Alumnae Theatre's
100th Anniversary 2017-2018 Season
Centennial Season
Alumnae Theatre's 100th Anniversary 2017-2018 Season
Alumnae Theatre celebrated 100 years of continuous production with its 2017/18 season. We have been entertaining Torontonians with topical, thought-provoking and adventurous theatre for a century, making us the longest running theatre company in the city.
We're also the oldest women-run theatre company in North America.
100th Birthday Celebrations
Alumnae Theatre Company's 100th Birthday Party featured special guest The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and was followed by the world premiere performance of Omission written by Alice Abracen and directed by Anne Harper.
Toronto Mayor John Tory proclaimed October 20, 2017: 100th Season of Alumnae Theatre Company Day.
Alumnae Theatre celebrated 100 years of continuous production with its 2017/18 season. We have been entertaining Torontonians with topical, thought-provoking and adventurous theatre for a century, making us the longest running theatre company in the city.
We're also the oldest women-run theatre company in North America.
100th Birthday Celebrations
Alumnae Theatre Company's 100th Birthday Party featured special guest The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, and was followed by the world premiere performance of Omission written by Alice Abracen and directed by Anne Harper.
Toronto Mayor John Tory proclaimed October 20, 2017: 100th Season of Alumnae Theatre Company Day.
2017 - 2018 Season Overview · The Plays:
Thirteen Hands
by Carol Shields PRODUCED BY RAMONA BAILLIE DIRECTED BY CLAREN GROSZ October 20 - November 4, 2017 on the Mainstage Before Stitch n' Bitch, there was bridge. Thirteen Hands - Canada’s beloved Pulitzer Prize–winning writer Carol Shields is behind this witty and vibrant play-cum-musical that explores the nuances of life and womanhood. One of Alumnae’s most revered and successful premières, Thirteen Hands returns this season as part of the theatre company’s 100th anniversary retrospective series. It follows the lives of many women over three generations who find connection and support through a weekly game of bridge. |
FireWorks Festival 2017
PRODUCED BY MOLLY THOM November 8 - 26, 2017 in the Studio Theatre FireWorks is Alumnae's annual festival of new full-length plays, developed either by our own New Play Development group or at our New Ideas Festival. Three plays are programmed each running for one week, all fully produced, offering audiences thought-provoking theatre and a chance to pull back the curtain with post-show panel discussions and playwright/director talkbacks. WRITERS' INTENSIVE Three writing workshops lead by Donna-Michelle St. Bernard, held on three successive Saturdays: Nov. 11 / 18 / 25 from 9:00am-12:00pm. |
Omission
by Alice Abracen PRODUCED BY MARISSA OTTO DIRECTED BY ANNE HARPER January 19 - February 3, 2018 on the Mainstage Omission asks the question: is forgiveness and redemption possible? On the eve of a papal conclave, a young Canadian journalist interviews an ambitious, popular Latin American cardinal about his past activities during a period of disappearances under a military junta. When she agrees to turn her recorder off, they are forced to confront the ghosts that haunt them both. An edge-of-your-seat thriller written by emerging playwright Alice Abracen, Omission makes its world première exactly 100 years after Alumnae’s very first show. |
New Ideas Festival 2018
CO-ARTISTIC DIRECTORS/PRODUCERS: CAROLYN ZAPF, PAT MCCARTHY, AND KELSEY LAINE JACOBSON March 7 to 25, 2018 in the Studio Theatre Wednesday - Saturday 8pm Saturday + Sunday 2:30pm New Ideas Festival 2018 is a three-week juried festival of new plays and works-in-progress, with a different program of plays each week and staged readings on Saturdays at noon. |
Queen Marie
by Shirley Barrie PRODUCED BY ELIZABETH VERWEY DIRECTED BY ROSEMARY DOYLE April 13 to 28, 2018 on the Mainstage This larger-than-life musical written by Alumnae member Shirley Barrie explores the life and times of actress Marie Dressler, an Ontario native who won international fame in the 1930s. Known for her lively and tenacious personality, Marie began her career touring with travelling theatre companies, moved on to vaudeville and Broadway comedy roles, and rose to stardom through her film work with some of Hollywood’s most notable icons such as Charlie Chaplin and Greta Garbo. Expect a funny, vibrant production, much like Marie herself. |