McMaster Summer Drama Festival

MCMASTER SUMMER DRAMA FESTIVAL MAKES ITS REPRISE IN THE HEART OF HAMILTON

HAMILTON, ON - The McMaster Summer Drama Festival (SDF) announces its eighteenth season, opening July 18, 2008 and running to July 26, 2008.

Artistic Director Andrew Hadden asserts, "This year's festival consists of four very unique shows. Each one is very bold in its own way. The audience will have the option to see a brutally honest and emotional drama (Closer), a quirky musical which explores contemporary pop culture (Six Women With Brain Death), a student-written adaptation of the classic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet (Fair Verona) and a play which reflects on life and regret (Edward Albee's Three Tall Women)."

"I believe that this year's season is proving to be our most ambitious," declares Production Stage Manager Monica Cairney. "Within our four shows we incorporate a musical, live and/or original music and multimedia, none of which have been used in this company in recent memory. These elements, on top of organizing and running a festival, have been a challenge but are also paving the way for more risks to be taken in the future."

This year's festival consists of:

CLOSER
Written by Patrick Marber
Directed by James Tyler Shearer
Starring Jim Malloy as Larry, Lacey Benedetti as Alice, Grant
Winestock as Dan, and Sarah Midghall as Anna.

Closer, a story about love caught up in false pretenses opened
in London in 1997 and quickly won the Evening Standard Award
for Best Comedy, and the Critics' Circle Theatre Awards and
Laurence Olivier Awards for Best New Play.

FAIR VERONA
Adapted from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and other works
Directed by Kerri Bojman and Graham Jenner
Starring Duncan Thompson as Romeo, Emma Turner as Juliet, and
Meghan Banks, Nick Davies, Alexandra Holbrook and Alex White
as Verona.

Fair Verona, a 'rearrangement' of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet,
is a brand new work presented by Kerri Bojman and Graham Jenner.
"Fair Verona is a play about how a person's environment plays
a crucial role in his or her life; how a society's structure,
traditions, and unspoken rules can make or break a person's
ability to function or survive," says directors Bojman and Jenner.

SIX WOMEN WITH BRAIN DEATH OR EXPIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW
Book by Cheryl Benge, Christy Brandt, Mark Houston, Peggy
Pharr Wilson, Rosanna E. Coppedge, Ross Freese, Sandee
Johnson, and Valerie Fagan
Music and Lyrics by Mark Houston
Directed by Blythe Stewart
Starring Alexa Di Cresce as the Diva, Kathleen Dodd as Marge,
Zoë Godfrey Davies as Jolene, Max Goodis as the Prom Queen
Candidate, Krista Janke as Wanda, and Alison O'Neill as Veronica.

Six Women with Brain Death, since its inception in 1992, has
developed substantial underground popularity. Originally
performed in Kansas City, Missouri, the show moved to San
Diego, California, where Variety called the show "a lifesaver
for the theatre".

EDWARD ALBEE'S THREE TALL WOMEN
Directed by Amanda Nesbitt
Starring Alicia Micallef as A, Laura Pomeroy as B, Carly
Pokoradi as C, and Colin Nesbitt as the Son.

Edward Albee's unique brand of acerbic wit is quite clear
in his Pulitzer Prize-winning Three Tall Women: "Through the
story of the life of one woman the audience is asked to remind
themselves of all the strengths, weaknesses, prejudices, loves
and joys of being human," Director Amanda N. Nesbitt explains.
"There is a slight nod towards Theatre of the Absurd in order to
explore, realistically, everything from incontinence to
infidelity, from raising children to the compromises made and
the regrets gathered."

The McMaster Summer Drama Festival began in 1991, and has
since developed a reputation as one of the longest-running
summer community theatre groups. Their productions have
ranged from classical, to contemporary, to even original
works, and adaptations of films. The Festival consistently
caters to well over a thousand theatre goers each summer.

SHOW TIMES:

Closer – July 18, 20, 22, 24, 8 PM, July 19, 26, 2 PM
Fair Verona – July 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 7 PM, July 19, 1 PM
Six Women With Brain Death – July 19, 21, 23, 25, 26, 8 PM, July 20, 2 PM
Three Tall Women – July 18, 19, 22, 24, 7 PM, July 20, 26, 1 PM

TICKETS:

Adult -- $10 per show*
Student/Senior -- $8 per show*
Festival Pass Adult -- $30 (admission to four shows)**
Festival Pass Student/Senior -- $25 (admission to four shows)**

Tickets will be available at the door; reservations may be made at http://www.summerdramafestival.com/tickets.php.

