A world premiere production, smash-hit Broadway shows, dramas, and comedies make up Drayton Entertainment’s 2010 playbill.
Twenty-one productions will be presented at six venues in four Ontario destinations, in a season that begins in April and continues to December.
“We continue to reach for new artistic heights by creating a playbill that offers something for everyone and appeals to avid theatergoers who want a taste of all genres,” said artistic director Alex Mustakas. “We are excited to provide so many different kinds of audiences with opportunities to experience the magic of live theatre.”
Tickets for the 2010 season went on sale just to members on Oct. 1. Tickets go on sale to subscribers on Nov. 1 and the general public Jan. 4.
Mustakas said, “The diverse mix of programming in our 2010 season reaffirms our commitment to providing quality professional entertainment at a price that is accessible to everyone.”
Drayton Festival Theatre
The season starts with the Disney show, High School Musical. Watch as Troy and Gabriella surf the tricky tides of peer pressure and school cliques to follow their dreams and find a place in each other’s heart. It runs April 20 through May 15.
A couple’s getaway plans are thrown for a loop when an unruly teenager forces them to navigate the generation gap through tart-tongued observations on fishing, literature, marriage, and mortality in On Golden Pond. It runs June 8 through26.
Next is the Canadian premiere of Cagney, a celebration of silver screen legend James Cagney. His story takes on a new life is the musical biography over five decades of the actor’s career, with song and dance numbers such as Yankee Doodle Dandy, Grand Old Flag, and Give My Regards to Broadway. Cagney runs June 30 through July 24h.
Then there is a honky-tonk culture clash. Cowgirls is a toe-tapping comedy about a nightclub owner who fears foreclosure is imminent when a trio of classically trained female musicians is mistakenly booked for a concert at her country western dance hall. Will the Coghill Trio save the day? The musical runs, Aug. 11 through 28.
The season ends with Guys and Dolls, one of the greatest Broadway musicals of all time. It runs Sept. 15 through Oct.9.
St. Jacobs Country Playhouse
The international dance sensation Tap Dogs takes over. It starts with the pitter-patter of a lone tapper, but soon the stage is rumbling, sparks are flying and six male dancers are stamping their way across a construction-site set made of steel. It runs June 2 through 26.
Next is the unlikely hit musical about the most improbable group of heroes. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is a musical comedy about a cast of outsiders for whom the spelling bee is the one place where they can stand out, yet fit in. It runs June 30through July 24.
Following a 2009 sold-out run in Drayton and Penetanguishene, Country Legends is back by popular demand. It runs July 28 through Aug. 21.
One of the most gripping stories of all time, the acclaimed courtroom drama Twelve Angry Men will fascinate theatregoers Oct. 6 through 24. A testament to the complicated quest for justice, the production is at once clever, dramatic, and compelling.
In the spirit of past hits Aladdin, Cinderella and Robin Hood, the holiday pantomime continues with Peter Pan. The production is for the entire family and features musical numbers, slapstick comedy, outrageous costumes, audience participation, and a dash of theatrical magic. It runs Nov. 17 through Dec. 19.
Schoolhouse Theatre, St. Jacobs
The high seas comedy Separate Beds kicks off the season here. Watch as two couples from very different walks of life are tossed and turned by the unpredictable waves of romance. Separate Beds runs Sept. 8 through Dec. 19.
Other venues for Drayton Entertainment include the Huron Country Playhouse, Playhouse II, and the King’s Wharf Theatre
Drayton Entertainment offers flexible subscription packages that enable theatregoers to book tickets to any performance, at any theatre, for any date.
Individual theatre tickets are $39 for adults; $20 for youth 18 and under, and $33 for preview performances.
Visit the Drayton Entertainment website at www.draytonentertainment.com for tickets and a full schedule of all theatres.
