New Stages Theatre To Stage Production of 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' At Market Hall For Mid-December

New Stages Theatre is staging the production of the classic tale 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' for five shows at Market Hall running from Dec. 13 - 17.

Photo courtesy of News Stages Theatre.

The classic story depicts George Bailey looking back over his life and remembering what a precious gift it is. The production is putting a unique twist on the original tale, with the play set in a 1940s radio station with five actors playing all the characters from the movie and creating all the sound effects in front of the live studio audience.

The show features well-known local actors and actresses such as M. John Kennedy, Ordena Stephens-Thompson, Megan Murphy, Kerry Griffin, and Brad Brackenridge.

The play is directed by Mark Wallace who is the Artistic Director of New Stages, two-time Dora Mavor Moore Award nominee (recipient in 2003 for Outstanding TYA production. Toronto’s Gabriel Vaillant is the music director and pianist, Korin Cormier from 4th Line Theatre is the costume designer, Sean Harris and Patricia Thorne are the set and lighting designers and Esther Vincent is the stage manager.

Tickets are available online and can be found at Market Hall’s or New Stage Theatre’s website.

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Market Hall Is Back To Provide Uplift Spirits With "Cancer Takedown" For Cancer Care

Market Hall is back for the second Annual Cancer Takedown as a 'spirit-raiser' for anyone touched by cancer for Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Market Hall.

The night shines a light on the mental burden of cancer and unites people through song, story and solidarity. All proceeds go to Cancer Care at the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

Performances will be done by Melissa Payne, Kate Suhr, Linda Kash, Megan Murphy, Anthony Bastianon, Rob Phillips and Pol Coussée. It also includes people sharing their cancer stories.

Husband and wife team Rick and Amy Kemp founded the event. Rick has been a patient of PRHC since 2019 when he was diagnosed with metastatic kidney cancer. In May 2021, his battle doubled as he was diagnosed with a second primary cancer, CNS lymphoma.

“The mental battle of cancer is as tough as the physical battle. Some days, even tougher,” said Rick. “Let's find more ways to help more people get through the mental part.”

Donations can be made at the event or online.

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Peterborough Concert Band Hosting PATH Benefit Concert For Oct. 15

The Peterborough Concert Band is holding a special musical program, ‘The PATH Forward’ to benefit Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) for Oct. 15 at Market Hall.

The performance is conducted by Juno-nominated Music Director Saman Shahi as Kate Suhr and Megan Murphy will guide the audience through a program that features big band standards, classical gems, new compositions and vocals. A celebratory reception hosted by PATH volunteers will follow the concert.

All tickets are $40 ($44 including HST and fees). They are available by phone (705-775-1503), at the box office and online. Live streaming tickets are also available online and are $10 each.

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Peterborough Concert Band Holding Special Performance to Benefit PATH On Oct. 15

The Peterborough Concert Band is holding a special musical program, ‘The PATH Forward’ to benefit Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes (PATH) for Oct. 15 at Market Hall.

Photo courtesy of The Peterborough Concert Band.

The performance is conducted by Juno-nominated Music Director Saman Shahi as Kate Suhr and Megan Murphy will guide the audience through a program that features big band standards, classical gems, new compositions and vocals.   

The proceeds benefit PATH to help provide transitional housing for unsheltered citizens in Peterborough. 

The performance runs from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Market Hall, located at 140 Charlotte St. A reception will follow the performance. Tickets are $44 (including HST and fees) and are available through Market Hall online.

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Kate Suhr Presents ‘Backstage Diary’ at Market Hall This October

Local talent Kate Suhr is returning to the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on October 12 to share her Backstage Diary Cabaret.

photo courtesy of kate suhr, facebook.

Suhr will share a delicious mix of folk, pop and show tunes from her favourite shows and composers. The evening will feature Musical Director Anthony Bastianon as well as Victoria Yeh, Sam Quinn, Curtis Conkwright and a few other special guests such as Linda Kash, Jonathan Cullen, Megan Murphy, Shannon McCracken, Indigo Chesser, Melissa Payne and Kate Brioux.

