May 25 gala kicks off summer theatre season
GRAVENHURST — Three iconic Canadian character actors take the stage May 25 at the Gravenhurst Opera House to kick off its 84th season of summer theatre in Muskoka.
The Yes Men, featuring Patrick McKenna, Neil Crone and Kevin Hunt will help another introduce the stellar lineup of talent.
The Annual Summer Season Gala is a tradition that showcases samplings of what visitors can expect to see on stage all summer and it’s shaping up to be another star studded night.
The ‘Yes Men’ are no strangers to stage or screen, big and small, each with a list of credits as long as one’s arm. From “Little Mosque on the Prairie” to the Second City stage, the “Possum Lodge on The Red Green Show,” “Traders” and even “The Rick Mercer Report,” the hilarious talent the Yes Men bring to the stage will definitely be a highlight of the night.
The musical guests include My Father’s Son and Dana Sipos, who will share a taste of the incredible offerings featured at the Sawdust City Music Festival.
The Muskoka Ukulele Society will once again open the evening with some of their fun renditions as well as other local performers throughout the night.
In addition to an already stellar line-up, a few of the artists who will be appearing throughout the summer will also be taking the stage.
Performances by Robin Clipsham (Greater Tuna), Jane Miller (The World Goes ’Round) and Mary Pitt (Souvenir) who are all very familiar with the Opera House stage and will be returning once again this summer to wow audiences in their respective roles.
This annual event is a favourite among theatre goers, ‘we have so much talent here and you just never know who might appear on stage,’ said Krista Storey, new manager of arts and culture. “Who knows, you might even see me,’ she added with a laugh.
The gala begins with a red carpet welcome at 6 p.m. and ‘A Taste of Gravenhurst’ reception with samplings from local chefs in the Trillium Court. At 8 p.m. the performances begin upstairs.
The gala not only celebrates a birthplace of summer theatre in Canada and the jam-packed season of entertainment ahead, but is also a celebration for the whole town that helps kick off the busyness of the months to come and the return of our seasonal visitors.
“The winters can be long here, so this is a very exciting time of year when we’ve all used a little extra spit and polish to get ready to welcome the masses,” said Storey. ‘We can’t wait to welcome back our old friends and meet some new ones too!”
Tickets are $40 and can be purchased on-line at www.gravenhurstoperahouse.com or by calling the Box Office at 705-687-5550 or toll free at 888-495-8888.
