Let’s Celebrate it with another entertaining line-up of Laughter & Music!
It’s our 40th Anniversary Season! So we’re celebrating with one of our biggest line-ups ever. Our 2023 Season has something for everyone – 2 Winter Wild Weekend concerts, a Spring concert, a 5th show in our new Summer Series, 2 kinds of Flex Passes, a special show just for kids, a new Fall comedy and a special Christmas concert for the whole family.
Upper Canada Playhouse’s Exciting New 2019 Season!
We have it all!
Our 36th Season has all the Laughter, Music, Romance, Intrigue, Surprise, Mystery, Stories and Unforgettable Characters that have made The Playhouse the Entertainment Choice of thousands. New hilarious comedies and sensational live concerts- all performed by the finest talent in the country at our uniquely converted toothbrush factory where everyone’s close to the action.
The Playhouse and Dundas County Community Living have initiated a joint project with the theatre’s Mary Ellen Viau conducting Thursday drama classes with Community Living’s clients.
Click on an image below for a larger view – left and right arrows to move forward/back
Ever wondered why we have so many wonderful and satisfied sponsors? Here it in their own words! Download our sponsorship brochure with all the information. You’ll be glad you did!
8 months of professional live theatre and concerts with something for EVERYONE and entertainment for ALL. Flex Passes on sale til June 9. Regular tickets on sale all season.
Upper Canada Playhouse recently honoured Business Manager Roseann Kelly for her 25 years of service to the theatre company. Kelly is the longest-serving employee of The Playhouse and the valuable work she has performed for a quarter century was recognized at the November 28th opening night of the theatre’s Christmas show, Have Yourself A Swinging Little Country Christmas.
Board Secretary Joanne Notman made the presentation of an engraved watch in front of a packed house that also expressed their enthusiastic congratulations for the work she has done for the theatre. Thousands of audience members and staff have had the opportunity to know and work with Roseann over the years. Her skilled, friendly and helpful dedication to Upper Canada Playhouse has earned her the praise, thanks and recognition of this anniversary presentation.
Christmas is here for Upper Canada Playhouse in more ways than one! Their upcoming Christmas Show, HAVE YOURSELF A SWINGING LITTLE COUNTRY CHRISTMAS, is set to open November 26 and construction has started this week on their much anticipated new rehearsal hall!
This new addition to the theatre will complete their cultural space and enable The Playhouse to rehearse their shows onsite. The theatre already builds their shows in its workshop facility and rehearses some of them at the theatre itself. But during the summer months they have traditionally used the former Masonic Hall at St. Lawrence & Fifth Sts as their rehearsal space. This summer they rehearsed in a room made available to them by Tom Morrow and the McIntosh Country‘ Inn and Conference Centre.
‘These have all been great spaces for us,’ remarked Artistic Director Donnie Bowes. ‘But having a dedicated rehearsal space onsite will allow us to produce our shows more efficiently and effectively with all departments under one roof.’ The Playhouse has renovated, built and improved many aspects of its space over the past several years having added a Box Office and Administrative wing on the West end of the building and a workshop at the East end. It has also undergone extensive renovations to continue to provide a comfortable and safe environment for its audience and also recently installed new state of the art seating. All of these previous renovations, improvements and additions were paid for by The Playhouse Box Office and Sponsorship revenues.
The cost of this current construction of a rehearsal hall, however, has been shared by Canadian Heritage Cultural Spaces Program with a grant of $97,000 which MP Guy Lauzon and North Dundas Mayor and past Warden Eric Duncan championed. In announcing the substantial contribution, Mr. Lauzon emphasized that it was an investment in a local organization that makes a significant contribution to the cultural and economic well-being of our community.
This shot was taken hastily. You can figure out why! We’re getting ready to add a new Rehearsal Hall to our theatre! It will enhance and complete our venue and make it easier for us to rehearse all of our shows onsite.
Watch for shots and info on the progress this Winter!
Artistic Director Donnie Bowes shows just where our Rehearsal Hall will be. He’s also taking advantage of the opportunity to tell you it will be air conditioned!
Our Newsletter PDF contains full information and ordering info, show dates and times, and much more. Click here to download it!
As Milton Berle once said, ‘Laughter is an instant vacation!’ So get your tickets now for an 8-month entertainment trip to 8 terrific shows never before seen on our Playhouse stage-including 3 World Premieres! It’s your Passport to fascinating places, hilarious comedies, uplifting music, interesting characters and unforgettable stories. Shows to laugh at, sing with and think about—all at the same time! A Spring Concert, a Summer 4-Show Comedy Series (with the kind of variety you like), a Fall Comedy, a Fall Concert and a brand new Holiday Family Show.
Don’t miss a stop on this fabulous entertainment get-away. Before your 2015 trip begins, book for Christmas 2014 – Lights, Camera … Christmas! – another World Premiere!
What an exciting first day of happy Playhouse patrons booking for 2015!
Watch this space! Our big Season Announcement happens on November 3rd. Stop by to see the exciting line-up of theatre we’ll have for you in the coming year!
Ontario Summer Theatre is visiting all of the professional summer theatre companies in the province to highlight the theatres themselves and the communities in which they operate. Blogger Anne Heathcote recently visited Morrisburg and paid Upper Canada Playhouse a visit. Take a look at what she discovered!
The Playhouse recently underwent $800,000 worth of upgrades and renovations, partially to appease new fire regulations but also to expand office space and reorganize the backstage area. Indeed, as Donnie shows us around, I marvel at how well laid out the entire place is, given that spaces at either end of the building were add-ons; it feels homogeneous. Most impressive is the fact that this was achieved without government funding. The theatre operates successfully via ticket sales (43,000 last summer season!) and a healthy sponsorship program. This year, 71 establishments have signed up to support them. Donnie tells me how gratifying it is to see so many businesses thrive when the company is in season and also “to see an arts organization acknowledged for not only enhancing a community’s quality of life but also having a significant impact on the local economy.”
The 2014 Season is bursting on the scene in living colour in our brand new brochure that’s fresh off the presses. It tells you everything you want to know about the fabulous shows that will light up our stage from April 22 through December 14—entertainment to keep you laughing and singing all year long.
It also tells you about the terrific Sponsors that have helped to make this sensational season possible—all 71 of them!
We’ve just mailed our brochures to our audience of thousands and they’ll also be seen on display playing a starring role in stores, businesses, tourist centres and just about EVERYWHERE announcing The Playhouse Experience-fabulous productions of entertaining shows where everyone’s close to the action!
If you haven’t received your brochure contact us and we’ll be happy to send you one. See you at The Playhouse!
Our 2013 Christmas Gift Auction was held on November 16th. Thanks to one and all for making this fundraiser such a huge success! Hats off to the local businesses, organizations and individuals who donated items for our Silent and Live Auctions, those guests who attended the event and the Auction Committee who worked tirelessly to make it all possible. Everyone enjoyed a social hour, a fabulous meal and the fun of finding that special gift for that special person–or just for themselves! Auction revenues are directed towards improvements to our venue and our production facilities to continue to make our The Playhouse a comfortable place to enjoy the highest standard of live professional theatre.