THEATRE NEWS: Dancap announces productions for 2011 season
12 Oct'10

JOHN COULBOURN - QMI Agency

He revitalized the Toronto Centre for the Arts with a long-running production of JERSEY BOYS and turned the Four Seasons Centre into a theatre destination with a summer season. Now Aubrey Dan has set his cap for a whole new market with a whole new season — a season he hopes will help to revitalize Toronto's fading reputation as a theatre destination. At a luncheon Tuesday for stakeholders in Toronto's theatre and tourism scene, Dan, president of Dancap Productions, Inc., announced plans for his 2011 subscription season.

His new season will kick off with a reprise of the acclaimed Lincoln Centre touring production of SOUTH PACIFIC that played the Four Seasons Centre for a limited run this summer. SOUTH PACIFIC will launch Dancap's new season at the Toronto Centre for the Arts in mid-February and will once again feature Jason Howard and Carmen Cusack.

The season at the Toronto Centre will also include touring productions of 9 TO 5: THE MUSICAL, with music and lyrics by Dolly Parton (slated to open in June), THE ADDAMS FAMILY (opening in November 2011) and the multi-Tony Award-winning MEMPHIS (opening December 2011).

For its second summer season in the Four Seasons Centre, Dancap will launch with a touring production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning NEXT TO NORMAL, featuring Tony-winner Alice Ripley reprising her Broadway performance. It will be followed by the latest work from dance master Twyla Tharp, titled COME FLY WITH ME, featuring original recorded masters of Frank Sinatra in an array of classics.

Recalling the glory days of Toronto commercial theatre and lamenting the fact that Toronto has lost its ranking as one of the leading theatre cities in the Western world, Dan said his company "wants to help rebuild a dedicated theatre base" here in the city. But for that to happen, it's going to take more than just one company, he insists. "For all of us to succeed, we need to collaborate and work together for the common good."

Tickets for the new season are now available to Dancap members and will go on sale to the general public on Oct. 23 at Dancap's website.