St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre
- Billy Bishop Goes to War from May 25 to June 12;
- The Crooner from June 29 to Sept. 4; and
- We’ll Meet Again from Sept. 28 to Dec. 24.
Creative teams and casting will be announced at a later date.
“Although we continue to navigate this ongoing pandemic, we’re hopeful about the future,” says Mustakas.
“We know our audiences, tourism partners, and communities love and miss theatre as much as we do, so we encourage everyone to join us in making wonderful memories this season.
“Years from now we’ll all talk about where we were, and what shows we saw, the year that theatre came back.”
Tickets
Tickets are on sale exclusively to members by phone now. Tickets are on sale to everyone by phone, in person at select box office locations (Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge and St. Jacobs Country Playhouse only), and online 24/7 at www.draytonentertainment.com beginning on April 4.
To order by phone call 519-621-8000 or toll free at 1-855-372-9866.
For more information about Drayton Entertainment’s complete 2022 season on all seven stages, visit www.draytonentertainment.com.
