Theatre Collingwood invites all to gather round for storytime
Theatre Collingwood is announcing its 2023 season of Great Storytellers.
“We are so excited about our 2023 programming,” said executive director Erica Angus, “and especially the line-up of Great Storytellers that we bringing to the region.”
The line-up begins April 11-15 with a story called Cole Hearted, about the life and music of one of the greatest love storytellers, Cole Porter. Dean Hollin wrote this play and performed it last about 20 years ago, however he feels the story is timeless. Many know Dean as a radio host on Zoomer Radio and expert on the music of the Great American Songbook.
Next up will be Leftovers and The Lottery, which stars Melody Johnson (2022 Porchside Festival show Person of Interest) and pianist Allen Cole. The show runs May 11-13 and is about the writings of Shirley Jackson, perhaps one of the most brilliant and influential authors of the 20th Century, widely acclaimed for her stories and novels of the supernatural, including the well- known short story The Lottery and the best-selling novel The Haunting of Hill House.
From June 6-10, Theatre Collingwood will celebrate the 85th birthday of Gordon Lightfoot, perhaps Canada’s greatest storyteller. Leisa Way created this show and will star with the Wayward Wind Band. Together they will recount the stories and music of the Canadian folk legend.
July will bring back The Porchside Festival, a product of the pandemic when people could not gather inside. It has become one of Collingwood’s most popular events and this year will run the month of July with over 10 different shows, each performed threetimes, on the beautiful historic porches of Collingwood.
“Our line-up this year is going to amaze all in attendance and we are thrilled to have a great mix of drama and music. The Porchside Festival has taken on a life of its own and all ages just love it,” said Angus. Performed in the yards of Collingwood homeowners, audience members bring their own lawn chairs and enjoy a one- hour show.
From August 16-19, The Knitting Pilgrim tells the story of Kirk Dunn’s journey to understand what makes people tick and the effects religion has had on the world. Dunn is a talented knitter but more importantly, a great storyteller. After 9/11 he decided to knit three stained-glass-window-like panels depicting the three Abrahamic religions. This project took him on a 15-year journey of discovery about the human condition and forgiveness. This production has toured Canada to rave reviews, especially when it was performed at the Aga Kahn Museum.
Theatre Collingwood will present an encore performance of Alison Wearing’s personal story Confessions of a Fairy’s Daughter from Sept. 19-23. Wearing brilliantly tells her family’s story about the time when she learned her father was gay. The performance is entertaining, funny, emotional, and thought-provoking.
Theatre Collingwood subscriptions, Porchside Passports, and individual tickets are on sale at www. theatrecollingwood.ca or by calling 705-445-2200. Group and students rates are available.
