NEWS

Exciting line up for the TENTH ANNUAL York Shakespeare Festival features celebrated local artists

April 15, 2008 - News Release, Resurgence Theatre Company

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Resurgence Theatre Company is proud to announce plans for the TENTH ANNUAL York Shakespeare Festival. The Festival will run from July 15 to August 24, 2008 at Fairy Lake in Newmarket, in Canada’s Outdoor Garden Theatre and will feature an exciting line-up of productions that include:

The Secret Garden - July 15 to August 21, 2008
Adapted from the classic children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, the play opens in India during the early 1900s, when young Mary Lennox is orphaned and sent to England to live in Misselthwaite Manor, the gloomy estate of her brooding and melancholy uncle, Lord Craven. Because her uncle is almost always away on travels, struggling to forget the death of his beloved wife, Mary is left mostly alone to explore the estate. Eventually she befriends the young brother of a staff maid and Lord Craven's apparently crippled son, who has been needlessly bedridden for years. Together the three children restore a neglected garden on the estate grounds, and in doing so they set the stage for a moving reaffirmation of life and love.

"We’re thrilled to be producing this rare family production - one that encourages a sense of wonder and optimism and promises to be a rewarding experience for audience members of any age", says Resurgence Co-Founder Anthony Leo.

Twelfth Night - August 4 to 24, 2008
One of William Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies, Twelfth Night will be directed by Lee Wilson - a Co-founder of Resurgence Theatre Company and Newmarket native. Over the past four years, Mr. Wilson has become the only artist in Canada to have completed three of the nation’s top directing internships, including the Shaw Festival Director’s Project, The Birmingham Conservatory for Classical Theatre Training at the Stratford Festival of Canada and the Urjo Kareda Residency Grant at the Tarragon Theatre where he worked under Artistic Director Richard Rose.

Resurgence is pleased to announce that Aurora, Ontario native Christine Horne will play the lead role of Viola in the production. Miss Horne made her debut this past Fall at the Toronto International Film Festival starring as Young Hagar in the feature film adaptation of Margaret Laurence’s The Stone Angel with Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn and Academy Award nominee Ellen Page. The Stone Angel will be released in theatres nationwide on May 10, 2008. Miss Horne also stars as Desdemona in CBC Television’s adaptation of Othello with Carlo Rota to air this June.

King City native Kevin Walker will play the role of Viola’s twin brother, Sebastian. Mr. Walker is a recent graduate of Ryerson Theatre School and also the first graduate of Resurgence’s Senior Theatre Conservatory - a professional theatre summer training program for high school students - to appear in a main stage production.

"Kevin’s involvement in Twelfth Night makes Resurgence’s ultimate goal for the Conservatory a reality," says Leo. "We’re very proud to have played a part in the artistic development of so many local artists over the past five years and are ecstatic to have reached the point that we’re engaging that talent for one of our main productions."

2008 Season Box Office Information
Tickets can be purchased online at www.resurgence.ca or by calling the Newmarket Theatre Box Office at 905-953-5122.

Twelfth Night Gala
Resurgence will present its third annual fundraising gala on Thursday, August 7, 2008 coinciding with the opening of Twelfth Night. The theme of the event will be modeled after traditional Twelfth Night festivities - the most riotous night of the year for Elizabethans. Shakespeare wrote the play at Queen Elizabeth request for her own Twelfth Night celebration. These raucous celebrations involved a temporary inversion of the established social order - servants dressed up as their masters, men like women, and so forth. This "world upside-down" theme is reflected not only in some of the mismatched (potential) couples in the play, but in the themes of folly, madness and foolishness. This Elizabethan event will be hosted by Queen Elizabeth I and take place at Fairy Lake, including a dinner and performance. Tickets are $150 each with all proceeds benefiting the York Shakespeare Festival. Attendees will receive a charitable tax receipt for a portion of their contribution. Tickets for the Gala may be purchased by calling our Admin line.

Celebrating a ten year partnership
Ten years of producing theatre is a significant feat for any professional theatre company in Canada. This accomplishment is shared and celebrated equally with the Town of Newmarket and York Region Media Group who have supported Resurgence’s efforts since the very beginning. Together we have affected thousands of patrons and young people and continue to reach for excellence in the arts.

Resurgence also acknowledges the extraordinary support of Festival Sponsor iPLANcorp who has made a five year financial commitment to the York Shakespeare Festival. In addition, Resurgence is proud of ongoing support from dedicated partners such as Lead Patron Keith Fernandes, Canada Blooms, Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund and Roadhouse & Rose Funeral Home.

Media Contact: Anthony Leo - Email:anthony@resurgence.ca