‘The Cavan Blazers’ Is Back By Popular Demand at 4th Line Theatre This August

4th Line Theatre is presenting a remount of its flagship play ‘The Cavan Blazers’ by Robert Winslow, coming back by popular demand this August for the theatre’s 31st summer season.

photo courtesy of 4th line theatre.

The Cavan Blazers was the first play produced by the newly-formed 4th Line Theatre in 1992. Its epic scale, including a cast of 44 actors, horses, chickens, fire and fights, established the theatre’s long-time aesthetic of presenting epic theatre on the outdoor stages at the Winslow Farm in Millbrook, Ontario.

The play explores the settler experience and what happens when the old hurts and angers from the homeland are brought over to a new country. The Cavan Blazers chronicles the religious conflict between the Catholic and Protestant Irish settlers in Cavan Township in the early to mid-nineteenth century. Violence erupts when a Protestant vigilante gang known as the Cavan Blazers tries to stop a Catholic Settlement from being established. This gritty and intense play will have the audience on the edge of their seats from start to finish.

“The story inside The Cavan Blazers is one as old as time and as modern as the recent conflicts in Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Ukraine. It is a cautionary story of what can happen when people become entrenched in a way of thinking and are then unable to free themselves from that thinking,” said 4th Line’s managing artistic director Kim Blackwell.

Returning to the 4th Line stage in The Cavan Blazers are JD “Jack” Nicholsen as Patrick Maguire, Colin A. Doyle as Dane Swain, Thomas Fournier as Charles McCarty, Matt Gilbert as Father Phelan, Justin Hiscox as Elijah Coe, Mark Hiscox as Thomas Rutherford, Ken Houston as a horse rider and King William of Orange, Robert Morrison as William Grandy, Kelsey Powell as William Armstrong and Julia Scaringi as Martha Cooney. 4th Line Founder, playwright and actor Robert Winslow will portray Justice John Knowlsen. The Cavan Blazers will feature actress Katherine Cullen as Ann Maguire, and musician Jason Edmunds, making their 4th Line debuts this August.

Community volunteer actors include: Indigo Chesser, Jasper Chesser, Michelle Chesser, Logan Coombes, Lily Cullen, Peter Dolinski, Michael Field, Andria Fisher, Cadence Fisher, Eli Fisher, Linda Gendron, Sierra Gibb-Khan, Cody Inglis, Josh Lambert, Adrianna Malloy, Deirbhile MacQuarrie, Caoimhe MacQuarrie, Riordan MacQuarrie, Saoirse MacQuarrie, Siobhán MacQuarrie, Ayla McCracken-Reed, Venessa McCracken, Ian McGarrett, Brogan McKellar, Darragh O'Connell, Zach Newnham, Zack Radford, Mikayla Stoodley, Phil Stott and Evan Tsimidis.

The creative team includes Set Designer Kim Blackwell, Fight Director Edward Belanger, Costume Designer Korin Cormier, Musical Director Justin Hiscox, Choreographer Rachel Bemrose, Sound Designer Esther Vincent, Directing Intern Shelley Simester and Assistant to the Director Sierra Gibb-Kahn. The stage management team includes Emily Brown and Gailey Monner.

Norm Foster’s ‘The Long Weekend’ Presented by the Peterborough Theatre Guild

The Peterborough Theatre Guild has announced the final play of the season ‘The Long Weekend’ written by Norm Foster, coming to the Theatre Guild July 5 to 9 and July 12 to 15.

photo courtesy of the peterborough theatre guild.

The Long Weekend is a full-length comedy by Norm Foster. During a weekend visit between two couples, the true nature of their relationships come to the surface as the four so-called 'best friends' slowly discover how they really feel about each other. 

Successful lawyer Max and his wife Wynn are about to show off their beautiful new their summer home to their best friends, Roger and Abby. But it doesn't take long to uncover the true feelings behind this long friendship. What is meant to be a relaxing holiday weekend turns into a battle of wits as their pasts catch up with them, the gloves come off and old scores get settled in comedic fashion.

photo courtesy of the peterborough theatre guild.

