Media Release #13

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, June 10, 2008 … Previews began on June 1 in the Court House Theatre for the Shaw Festival’s intimate production of Stephen Sondheim’s celebrated and sophisticated musical A Little Night Music.

In Sweden at the turn of the century, three mismatched couples gather for a weekend in the country. On a magical night under the midnight sun, loves are lost and found, longed for and forgotten, all set to some of musical theatre’s most enduring songs – including the classic “Send in the Clowns”.

Based on the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, the original production of A Little Night Music won five Tony Awards including Best Musical. The musical’s romantic story is matched by an acclaimed score that combines the elegant and emotional with the rousingly infectious and bursting with life. Morris Panych’s production uses the intimate space of the Court House Theatre to draw the audience closer to the characters and the powerful emotion of both the story and the songs of this American classic.

Newly orchestrated by Jason Jestadt, The Shaw’s production features five onstage musicians, rather than the usual large orchestra, to create chamber music at its most colourful. As is always the case with The Shaw’s musicals in the Court House and Royal George theatres, there is no amplification of voices or instruments. The result is an increasingly rare event: acoustic musical theatre.

Sets for A Little Night Music are designed by Panych’s frequent collaborator Ken MacDonald. Panych and MacDonald are the creative team behind such renowned Shaw productions as Hotel Peccadillo (2007), Design for Living (2006), You Never Can Tell (2005) and Nothing Sacred (2004).

The cast of A Little Night Music includes Goldie Semple as Desirée Armfeldt, George Masswohl as Fredrik Egerman, Thom Allison as Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm, Robin Evan Willis as Anne Egerman, Donna Belleville as Madame Armfeldt, Patty Jamieson as Countess Charlotte Malcolm, Julie Martell as Petra and Justin Stadnyk as Henrik Egerman, as well as Michaela Bekenn, Gabrielle Jones, Jeff Madden, Glynis Ranney, Mark Uhre, and Jenny L. Wright.

Musical direction for A Little Night Music is by Paul Sportelli, with choreography by Valerie Moore, costume design by Charlotte Dean, and lighting design by Alan Brodie. The stage management team includes Stage Manager Alison Peddie and Assistant Stage Manager Evan R. Klassen.

A Little Night Music began preview performances Sunday, June 1; opens Friday, July 4; and plays in repertory until Saturday, October 4. For tickets and information, visit www.shawfest.com or call 1-800-511-7429 or 905-468-2172 (local).

A Little Night Music is sponsored by TD Canada Trust Music.

Music Gallery is the Official Piano Provider of the Shaw Festival.

A Little Night Music
music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
book by Hugh Wheeler
suggested by a film by Ingmar Bergman
originally produced and directed on Broadway by Harold Prince

A Little Night Music
is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).
All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.
421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684
www.MTIShows.com

The 2008 season is proudly presented by HSBC Bank Canada/HSBC Bank USA, N.A.

Summer of Sondheim – Follies: In Concert
For four performances only, The Shaw presents Sondheim’s celebrated Follies, the bittersweet tale of the reunion of Broadway showgirls and the men in their lives, in a simple and sophisticated concert form. Presented August 29, September 12 and 27, and October 4 in the Festival Theatre.

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

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

Odette Yazbeck
Public Relations Director
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

Press Contact Information

Shaw Festival
odette@shawfest.com
1-800-657-1106 ext 222
Shaw Festival Box 774 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0 CANADA

Source URL: http://www.shawfest.com

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