THEATRE NEWS: Toronto Fringe has banner year;
Stratford's JCS headed for B'way?
17 JUL/11

JOHN COULBOURN - QMI Agency

TORONTO - It was a banner year for the Toronto Fringe Festival, which finished its summer run Sunday. When the smoke cleared, officials were able to announce a 7% increase in tickets sales over last year's total, with 57,282 tickets sold for the 143 shows featured in the summer theatre extravaganza. That translates into a total box office take of $409,879, all of which was, as usual, returned to participating artists. That brings the total return to participating artists over the history of the Festival, which began in 1989, to $5.5 million.


In many ways, it proved a fitting conclusion to a Festival that began on a high note, with former Toronto mayor David Miller pledging a $10,000 matching donation to the Fringe's new Creation Lab, which will help small theatre artists bring their visions to the stage on a year round basis.

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STRATFORD - Depending on who you're talking to, the Stratford Shakespeare Festival's acclaimed production of Jesus Christ Superstar may or may not be headed for Broadway next season. But either way, its 40 days in the desert are assured, give or take a day or two.


Stratford officials announced Monday that the production that is the hit of the current season at the Festival will be moving to La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego where it is slated to open Nov. 18 and run through Dec. 31.


Directed by Stratford's artistic director Des McAnuff, who served in a similar capacity in La Jolla for a total of 17 years, the production features Paul Nolan in the title role, with Chilina Kennedy as Mary Magdalene, Josh Young as Judas Iscariot, Tony-winner Brent Carver as Pontius Pilate, Bruce Dow as Herod and Mike Nadajewski as Peter.


And while palm leaves may be a trifle over the top, La Jolla audiences are expected to welcome the production with open arms, according to Christopher Ashley, the artistic director at the Playhouse. "We have been looking for an opportunity to bring Des back home to the Playhouse, and this project was perfect in every way," he said. "I can't wait to share this critically acclaimed production of this classic rock musical with our audiences."