Rehearsals are underway for three productions at the Stratford Festival.
Publicity Director Ann Swerdfager says that includes two musicals – Guys and Dolls and Something Rotten!, as well as Waiting for Godot.
“Gosh it feels good to see the building filling up again with people, actors and designers and sewers and prop makers.”
Swerdfager says for the first time ever both musicals will appear on the main stage at the Festival Theatre.
She adds there are opportunities to see one musical in the afternoon and one in the evening this season and several actors are appearing in both shows.
Donna Feore is directing and choreographing both musicals.
Previews for Guys and Dolls and Something Rotten! start April 22 and May 11, respectively.
Waiting for Godot starts previews April 14.
It has a limited run of 24 performances on the Festival stage.
“With a name like (actor) Paul Gross…he’s got a lot of fans. So those seats do sell out.”
Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino, in his final season at the festival, welcomed everyone to the theatre during the first rehearsal last week.
“So many contributions over 39 seasons. We are taking these last opportunities to enjoy his production of The Tempest, which starts rehearsals next month,” Swerdfager said.
Cimolino also directs Saturday, Sunday, Monday, about a Neapolitan family going through an emotional time spurred by a marital rift.
It starts previews in August at the Avon Theatre.
Opening week for the festival’s productions runs April 25-30.
