Mary Haney

The Shaw Festival has unearthed a bit of a gem, that in lesser hands may be considered no more than a cubic zirconium. W.S. Gilbert's ENGAGED is a frothy trifle that seems perfect for a midsummer's night. This delightful piece of Victoriana theatre can best be thought of as a play with thin operetta plot (sans music). Gilbert and Sullivan are definitely the better known commodity, but Gilbert did work alone at times and his theatrical pieces are all but forgotten. In ENGAGED Gilbert again shows his adeptness at social commentary, marriage and the quest for wealth.

Ever the consummate commentator of society and gender, Oscar Wilde has never been afraid of controversy or potentially offending member of both sexes. Never has this been more evident than in his 1893 A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE, which is receiving a glamorous new production at the Shaw Festival in Niagara on the Lake. 

Curated from deep in the heart of the Shaw Festival's mandate period, Engaged is a hilarious romp through the Scottish countryside where love triangles abound. Written by W.S. Gilbert before his renowned partnership with Arthur Sullivan, Engaged comically comments on the facade of Victorian life, with particular satirical attention on the obsession with wealth. This romantic comedy begins its first engagement at the Royal George Theatre tomorrow, June 15.

A Woman of No Importance, Oscar Wilde's stylish comedy that exposes the cynicism and hypocrisy that underlies high "society", begins previews Sunday, May 29 at the Festival Theatre. This dangerous drama, directed by Eda Holmes, is the fourth major Wilde play to be presented under Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell's tenure - completing Wilde's brilliant, scalpel-like study of the world around him.

Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell and the Shaw Festival announce principal casting and the creative teams for the 2016 playbill. The 2016 season features new and core ensemble members and beloved returning artists celebrating Ms. Maxwell's final season and 14-year tenure at The Shaw.

The Shaw Festival today announced principal casting and creative team details for its 54th season.

Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, in a dazzling translation by writer/director Richard Eyre, begins previews tonight at the Shaw Festival's Court House Theatre.

Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell previously announced the casting and creative teams for the three plays featured next season on The Shaw's Festival Theatre stage. In making the announcement, Ms. Maxwell noted: 'I am so inspired by the range of talent we've assembled to make up our 2012 Ensemble. This extraordinary group of artists will bring to life the vivid contemporary ideas of each and every playwright whose work we are proudly presenting.'

Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell proudly announced the casting and creative teams for the three plays featured next season on The Shaw's Festival Theatre stage. In making the announcement, Ms. Maxwell noted: 'I am so inspired by the range of talent we've assembled to make up our 2012 Ensemble. This extraordinary group of artists will bring to life the vivid contemporary ideas of each and every playwright whose work we are proudly presenting.'

The Shaw Festival's comedy-infused 49th season kicks off today with preview performances of Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Harvey at the Royal George Theatre. Joseph Ziegler returns to direct this endearing story that dares ask: what truly is a 'perfectly normal human being'?

In the Spirit of George Bernard Shaw, the Shaw Festival provokes the mind and stirs the soul through a theatre experience so compelling that, year after year, ever broadening groups of artists, audiences and supporters are drawn to our work in Niagara-on-the-Lake and beyond.

The Shaw Festival's comedy-infused 49th season kicks off today with preview performances of Mary Chase's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Harvey at the Royal George Theatre. Joseph Ziegler returns to direct this endearing story that dares ask: what truly is a 'perfectly normal human being'?

For its 2009 season, The Shaw takes on a monumental and historic project with full productions of each play in Noel Coward?s famous Tonight at 8:30 collection. The Shaw?s 2009 productions represent the first time all ten short plays have been performed in repertory by a professional company since they were first produced by London?s Phoenix Theatre in 1935-36. The plays will be performed in sets of three, one on each of the Festival?s Niagara-on-the-Lake stages, with the tenth, the rarely produced Star Chamber, being the lunchtime production in the Royal George. And to celebrate this idea for the event that it is, on two separate occasions, we will present all ten in one day ? an event we are appropriately naming ?Mad Dogs and Englishmen?.

For its 2009 season, The Shaw takes on a monumental and historic project with full productions of each play in Noel Coward?s famous Tonight at 8:30 collection. The Shaw?s 2009 productions represent the first time all ten short plays have been performed in repertory by a professional company since they were first produced by London?s Phoenix Theatre in 1935-36. The plays will be performed in sets of three, one on each of the Festival?s Niagara-on-the-Lake stages, with the tenth, the rarely produced Star Chamber, being the lunchtime production in the Royal George. And to celebrate this idea for the event that it is, on two separate occasions, we will present all ten in one day ? an event we are appropriately naming ?Mad Dogs and Englishmen?.