Theater in Ontario: 15 Must-See Shows Across the Province

Summer in Ontario means it’s high season for live theater – and not just in Stratford and Shaw.

Live performances flourish in the province in the warmer months, in programming that reflects vibrant, varied locations and histories. These theaters are often a local labor of love, with staff and volunteers based in the community who are very aware of the interests and tastes of the local audience. Summer theaters provide solid contract work for professional actors outside of the regular theater season and boost tourism to their regions.

Comedies, musicals, period dramas, family shows, even a murder mystery in a tropical dinner theater – there’s a huge variety to choose from, and you can choose between beautiful outdoor settings and more traditional locations.

The Star asked summer theaters and festivals across the county to recommend a “must see” in each of their seasons.

The Blyth Festival in Blyth

The festival is making history this summer with the first staging of all three James Reaney’s Donnellys plays since they were first produced at the Tarragon Theater in the mid-1970s. “The Donnellys: A Trilogy” is based on the true story of an Irish emigrant family who moved to Biddulph Township (then part of Huron County, where Blyth is located) in the 1800s. The hardships and discrimination the family faced in Ireland, plus the challenges of adjusting to a changing world, all made for a bloody, tragic event that made headlines at the time. The festival’s artistic director Gil Garratt adapted the three plays with the blessing of Reaney’s family and estate. The same company of 10 actors, led by Randy Hughson, will perform the plays in repertory under the direction of Garratt.

“Sticks and Stones” runs through September. 1; “The St. Nicholas Hotel” runs through Sept. 2; “Handcuffs” runs from August 1 to September 3. In August, the public will be able to see the trilogy for three consecutive nights at the open-air Harvest Stage festival. To see blyth festival. com or call 1-877-862-5984.

The Capitol Theater in Port Hope

This celebrated theater recommends “Little Shop of Horrors,” August 11 to September 3, directed by Artistic Director Rob Kempson. The theater promises an all-star Canadian cast in an innovative reinvention of the show with non-traditional casting. To see capitol theater. com or call 1-905-885-1071.

County Stage Company in Prince Edward County

This company, formerly the Festival Players of Prince Edward County, recommends “The 39 Steps,” Patrick Barlow’s award-winning parody of Alfred Hitchcock’s classic film. Four actors play more than 150 roles in Monica Dottor’s production, staged on a rotating set designed by Steve Lucas. The production runs from Saturday to August 6 outdoors at the Eddie Pavilion in Bloomfield. To see countystage.ca or email boxoffice@countystage.ca.

Drayton Entertainment in Grand Bend and Cambridge

The company recommends “Kinky Boots,” which runs until July 29 at the Huron County Playhouse in Grand Bend and August 3-20 at the Hamilton Family Theater in Cambridge. To see www.draytonentertainment.com or call 1-855-372-9866.

Driftwood Theater Group (everywhere!)

“Living With Shakespeare,” a one-man show performed by Artistic Director Jeremy Smith and co-created with Steven Gallagher, is this tour company’s choice. It interweaves personal stories and memories with passages from the bard’s work. The show, which tours August 5-27 to Kingston, Bloomfield, Quinte West, Peterborough, Oshawa, Pickering, Ingersoll, Toronto and Burlington, completes Driftwood’s 30-year tradition of Shakespeare touring. The company will restart in 2024 with a new mandate. To see driftwoodtheater.com or call 1-844-601-8057.

The Foster Party in St. Catharines

This Niagara Festival recommends Norm Foster’s “Jenny’s House of Joy,” a comedy set against the backdrop of the Old West and a companion piece to “Outlaw,” which it produced earlier this summer (it’s the first time that a theater plays the two in the same season). Lisa Horner directs the production, which runs August 9-20 at Ridley College’s Mandeville Theater in St. Catharines. To see fosterfestival.com or call 1-844-735-4832, ext. 3.

Fourth Line Theater in Millbrook

The company recommends the revival of “The Cavan Blazers,” the period drama the theater launched 31 years ago. Robert Winslow’s play follows the violent clash between Protestant and Catholic Irish settlements in Cavan Township (where the theater is located) in the early to mid 19th century. It will be played from August 1 to 23 at Winslow Farm in Millbrook. To see 4elijnstheater.op.ca or call 1-800-814-0055.

Globus Theater in Bobcaygeon

The company recommends “The Great Palm Tree Beach Tiki Bar Tragedy” (July 19-29), a murder mystery/dinner theater experience written by Sarah Quick and performed by Canadian Comedy Award-winning improvisers. To see globustheater.com or call 1-705-738-2037.

Guild Festival Theater in Scarborough

The group at Scarborough’s Guild Park and Gardens recommends “Alice in Wonderland” (until July 22), a return of their sold-out 2021 hit, presenting the beloved story in a staging suitable for all ages. To see guildfestivaltheater.ca or call 647-250-7438.

Hamilton Fringe Festival in Hamilton

The organizers of the party (July 19 to 30) said they couldn’t bear to choose between the more than 50 shows in their 2023 season, which promises storytellers and magicians, comedies and improv, dancers and ghost stories, coming-of- age stories, puppets, musicals, children’s shows and an existential bowl of noodles (2022 Toronto Fringe hit “A Perfect Bowl of Pho”). To see hftco.ca.

Here for now Theater in Stratford

The other Stratford company recommends “Margaret Reid,” due July 29, a sharp and clever comedy from Madeleine Brown about two ambitious girls and how the stories we tell ourselves shape who we become. Monique Lund directs the play, which incorporates movement and music as part of Here For Now’s 2023 Open Air Theater at Stratford Perth Museum. To see herefornowtheater.com or call 1-519-272-4368.

The Lighthouse Festival in Port Colborne

The recommendation is “Bed and Breakfast,” Mark Crawford’s acclaimed, well-traveled comedy about a gay couple who inherit a B&B in a small town and discover that simple life is more complicated than they thought. The Port Dover run ends Saturday, but will play at the Roselawn Theater in Port Colborne from July 19-30. To see lighthouse theatre. com or call 1-888-779-7703.

The Orillia Opera House in Orillia

The company recommends the world premiere of Norm Foster’s comedy “Moving In,” about a couple in their 50s whose decision to move in together gets a mixed reaction from their adult children. The production, directed by Jesse Collins, runs through July 21. To see orilliaoperahouse.ca or call 1-705-326-8011.

Theater on the Bay in Barrie

The choice of this Barrie theater is Trudee Romanek’s historical family drama “Bobbie,” based on the true story of Russian immigrant Fanny “Bobbie” Rosenfeld, who represented Canada in the 1928 Olympics. The show runs from August 30 to Sept. 10 at the Five Points Theater. To see theaterbythebay.com or call 1-705-735-9243.

The 1000 Islands Playhouse in Gananoque

The Gananoque company recommends the beloved musical “The Sound of Music”, directed and choreographed by Naomi Costain. The show’s run, which started on July 4, has been extended to August 12. To see 1000islandsplayhouse.com or call 1-613-382-7020.

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