Burning Passions Theatre

As sad as this news is, there is a silver lining. Burning Passions Theatre, our parent company, is restructuring and refining itself for the pandemic and beyond. "It’s been quite the journey, and while words cannot express the depth of our sadness, we also know that tears can nurture the seeds of new growth and new beginnings, and we plan to be ready for those possibilities when we can all fully emerge from this difficult, challenging time, said Laurel Smith. https://www.insideottawavalley.com//10234920-curtain-fall/

Tonight, Burning Passions Theatre lowers its metaphorical lights in honour of Brent Carver, who has passed on to another stage far too early. Carver's career took him to Broadway in New York, London's West End and many theatres across Canada, including the Shaw and Stratford festivals, as well as roles in TV and film.https://www.cbc.ca//b-c-s-brent-carver-star-of-broadway-we

RIP Olivia de Havilland. Lady Marian: You're a strange man. Robin Hood: Strange? Because I can feel for beaten, helpless people? Lady Marian: No. You're strange because you want to do something about it. You're willing to defy Sir Guy, even Prince John himself, to risk your own life. And one of those men was a Norman!... Robin Hood: Norman or Saxon, what's that matter? It's injustice I hate, not the Normans. Lady Marian: But it's lost you your rank, your lands. It's made you a hunted outlaw when you might have lived in comfort and security. What's your reward for all this? Robin Hood: Reward? You just don't understand, do you? Lady Marian: I'm sorry. I do begin to see... a little... now. Robin Hood: You do? Then that's reward enough See more

10 years ago this week, we opened our first production of the Perth-based Classic Theatre Festival. Our production of Blithe Spirit was a huge success and helped kicked off a solid decade of ever-expanding works from the golden age of Broadway and the London Stage, our youth theatre training program, historic walking plays, dinner theatre, and the touring Listen Up youth tours. Due to the pandemic, we were unable to stage a season in the summer of 2020. Hppipng everyone is staying safe, physically distancing, washing hands, wearing masks, and being kind to one another (Jeffrey Aarles, Emily Bartlett , Paula Costain, Virginia Roncetti)

As the summer of 2020 has progressed, my mind, my spirit, and my body muscle memory being what it is have been going through a series of reminders that I need to be at a certain place doing a certain thing, only to recall that it’s simply not happening this summer, in which was to be our 11th summer season. It might not happen next summer. Amidst the uncertainty, I think about what I miss. https://classictheatre.ca/things-i-miss-the-most/

Monday Memory. 24 years ago tonight we opened this show in Manotick, a musical about ending male violence against women through our own songs and music and the classic tunes of Broadway. Starring Laurel Smith, we toured much of the province, doing benefits for women's shelters, including one electrifying afternoon at a Full Red Barn Theatre in Jackson's Point.

Muscle memory at the Classic Theatre Festival tells us that we should be lifting flats, assembling the stage, painting backdrops, taping up the rehearsal space and building risers at this time of year. But the challenge of the pandemic has closed theatres everywhere, including ours. While we will certainly miss everyone this summer and are joining in the mourning of so many lives lost, including among our wonderful audience members we recognize that this remains a serious... challenge with a very uncertain future. We recognize that all of us must strictly adhere to the wisdom of those in public health who are reminding us how to stay as safe as possible by washing our hands, physically distance, and watch our for and support the most vulnerable (especially those who have no proper, safe home in which to shelter). In the meantime, let's direct our applause and support to those on the front lines: the nurses and doctors, personal support workers, hospital clerks and volunteers, cleaners, grocery store workers, women's shelter staff, migrant farm workers, truck drivers, and so many others ensuring we continue to have access to the basics we need to survive. See more

We at the Classic Theatre Festival are thinking with love of everyone going through this difficult time, especially those who live in long term care homes and their loved ones. The reality of this pandemic is brought home to us everyday when we hear about outbreaks at homes whose residents are regular audience members. Our hearts ache because on the news, we hear about the numbers of people who have died in those homes, but we know behind each number is a name, a life lived, a family left behind too soon. We know your names, your faces, your stories, because you have shared them with us every year at the Festival. We miss you, we salute you, and send you all our love and virtual support during this difficult time.

The Town’s Community Emergency Management Control Officer, Trevor Choffe agrees that this is an additional measure to ensure that all residents are taking the crisis seriously. It is crucial that everyone follow the advice of Public Health officials. Limit your outings to essential trips only try going to the grocery store no more than once a week; always ensure you are following social distancing guidelines; and wash your hands.

The Classic Theatre Festival is lowering its virtual marquee lights in honour of the late Shirley Douglas. Associate Producer Matthew Behrens writes: "In addition to the many challenges we are facing, I'm feeling a sense of loss with many of our elders making their next journeys. I had the great pleasure of working with Shirley Douglas at Performing Artists for Nuclear Disarmament, and also as she fought against the "free trade deals" that have left us in a shambles. She had ...a terrific sense of humour and was a fearless foe of injustice anywhere. My parents had the great pleasure of working with Shirley at the National Arts Centre's 1984 production of You Can't Take it With You (Bunny, with the moustache, playing Grandpa Vanderhof, sitting next to Shirley, playing Penelope Sycamore, as they watch my mother, Deborah Cass, the drunk Gay Wellington, stumble across the stage). I have a very strong feeling a welcoming bottle of scotch has just been opened in the great heavenly green room somewhere. Rest in power." See more

A Difficult Decision: Postponing our Summer Season Until 2021 Dear Friends of the Classic Theatre Festival, ...Continue reading

As we try and stay indoors as much as possible, the Classic Theatre Festival is going through its archives, and found this wonderful teenaged picture of our Artistic Producer, Laurel Smith, who hit the stage at age 6 and never turned back. Here she is playing Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz at Galt Little Theatre, where she was a leading player in the musicals that were a mainstay of the company (and where she also worked with her talented music director/singer/accompanist mother, Edna Smith, and a wonderful community of players who loved singing, dancing, and performing the best of Broadway, Gilbert and Sullivan, and so much more.

The Classic Theatre Festival, like other arts organizations, is staying very much in touch with the latest updates from public health authorities regarding COVID-19. The safety of our staff, our volunteers, and audience members is always paramount. The Festival itself is not scheduled to open until three and a half months from now. Until then, we sincerely hope that all the major efforts being undertaken to contain and stop the spread of the virus prove successful. We also encourage everyone to look out for one another, especially those who are most vulnerable at this critical time. Feel free to contact us at any time if you have any concerns regarding our summer season.