The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 12 at Market Hall. Tickets are $40 for general seating, $55 for cabaret seating and $25 for youths. Tickets can be purchased online.

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Folk Under The Clock Presents Adventure Stories and Songs with Adam Shoalts and Ian Tamblyn

Folk Under The Clock is bringing Adam Shoalts and Ian Tamblyn to Market Hall Performing Arts Centre for an evening of adventure stories and songs Nov. 25.

photo courtesy of folk under the clock.

Adam Shoalts has been declared one of the ‘greatest living explorers’ by Canadian Geographic. He is a professional adventurer and the author of four national best-selling books. ‘A History of Canada in Ten Maps’, ‘Alone Against the North’, ‘Beyond The Trees’, ‘The Whisper On The Night Wind’.

His career has included mapping rivers, leading expeditions for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and Mountain Equipment Co-op, archaeological digs, tracking endangered species and completing a 4,000 kilometre solo journey across Canada’s Arctic.

In 2022, Shoalts canoed and hiked a 3,400 kilometre solo journey from Lake Erie to the Arctic and his story is featured in his upcoming book, ‘Where the Falcon Flies’ to be released in October.

Ian Tamblyn is a musician, adventurer and playwright. He has been a working musician since 1972 and has released over 34 albums as well as acting as producer for many other artists. He has also written fourteen plays and over one hundred theatre soundtracks.

In 2012 he was made a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society for his guiding and creative work in the Canadian Arctic. He has worked with many Adventure Tour companies where he guided, sang and studied wildlife from Scotland to the Arctic and Antarctic. In 2022, Tamblyn was appointed an Officer of The Order of Canada.

His songs have been covered by numerous artists and there is a tribute album of his work entitled, ‘Coastline of our Dreams’ featuring artists like Lynn Miles, Susan Crowe, Hart Rouge and Valdy. His song ‘Woodsmoke and Oranges’ is a Canadian classic known by most canoers.

Tickets are $45 incl. HST and fees and the show begins at 8 p.m. For more information, visit the website.

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New Stages Theatre Announces Eight Contemporary Professional Shows for the 2023-2024 Season

New Stages Theatre has announced the launch of their largest season to date, including a staged reading series, cabaret tribute to founding Artistic Director Randy Read, a week-long festival of new work and a holiday production in December at Market Hall.

photo courtesy of new stages theatre.

The full season line-up includes: 

October: THIS IS HOW WE GOT HERE by Keith Barker

A staged reading at Market Hall. A beautiful drama by Métis playwright Keith Barker about two families in north Ontario grieving a tragic loss, when they are surprised by a mysterious visitor.

November: LET’S GET RANDY

An outrageously fun cabaret tribute to Randy Read’s 25 years as the founding Artistic Director of New Stages. With all-star performers gathering from near and far to sing and sling stories, get ready to get randy!

December: IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY adapted by Joe Landry.

A holiday production with a unique twist on the beloved classic, our play is set in a 1940s radio studio, with 5 actors playing all the roles and creating all the sound effects in front of you, the live studio audience. It’s going to be a wonderful night at the theatre!

February to March: BRAND NEW STAGES

From Feb 27 to March 3, enjoy a week-long festival of exciting new work, including:

LOOKING FOR LEAR by Dreda Blow and Brad Brackenridge. Presenting a family-friendly workshop production by Nervous System at Market Hall.

LIFE WITHOUT by Steve Ross. A staged reading of this riveting family drama at Market Hall.

TUSSAUD/ANTOINETTE. Written and directed by Jody Christopherson. Presenting a staged reading at The Theatre on King. 

May: LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE by Nora Ephron (When Harry Met Sally) and Delia Ephron

A staged reading at Market Hall, directed by Linda Kash. An intimate collection of stories told by women about pivotal moments in their lives and how they were shaped by the clothes that they wore.

June: YELLOW FACE by David Henry Hwang.

