When Guelph Little Theatre (GLT) raises the curtain on the Western Ontario Drama League (WODL) Festival in Guelph, the city will welcome this region’s top-rated community theatre productions, to be performed on GLT’s stage by five competing groups during March break.
The successful entries appearing at the festival were announced by preliminary adjudicator Ross Stuart at the WODL general meeting recently.
“It’s a very strong festival,” noted Stuart, who adjudicated a total of 18 productions since October in the preliminary phase of the festival competition, travelling to theatre companies from Windsor to Owen Sound.
“I’ve enjoyed seeing all the shows as part of surprisingly large and enthusiastic audiences no matter what the night or what the weather.”
The line-up for the WODL feature performances includes:
– Shorthanded, a comedy about eight misfits who band together for an old-timers hockey championship. The play, by Mike Grant, will be presented by Elmira Theatre Company on March 11;
– Tennessee William’s Suddenly Last Summer will appear on March 12, presented by Theatre Burlington. The drama focuses on an aging Louisiana aristocrat who plots to protect her family’s honour with a mad tale of her cousin’s death;
– Kiss the Moon, Kiss the Sun is a Norm Foster comedy-drama, presented by Owen Sound Little Theatre on March 13. The story explores the relationship between a disabled man and a young pregnant woman;
– Tim Firth’s Calendar Girls takes the stage on March 14 presented by Theatre Sarnia. The comedy-drama follows members of a Women’s Institute raising money by posing for a nude calendar; and
– On March 15, Orphans, by Dennis Kelly will be presented by Windsor’s Theatre Intrigue Society. The British play, written in 2009, is a dramatic story that explores violence in urban areas.
All performances will begin at 8pm. The five shows appearing at the festival will be adjudicated for awards in several artistic and technical categories, to be presented at the awards gala on March 16 by festival adjudicator Beatrix Quarrie.
The show that wins the WODL best production award will be invited to compete at the Theatre Ontario festival in Kingston in May.
The WODL awards gala will take place March 16 at 6pm at the Guelph Holiday Inn.
Tickets for WODL Festival shows are $22 each, or all five shows for $100. Reserve online at www.guelphlittletheatre.com or phone the box office at 519-821-0270.
The WODL Festival in Guelph is presented with the generous assistance of many local businesses and contributions from its official sponsor, The Retired Teachers Association of Ontario, Wellington County District 31.
For more information visit www.guelphlittletheatre.com.
