Annie sets record as Stratford Festival extends four 2025 productions
Four 2025 Stratford Festival productions are being extended, pushing the season into mid-December for the first time in company history.
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• Stratford Beacon Herald
Published Jul 15, 2025
Four 2025 Stratford Festival productions are being extended, including Annie, pushing the season into mid-December for the first time in company history. Photo by Ann Baggley /Stratford Festival
Four 2025 Stratford Festival productions are already being extended, pushing the season into mid-December for the first time in company history.
Annie, which takes place during Christmas, will get six additional weeks at the main theatre, the Festival has announced. The musical, directed and choreographed by Donna Feore, has been a critical hit and will entertain audiences until Dec. 14, the latest a Festival season has even run.
The Rocky Horror Show held the previous distinction when it wrapped on Dec. 2, 2018.
Annie is led by Harper Rae Asch as the titular character, Dan Chameroy as Oliver Warbucks and Laura Condlin as Miss Aggie Hannigan. It also features Amanda Lundgren as Lily St Regis, Jennifer Rider-Shaw as Grace Farrell and Mark Uhre as Rooster Hannigan.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, based on Jeffrey Lane’s book that was turned into a hit 1988 movie starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine, has been extended four weeks at the Avon Theatre and will run until Nov. 23.
The Stratford play, directed by Tracey Flye, features Shakura Dickson as Christine Colgate, Jonathan Goad as Lawrence Jameson and Liam Tobin as Freddy Benson.
Macbeth will take the Avon Theatre stage for an extra three weeks, with the last show slated for Nov. 22. Starring Tom McCamus as Macbeth, Lucy Peacock as Lady Macbeth, Graham Abbey as Banquo and Tom Rooney as Macduff, the ambitious production is a reimagining of Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy by director Robert Lepage set during the Quebec biker wars of the 1990s.
Finally, Anne of Green Gables will also get three more weeks of shows at the Avon Theatre. Playwright and director Kat Sandler’s reimagining of the classic tale – a coming-of-age story about a spirited red-headed orphan longing for a place to call home – will wrap up Nov. 16.
Stratford Festival extends four shows
'Annie,' 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,' 'Macbeth' and 'Anne of Green Gables' are getting more stage time
StratfordToday Staff
July 9, 2025
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STRATFORD FESTIVAL
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The Stratford Festival announces the extension of its deliciously energetic musicals, scheduling Annie for an additional six weeks on stage and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels for an additional four weeks; this season’s much awaited take on Macbeth takes the stage for an additional three weeks, while the unmissable Anne of Green Gables will now run for an extended three weeks.
With a sensational cast of new and returning talent, “dizzying dance numbers” (Toronto Star), and a hopeful message, this production of Annie, directed and choreographed by Donna Feore, has charmed audiences and critics alike.
The production is led by Harper Rae Asch as Annie, Dan Chameroy as Oliver Warbucks and Laura Condlln as Miss Aggie Hannigan, featuring Amanda Lundgren as Lily St Regis, Jennifer Rider-Shaw as Grace Farrell and Mark Uhre as Rooster Hannigan.
Donna Feore is joined by Music Director Laura Burton, Set and Costume Designer Michael Gianfrancesco, Lighting Designer Kimberly Purtell, Projection Designer Sean Nieuwenhuis and Sound Designer Haley Parcher. With new dance arrangements and orchestrations by Broadway’s David Dabbon, this Globe and Mail Critic’s Pick has audiences rising to their feet and leaving the theatre with a grin – likely humming along to the optimistic tunes of such hits as “Tomorrow” and “Never Fully Dressed without a Smile.”
The production is extended to Sunday, December 14, 2025 – making it perfect for a festive holiday outing or a memorable Christmas gift! Tickets are now available.
At the Avon Theatre, acclaimed Canadian director Robert Lepage is setting the stage ablaze with his “visually stunning” (BroadwayWorld) rendition of Macbeth. Created in collaboration with his company, Ex Machina, over the course of six years, this “epic endeavour” (Toronto Star) reimagines the Scottish play in the gritty midst of the 1990s biker wars.
In the title role of Macbeth, Tom McCamus leads the cast with “acerbic wit and cruelty” (The Globe and Mail) while Lucy Peacock captivates as Lady Macbeth. The production also features Graham Abbey as Banquo and Tom Rooney as Macduff.
Robert Lepage is joined by Creative Director Steve Blanchet, Set and Props Designer Ariane Sauvé, Costume Designer Michael Gianfrancesco, Lighting Designer Kimberly Purtell and Composer, Sound Designer John Gzowski.
Described by Next Magazine as “jaw-dropping” and praised by Postmedia for featuring “one of the most impressive sets to ever dominate a Stratford Festival stage,” this thrilling production is a must-see event that promises to leave a lasting impression.
The production is extended to Saturday, November 22, 2025, and tickets are now on sale.