Tickets are also available for sale at Compass Information Centre, in the McMaster University Student Centre.

*All seats are general admission.
**Certain conditions apply.

LOCATIONS:

Closer, Six Women With Brain Death – Hamilton Theatre Inc. Studio Theatre, 140 MacNab Street North, Hamilton.

Fair Verona, Three Tall Women – Faculty Hollow, McMaster,Campus, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton.

More detailed information about show locations available
from http://www.summerdramafestival.com.

Opera Hamilton Announces 2008-2009 Season

GENERAL DIRECTOR DAVID SPEERS AND OPERA HAMILTON'S BOARD OF DIRECTORS ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE 2008/2009 OPERA SEASON

Hamilton ON, June 10 2008 - With great strides forward and the unwavering support of the community, Opera Hamilton continues its legacy. Last September, Opera Hamilton made a very difficult but necessary decision to suspend its main stage productions, focus attention on the elimination of a debilitating accumulated deficit and the establishment of a solid financial base which would allow the opera company to move forward in a stable and sustainable manner.

The Hamilton community - audience, contributors, business and artistic partners, corporations, foundations and all levels of government - along with an unwavering board of directors and staff, came together to meet this daunting challenge. "Our trustees and funding partners were adamant that we would not move forward unless the deficit was eliminated, a significant financial base was guaranteed and a solid business plan for the future developed. Those objectives have now been met," said Speers. "We are moving forward with confidence and great anticipation."

Our season will open with performances of Mozart's The Magic Flute on October 30 and November 1, 2008, continue with Popera on January 29 and 31, 2009, and conclude with Puccini's Madama Butterfly on April 2 and 3, 2009. Our Great Singers Recital series continues with international superstar (and Burlington native) Adrianne Pieczonka along with guest soprano Lauren Tucker. This is a "non-subscription" event and Opera Hamilton subscribers have first access to seats through their season renewal. Single tickets will go on sale in the fall.

It has been a year of incredible effort, dedication and sacrifice on the part of many individuals and organizations. Opera Hamilton is extremely grateful that the result of these endeavors has been a happy and successful one. Words alone cannot express the appreciation felt at Opera Hamilton for the community's generosity, patience and understanding over the past 10 months.

Opera Hamilton's legacy of artistic excellence, the promotion of emerging and established Canadian artists, and an increased dedication to community education and outreach will continue.

Opera Hamilton is thrilled to share with you, once again, the adventure of wonderful music and theater at the Opera this fall.

Opera Hamilton is a registered charitable organization, providing approximately $2.5 million in annual revenue for the Hamilton area. A major lessee at Hamilton Place and contractor with the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera Hamilton is a vital component of the local arts community. The company attracts approximately 16,500 patrons annually to the downtown core of Hamilton.

Emerging Artist Series

BLACK BOX FIRE presents THE EMERGING ARTISTS SERIES

"Every year we produce a series of plays put on by
local, up-and-coming theatre artists. This year's
line-up is amazing and includes eight productions
performed over the course of four weeks beginning May
15, 2008," says Stephanie Yantsis, Black Box Fire's
Co-Founder. "Some shows are comedies. Some are dramas.
Some border on the absurd. Some take a serious look at
issues in the media today. Some were written by
published authors. Some were written by emerging
playwrights here in the city. There's something for
everyone and lots of opportunities to explore
different styles of theatre while supporting our local
arts community."

WHAT: Black Box Fire's Emerging Artists Series
WHERE: Hamilton Theatre Inc. Studio Theatre - 140
MacNab Street North, Hamilton, Ontario
WHEN: May 15 to June 7, 2008 every Thursday, Friday,
at 7pm and Saturdays at 2 and 7pm
TICKETS: $10 evening entrance. Cash Only. Pay at the
door. Make reservations at www.blackboxfire.com
CONCESSIONS: Available between shows and at
intermissions.

WEEK ONE (Thursday May 15 to Saturday, May 17, 2008) –
DOUBLE BILL: 2 ONE-ACTS

THE CARDBOARD BOX
Written and Directed by Jason Lamb
Starring Dave Disher, Krista Janke, Bryan Gauer and
Michael Herman

The Cardboard Box is the tale of four people (an
average Joe, a theatre/film critic, a fool and a
scientist) stuck in a cardboard box in the middle of
the ocean. They're not quite sure how they got there,
what they'll do, why they'll do it, or how they'll get
out of their predicament.

