News: (Ottawa) NAC Launches Jillian Keiley's first season (Press release)

NAC English Theatre

2013-14 Season

Season Launches with

Three Classics…

turned inside out and on their heads!

Ottawa, Ontario – The National Arts Centre English Theatre is thrilled to launch its 13-14 Season, the programming debut of Artistic Director Jillian Keiley. The Season kicks off with re-imaginings of a comedy, a tragedy and a musical -- three classics each turned inside out and on their heads.

“Each one of these works is a treasure in its original form, and the fantastic interpretations we have curated for the 13-14 Season are full of pure invention and fun,” said Ms Keiley.

October brings a riotous production of Molière’s Tartuffe, adapted by and featuring CODCO’s
Andy Jones.  Under the direction of Ms. Keiley, this classic is transported from 1660s Paris to 1939 Newfoundland.  Next up in November is the international hit HAMLET (solo), Raoul Bhaneja’s astounding one-man take on Shakespeare, in which he performs all 17 characters.  In December, the timeless musicalThe Sound of Music warms the Holiday Season with a new production of a family classic -- already one of Ottawa’s “favourite things” with seven performances added the day tickets went on public sale.

“The wonder of the classics is that they represent deep truths of human nature,” added Ms Keiley.  “The hilarious situations of Molière’s day are still hilarious today.  The fluctuations of rationale behind Hamlet’s conundrum resound through our modern lives, and Raoul’s pared down and perfect version of the Shakespeare, cuts it to the very core.  And I don't know any person who has seen The Sound of Music and didn't cheer and weep to see Maria find the courage to grow from Novitiate to Governess to Wife to Hero.”

Assisting Ms. Keiley in bringing this Season of music, mystery and laughter to life will be the 2013-14 Ensemble -- ten actors from across the country who will take to the Theatre stage for Tartuffe and The Sound of Music

“(Director) Joey Tremblay is ideal for a communion between the 2013-14 Ensemble and the Ottawa audience in celebrating The Sound of Music.  The production is an acknowledgement of a shared history for so many people and all the joy that binds us.”

In February, the Ensemble returns in ENRON, Lucy Prebble’s scorching exposé of corporate madness, presented in the Studio. 

Rehearsals with the Ensemble, beginning with Tartuffe, got underway at the NAC on September 16.

Tartuffe runs in the NAC Theatre from October 15 to November 2; HAMLET (solo) plays in the NAC Studio from November 12 to 23; and The Sound of Music is centre stage this Holiday Season with an extended run from December 3 to 28 in the NAC Theatre.

The 2013-14 Ensemble:

Petrina Bromley (St. John’s, NL); Christine Brubaker (Guelph, ON/Toronto, ON); Dmitry Chepovetsky (Regina, SK/Vancouver, BC/Toronto, ON);David Coomber (Ottawa, ON/Toronto, ON); Eric Davis (Ottawa, ON/Montreal, QC); Leah Doz (Edmonton, AB/Toronto, ON); Sheldon Elter (Grimshaw, AB/Edmonton, AB); Quancetia Hamilton (Toronto, ON); Eliza-Jane Scott (Kingston, ON/Ottawa, ON); and Joey Tremblay (Ste-Marthe, SK/Regina, SK).

The NAC English Theatre 13-14 Season

Tartuffe

by Molière

an adaptation by and featuring Andy Jones

directed by Jillian Keiley

with The 2013-14 Ensemble
October 15 – November 2, 2013 NAC Theatre
An NAC English Theatre Production

HAMLET (Solo)

by William Shakespeare
Hope and Hell Theatre in association with Richard Jordan Productions Ltd. (Toronto)
featuring Raoul Bhaneja
directed by Robert Ross Parker
November 12 – 23, 2013 NAC Studio
An NAC English Theatre Presentation

The Sound of Musicmusic by Richard Rodgers

lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
suggested by “The Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp
directed by Joey Tremblay
musical direction by Allen Cole

featuring The 2013-14 Ensemble
December 3 - 28, 2013 NAC Theatre
An NAC English Theatre Production

Kim’s Convenience

by Ins Choi

A Soulpepper Theatre Production (Toronto)
January 22 – February 8, 2014 NAC Theatre
An NAC English Theatre Presentation

dib and dob and the journey homeby David S. Craig and Robert Morgan

A Roseneath Theatre Production (Toronto)
directed by Andrew Lamb
February 17 and 22, 2014 NAC Fourth Stage
An NAC English Theatre Presentation
ages 4+

ENRON

By Lucy Prebble

directed by Ron Jenkins

featuring The 2013-14 Ensemble
February 17 – March 1, 2014 NAC Studio
An NAC English Theatre Production

Seeds

by Annabel Soutar
A Porte Parole (Montreal) Production
directed by Chris Abraham

featuring Eric Peterson
March 26 – April 12, 2014 NAC Theatre
An NAC English Theatre Presentation

huff

written and performed by Cliff Cardinal
A Cardinal/Kantor Production (Toronto)
directed by Karin Randoja
designed by Elizabeth Kantor
April 29 – May 10, 2014 NAC Studio
An NAC English Theatre Presentation

Where the Wild Things Areby Maurice Sendak

Originally adapted for the stage by TAG Theatre, Glasgow
A Presentation House Theatre Production (Vancouver)
directed by Kim Selody
May 10, 2014 NAC Fourth Stage
An NAC English Theatre Presentation
ages 4+

Oil and Water

by Robert Chafe
An Artistic Fraud of Newfoundland Production (St. John’s)
directed by Jillian Keiley
May 14 - 31, 2014 NAC Theatre
An NAC English Theatre Presentation