DRAYTON – Drayton Entertainment will present a 2019 playbill packed with Broadway blockbusters, hilarious comedies, captivating dramas, stirring tributes and a number of fun-filled family musicals and pantos.
Artistic director Alex Mustakas continues his bid to bring a wide variety of crowd-pleasing productions to the award-winning charitable not-for-profit theatre organization’s seven stages throughout Ontario.
Drayton Entertainment has a history of being among the first outside of Broadway and the National Tour circuit to be granted the opportunity to produce highly sought-after major musicals.
As part of the current 2018 Season, the company is producing the Canadian premieres of Ghost and Holiday Inn.
The tradition continues in 2019. Drayton Entertainment will be among the first professional regional theatres in North America to produce the stage adaptation of Rocky: The Musical, based on the popular Sylvester Stallone film.
The company will also produce the Canadian professional regional premieres of both Newsies and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.
“This landmark season promises to be remembered for years to come,” Mustakas said.
“The wide selection of shows reflects our commitment to providing quality, affordable entertainment for theatregoers at every stage of life.”
Rocky: The Musical is the heart-pounding story of struggling small-time boxer Rocky Balboa, who gets a once-in-a-lifetime shot to fight against heavyweight champ Apollo Creed in South Philadelphia.
Featuring the famous Rocky theme song and Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger, this adrenaline-fueled musical about unwavering determination in the face of adversity will have audiences cheering for the underdog.
The production will open the season at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge from March 6 to March 31, and then run in the summer at the Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend from July 18 to August 3.
Disney’s Newsies is the rousing tale of a band of teenaged newsboys in New York City at the turn-of-the century, who rise up and strike against the unfair conditions imposed on them by the titans of publishing.
Newsies will be on stage from June 27 to July 13 at the Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend, and then July 18 to Aug. 3 at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse.
Australia’s glittering musical masterpiece, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, will launch the season at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, playing for four weeks from March 13 to April 7. This stage adaptation follows three drag queens as they set out on a hilarious adventure across the Australian outback in a battered old bus nicknamed Priscilla.
In addition to Rocky, Newsies and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, other major musical blockbusters like Annie, Grease and Elf: The Musical are also on the playbill, along with the return of popular musicals like Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Thoroughly Modern Millie.
The world’s favourite family musical Annie tells the story of a brave young orphan who is forced to live in a miserable orphanage run by the wicked Miss Hannigan in 1930s New York.
Her hard knock life takes an unexpected turn when the plucky redhead is chosen to spend a fairy tale holiday with famous billionaire industrialist Oliver Warbucks.
With notable songs like Hard Knock Life, Easy Street, and Tomorrow, Annie will entertain audiences from June 5 to June 30 at the Drayton Festival Theatre, and then Oct. 2 to 27 at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge.
Summer brings the hit Broadway phenomenon Grease. Featuring memorable characters like Danny, Sandy, Rizzo, Kenickie and the gang, as well as unforgettable songs like Summer Nights, Greased Lightnin’, We Go Together, and many other popular hits,
Grease will be on stage from July 10 to Aug. 3 at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge, and then Aug. 8 to 31 at the Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend.
After playing to sold out crowds in Cambridge and Grand Bend in 2017, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is back – this time in Drayton and Penetanguishene.
With memorable characters and exciting musical numbers like Be Our Guest, Something There, and the award-winning title song, this magical musical will enchant audiences from July 11 to Aug. 10 at the King’s Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene, and Aug. 15 to 31 at the Drayton Festival Theatre.
Winner of the Tony Awar for Best Musical, the Roaring Twenties romp Thoroughly Modern Millie will launch the season in Grand Bend.
This romantic musical comedy follows gutsy small-town girl Millie Dillmount who moves to New York City in 1922 to make her dreams come true. After wowing audiences with its catchy tunes, frisky flappers, and explosive dance numbers in St. Jacobs during the 2017 season, this fun-filled musical will be on stage at the Huron Country Playhouse from June 5 to 22.
Adding to the variety of offerings, the nostalgic Canadian musical You’ll Get Used To It … The War Show will be on stage at two venues in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of D-Day.
The joys and sorrows of war are explored in this sentimental musical that follows the journey of six Canadian infantrymen.
This production brings history alive featuring popular music from the 1930s and 1940s.
The show is on stage as a tribute to veterans June 5 to 22 at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, and June 27 to July 13 at the Huron Country Playhouse II in Grand Bend.
