Award-winning Drayton Entertainment has announced that its production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels will be embarking on a 22-week tour across North America.
The tour will commence Nov. 17 in Rockford, Illinois and wrap up in Temecula, California on May 16. To date, more than 100 performances are booked and confirmed in 28 American states. Major stops include such cities as Naples, Florida; Athens, Georgia; Toledo, Ohio; Utica, New York; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Phoenix, Arizona; Reno, Nevada; and Fresno, California.
Several Ontario stops are also planned in Hamilton (Hamilton Place Theatre, Nov. 26 and 27); London (John Labatt Centre, Nov. 29, 30); and Brampton (The Rose Theatre, Feb. 13, 14).
“This is an incredible opportunity for us to strengthen the reputation of Canadian artists, contribute to Ontario’s profile as a cultural hub across North America, and enhance our profile in the performing arts community,” said artistic director Alex Mustakas. “It is extremely exciting, and will undoubtedly open many more doors for us in the future.”
A theatrical touring engagement of the production has been in the planning stages for the past year. Earlier this summer, Drayton Entertainment’s presentation of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels entertained a record 20,000 theatre goers during an eight-week engagement at two of its Ontario venues, the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse and Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend.
Based on the popular 1988 MGM film, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels centres on two con men on the French Riviera: the suave and sophisticated Lawrence Jameson, who makes his lavish living by talking rich ladies out of their money; and a small-time crook named Freddy Benson, who, more humbly, swindles women by awakening their compassion with fabricated stories about his grandmother’s failing health.
After a chance meeting, they unsuccessfully attempt to work together only to find that the small French town isn’t big enough for the two of them.
So they make a bet: the first one to swindle $50,000 from a young heiress triumphs – and the other must leave town immediately. What follows are a series of masquerades and double-crosses in a hilariously clever take on the ultimate con.
The North American touring production will be directed by Mustakas and choreographed by Jackie Mustakas, the same team behind Drayton Entertainment’s blockbuster summer run.
It will feature Brian McKay and Stephen Patterson in the lead roles of Lawrence Jameson and Freddy Benson, along with Heather McGuigan as American Soap Queen Christine Colgate.
The tour will provide employment and exposure for 35 Canadian artists, musicians, stage managers, and crew members. Due to the size and scope of the tour, Drayton Entertainment has contracted the professional services of Columbia Artists Management Inc. to provide day to day supervision and management.
“This is truly another groundbreaking announcement for our organization, and is a testament to the generous support that has been provided by our network of members, sponsors, media, and other partners for the past 18 years,” says Mustakas.
“They should all take tremendous satisfaction in this accomplishment, as they continue to play a leading role in this great Canadian success story.”
