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Toronto…Building on its tradition of presenting musical theatre
from around the world, this season Toronto Operetta Theatre
showcases the works of Ivor Novello, Karl Zeller, Kurt Weill and
the masters of British light opera, Gilbert and Sullivan. The season
opens at the recently renovated Jane Mallett Theatre
with two performances (Saturday, November 1 at 8pm and Sunday, November
2 at 2pm, 2008) with GLAMOUROUS NIGHTS, a tribute
to ‘the handsomest leading man in England, Ivor Novello.
A superstar of movies, theatre and a composer, he thrilled audiences
with ‘We’ll gather lilacs’, ‘Keep the home fires burning’ and so
many more unforgettable melodies.
Karl Zeller’s THE BIRD SELLER – Der Vogelhändler
– is one of the most beloved operettas from the Golden Age and TOT
presents this timeless masterpiece for 7 performances from
December 26, 2008 to January 4, 2009. Set in an
idyllic Tyrolean dream world, Zeller’s mix of romance, comedy and
folklore evokes a magic time when the gift of a perfect rose symbolized
the gift of your heart forever. Miriam Khalil
sings ‘Schenkt Man sich Rosen in Tirol’ as the Empress Marie in
a cast headed by TOT favorite Keith Klassen as
Stanislaus, Allison Angelo as Christel and
James McLennan as Adam ‘the Vogelhändler’ himself.
On loan from the Canadian Opera Company, Derek Bate
leads the cast, chorus and orchestra and TOT General Director
Guillermo Silva-Marin will bring his celebrated
expertise to the mise en scene.
‘Operetta on New Year’s Eve’ has become a tradition for
many music lovers in the GTA and this season the Show with Dinner
and Dance at the HotHouse Café will be on Wednesday, December 31.
"TOT’s February slot is our time for daring, innovative programming",
says Silva-Marin, "and this year we return to the works of Kurt
Weill for one of his earliest Broadway successes, A KNICKERBOCKER
HOLIDAY with 4 performances from February 18 to
22, 2009. The work’s signature tune is ‘September Song’
and anyone who saw LADY IN THE DARK won’t want to miss it!" A stellar
cast including David Ludwig and Curtis
Sullivan will bring ‘Olde New York’ to life under the leadership
of Opera Hamilton Artistic Director David Speers
as conductor and Silva-Marin as director.
IOLANTHE, a topsy turvey world of half-fairies
and half-humans created by Messrs. Gilbert and Sullivan brings the
TOT season to a close with 7 performances from April 17 to 26, 2009.
The well-known conductor Robert Cooper returns,
leading the orchestra, chorus and cast which includes Elizabeth
DeGrazia, Stuart Howe and Wendy Hatala Foley.
Additional events in TOT’s 2008-2009 Season include the
President’s Reception following the matinee performance
of GLAMOUROUS NIGHTS (Nov. 2, 2008) and a tuneful MUSICAL
JOURNEY ALONG THE BLUE DANUBE at the Downtown Marriott
(Saturday, April 4, 2009).
All performances are at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts’ splendidly
refurbished Jane Mallett Theatre, which is wheelchair accessible
and close to public parking and transit. For discount subscription
packages and information call the Box Office at 416-366-7723
or 1-800-708-6754 or online at
www.stlc.com. Group rates for
20 or more.
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