In addition to its signature musicals, Drayton Entertainment’s 2019 playbill also includes plenty of comedies as well as more serious fare.
The new Canadian play GLORY, based on the incredible rise of Ontario’s Preston Rivulettes Women’s Hockey Team, will be on stage at four Drayton Entertainment venues.
Set in 1933, this inspiring true story chronicles the lives of four friends who set out to show the nation that Canada’s favourite pastime isn’t just a sport for men.
Featuring electrifying swing choreography inspired by the jazz age, this unique play captures all the thrills, exhilaration, and tension of a great hockey game while celebrating female empowerment.
GLORY is on stage from May 15 to June 8 at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge, June 12 to 22 at the Huron Country Playhouse II in Grand Bend, June 26 to July 6 at the King’s Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene and July 10 to 20 at the Drayton Festival Theatre.
Building on the success of praised productions like Death of a Salesman and The Rainmaker, the acclaimed plays ART, Twelve Angry Men and The Miracle Worker will be on stage next season.
ART is a comedy about three friends who disagree on the merit of an expensive painting and it explores both the value of art and the fickleness of friendship.
It will be on stage from Oct. 2 to 20 at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse.
The riveting courtroom drama Twelve Angry Men will play two stages in 2019.
On a humid summer day, twelve jurors from all strata of society must decide whether an inner-city teen is guilty of the murder of his father, thereby sentencing the young defendant to death.
It looks like an open-and-shut case, until Juror 8 plants the seed of reasonable doubt.
This clever, compelling and relevant drama about the complicated quest for justice is on stage at the Huron Country Playhouse II in Grand Bend from July 18 to Aug. 3, and at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge from Aug. 7 to Aug. 24.
Based on the true story of Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan, the inspiring Tony Award-winning play The Miracle Worker will be on stage at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse from April 24 to May 12.
Young Helen who has been blind, deaf, and mute since infancy is trapped in a secret, silent world, unable to communicate.
Refusing to give up on her troubled student, Annie realizes that there is a mind and spirit waiting to be rescued from the dark.
Helen’s incredible journey from darkness to light is explored in this stirring saga of perseverance.
Two entertaining tribute shows are also on the docket – Fiddler on the Loose and Good Ol’ Country Gospel.
Fiddler on the Loose is a gregarious musical variety show that features over 60 songs running the gamut of genres from country and bluegrass to Celtic, classical, pop, and more.
The eclectic song list includes Dust in The Wind, Devil Went Down to Georgia, You Raise Me Up, Footloose, Tennessee Waltz, Orange Blossom Special, and more. This musical extravaganza is on stage from July 24 to Aug. 10 at the Drayton Festival Theatre.
Good Ol’ Country Gospel is a heartfelt tribute to the beloved canon of sacred hits … with a country twist.
Featuring glorious arrangements and heavenly voices, this celebration shines a new light on spiritual favourites including Amazing Grace, Peace in the Valley, How Great Thou Art, When The Saints Go Marching In, I Saw the Light, and more.
This musical tribute is on stage from Sept. 11 to Dec. 22 at the St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre.
Two fun-filled pantos will be on stage for families to enjoy.
Jack and the Beanstalk: The Panto will entertain audiences from June 5 to 22 at the King’s Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene, and then Aug. 8 to 31 at the Huron Country Playhouse II in Grand Bend.
Later in the season, the beloved fairy tale Sleeping Beauty will bring its dozy princess, feisty fairies, dashing prince, and malevolent villainess to St. Jacobs for the holiday season.
This panto adaptation follows the story of a young princess cursed to prick her finger on a mystical spinning wheel causing her to fall asleep for hundreds of years.
Boo the baddie and cheer the heroine in this dreamy holiday panto at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse from Nov. 27 to Dec. 22.
Everyone’s favorite elf will be coming to Cambridge as the hit holiday classic, Elf: The Musical hits the stage at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge from Nov. 20 to Dec. 22 next year.
Based on the 2003 movie starring Will Ferrell, Elf: The Musical is a hilarious fish-out-of-water musical comedy about Buddy, whose enormous size and poor toy-making abilities make him wonder if he is actually an elf.
With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity.
Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help the Big Apple remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Ticket information
Tickets are on sale now for 2019 performances.
For more information about the 2019 season visit www.draytonentertainment.com/season-2019-announcement.
