Canadian Stage Company

{{Short description|Canadian non-profit arts organization}} {{Use Canadian English |date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox theatre group | name = Canadian Stage | image = | image_size = | caption = | mapframe = yes | coordinates = {{Coord|43|39|02|N| 79|21|50|W|region:CA-ON_type:landmark|display=it}} | formed = {{Start date and age|1988}} | disbanded = | genre = | location = Toronto, Ontario, Canada | num_members = | artistic_director = Brendan Healy<br>Matthew Jocelyn (formerly) | notable = | website = {{URL|https://www.canadianstage.com}} }} '''Canadian Stage''' is a Canadian non-profit contemporary theatre company based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

==History== The company was founded in 1988 with the merger of Centre Stage and Toronto Free Theatre.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Canadian Stage |url=https://www.charityintelligence.ca/charity-details/207-canadian-stage |access-date=December 23, 2023 |website=Charity Intelligence |language=en-gb}}</ref> Centre Stage was a product of a merger of Theatre Toronto and Toronto Arts Productions (the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts production company) in 1970. Theatre Toronto itself was reconstituted from two defunct theatre companies', the Crest Theatre Foundation and the Canadian Players in 1968.

Canadian Stage has produced more than 300 shows - over half of which have been Canadian plays. Canadian Stage also runs a series of development, education, and outreach programs.<ref name=canadianstage>{{cite web|title=...Canadian Stage - Sharing innovative and vibrant theatre from ..|url=https://www.canadianstage.com/Online/default.asp|publisher=canadianstage.com|accessdate=March 12, 2014}}</ref><ref name=arts-nationalpost>{{cite web|title=CANADIAN STAGE|url=https://nationalpost.com/tag/canadian-stage/|publisher=arts.nationalpost.com|access-date=March 12, 2014}}</ref>

At the end of the 2008-2009 season, Martin Bragg stepped down as artistic producer. At the time of his resignation, Bragg had been with the company for 17 years, and was the company's longest serving artistic director.<ref name="Ouzounian2009">{{cite web |last1=Ouzounian |first1=Richard |title=Martin Bragg steps down |url=https://variety.com/2009/legit/news/martin-bragg-steps-down-1118001929/ |website=Variety |access-date=December 31, 2024 |date=March 31, 2009}}</ref> He cited a desire to pursue other opportunities and spend time with his family as reasons for his departure.<ref>{{cite web |title=Martin Bragg to leave top post at Canadian Stage Company |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/martin-bragg-to-leave-top-post-at-canadian-stage-company-1.753201 |website=CBC |access-date=December 31, 2024 |date=June 18, 2008}}</ref>

In 1983, the company originated the "Dream in High Park" summer-time open-air series of Shakespeare plays in Toronto's High Park. In 2023, "Dream in High Park" celebrated its 40th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wilson |first=Kerrisa |date=July 27, 2023 |title='A Midsummer Night's Dream' returns to Toronto's High Park Amphitheatre for 40th anniversary |url=https://nowtoronto.com/culture/a-midsummer-nights-dream-returns-to-torontos-high-park-amphitheatre/ |access-date=January 24, 2024 |website=NOW Toronto |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2010, Canadian Stage partnered with York University's Faculty of Fine Arts to develop an MFA in Theatre – Stage Direction program, which officially launched in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |title=York and Canadian Stage team up for directing degree |url=https://www.yorku.ca/yfile/2010/12/10/york-and-canadian-stage-team-up-for-directing-degree/ |website=York University |access-date=December 31, 2024 |date=December 10, 2010}}</ref> Designed to train directors for large-scale theatrical productions, the program requires students to direct a Canadian Stage production and complete an internship.<ref>{{cite web |title=Canadian Stage and York University Welcome 2017-19 MFA Candidates |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/toronto/article/Canadian-Stage-and-York-University-Welcome-2017-19-MFA-Candidates-20170911 |website=BroadwayWorld |access-date=December 31, 2024 |date=September 11, 2017}}</ref>

== Leadership == The Canadian Stage Company is led by an Artistic Director and an Executive Director, as well as a Board of Directors. The current artistic director is Brendan Healy. The current executive director is Monica Esteves, who has been in the role since 2018.<ref name="Maga2018">{{cite web |last1=Maga |first1=Carla |title=Monica Esteves joins Canadian Stage as executive director |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/stage/monica-esteves-joins-canadian-stage-as-executive-director/article_b9323540-a1f7-5d0a-860b-4f75535127ef.html |website=Toronto Star |access-date=December 30, 2024 |date=November 20, 2018}}</ref>

