Shaw Festival Set to Open 46th Season

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, May 2007 … The Shaw Festival’s 46th season officially opens with Bernard Shaw’s iconic and beloved Saint Joan at the Festival Theatre. Four other productions also open this week: Somerset Maugham’s glittering comedy The Circle; Brian Friel’s timeless drama A Month in the Country, After Turgenev; Bernard Shaw’s comedy of love and marriage, The Philanderer; and Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart’s musical about the movies, Mack and Mabel.

The Shaw Festival’s Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell, who joins The Shaw’s Board of Governors Chair Richard D. Falconer and the rest of the Company in celebrating the launch of the season, says of the week’s events: “Getting five productions of such exquisite quality up and running so early in the spring has been a monumental task for our Company. Our success is a testament to the talent and spirit of The Shaw’s artists, both on and off the stage. I’m very proud of the work we’re about to present – this Company has much to celebrate.” In commemoration of the achievements of The Shaw’s creative team, gala dinners attended by dignitaries from all levels of government and Canada’s artistic and business communities, and by Shaw supporters, are held throughout Niagara-on-the-Lake prior to the opening night performances.

Government of Canada officials attending will include: The Honourable James Flaherty, Minister of Finance; The Honourable Vivienne Poy, Senator; Mr. Stephen Brereton, Canadian Consul General – Buffalo; Mr. Robert Noble, Canadian Consul General – Detroit; The Honourable Madame Justice Gloria Epstein; and Mr. Curtis Barlow, Deputy Secretary to the Governor General. Foreign dignitaries attending will include: His Excellency H.E. William Fisher, Australian High Commissioner. Provincial government officials attending will include: The Honourable Caroline Di Cocco, Minister of Culture; The Honourable Jim Bradley, Minister of Tourism; The Honourable Donna Cansfield, Minister of Transportation; Lucille Roch, Deputy Minister of Culture; Mr. Steven Davidson, Assistant Deputy Minister, Ministry of Culture; Mr. Kim Craitor, MPP Niagara Falls; Ms. Jennifer Mossop, MPP Stoney Creek and Parl. Secretary to Minister of Culture; Ms. Wendy Iwai, Chief of Staff, Ministry of Culture; and Ms. Suzanne Rowe-Knight, Manager, Culture Liaison Unit, Ministry of Culture. Municipal government officials attending will include: Lord Mayor Gary Burroughs, Mayor of the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake; Mr. Patrick Gedge, CEO, Niagara Economic Development Corporation; Mr. Hans-Rudi Kroeker, Chair, Niagara Economic Development Corporation; and Ms. Janice Thomson, Executive Director, Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Arts community members attending will include: William Boyle, CEO, Harbourfront Centre; Pat Bradley, Theatre Officer, Ontario Arts Council; Martin Bragg, Executive Producer, Canadian Stage Company; Billie Bridgman, President & CEO, Council for Business and the Arts Canada; John Brotman, Executive Director, Ontario Arts Council; Antoni Cimolino, General Director, Stratford Festival; Dr. Leonard Conolly, Corresponding Scholar for the Shaw Festival; Dr. Tracy Davis, Programme Essayist for Saint Joan; Martha Durdin, Chair, Ontario Arts Council; Julia Foster, Chair, Board of Trustees, National Arts Centre; Dr. Murray Frum, Chair, Ontario Arts Council Foundation; Dr. Rosemary Hale, Dean of Humanities, Brock University; Martha Henry, Actor/Director; Camilla Holland, General Manager, Tarragon Theatre; Robert Lamb, Managing Director, Canadian Opera Company; Dr. Jack N. Lightstone, President & Vice-Chancellor, Brock University; Andy McKim, Past President, Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT); Dr. Dan Patterson, President, Niagara College; Brian Quirt, Director, Nightswimming; Richard Rose, Artistic Director, Tarragon Theatre; Don Shipley, Incoming Artistic Director, Stratford Festival; Anna Stratton, Director/Producer; Nancy Webster, President, PACT; and Lucy White, Executive Director, PACT.

The 2007 season is proudly presented by HSBC Bank Canada/HSBC Bank USA.

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Please visit our website at www.shawfest.com for other Shaw Festival media releases.

For more information, or to download pictures from our image bank to accompany this release, members of the media may contact:

Odette Yazbeck
Director, Public Relations
905-468-2153 or
1-800-657-1106 ext 222 odette@shawfest.com

Patti Broughton
Public Relations Co-ordinator
905-468-2153 or
1-800-657-1106 ext 224
pbroughton@shawfest.com