The Theatre Guild’s adaptation is directed by Jason Shulha, with project manager Margaret Pieper, and will feature David Adams, Siobhan MacQuarrie, Chelsey Mark and Jennifer Hilborn. The July 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15 shows will begin at 7:30 p.m., with matinee performances July 9 and 15 beginning at 2 p.m.

Norm Foster’s writing delivers non-stop mischievous fun and scrumptious plot twists. The production is described as a hilariously tangled web of truths, deception and surprises that will leave the audience guessing – and laughing – all the way to the final curtain.

Tickets for the show can be purchased for $25 for adults, $22 for seniors and $15 for students online or via phone.

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GreenUP Naturalized Playscape Welcomes the Public To Ecology Park

GreenUP welcomes the community to visit Peterborough’s first natural playscape on public lands; celebrating with a ribbon cutting event on Friday afternoon.

A naturalized playscape is one way to introduce children and those willing to unleash their playfulness to natural play in an urban landscape. Photo by Lili Paradi.

GreenUP donors and supporters alongside Executive Director Tegan Moss play around to celebrate the opening at GreenUP Ecology Park. (Left to right: Ian Attridge, Mark Zippel, Tegan Moss, Kim Zippel, Sue Sauve.) Photo by Lili Paradi.

The Keresztesi family plays on the new naturalized playscape at Ecology Park. Photo by Lili Paradi.

Tegan Moss, executive director at GreenUP, cuts the ribbon to signify the opening of the Peterborough's first naturalized playscape on public grounds at Ecology Park, to the excitement of the many children who then ran onto use the playscape. Photo by Lili Paradi.

Thanks to a $52,800 grant from the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2021, as well as the support of GreenUP donors, the organization was able to fund the playscape.

The climbing structures added in 2022 were designed by Henry Kortekaas & Associates Inc. and constructed by The Little Building Company.

“I hope that when children play on this natural playscape, they feel a stronger connection to their natural surroundings, and are given the opportunity to learn and engage in unstructured, imaginative play,” said Sean Harris, owner of The Little Building Company. “They can test their limits with the unconventional climbing structure, or interact with the playground perimeter, which features rocks and logs for jumping and balancing. The soft texture and irregularities of the locally sourced white cedar offer a refreshing change from the familiar plastic and metal surfaces. When I look at the playscape, I see not only a fun space for children to play and learn, but also an environmentally responsible play area with low embodied carbon cost and no landfill waste at the end of its lifetime.”

The Naturalized Playscape is the fourth of five capital projects that GreenUP plans to complete in Ecology Park.

GreenUp says they are proud of how this project has re-imagined and restored the Ecology Park Children’s Garden.

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The Peterborough Theatre Guild Presents ‘The Crucible’

Arthur Miller’s The Crucible to take the stage at the Peterborough Theatre Guild, with performances beginning Jan. 20.

File photo.

Directed by Jane Werger and produced by Linda Conway and Elaine Orgill, The Crucible will be brought to life by an 18-member cast on the Theatre Guild stage from Jan. 20-22, 26-29 and Feb. 2-4.

Winner of the 1953 Tony Award for Best Play, The Crucible is an ode to courage and conscience; featuring a tender love story with a cautionary tale. Miller, one of America’s most celebrated playwrights used the historical Salem, Massachusetts witch trials as an analogy for the political turmoil of his time, when the House Un-American Activities Committee held its infamous Communist “witch” hunts. 

The play will be set in the 1930’s for the Guild’s performances, bringing the themes of social and political climates closer to our time.

Matinee shows (Jan. 22 and 29) will start at 2 p.m. and evening performances at 7:30 p.m. The Feb. 3 performance will have reduced capacity with COVID-19 protocols in place. The Peterborough Theatre Guild notes that masking is encouraged at all performances.