“If you're looking for a laugh-out-loud good time, spend an evening with these dirty, rotten scoundrels!” proclaims Postmedia about director Tracey Flye’s hilariously vibrant production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, playing this season at the Avon Theatre and winning a Critic’s Pick from The Globe and Mail.
Showcasing a knockout cast of Stratford favorites led by Shakura Dickson as Christine Colgate, Jonathan Goad as Lawrence Jameson and Liam Tobin as Freddy Benson, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels also features Sara-Jeanne Hosie as Muriel Eubanks, Derek Kwan as Andre Thibault, and Michele Shuster as Jolene Oakes.
Rounding out Tracey Flye’s creative team are Choreographer Stephanie Graham, Music Director Franklin Brasz, Set Designer Lorenzo Savoini, Costume Designer Sue LePage, Lighting Designer Michael Walton and Sound Designer Ranil Sonnadara.
Stamped “Certified Fresh” by the Toronto Star, this rollicking, high-energy musical keeps audiences laughing from start to finish – and delivers a surprising twist by show’s end. As The Globe and Mail declares, “Never before has cheering for the bad guys been so fun.”
The show is extended to Sunday, November 23, 2025, and tickets are now on sale.
Rounding out this exciting list of extended productions is the Stratford Festival’s world première of Anne of Green Gables in a fresh, new adaptation by playwright and director Kat Sandler. The Globe and Mail gave this “heartwarming, gut-wrenching, life-affirming” show a Critic’s Pick. The Toronto Star called it “unmissable” in a four-star review, adding that Caroline Toal “is Anne with every fibre of being.”
Generations of readers have cherished Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved coming-of-age story about a spirited red-headed orphan longing for a place to call home. This delightful reimagining of the classic tale is described by Next Magazine as “radically inventive and lovingly faithful,” and has captivated both long-time fans and newcomers to the story alike.
Anne of Green Gables features Caroline Toal as Anne Shirley, Tim Campbell as Matthew Cuthbert and Sarah Dodd as Marilla Cuthbert.
Kat Sandler is joined by Set and Costume Designer Joanna Yu 余頌恩, Lighting Designer Davida Tkach, Composer James Smith, Sound Designer Debashis Sinha and Movement Director Julie Tomaino.
The production is extended to Sunday, November 16, 2025, and tickets are now on sale.
Annie
Book By Thomas Meehan
Music by Charles Strouse
Lyrics by Martin Charnin
Original Broadway Production Directed by Martin Charnin
Based on “Little Orphan Annie”® by permission of Tribune Content Agency, LLC
Director: Donna Feore
Choreographer: Donna Feore
Music Director: Laura Burton
Set and Costume Designer: Michael Gianfrancesco
Lighting Designer: Kimberly Purtell
Projection Designer: Sean Nieuwenhuis
Sound Designer: Haley Parcher
Additional Dance Music and Orchestrations: David Dabbon
Production Co-Sponsors: Robert & Mary Ann Gorlin, Riki Turofsky & Charles Petersen and Peter & Carol Walters and RBC Royal Bank
Now extended until Sunday, December 14, 2025!
Macbeth
By William Shakespeare
Created in collaboration with Ex Machina
Director: Robert Lepage
Creative Director: Steve Blanchet
Set Designer: Ariane Sauvé
Costume Designer: Michael Gianfrancesco
Lighting Designer: Kimberly Purtell
Composer and Sound Designer: John Gzowski
Production Underwriters: The Fabio Mascarin Foundation and Laurie J. Scott
Production Co-Sponsors: Sylvia Soyka, Carol Stephenson, O.C. and Catherine Wilkes in Memory of David
Now extended until Saturday, November 22, 2025!
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Book by Jeffrey Lane
Music and Lyrics by David Yazbek
Based on the film “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” written by Dale Launer and Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning
Original Broadway production directed by Jack O’Brien
Director: Tracey Flye
Choreographer: Stephanie Graham
Music Director: Franklin Brasz
Set Designer: Lorenzo Savoini
Costume Designer: Sue LePage
Lighting Designer: Michael Walton
Sound Designer: Ranil Sonnadara
Production Co-Sponsors: Sylvia D. Chrominska and The Whiteside Foundation
Now extended until Sunday, November 23, 2025!
SCHULICH CHILDREN’S PLAYS
Anne of Green Gables
A new adaptation by Kat Sandler
Based on the novel by Lucy Maud Montgomery
A Stratford Festival commission
World Première
Director: Kat Sandler
Set and Costume Designer: Joanna Yu 余頌恩
Lighting Designer: Davida Tkach
Composer: James Smith
Sound Designer: Debashis Sinha
Movement Director: Julie Tomaino
Production Sponsor: The Schulich Foundation
Now extended until Sunday November 16, 2025!
The 2025 season also features As You Like It, The Winter’s Tale, Forgiveness, Sense and Sensibility, The Art of War, Ransacking Troy and Dangerous Liaisons. For more information, visit stratfordfestival.ca or call the box office at 1.800.567.1600.