ALICE: THE TEA PARTY
Written by Warren Graves
Directed by Tim Mauch
Starring Jessica Perkins, Sally Panavas, Geoff Hymers,
Kathleen McGrath, Kim Staffleiner, Nerlind Sheshi and
Cary Ferguson

Alice, a young girl, left with the responsibility of
watching a treat covered table at an afternoon garden
fete falls asleep with a head full of her friends
story-time characters and suddenly finds herself on a
ridiculous ride filled with nonsense and silliness.

WEEK TWO (Thursday May 22 to Saturday, May 24, 2008) –
SINGLE SHOW: 1 TWO-ACT

THE GOOD BODY
Written by Eve Ensler
Directed by Meg Banks and Laura Pomeroy
Starring Mohini Bhavsar, Carlyn Christian, Graham
Jenner, Sophie Mancini, Alicia Micallef, Amanda
Nesbitt, Alison Nicholson, Michelle Urbano and Allison
Warwick

The author of 'The Vagina Monologues' attempts to come
to peace with her own body. Through monologue, the
play explores the stories of many individuals. Often
humorous, and always poignant, 'The Good Body'
explores the concept of body within our culture,
through our own eyes. (Includes a 15 minute
intermission)

WEEK THREE (Thursday May 29 to Saturday, May 31, 2008)
– TRIPLE BILL: 3 ONE-ACTS

PROMISE YOU WON'T MARRY ME
Written and Directed by Ellen S. Jaffe
Starring Meredith Heyland, Dan Sanderson, Michelle
Lahaise and Eric Delmer Millen

Two characters, named only One and Two, who have had
an on-and-off relationship for several years, meet
again and drive along a country road, finally talking
about their feelings, hopes, and longings - past,
present, and perhaps future.

CHESHIRE CATS
Written and Directed by Anjie Schwartz
Starring Tanya Sitko, Michael Anania, Kayla Deverson
and Jim Molloy

Alice is a failed artist and barely functioning
alcoholic. Her husband James is a successful
businessman who has just closed an important deal.
Their once happy relationship is in the midst of
falling spectacularly apart as each realizes they no
longer know who the other is and wonder if they ever
really knew each other to begin with?

WASP
Written by Steve Martin
Directed by Andrew Hadden
Starring Jason Dick, Lauren MacKinlay, Jessica
Pannetta, Matthew Dyck, Courtney Hamara and Nick Kozij

The title of Steve Martin's one-act piece, WASP, is an
acronym for White Anglo-Saxon Protestant. The play
explores and critiques the values of this particular
North American ethnicity and culture. Set in a 1950's
household it focuses on a family of four: Dad, Mom,
Sister and Brother.

WEEK FOUR (Thursday, June 5 to Saturday, June 7, 2008)
– DOUBLE BILL: 2 ONE-ACTS

LOW LIFES
Written by Brent Purvis.
Directed by Andrew Noble.
Starring Matt Szpirglas, Erik Canaria, Caroline
Concordia, Parker Martin, Aaron Middlemiss, David
Spring and Joe Gull

Benny and Dante, two twenty-something small-time drug
dealers, thought they had it made until they have to
flush their stash. Now Benny and Dante have two days
to come up with $10,000 or else... But they've got a
plan.

TWO ROOMS
Written by Lee Blessing.
Directed by Lauren Repei.
Starring Graham Jenner, Rahkee Sapra, Alex Holbrook
and Jaclyn Scobie

Michael Wells is being held hostage in Beirut,
blindfolded, handcuffed and alone. Half a world away
his wife Lainie has made a prisoner of herself in her
husband's empty study. As months turn into years,
Lainie and Michael find strength in their love, which
allow them to speak and see one another in a
dream-like place.

BLACK BOX FIRE & THE EMERGING ARTISTS SERIES:

Sponsors: CopyDog, Hamilton Theatre Inc., McMaster
Theatre & Film Society, My Dog Joe Coffee House,
Staircase Cafe and Theatre, Tailgate Charlie's, QQs
Teashop, and The Vine

Black Box Fire: Based in Hamilton, Ontario Black Box
Fire is an independent theatre company that was formed
in 2006. Its members believe in the principles of
cooperative development and necessary theatre. The
company treats the development and performance of
theatre as a collaborative, holistic process. It seeks
to develop production methods and performances which
are innovative, challenging and effective.