Anne and Gilbert: The Musical

News on Anne and Gilbert: The Musical

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Press Release: Islanders Lead Anne & Gilbert Cast

This year, the cast of the internationally celebrated musical Anne and Gilbert, will be "Island Through and Through." Of the twenty-six actors in the 2008 production, twenty-one of them are Islanders.

"We set ourselves a simple goal this year," said David Malahoff, senior producer of Anne and Gilbert, "We wanted to assemble a first rate cast that was also mostly Islanders. What we found was that Islanders were among the most talented performers, no matter where we conducted the auditions, whether it was in Toronto, Halifax or Charlottetown."

Leading the way as Anne Shirely is Rebecca Parent of Stratford, returning for her second year in the title role. Ms. Parent's soaring vocals, spirited performance, and natural comedic talents earned her critical raves and standing ovations in 2007. Joining her for the first time in Anne and Gilbert is Islander and celebrated Canadian actor, Martha Irving, in the role of Marilla Cuthbert. Ms. Irving has a long and distinguished film, television, and stage career in North America.

Natalie Sullivan is returning for her fourth year in Anne and Gilbert, reprising the role of Josie Pye, which she originated in the 2005 production. A crowd favorite, Ms. Sullivan is widely acknowledged as one of the most gifted singers and performers on Island.

Also returning to a role that he created in 2005 is Brandon Banks, who orginated the characted of Paul Irving. Mr. Banks career took off immediately after the 2005 Anne and Gilbert production, as he went on to perform two seasons at the world reknowned Stratford Festival, as well as a run at Toronto's Lord Elgin Theatre in Peter Pan. He will be joined by his older sister Brittany Banks, entering her fourth year in Anne and Gilbert. Ms. Banks will, for the first time, be performing in a feature role, as Anne Shirley's university friend, Phillipa Gordon. Ms. Banks is known locally as an extraordinary, singing, dancing and acting talent and teacher, and has been a leader in developing the musical theatre program at Bluefield High School.

Another Canadian theatre veteran, both as a performer and a writer, is Islander Hank Stinson, well known locally for his years at the Charlottetown Festival. Stinson's beautiful tenor and comedic talents always light up a stage, and he has been a crowd pleaser across the country for decades.

Anders Balderston, whose fiddling and acting talents had the audience in stitches in his unforgettable performance as Moody MacPherson in 2007, returns as Gilbert Blythe's friend and admirer of Anne Shirley. Aaron Hastelow, whose dancing and acting talents graced the Anne and Gilbert stage in 2006, returns in 2008 as Alec, one of the comedic pair of Phillipa Gordon's suitors.

New to Anne and Gilbert this year are Islanders Haley Doherty, Michele Bouey, Nathan Keoughan, Luke Thompson. Director/Choreographer Heidi Ford, who offered all of them the roles, was very excited about each of these newcomers to Anne and Gilbert, noting that they are all remarkable talents with major performing careers ahead of them.

Also new to Anne and Gilbert this year will be ten additional performers in the Young Company, bringing the total cast up to twenty six performers from sixteen performers in previous years. The Young Company will be announced in the coming weeks.

Fans of Anne and Gilbert are advised to purchase their tickets early, as the first few weeks of Anne and Gilbert are selling fast, and will likely sell out before the end of May. For more information, please visit www.AnneAndGilbert.com.

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Monday, April 28, 2008

Critics Love Anne and Gilbert

Read some of the wonderful quotes from reviewers of Anne and Gilbert on this poster sent to me by Campbell Webster, the show's producer. The poster features Rebecca Parent and Aaron Kyte, who played Anne and Gilbert during the 2007 Summerside production of Anne and Gilbert.


Feel free to download the Anne and Gilbert poster, print it out, and decorate your home, fridge, kiosks, dorm room doors or bulletin boards around town.




You'll need to download the free Adobe Reader to view this page.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Upcoming Anne and Gilbert Shows

Upcoming Shows


June, 24 2008 07:30 PM - Jubilee Theatre
124 Harbour Drive, Summerside, Prince Edward C1N 5Y8 - 53.75,45.75,27.75,adult; 48.37,41.18,24.98,senior (65); 15.75 (children under 12)

Opening night of summer run to Sept.28. Three shows a week. June,July & Sept., Tues.,Thus. (7.30) and Sun.mat. (2.00). August, Tues.,Fri.(7.30), Sun.mat. 2.00. Cast tba. Box office 1-800-708-6505. boxoffice@jubileetheatre.com.


August, 13 2008 08:00 PM - Grand Theatre
218 Princess St., Kingston, Ontario K7L 1B2 - 27.50

PREVIEW of the production of Anne and Gilbert, starring Ashleigh Ireland and Adrian Marchuk, which will play at the Grand for several weeks, then tour to a bunch of Ontario theatres. Schedule to follow soon. OPENING: Aug.14. August shows, 14016, 19-23, 25-30, 7.30 p.m. Matinees Wednesdays and Saturdays. Tickets: Adults: 27.50-42.50, seniors 25.50-40.50, students and children 10.50.


