The Saint John Theatre Company are back with the announcement of their 28th season, and this year they’re going to prove that bigger is better.
The SJTC have established themselves as a world class organization (seriously, they toured their production of ‘An Enemy Of The People’ all the way to Konstanz, Germany in January). Their production of ‘Anne Frank’ broke the hearts of sold out audiences, ‘Of Mice And Men’ had people raving, and their 2015 production of ‘The Wizard Of Oz’ packed the house and blew people away.
Productions like ‘The Wizard of Oz’ with a massive cast, or ‘Noises Off’ with its elaborate staging proved to be a big draw for audiences. The effect wasn’t lost on SJTC, and as a result they’ve planned to feature even more large scale productions this season.
“We are excited to launch a big and bold 28th season!” says artistic director Stephen Tobias, “We are up for the challenge of offering our audience a spectacular Main Stage series at Imperial Theatre and a unique and intimate line-up in our BMO Studio.”
Instead of one larger production this year, SJTC is going with three large spectacles for their Main Stage series. Their 28th season will featured the Christmas classic ‘It’s A Wonderful Life’ (November 22-26), followed the story behind the storyteller and the creation the creation of his greatest work, ‘Shakespeare In Love’ (March 21-24), and then round out with the ABBA musical ‘Mamma Mia!’ (May 23-26).
The SJTC 2017-2018 Studio Series will continue in their habitually intimate performance at their BMO Studio Theatre with Tennessee William’s ‘The Glass Menagerie’ (October 17-21). The theatre will then play host to international guests, Theatre Konstanz, of Konstanz, Germany, offering a very special opportunity to see them present the ancient Greek tragedy ‘Medea’ (April 19-21). The SJTC Studio Series then wrap up with their annual celebration of Maritime playwrights with ‘Script Happens’ (June 13-16).
“Beyond the works created and presented by the SJTC, the BMO Studio Theatre has become a significant cultural hub in our community,” says Tobias. “The strength of this company has been measured in our impact in the local community. Our ability to foster the growth and development of local theatre practitioners has been a major driving force in maintaining vital links between the Saint John Theatre Company and the community at large.”
The BMO Theatre will also play host to a number of comedies this season including ‘Comedy Show 150 Canada’ (September 23), a special cross-country multi-media comedy show created by Canadian comedy icons Mary Walsh and Ron James. ‘The Santaland Diaries’ (November 30 – December 2), presented by local comedic troupe Improvisation Corporation tells the real life tale of one man’s stint as an elf at Macy’s. ‘Lungs’ (February 23-24) takes a different turn and will pull at the heart strings as a couple faces modern anxieties and the challenges of bringing a child into that world. Saint Johns’ own legendary man of word and coffee shops Clyde A. Wray will present his ‘Letters & Notes’, a pairing of dance and poetry (April 13-14). The series concludes with Halifax’s Villains Theatre presenting a new adaptation of the epic-sci-fi odyssey, ‘The Blazing World’ (June 1-2).
SJTC isn’t forgetting music fans either and will be continuing their popular Live @ the BMO Music Series. The series third season will feature the country music of Lisa Brokop (August 15), jazz legends, the Joel LeBlanc Trio (October 14), pianist Sarah Hagan (November 3), local folkster Brent Mason (February 2), Alfie Zappacosta (February 17), and will close out with Matt Minglewood (March 3).
Finally, SJTC will be participating in the world-wide, anything-goes, all-out, Fringe Festival for its fifth season of edgy out of the box theatre (August 21-26, 2017).
Subscriptions for the SJTC Main Stage Series are now available at the Imperial Theatre box office as part of a three show package. Single tickets will go on sale September 5th, 2017. Tickets for the Studio and Canadian Stages series go on sale June 1, 2017.