Tickets are $25 for adults, $22 for senior and $15 for students and can be purchased online at the Peterborough Theatre Guild website, or by phone at (705) 745-4211.

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Holiday Shows at The Peterborough Memorial Centre

The Peterborough Memorial Centre (PMC) has several family-friendly shows and acts locked in for December this holiday season.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

CATS Musical

When: Fri. Dec. 2, 8 p.m.

Tickets: Available for purchase here.

The record-breaking musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, which has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages, is now on tour across North America.

Winner of seven Tony Awards, CATS tells the story of one magical night when tribe of cats gathers for an annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn. Audiences and critics alike are rediscovering this beloved musical with breathtaking music, including one of the most treasured songs in musical theatre; ‘Memory’.

The original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber (The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock, Sunset Boulevard), original scenic and costume design by John Napier (Les Misérables), all-new lighting design by Natasha Katz (Aladdin), all-new sound design by Mick Potter, new choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton) based on the original choreography by Gillian Lynne (Phantom) and direction by Trevor Nunn (Les Misérables) make this production a new CATS for a new generation.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Stars on Ice Holiday Tour

When: Tues. Dec. 6, 7 p.m.

Tickets: Available for purchase here.

The award-winning figure skating show features four-time World Champion and four-time Canadian Champion Kurt Browning. He is joined by two-time Olympic Silver Medalist, three-time World Champion and seven-time Canadian Champion Elvis Stojko to headline the show.

The cast includes Olympic Bronze Medalist, World Champion and three-time Canadian Champion Jeffrey Buttle; three-time Canadian Dance Champions, three-time World Medalists and 2018 Olympians Kaitlyn Weaver and Andrew Poje; three-time and reigning Canadian Pair Champions Kirsten Moore-Towers & Michael Marinaro; two-time Canadian Champion Nam Nguyen; Canadian junior champion and social media sensation Elladj Baldé; two-time United States Champion Alissa Czisny.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Champions of Magic 2022

When: Fri. Dec. 9, 7 p.m.

Tickets: Available for purchase here.

Break away from the screen and experience live entertainment like never before with Champions Of Magic, an evening of impossible illusions and spectacular special effects.

Described as the ‘Avengers of Magic,’ catch this team of magicians as they present their original, phenomenal ensemble illusions during the Champions of Magic Show.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Holiday Dreams, A Spectacular Holiday Cirque!

When: Wed. Dec. 14, 7 p.m.

Tickets: Available for purchase here.

Holiday Dreams tells a story that connects all of the performers featuring a mischievous elf that thinks he has mailed himself to a tropical island but instead finds himself delivered to the wrong address.

"I wanted to create a show that celebrated the spirit of the Holidays and would serve as a bridge for families from different generations to come together and experience something together,” said Fernando Quevedo, creator and producer. “We are all absorbed in our little technological worlds. Theatre allows a communal experience."

This holiday show is coming to the PMC for one night only and features holograms, projection mapping, holiday music and incredible lasers, along with a cast of award-winning acrobats, daredevils and cirque performers.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Memorial Centre.

Blue Rodeo (with special guests Brooks & Bowskill)

When: Wed. Dec. 28, 7 p.m.

Tickets: Available for purchase here.

Canadian music duo Brooks & Bowskill (Brittany Brooks and Jimmy Bowskill) are joining the show’s lineup as Blue Rodeo takes the PMC stage. In the over 35 years since forming, Blue Rodeo has released 16-full length albums and has been inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, with hits such as ‘Lost Together,’ ‘Rose-Coloured Glasses’ and ‘Rain Down On Me.’

The band was in Peterborough on April 13 of this year, performing at the PMC during their Many A Mile tour.

“This concert is the ultimate way for us to finish off an incredible 2022,” said Jeremy Giles, PMC facility manager. “Blue Rodeo at the PMC is so symbolic of things being normal again and we cannot wait to have the guys back for another unforgettable evening.”

For the full PMC event calendar, visit https://calendar.memorialcentre.ca.

