Drayton Entertainment
46 Grand Ave. S. N1S 2L8 Cambridge, ON, Canada

Today we honour those who have served Canada, remembering their service and sacrifice for our country. Thank you, Veterans. #CanadaRemembers #RemembranceDay #LestWeForget

We’re helping spread the word about NoteWorthy, an important musical theatre writing program offered by our good friends and colleagues at The Musical Stage Company and Prime Mover Theatre Company. Please share. Repost from Prime Mover Theatre Company: Are you a BIPOC wordsmith or musician? ... Prime Mover Theatre Company and The Musical Stage are partnering on NoteWorthy (Musical Stage’s paid music theatre writing program). Spots in the program are extremely limited - don’t delay in sending in your submission (deadline is October 30). The Musical Stage and Prime Mover Theatre Company have set the objective this season to bring voices into the world of music theatre creation who wouldn’t otherwise have considered it and those who have felt actively excluded. They are aiming to foster the development and growth of writers who are steeped in a variety of BIPOC cultural traditions. They are specifically looking for BIPOC artists who are interested in creating new musicals and are open to collaborations with others. While previous musical theatre writing is not a prerequisite, artists accepted into the program should demonstrate an aptitude in one of the musical theatre writing disciplines (playwriting, poetry, rhymes, lyrics, rap, hip hop, dub, music composition). More information at https://www.primemovertheatre.com/noteworthy

Check out this interview with Artistic Director Alex Mustakas in the Cambridge Times about the impact of COVID-19 on Drayton Entertainment. -------------------------- Alex Mustakas still hasn’t lost his sense of humour during the COVID-19 pandemic.... Can it be worse? I guess you could own a cruise line, the CEO and artistic director of Drayton Entertainment said with a laugh. But kidding aside, Mustakas knows that having seven theatres shut down for close to seven months is nothing to joke about. He shut the doors in mid-March, one day prior to the provincial government’s state of emergency announcement. Though Mustakas didn’t realize it at the time most figured the state of emergency would last but a few weeks the season ended, though not officially at that time, after just 14 of 832 performances. Only four performances of Kinky Boots at Hamilton Family Theatre and 10 of A Few Good Men at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse made it to the stage. It’s a big hit for us, Mustakas said. Read the full article here: https://www.cambridgetimes.ca//10208526--it-s-a-big-hit-/ #COVID19 #arts #theatre #canada

St. Jacobs Country Playhouse is lit up! Venues across Canada are lighting their exteriors red tonight to raise awareness for the live performance/events industry that is still dark due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We miss live performances. We’re thinking about all the amazing people who help bring theatre and events to life across the country. We look forward to sharing live entertainment with audiences again when it is safe to do so. For more information about Light Up Live, or to see a list and interactive map featuring the participating venues, visit www.lightuplive.ca. #LightUpLive #StandingBy #eclaironslesscenes #WeBuildEntertainment #LiveTheatre

Tonight we are participating in the #LightUpLive initiative at St. Jacobs Country Playhouse. Hundreds of venues and buildings across Canada will light their exteriors red just after sundown to raise awareness for the live performance/events industry that is still dark due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This industry will also be one of the last to recover. For more information, or to see a list and interactive map featuring the participating venues, visit www.lightuplive.ca. Check back tonight to see pictures of the venue lit in red.

We miss our amazing team of volunteers! Thank you to Janet & Michael, Sarita, Sharon, Lana, Marlene & Rick, Annette, Fred & Dianne, and Kathy & Wayne for letting us know how much they miss volunteering at the theatres. We can't wait until the time is right to resume live performances, so we can see everyone again. And to ALL our Volunteers ... THANK YOU! We miss you so much! Also, just a quick update about ticket returns; we continue to process ticket cancellations from the fall productions. Thank you for your patience and understanding as our small team works through these transactions as efficiently as possible. We promise that we will get to your order. Take care and stay safe!

Equity Diversity Inclusion Click here to read about how we are moving forward: https://www.draytonentertainment.com//equity-diversity-inc

We’ve made the difficult decision to cancel all remaining productions in the 2020 Season due to the ongoing impact of coronavirus (COVID-19). The final cancellations include We’ll Meet Again (St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre), Return To Grace (Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge), Evita (St. Jacobs Country Playhouse), The Sound of Music (Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge) and Wizard of Oz: The Panto (St. Jacobs Country Playhouse). The Youth Education Program production of Disney’...s High School Musical is also cancelled, along with special events and rentals throughout the remainder of the year. Although the province has moved into Stage Three of Ontario’s reopening plan, physical distancing and audience capacity restrictions render it unfeasible to present the remaining shows in the season as originally scheduled. The wellness of patrons, staff, artists, volunteers, and the community continues to be of paramount importance in making this decision. At this time, we do not have any further information about when our operations might resume. If we are able to open our doors and present programming to the size of audience required in order for it to be viable, we will certainly consider alternate programming later this year. In the meantime, please take care and stay safe. We miss you! Our Box Offices are closed to in-person traffic, but continue to operate remotely through phone and email communication in a reduced capacity. Patrons who have purchased tickets for cancelled performances will be contacted by us over the next several weeks to facilitate account credits, refunds, or donations. We request patience as our small team works to process all the cancelled orders as operational capabilities permit. Due to the volume of cancellations, it may take up to six weeks until September 18 to process all return requests. Due to COVID-19, all Gift Certificates are now valid through the 2021 Season. Click here to read the full announcement: https://www.draytonentertainment.com//Drayton%20Entertainm

Love is love. Happy Pride everyone!

Over the past three months, we have received countless notes from patrons expressing their heartfelt support during this challenging time. These are just a few of the kind words that have been sent to us. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to us to share your love of live theatre. It means so much to hear from you and to know that you will be back when we open our doors. We appreciate your steadfast support, and we can't wait until it's safe for us to see you all again. Thank you!

