The Stratford Festival won鈥檛 just be christening the new Tom Patterson Theatre stage during its 2020 season鈥攊t鈥檚 also mounting an entirely new production of Chicago, the first time that's been done at a major theatre company outside of London or New York (where the long-running revival plays) in 30 years, according to organizers.
Reimagined by director-choreographer Donna Feore, the Kander and Ebb musical will be built specifically for the festival鈥檚 thrust stage. Joining the musical at the Canadian performing arts complex are a slew of Shakespearean classics, musical world premieres, and modern Broadway favorites.
Feore will pull double-duty by additionally directing the world musical premiere of Here鈥檚 What It Takes from Barenaked Ladies鈥� Steven Page and playwright Daniel MacIvor. Other premieres include the Morris Panych-helmed Frankenstein Revived by composer David Coulter and Ann-Marie MacDonald鈥檚 Hamlet 911, directed by Alisa Palmer.
Among the festival鈥檚 more classical offerings are Richard III, helmed by Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino, paired with the Scott Wentworth-helmed All鈥檚 Well That Ends Well. Productions of Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, and Moli猫re鈥檚 The Miser are also planned. The roster also includes Edward Albee鈥檚 Three Tall Women, directed by Diana Leblanc, and Tomson Highway鈥檚 The Rez Sisters, directed by Jessica Carmichael.
The North American premiere of Wendy & Peter Pan, by Ella Hickson, will be directed by Keira Loughran and choreographed by Allen Kaeja. Stratford will then mount the Tony-winning Best Musical of 2005, Monty Python鈥檚 Spamalot, helmed by Lezlie Wade and choreographed by Jesse Robb. Lastly, Hilary Mantel鈥檚 two-part Wolf Hall will be co-directed by Ted Witzel and Geraint Wyn Davies.
For more information on the lineup, visit .