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'The Little Prince' Coming To The Peterborough Theatre Guild in December

‘The Little Prince’ adapted by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar is coming to the Peterborough Theatre Guild, with shows from Dec. 2 to 4 and 6 to 10.

Photo courtesy of The peterborough Theatre Guild.

The production, based on the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, is directed by Jacqueline Barrow and assistant-directed by Caoimhe MacQuarrie.

After an aviator descends from the sky to find himself in the middle of the Sahara Desert he meets the Little Prince, a young hero on an extraordinary adventure. The story depicts Little Prince on his journey as he meets many fascinating characters who help him learn the magic in a sunset and how to follow your heart.

The cast of 26 performers will dance audiences away into this enchanting “multilayered tale that awakens the child tucked inside all of us.”

Matinee performances begin at 1 p.m. and evening performances at 7 p.m. The Dec. 9 show will be reduced-capacity with COVID protocols. Masking is encouraged at all performances.

Tickets are $10 and a full list of shows can be found at the Peterborough Theatre Guild website, or by calling (705) 745-4211.

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St. James Players Enter Final Performances of Beauty and The Beast

The St. James Players’ production of Beauty and The Beast takes the stage from Nov. 11 to 19, preparing for final nights of performances at the Showplace Performance Centre.

Photo courtesy of Natalie Dorsett.

After 127 auditions, director Natalie Dorsett says the chosen cast and crew take ‘local and amateur theatre to a whole new level.’

“We have 41 people in this cast and the level of enthusiasm and professionalism is all top-notch,” she says. “We were really able to get a cast that is super solid. Everyone had lived, breathed and ate Beauty and The Beast for the past six months without complaint.”

With a ‘beautiful mix’ of both experienced and first-time performers, Dorsett says the cast’s dedication towards the production was ‘unparalleled.’

She reflects on the story-telling skills of Whitney Paget, who plays Belle, and Andrew Little, who plays Beast.

“Their ability to story-tell and captivate an audience is unreal. It’s hard doing a show that has such iconic characters. You know what they look like, you know what they sound like, and we all know a lot of the music. So bringing that to life can be a little bit difficult because people are comparing you,” she said.

As for the ensemble and other supporting cast, Dorsett says they have ‘really come into the characters.’

“I mean, they’re playing a clock or a feather duster,” laughs Dorsett. “It’s the most asinine thing when you look at it but they’re absolutely unreal. They brought these characters to life.”

Photo courtesy of Natalie Dorsett.

Dorsett says she proposed the iconic Disney musical to the St. James Players in 2019. After two years of COVID-19 pandemic delays, the St. James Players’ group is finally taking the production to the stage.

“(Beauty and The Beast) is about loving somebody for who they are, not what they are. I feel like sometimes we lose that in life. It has connection and friendship. That’s what this show is all about,” she says. “We’ve stayed really true to the essence of what that story is however, we’ve put our own unique spin on it.”

From costumes and makeup to set design and choreography, Dorsett says the cast and crew worked together to bring the classic ‘Disney magic’ to their production.

“Shelley Moody did our makeup and she has taken a vision and surpassed every single expectation I had,” says Dorsett. “Belle’s yellow dress is so iconic, what (costume designers) were able to do with the dress blows my mind. Every night she comes out on stage I am practically in tears.”

Dorsett designed and built the set with the help of her husband.

“You’ll never see him on stage. He’s not a singer, he doesn’t dance, he’s so shy,” she remarks with a laugh. “But I am not.”

The family affair also includes her daughter, Lucy Dorsett, as part of the play’s junior ensemble.

“I feel like we were really able to take it to the next level, a level I didn’t even know we were going to be capable of doing when I had all these grandeur ideas,” says Dorsett about the production. “The picture we’ve been able to create is awesome and I am incredibly proud.”

Photo courtesy of Natalie Dorsett.

With a number of shows under their belt and the final performances on the horizon, Dorsett says she has enjoyed seeing the production come to life as an audience member.

