Get your tap shoes ready, because "Bottom's Gonna Be on Top"! 👯
Being a playwright in the Renaissance has its challenges, especially when your chief competition is local rockstar William Shakespeare (played by Jeff Lillico). Nick Bottom (played by Mark Uhre) can only dream of the day when the crowds cheer for him and the Bard finally admits defeat.
Something Rotten! begins performances on May 11. Don't miss this Shakespeare-skewering musical filled with "dazzling dance and hilarious hammy performances" (The Globe and Mail).
#SFRotten #SF2026 #SomethingRotten #StratfordFestival #Stratfest
"It's impossible not to live up to it."
Step into the rehearsal hall as Jennifer Rider-Shaw and Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane talk about rising to the incredibly high standards of the dancers in Guys and Dolls.
Come see Jennifer and Olivia dazzle as Miss Adelaide and Sarah Brown in this classic musical. Previews begin in exactly one week (April 22)!
Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes insights, coming to Stratfest@Home this fall.
#SFGuysDolls #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest #GuysAndDolls
Shakespeare has a way of "compressing everything into a real crystal."
Step into the rehearsal hall as Antoni Cimolino shapes a bold new production of The Tempest.
Secure your seats to experience theatre at the height of its power.
Stay tuned for more behind-the-scenes insights, coming to Stratfest@Home this fall.
#SFTempest #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest
"It's a big, bold show, brassy and energetic, and the design needs to match that quality."
Step into the rehearsal hall as Michael Gianfrancesco shares his vision for the set and props of Guys and Dolls and shines a spotlight on the extraordinary in-house team who brought it all to life with remarkable craftsmanship.
Every detail of Guys and Dolls sparkles. Experience this classic Broadway musical in all its dazzling glory on the Festival stage.
#SFGuysDolls #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest
“In matters of grave importance, style, not sincerity is the vital thing.” 💅
From head to toe, The Importance of Being Earnest is nothing if not impeccably dressed, with Costume Designer Cory Sincennes serving Victorian-era extravagance in this season’s bold and colourful production.
The looks are in. Every costume is now set in the actors’ dressing rooms at the Avon Theatre, ready for next week’s first preview performance. Forget cucumber sandwiches. Feast your eyes on richly decadent hats, deliciously detailed shoes and positively scrumptious puffed sleeves!
📷 Costume design by Cory Sincennes.
#SFEarnest #TheImportanceOfBeingEarnest #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest
Whatever way you spin it, these stories hit different IRL.
Seven shows open our 2026 season this month (plus five more coming soon). Come experience the magic of live theatre.
#MillennialVsGenZ #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest #TheatreExperience
Prepare to be dazzled by Guys and Dolls. 🤩
Brimming with Broadway glitz and glamour, this timeless musical lights up the stage with electric choreography and unforgettable showstopping songs.
From New York's bustling streets to the vibrant allure of Cuba, it's a spectacular showcase of talent you won't want to miss.
📷 1) Devon Michael Brown as Rusty Charlie and members of the company in Guys and Dolls. Photo: Ann Baggley.
2) Jennifer Rider-Shaw as Miss Adelaide and members of the company in Guys and Dolls. Photo: David Hou.
3) Bethany Kovarik as Carmen and members of the company in Guys and Dolls. Photo: David Hou.
Set design by Michael Gianfrancesco. Costume design by Dana Osborne. Lighting design by Bonnie Beecher. Sound design by Haley Parcher.
#SFGuysDolls #GuysAndDolls #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest
The wait is over… or is it? Waiting for Godot begins performances today.
Inside the Festival Theatre, Vladimir and Estragon pass the hours in anticipation, beneath a lone tree breaking through the boards of the iconic thrust stage.
With just 24 performances in this strictly limited run, don’t wait. Secure your tickets now.
📷 Set design by Cory Sincennes. Lighting design by Jareth Li. Photography by David Hou.
#SFGodot #WaitingForGodot #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest
Take a first glimpse of The Tempest! 🌊
Beginning with a ferocious storm, this otherworldly production casts us ashore on a mysterious island alive with magic, illusion and haunting sea creatures unlike anything seen before.
Discover the power of Shakespeare’s epic for yourself and book your tickets today.
📷 1) From left: Allison Lynch as Spirit, Geraint Wyn Davies as Prospero and Marissa Orjalo as Ariel in The Tempest.
2) Members of the company in The Tempest.
3) From left: Paul Dunn as Spirit, Geraint Wyn Davies as Prospero and Ashley Dingwell as Miranda in The Tempest.
Set and costume design by Julie Fox. Lighting design by Imogen Wilson. Sound design by Ranil Sonnadara. Photography by David Hou.
#SFTempest #TheTempest #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest
"It is building a framework that holds the play and elevates it."
Step into the rehearsal hall as Dana Osborne reflects on bringing Guys and Dolls to life. She describes costume design as a true ensemble art, brought into being through close collaboration with a dedicated team of in-house artisans who help realize her vision.
Guys and Dolls is dazzling audiences in preview performances. Get your tickets to experience this timeless Broadway classic on stage.
#SFGuysDolls #GuysAndDolls #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest
Our 2026 season officially opens in just two weeks!
There's nothing quite like an opening night, the moment months of dedication culminate as a production bursts to life on stage before a packed and eager audience. Beginning in 1953 with Richard III, the Festival has rolled out the red carpet for unforgettable, star-studded events that become part of theatre history. Take a look at some of these past celebrations.
Now it's time to add a new chapter. Join us for Opening Week as seven productions open across six exhilarating days:
🌊 The Tempest opens May 25 at the Festival Theatre.
🎲 Guys and Dolls opens May 26 at the Festival Theatre.
🌕 A Midsummer Night's Dream opens May 27 at the Tom Patterson Theatre.
💼 Death of a Salesman opens May 28 at the Avon Theatre.
🪶 Something Rotten! opens May 29 at the Festival Theatre.
🐉 The Hobbit opens May 30 (2pm) at the Avon Theatre.
🌳 Waiting for Godot opens May 30 (8pm) at the Festival Theatre.
Be part of the celebration. Book your tickets now!
📷 Image credits in the comments. #OpeningNight #SF2026 #StratfordFestival #Stratfest
Welcome (back) to the Renaissance!
Something Rotten!, the riotous musical that pokes fun at Shakespeare and the very idea of musicals, is back at the Festival Theatre and funnier (and more rotten) than ever.
If you missed it in 2024 or simply must see it again and again, book your tickets now!
📷 Set design by Michael Gianfrancesco. Lighting design by Bonnie Beecher. Photography by David Hou.
#SFRotten #SF2026 #SomethingRotten #StratfordFestival #Stratfest