Today would have marked the start of the summer season at many of our theatres. While we remain closed, a limited number of Box Office staff are working from home in order to process transactions for all the cancelled performances through September 5. There are thousands of orders for us to process manually, but rest assured we will get to your order! We are so appreciative of the kind words, understanding, and patience of our loyal audience. It truly means the world to us during these unprecedented times. Please continue to take care and stay safe. Do you have questions about your tickets for a cancelled production? Click here to read our Frequently Asked Questions page with further details: https://www.draytonentertainment.com/Onli/article/covid-faq

Recent events remind us all how far we have to go to address gross discrimination, inequalities, and injustices. Drayton Entertainment stands in solidarity with people of colour in our communities and around the world. The live performance arts are needed now more than ever to give voice to these extraordinary times. We are listening and learning how to be better allies toward change. We recognize that now is the time to educate ourselves and take further action. Join us by going to www.blacklivesmatter.ca for learning and action.

Artistic Director Alex Mustakas has made the difficult decision to cancel additional programming at our seven stages across the province through September 5. New cancellations include our season productions of Buying The Farm (Drayton), A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline (Drayton, Grand Bend), Driving Miss Daisy (St. Jacobs), Rock of Ages (St. Jacobs, Grand Bend, Penetanguishene), and Kinky Boots (Grand Bend). Our summer Youth Musical Theatre Programs are also cancelled including... the Youth Education Program production of Disney’s Frozen Jr. With these additions, 14 of the 18 productions in our 2020 Season have been cancelled at this time. The new cancellations will result in the loss of the entire season at our summer venues: the Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend, the King's Wharf Theatre in Penetanguishene, and the Drayton Festival Theatre, which was to celebrate its 30th Anniversary this year. It’s sad and disappointing, but we know it is the right decision. Health and safety must come first. All Drayton Entertainment Box Offices are closed to in-person traffic but continue to operate remotely through phone and email communication in a reduced capacity. Patrons who have purchased tickets for cancelled performances will be contacted by the Box Office to facilitate account credits or refunds. Due to the volume of cancellations, Drayton Entertainment requests patience and cooperation while the team works to accommodate patron needs as operational capabilities permit. We’ve received many wonderful messages of support. Thank you so much for your care and concern. These may be uncertain times, but one thing we can be sure about is the innate power of arts and culture to bring us together. We’ll be back when the time is right, excited to share the magic of live theatre with the community once again. Thank you for your support and understanding. Stay safe. Click here to read the full announcement: https://bit.ly/3fMmf8R The status of each production at each venue is outlined on our website. Click here to view the list: www.draytonentertainment.com/Online/article/season-2020

Artistic Director Alex Mustakas had been a fan of Mr. Young since seeing his Bela Zangler ‘one of those performances that really left a mark.’ There’s a lovely tribute in The Globe and Mail about actor Victor A. Young, who passed away from cancer in April. Click the link to read the piece about his remarkable life and vast work in the performing arts in Canada.... https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-performer-had-a-f

Hello! We hope you are all keeping safe and well. Due to ongoing concerns surrounding the spread of coronavirus, and in keeping with federal and provincial physical distancing recommendations, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel additional productions at our various venues across Ontario. The new cancellations include our productions of 42nd Street, Fiddler on the Loose, The Dixie Swim Club, and Sleeping Beauty: The Panto. Each of these four productions was scheduled... to begin performances in June and run at select venues throughout the summer. All Drayton Entertainment Box Offices are closed to in-person traffic but continue to operate remotely through phone and email communication in a reduced capacity. Patrons who have purchased tickets for cancelled performances will be contacted by the Box Office to facilitate account credits or refunds. Due to the volume of cancellations, Drayton Entertainment requests patience and cooperation while the team works to accommodate patron needs as operational capabilities permit. Because we have so many shows scheduled on our seven stages, we know it can be confusing to know which productions are cancelled and which productions remain scheduled at this time. The status of each production at each venue is outlined on our website. Click the link to view the list: https://www.draytonentertainment.com/On/article/season-2020 The health and safety of everyone continues to be our top priority. We hope that by taking these measures now, that we can go back to entertaining you when the timing is right. In the meantime, we wish you health and happiness as you cope with this new routine. We also send our best wishes and sincere gratitude to healthcare workers, first responders, and essential service workers during this challenging time. Take care everyone! We miss you!

A note from Artistic Director, Alex Mustakas: It is with heavy hearts that all of us at Drayton Entertainment mourn the loss of revered actor Victor A. Young, who has passed away from cancer. Victor was one of Canada’s most admired stage actors playing leading roles across the country. He appeared in many Drayton Entertainment productions including Monty Python’s Spamalot, Footloose, Annie, Man of La Mancha, and many others. Victor was universally beloved by audiences and his... fellow artists alike. Our deepest sympathies go out to his family, friends, and the entire theatre community as we celebrate his illustrious career and legacy. We’ll miss him. Photo credits: 1. Nick Settimi as Patsy and Victor A. Young as King Arthur in Monty Python’s Spamalot. 2. Victor A. Young as Reverend Moore in Footloose. 3. Aaron Walpole as Sancho, Alex Mustakas as Don Quixote, Victor A. Young as The Innkeeper and Kelly Holiff as Aldonza in Man of La Mancha.

Artistic Director Alex Mustakas had been a fan of Mr. Young since seeing his Bela Zangler ‘one of those performances that really left a mark.’ There’s a lovely tribute in The Globe and Mail about actor Victor A. Young, who passed away from cancer in April. Click the link to read the piece about his remarkable life and vast work in the performing arts in Canada.... https://www.theglobeandmail.com//article-performer-had-a-f