Shaw Festival Calendar for 2010, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

	The Shaw Festival is one of the largest repertory companies in North America, and the only theatre in the world that specializes in plays written by Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries (1856-1950): "plays about the beginning of the modern world." The season this year will start on April 1 and end October 31. Ticket prices Ticket availability Shaw Festival Box Office 1-800-511-SHAW (7429)
Harvey by Mary Chase	Everyone wants to meet Elwood Dowd and his friend Harvey. When they enter a room, strangers soon become friends and people want to share a drink with them. But Harey is a six-foot invisible rabbit and Elwood's sister wants him gone. the question is - does the world ned another "normal" chap, or more Harveys? A new look at this Pulitzer Prize-winning play, made famous by Himmy Stewart's portrayal of the loveable Elwood Dowd in the 1950 film. Director: Joseph Ziegler Opens: April 1 Closes: October 31 Theatre: Royal George Theatre
An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde	"Scandals used to lend charm to a man - now they crush him." In An Ideal Husband, by Oscar Wilde, fate catches up to Government Minister Sir Robert Chiltern when a mysterious woman produces a letter which reveals a past misdeed and a choice must be made between public scandal and the private shame of his wife. This Oscar Wilde work is a perfect mix of Wilde wit and intrigue. With An Ideal Husband, Oscar Wilde wanted to ensure he would enjoy public fame, and he was an advocate of making plays accessible to the public. Wilde's play about infidelity and life in the political arena remains witty and utterly relevant more than a century after it was first performed in 1895. Director: Jackie Maxwell Opens: April 9 Closes: October 31 Theatre: Festival Theatre
The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov adapted by Tom Murphy	In The Cherry Orchard, Anton Chekhov tells the tale of an aristocratic family whose way of life seems to be disappearing, and with it, their beloved cherry orchard. On the verge of financial collapse, will they finally make the decision to sell their land to make way for holiday cottages? Or will they remain in blissful denial of the unstoppable nature of progress? This adaptation of The Cherry Orchard by one of Ireland’s leading contemporary playwrights, maintains all the power of this Russian classic, with an Irish twist. Director: Jason Byrne Opens: April 20 Closes: October 2 Theatre: Court House Theatre
The Women by Clare Boothe Luce	Welcome to a secret society – the world of women. In The Women, a 1930s Broadway hit by Clare Boothe Luce, a Manhattan socialite finds out her husband is cheating on her, and her girlfriends are no help at all. With manicured claws, these women are fighting to maintain their status while scheming to leave, steal or win back their own husbands. This classic play captures a world that only half the population ever really gets to see. A revealing look into the lives of the ladies-who-lunch that is clever, cut-throat and full of outrageous humour. Director: Alisa Palmer Opens: May 12 Closes: October 9 Theatre: Festival Theatre
One Touch of Venus Music by Kurt Weill, Lyrics by Ogden Nash Book by Ogden Nash and S. J. Perelman	The ancient goddess of love visits Manhattan in this musical fantasy. A modern art collector brings a statue of Venus to town. Through the magic of a ring, Venus comes to life, falls for a barber named Hatch and chases him all over New York. But will this wild woman allow herself to be tamed? A comic caper from the pen of the Marx Brothers’ writer S.J. Perelman and New Yorker poet Ogden Nash, with classic Weill songs like “Speak Low” and “I’m A Stranger Here Myself.” Director: Eda Holmes Opens: May 16 Closes: October 10 Theatre: Royal George Theatre
The Doctor's Dilemna by Bernard Shaw	A doctor who has discovered a lifesaving cure must make an impossible decision. Who should he treat: a kindly colleague who serves the poor, or an extremely talented but unscrupulous young artist, who also happens to have a beautiful young wife? When there’s only room for one more, who can he afford to save? The Doctor’s Dilemma is Bernard Shaw’s comic exploration of the medical establishment and the value of art. Director: Morris Panych Opens: June 10 Closes: October 30 Theatre: Festival Theatre
John Bull's Other Island by Bernard Shaw	Friends and business partners Broadbent and Doyle travel to a small town in Ireland with a business deal in mind. The Englishman, Broadbent, falls in love with everything about the place, including Nora Reilly, Doyle’s old flame. Doyle, the hometown boy, only sees a country trapped in its past. Shaw’s unromantic look at the romance of Ireland, and a play so funny that at a royal command performance, Kind Edward VII laughed so hard he broke his chair. Director: Christopher Newton Opens: June 18 Closes: October 9 Theatre: Court House Theatre
Half An Hour (Lunchtime) by J. M. Barrie	How much can a life change in half an hour? One night, just before a dinner party, Lilian Garson makes an escape from her confining husband. But when these best-laid plans go horribly awry – can she quickly slip back into her old life in time for dinner at eight? A compelling story of a woman who’s only got half an hour to change her life. Director: Gina Wilkinson Opens: June 26 Closes: October 9 Theatre: Royal George Theatre
Age of Arousal by Linda Griffiths Wildly inspired by The Odd Women by George Gissing	It’s 1885 in Age of Arousal, and in London there are half a million more women than men. Mary, an ex-suffragette, has opened a secretarial school for women to teach liberation through typing. When three sisters sign up, unexpected passions and secret desires are unleashed as they each learn what being a New Woman can truly mean. A contemporary look at the Shaw Festival mandate by an award-winning writer. (Strong sexual content) Director: Jackie Maxwell Opens: July 23 Closes: October 10 Theatre: Court House Theatre
Serious Money by Caryl Churchill	Serious Money takes a look at the London Stock Market in the 1980s, a place that was like the new Wild West – a land of corporate raiders and stock traders created by a financial boom that seemed to have no end. The Shaw Festival is proud to present this no-holds barred look at corporate greed and financial excess – Caryl Churchill at her most provocative and penetrating. And all in rhyming verse! Director: Eda Holmes Opens: July 31 Closes: September 12 Theatre: Studio Theatre