September, 23 2008 08:00 PM - tba
, HUNTSVILLE, Ontario -

First touring show of 1000 Islands Theatre Kingston production of "Anne and Gilbert". Details tba.


September, 24 2008 02:00 PM - tba
, HUNTSVILLE, Ontario - tba

MATINEE


September, 24 2008 08:00 PM - TBA
, HUNTSVILLE, Ontario -



September, 26 2008 08:00 PM - TBA
, LINDSAY, Ontario - tba



October, 1 2008 08:00 PM - Centre for the Performing Arts
tba, OAKVILLE, Ontario - tba



October, 2 2008 08:00 PM - Centre for the Performing Arts
tba, OAKVILLE, Ontario - tba



October, 3 2008 08:00 PM - River Run Centre
tba, GUELPH, Ontario - tba



October, 8 2008 02:00 PM - Rose Theatre
tba, BRAMPTON, Ontario - tba

MATINEE


October, 8 2008 08:00 PM - Rose Theatre
tba, BRAMPTON, Ontario - tba



October, 9 2008 08:00 PM - Rose Theatre
tba, BRAMPTON, Ontario - tba



October, 10 2008 08:00 PM - Gryphon Theatre
tba, BARRIE, Ontario - tba



October, 30 2008 08:00 PM - Centrepointe Theatre
101 Centrepointe, Ottawa, Ontario K2G 3K7 - $33(adults). Seniors and children’s prices from box office.

Goya presents its community theatre production of "Anne and Gilbert" from Oct.30-Nov.2. Box offic: 1-866-752-5231

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Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Writers' Myspace for the music of Anne and Gilbert

Anne and Gilbert's writers, Nancy White, Bob Johnston, and Jeff Hochhauser, have set up a writers' myspace for the music of Anne and Gilbert.

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Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Playhouse taking its popular show 'Anne & Gilbert' on Ontario tour

Playhouse taking its popular show 'Anne & Gilbert' on Ontario tour
By Ronald Zajac, Brockville Recorder and Times

The Thousand Islands Playhouse's record-breaking show Anne & Gilbert will hit the road this summer and fall.

The musical, which follows the wildly popular Anne of Green Gables, drew more than 16,000 people during the Gananoque summer theatre company's 2007 season, breaking all previous attendance records.

Its huge popularity has prompted the Ontario tour, which starts in August with a stop at nearby Kingston's newly renovated Grand Theatre.

"It's the first time we've taken one of our musicals on tour," said playhouse associate artistic director Kathryn MacKay.

"It's fantastic in terms of profile," she added. "It'll be great for us.

"It also provides extra work for artists. It's hard to eke out a living as an artist."

The play is co-written by CBC songstress Nancy White, Jeff Hochhauser and Bob Johnston and directed by playhouse founder and artistic director Greg Wanless.

Some of the cast members who brought the production to Gananoque last summer will be part of this year's tour.

Ashleigh Ireland and Adrian Marchuk will reprise the lead roles of Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe, while Valerie Hawkins returns as Marilla Cuthbert.

And two other playhouse regulars, music director Sandy Thorburn and choreographer Kiri-Lyn Muir, will also return to the production while John Dinning will return for set design and Dennis Horn for period costumes.

Anne & Gilbert picks up where the original Anne of Green Gables novel left off, focusing on the relationship between Anne Shirley and Gilbert Blythe.

The playhouse has toured non-musical shows it has produced in the past, but doing so with a musical is a whole new logistical challenge, said MacKay.

Wanless and Thorburn will be joining the tour, as well as a costume co-ordinator and two technicians, said MacKay.

But most of the tour takes place in late September and early October, so the impact on the playhouse's in-house summer shows will be minimal.

It's been seven or eight years since the playhouse has taken a show on tour, said MacKay.

In recent years, she noted, the company has been preoccupied with opening and establishing the Firehall Theatre, which runs productions parallel to the main stage Springer Theatre, so "going on tour just seemed like too much."

With the Firehall now established and Anne & Gilbert a smash hit, "it seemed like a good time to go out on the road again," said MacKay.

The financial risk is minimal, since the playhouse has been guaranteed a certain fee by the theatres, she said.

Following the run at the Grand in August, the production will take a three-week hiatus before heading out for three weeks of shows starting in Lindsay, said MacKay, adding the playhouse is trying to extend the tour.

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Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Anne and Gilbert in Ottawa in 2008

Anne and Gilbert will play in Ottawa later this year for five performances only.
This production is in association with Campbell Webster Entertainment and Centrepointe Theatre.

The following dates for the performances are listed on the Goya Theatre Productions website.
FIVE PERFORMANCES ONLY
OCTOBER 29…….November 2, 2008
Preview Wednesday October 28

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Friday, February 15, 2008

Anne & Gilbert returns in 2008!

June 24 – September 28, 2008
Harbourfront Jubilee Theatre
Summerside, PEI

Early Bird Ticket Special – up to 40% off top ticket price!

All adult tickets $25.75 for performances between:
June 24th to July 13th & August 31 to September 14

Offer expires March 14
To order: 1-800-708-6505
Jubilee Website: www.jubileetheatre.com

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