A staged reading at Market Hall. A satirical play about the once-common practice of casting White actors to play Asian roles on stage and screen. At once wickedly funny & vital viewing.

For subscription package and ticket details, visit the website.

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New Stages Theatre Presents ‘Sweat’ by Lynn Nottage

New Stages Theatre concludes its 25th season with a one-night-only staged reading of ‘Sweat’ starring Christopher Allen, Andrew Chown, Beau Dixon, Kait Dueck, René Escobar Jr., Catherine Fitch, Tony Munch & Ordena Stephens-Thompson June 11 at Market Hall.

photo courtesy of new stages theatre.

Winner of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize, SWEAT is set in a small Pennsylvania city, proudly built on its manufacturing industries – a city not unlike Peterborough. SWEAT is the story of factory workers, of friends and family members, who find their fortune and dreams on the brink of collapse. Shifting between 2000 and 2008 financial crisis, racial and class tensions shatter the surface when desperation rises and people feel their backs against the wall. SWEAT is a devastating powder-keg of a play, and a must-see for Peterborough audiences.  

This play has an award-winning cast – Christopher Allen and Ordena Stephens-Thompson starred in the Toronto production of Sweat, and René Escobar Jr starred in the Hamilton Ontario production. They are joined by Catherine Fitch and Tony Munch, along with Andrew Chown and hometown heroes, Beau Dixon and ReFrame Film Festival Director, Kait Dueck.

Artistic Director Mark Wallace will be announcing the amazing plays lined up for the 2023-2024 season. Come and SWEAT with New Stages on Sunday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $22, and $11 for students, under-waged and artworkers available on the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte Street) website.

Content Advisory: this play contains themes of racism and uses words that are offensive and demeaning, including the n-word. Recommended audience: 14+

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Harry Manx Presented by Folk Under The Clock and Market Hall Performing Arts Centre

Folk Under The Clock and the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre have come together to present the musical stylings of Harry Manx ‘The Blues Man’ at Market Hall on April 14.

photo courtesy of folk under the clock.

Harry Manx has spent years fusing eastern musical traditions with the blues, switching between conventional guitars, harmonica and banjo and the decidedly different Mohan Veena, a 20-stringed instrument invented by Manx’ Indian mentor Vishwa Mohan Bhatt.

Manx is often referred to as the “Mysticssippi” Blues Man, because of his expertise in melding both East and West music together and therefore, “creating musical short stories that wed the Blues with the depth of classical Indian ragas.”

Over the last 10 years, Harry Manx released 11 Albums and has garnered a room full of awards including, “seven Maple Blues Awards, six Juno nominations, the Canadian Folk Award in 2005 for Best Solo Artist and won CBC Radio’s “Great Canadian Blues Award” in 2007. His most recent accomplishment was receiving yet another Juno Nomination for “Blues Album of the Year”, for his release “Bread and Buddha” in 2010.

For tickets and more information, visit the Market Hall website.

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Great Big Sea's Séan McCann to Perform at Market Hall on March 19

As 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of Canadian band Great Big Sea, founding member Séan McCann is performing at Market Hall on March 19 at 7 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Market Hall.

McCann will be performing a singalong with “The Shantyman” as he sails the audience back in time with hilarious stories and foot-stomping traditional favourites to the brighter bays of his native Newfoundland.

He is a recipient of the order of Canada for his mental health and recovery advocacy. Sober since 2009, McCann has spent the last decade touring the country as a musical keynote speaker and acclaimed solo concert performer singing and sharing his story with everyone willing to listen and sing along.

“To be in the audience for a Séan McCann performance is a gift to all listeners. Through story, music and the most intimate sharing, Séan opens his heart and connects with each person in a unique way,” said Clara Hughes, Olympic gold medalist. “He allows for people to open up themselves and discover the purest forms of human potential: healing, loving, living and connecting as human beings, to ourselves and one another. I can’t emphasize enough the power and influence of Séan on stage. He is a gift to all audiences.”

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