=== History of artistic directors === * Bill Glassco (1988-1990) * Guy Sprung (1990-1992) * Bob Baker (1992-1998) * Martin Bragg (1998-2009)<ref name="Friedlander">{{cite web |last1=Friedlander |first1=Mira |title=Bragg Announces 5-Year Plan for Canadian Stage |url=https://playbill.com/article/bragg-announces-5-year-plan-for-canadian-stage-com-74859 |website=Playbill |access-date=December 30, 2024 |date=April 23, 1998}}</ref> * Matthew Jocelyn (2009-2018)<ref name="Hetrick2009">{{cite web |last1=Hetrick |first1=Adam |title=Jocelyn Named Artistic and General Director of CanStage |url=https://playbill.com/article/jocelyn-named-artistic-and-general-director-of-canstage-com-158148 |website=Playbill |access-date=December 30, 2024 |date=February 18, 2009}}</ref> * Brendan Healy (2018-present)<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 17, 2018 |title=Buddies in Bad Times veteran Brendan Healy chosen as new artistic head at Canadian Stage |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/article-buddies-in-bad-times-veteran-brendan-healy-chosen-as-new-artistic-head/ |access-date=January 8, 2024 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}</ref>

==Theatres== Canadian Stage presents performances at three venues: the 876-seat Bluma Appel Theatre; the Berkeley Street Theatres (244-seat Berkeley Downstairs Theatre and the 167-seat Berkeley Street Upstairs Theatre); and a 1,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre in Toronto's High Park, where Shakespeare is performed each summer.<ref name=abouttheartists>{{cite web|title=Canadian Stage Company Bluma Appel Theatre|url=http://www.abouttheartists.com/venues/565-canadian-stage-company-bluma-appel-theatre-toronto-canada|publisher=abouttheartists.com|accessdate=March 12, 2014}}</ref><ref name=broadwayworld>{{cite web|title=Canadian Stage Opens 2013-14 Season with THE FLOOD THEREAFTER and YUKONSTYLE, Sept-Oct 2013|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/toronto/article/Canadian-Stage-to-Open-2013-14-Season-with-THE-FLOOD-THEREAFTER-and-YUKONSTYLE-Sept-Oct-2013-20130921#.UyCGTD-SyBI|publisher=broadwayworld.com|accessdate=March 12, 2014}}</ref>

The company's main stage, The Bluma Appel Theatre, is located in the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts (a city of Toronto-owned building), at 27 Front Street East. The theatre has been Canadian Stage's home for over 25 years. The St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts was constructed in the late 1960s as part of the city's Centennial Celebrations. Originally named "The Theatre" when it opened in February 1970, it was renovated by the Thom Partnership in 1982.<ref>{{Cite web |title=St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts |url=https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/st-lawrence-centre-for-the-arts-emc |access-date=January 8, 2024 |website=www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca |language=en}}</ref>

The Berkeley Street Theatre complex contains two performance spaces, as well as a rehearsal space, props and wardrobe facilities, and the company's administrative offices. The Berkeley site was originally built by the Consumer's Gas Corporation in 1887 as part of a gas pumping station complex. The Berkeley Downstairs Theatre was originally a pump room and served in that capacity until 1955, when Consumer's Gas moved their production out of downtown Toronto. A wrecking firm was hired to demolish the buildings in February 1971, but the complex was renovated instead. The Berkeley Upstairs Theatre was created as part of the general 1976 renovations of the complex. This building is also owned by the City of Toronto.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

Situated in the middle of Toronto's High Park, the amphitheatre can seat over 1,000 people. The first production of Shakespeare in High Park was performed in 1983 without a stage. The City of Toronto terraced the hillside of the Amphitheatre to provide seating in 1997. A permanent stage was installed in 2005.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}

==Awards== {{Unreferenced section|date=October 2023}} Canadian Stage is a three-time recipient of the Lieutenant Governor's Award for the Arts, in recognition of building private sector and community support. Canadian Stage has been nominated for 296 Dora Mavor Moore Awards, receiving 62.

== Productions ==  {{main|Canadian Stage production history}}

===2024–2025 season === In March 2024, the 2024-25 season was announced:<ref name="Murphy2024">{{cite web |last1=Murphy |first1=Aisling |title=Canadian Stage unveils bracing 2024-25 season |url=https://www.intermissionmagazine.ca/news/season-launch-24-25-canadian-stage/ |website=Intermission Magazine |access-date=December 31, 2024 |date=March 25, 2024}}</ref>

*''1939'' – by Jani Lauzon and Kaitlyn Riordan *''My Name Is Lucy Barton'' – written by Elizabeth Strout, adapted by Rona Munro *''Playing Shylock'' – by Mark Leiren-Young *''The Wizard of Oz: A Holiday Musical Panto for All'' – by Matt Murray *''Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' – by Edward Albee *''Winter Solstice'' – written by Roland Schimmelpfennig, translated by David Tushingham *''Fat Ham'' – by James Ijames *''Mahabharata: Karma (Part 1) and Dharma (Part 2)'' – by Ravi Jain and Miriam Fernandes

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|https://www.canadianstage.com}}

Category:Theatre companies in Toronto Category:Organizations established in 1987