“My job is essentially done now, but for the past six months it’s been my life and I’ve worked every minute of it,” she said. “To bring up the Showplace website and see it say “sold out”, my heart was just so full, it was wonderful. The cast and crew deserve that sold-out audience.”

The remaining tickets are $35 for adults and $32 for seniors or students and can be purchased online at tickets.showplace.org.

“I’m so grateful for Peterborough for coming out and supporting St. James Players. It’s been a humbling, great experience,” Dorsett says.

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Peterborough Theatre Guild Returns Neil Simon’s Rumors to the Stage Starting Nov. 4

Two-act play Rumors by Neil Simon is being brought to The Peterborough Theatre Guild starting Nov. 4.

Photo courtesy of The Peterborough Theatre Guild.

The act is described as a trip back to 1900 at a large, tastefully renovated house in the Palisades, the Deputy Mayor of New York has just shot himself. Though only a flesh wound, four couples are set to experience an evening of unexpected chaos, cover ups and confusion.

Local actors Laura Kennedy, Seamus McCann, Chris Ratz, Tristina Haines, Kyle Robertson, Vikki Bell, Darryl Mitchell, Laura Lawson, David Geene and Kaylin Aylward along- with director Chris Lee and producer Margaret Pieper- bring this over the top story to life.

The show runs for two hours at the Peterborough Theatre Guild from Nov. 4-6, 10-13 and 17-19 starting at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets range from $15 to $25 and can be purchased online at www.peterboroughtheatreguild.com or by phone at (705) 745-4211.

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4th Line Theatre Announces 2023 Summer Season Lineup

The 4th Line Theatre has announced their 2023 Summer Season lineup starting June 27, 2023.

The Cavan Blazers, 2011. Photo by Wayne Eardley, Brookside Studio.

The season will begin with The Tilco Strike, written by D’Arcy Jenish and directed by Cynthia Ashperger, who returns after directing the 2022 production of The Great Shadow.

The Tilco Strike recounts the year-long fight between 50 poorly paid women, and their hard-nosed male bosses at Tilco Plastics in Peterborough, who were determined to crush the women and their union. The strike began in December 1965 over a $25 bonus and escalated into an epic battle between organized labour and strike-breaking employers. The women lost their fight, but changed labour relations in Ontario forever.

In August, 4th Line will remount the theatre’s flagship play, Robert Winslow’s The Cavan Blazers.

The Cavan Blazers is a gritty, intense play that has the audience on the edge of its seat from start to finish. This drama chronicles the religious conflict between Catholic and Protestant Irish settlers in Cavan Township in the early to mid-nineteenth century. Violence erupts when a Protestant vigilante gang known as the Cavan Blazers tries to stop a Catholic settlement from being established.

Kim Blackwell, managing artistic director at 4th Line Theatre was thrilled to announce this lineup for the theatre’s 31st summer season. She is also directing the theatre’s production of The Cavan Blazers.

“I am excited to present one world premiere and to bring back the play that started it all at the theatre,” says Blackwell. “Both plays look at community and what it means to be part of a community, both the good and the bad of that. This eternal search to find a collective of like-minded people, is one of the complex aspects of the human condition.”

4th Line Theatre box office will open to the public to purchase gift certificates for the 2023 Summer Season as of Nov. 1. Gift certificates for single tickets, season subscriptions and charcuterie snack boxes can be purchased in-person at the box office at 9 Tupper Street in Millbrook or online at 4thlinetheatre.on.ca.

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St. James Players Presents Disney's Beauty and the Beast Musical at Showplace

The St James Players’ production of Beauty and the Beast is running for eight performances at the Showplace Performance Centre from Nov. 11 to 19, announced on Monday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

After an over two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, St. James Players are taking the stage for the all-ages performance of the iconic Disney musical.

The production is being directed by Natalie Dorsett and includes an all-local cast, with Whitney Paget as Belle and Andrew Little as the Beast.

Tickets are available at https://www.showplace.org.

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