Last week, Gateway Theatre announced its 2019/2020 season line-up of productions. Introducing four MainStage shows and two Studio Gateway Theatre is bringing a season of productions which travel through culture and history to present a diverse collection of stories, guided by an all female line-up of directors. The season takes the audience from China, to Newfoundland, and Alaska to tell true-life stories, family dramas, a physiological thriller, a satirical comedy, and one of the most-loved musicals.
“We are excited that our 2019/2020 plays will cross the globe to tell the diverse stories of our country and our community,” says Interim Producer Barbara Tomasic.
“Curated by former Artistic Director Jovanni Sy, the new season will take our audience on a tour from contemporary North America, to turn-of-the-century China, early nineteenth-century Newfoundland, and as far back as biblical times. We are particularly delighted that our season features all women directors and continues our commitment to diversity both onstage and through our playwrights and creative teams.”
Gateway Theatre’s 2019/2020 Season includes:
China Doll
Written and Directed by Marjorie Chan
October 17–26, 2019 / MainStage
The daintier the foot, the more marriageable the girl.
Bound by tradition, Su-Ling’s world is closing in around her. Her grandmother is determined that she will marry well and bring prosperity to them both. But when she learns to read, Su-Ling’s mind is opened to new possibilities, setting her on a dangerous path to independence.
The Double Axe Murders
By Berni Stapleton
Directed by Tamara McCarthy
Produced by Rusticate Theatre
November 14–23, 2019 / Studio B
Who will survive the long, haunting night?
On an evening colder than frostbite itself, Sarah, Payne, and Pelly wait out a winter storm. Is that a tree branch knocking on the cabin wall? And why does the howling wind sound more like a wailing Banshee?
Based on true events, this psychological thriller, steeped in Newfoundland folklore, will have you sleeping with the lights on.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
Lyrics by Tim Rice & Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Directed by Barbara Tomasic
December 12–31, 2019 / MainStage
Any dream will do.
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is one of the most well-loved musicals of all time.
A joyous re-imagining of the biblical story of Joseph, Jacob, and the coat of many colours, this heartwarming hit will have your whole family humming along.
Straight White Men
CANADIAN PREMIERE
By Young Jean Lee
Directed by Chelsea Haberlin and Fay Nass
Produced by ITSAZOO Productions
February 6–15, 2020 / MainStage
An explosive evening of male bonding.
In this satirical comedy, three brothers return home for the holidays. Regressing to trash-talking and sibling pranks, they are caught off guard by a shift in the family dynamic, forcing them to examine the effects of traditional masculinity.
O’wet
By Quelemia Sparrow
Directed by Kim Senklip Harvey
Produced by Savage Society
March 19–28, 2020 / Studio B
One woman’s journey towards spiritual reclamation.
In O’wet, playwright and performer Quelemia Sparrow explores her identity as a mixed-race aboriginal woman in the present-day, colonized world. Taking the audience on a journey of discovery, Quelemia weaves real-life stories with spiritual awakening to reconnect with her First Nations heritage.
O’wet (oh-wee): a verb used to denote propelling a canoe. O’wet is also connected to a shaman’s canoe ride to the land of the dead to retrieve a lost soul.
From Alaska
By Sébastien Harrisson
Translated by Leanna Brodie
Directed by Diane Brown
Produced by Ruby Slippers Theatre
April 16–25, 2020 / MainStage
Two heartbroken souls healed by an unlikely connection.
A troubled teenager escaping from the world breaks into the house of an elderly woman. Time passes with the unpredictable rhythms of grief as the seemingly mismatched pair share their feelings of love and loss.
Moving effortlessly between street-smart humour and lyrical elegance, From Alaska explores the intense connection between young and old, the limits of language, and the ways in which we come to both change and mirror the ones we love.
Season subscription packages are on sale now from $116 visit gatewaytheatre.com for details.