2011-12 Mirvish Season Set - Pre-Broadway Kim Cattrall in PRIVATE LIVES, Pre-London CHESS, HAIR, POPPINS & More

David Mirvish announced the 2011-12 Mirvish Subscription Theatre Season. The subscription season consists of seven shows that will be performed in four different downtown Toronto theatres. In addition, there are four shows off-subscription and many other shows at the Sony Centre that will be available to Mirvish subscribers on a priority basis and/or at special prices.

The season will include the North American Premiere of THE RAILWAY CHILDREN, Prior to Broadway, Kim Cattrall in PRIVATE LIVES, Prior to London's West End CHESS, THE MUSICAL, the Canadian Premiere of MARY POPPINS, the Toronto Premiere of THE BLUE DRAGON, the Canadian Premiere of War Horse, the tour of HAIR and more...

Mirvish subscriptions were first offered more than 40 years ago by "Honest" Ed Mirvish, soon after he bought the Royal Alexandra Theatre. The program has now grown to include three other magnificent theatres in downtown Toronto, in addition to the Royal Alex - The Princess of Wales, the Canon and the Panasonic. Every year a season of shows, usually made up of six to seven big musicals, comedies and dramas - top shows from Broadway and London, home-grown Canadian works and even world premieres - is offered as a package, all the shows at one low price, with both substantial savings and many other great package perks. The Mirvish subscription has become Toronto's most popular entertainment choice and draws theatregoers from all over Ontario and the United States, as well. It's now one of the largest theatre subscriptions in North America!

The 2011-12 Subscription Season Shows

Performances begin May 3, 2011 at the Roundhouse Theatre

Matthew Gale, Jenny King and Oliver Royds,
Robert Richardson for Marquis Entertainment
present the York Theatre Royal Production of
E. Nesbit's
THE RAILWAY CHILDREN
Written by Mike Kenny
Directed by Damian Cruden

All aboard, Toronto! The Railway Children, a spectacular adaptation of Edith Nesbit's classic novel, steams into Toronto direct from London's Waterloo Station!

It's the beloved Edwardian era story of three children who live by the tracks, reduced to poverty after their father is unjustly imprisoned. You may have seen The Railway Children in film and television adaptations, but this stage version is unprecedented! It's a breathtaking theatrical event that will be staged beside the CPR Roundhouse, at the base of the CN Tower, where a new 1,000 seat venue will be built around the railway tracks-with the audience seated on either side-and will "star" a 85-ton vintage steam locomotive!

Join Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis and share their story of joy, sadness, laughter and love as The Railway Children brings Toronto the power of hope, the romance of steam trains and the magic of theatrical invention.

Just announced: The Railway Children has just been nominated for two Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment and Best Sound Design.

September/October 2011 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre

Kim Cattrall
in
PRIVATE LIVES
Written by Noël Coward
Directed by Richard Eyre

Kim Cattrall (Sex and the City) stars in a new production of Noël Coward's comedy classic that became the toast of London's West End and will play Toronto for a limited run before transferring to Broadway.

The glamorous divorcée Amanda and her prosaic new husband honeymoon on the French Riviera. When Amanda finds that the hotel room next to theirs is occupied by her ex-husband, the rich and reckless Elyot, old passions begin to bubble. Elyot and Amanda-with no regard for propriety-forget all about the faults that drove them apart in the first place... for a little while, anyway.

September/October 2011 at The Princess of Wales Theatre

CHESS, THE MUSICAL
Music by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus
Lyrics by Tim Rice
Directed and Choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood

At the height of the Cold War, two great chess masters-an American and a Russian-meet in Bangkok to battle for the world championship... but their greatest contest is for the love of one woman.

Chess-the allegory of political intrigue and international conspiracy set to the brilliant music of ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson (Mamma Mia!) and the lyrics of Tim Rice (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita and The Lion King) - features one of the greatest musical theatre scores of all time, with One Night in Bangkok, You and I, Pity the Child, Anthem, and I Know Him So Well. This all-new production of what the BBC has called a "number one essential musical" by acclaimed British director and choreographer Craig Revel Horwood (Martin Guerre, Sunset Boulevard) and featuring an all-star British cast, comes to Toronto directly from its sell-out tour of the UK, and just prior to its West End debut.

November/December 2011 at The Princess of Wales Theatre

Disney and Cameron Mackintosh present
MARY POPPINS
The Hit Broadway Musical

Mary Poppins marks the first collaboration between Disney, producer of the acclaimed The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, and Cameron Mackintosh, legendary producer of the record-breaking The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Les Misérables. The result is a new musical so extraordinarily enchanting you'll have just one word for it: "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!"

Since the curtain first rose on Mary Poppins, critics and audiences alike have been raving. This effervescent hit has astonished over six and a half million people worldwide with its pure Broadway magic. With four productions currently running on three continents, Mary Poppins is one of the biggest stage musical successes in recent years. This consummate production features the irresistible story and unforgettable songs from one of the most popular Disney films of all time, plus brand new, breathtaking dance numbers and astonishing stagecraft to make it everything you could ever want in a hit Broadway show.

January/February 2012 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre

THE BLUE DRAGON
By Marie Michaud and Robert Lepage
Directed by Robert Lepage

Robert Lepage, Canada's internationally acclaimed theatrical genius, brings Toronto a must-see event! The Blue Dragon is the evocative tale of a Canadian in modern day China, told with eloquent dance, electrifying performance and spectacular, cinematic staging.

The life of an expat Canadian living in Shanghai is turned upside down by two women - one from his Western past and one from his Asian present. Written by Robert Lepage and Marie Michaud, The Blue Dragon is a sequel to their brilliant collaborative work, The Dragon's Trilogy. The Blue Dragon shimmers with all Lepage's hallmark hi-tech wizardry and storytelling magic!

Begins February 2012 at The Princess of Wales Theatre

War Horse
Based on the novel by Michael Morpurgo
Adapted by Nick Stafford
In association with Handspring Puppet Company
Directed by Marianne Elliott and Tom Morris

From Britain's National Theatre, War Horse is a thrilling and sensational production!

England, 1914. As World War I begins, Joey, young Albert's beloved horse, is sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. He's soon caught up in enemy fire, and fate takes him on an extraordinary journey, serving on both sides before finding himself alone in No Man's Land. But Albert cannot forget Joey and, though not old enough to enlist, he embarks on a treacherous mission to find his horse and bring him home.

Winner of Olivier, Evening Standard and Critics' Circle awards, this powerfully moving and imaginative drama, filled with stirring music and songs, is a production of phenomenal inventiveness. At its heart are astonishing life-sized puppets created by South Africa's Handspring Puppet Company, who bring breathing, galloping, charging horses to life on the stage.

March/April 2012 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre

HAIR
Book and Lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado
Music by Galt MacDermot
Directed by Diane Paulus

"HAIR is more than just a musical: it is a social and cultural phenomenon, a jubilant assertion of life and freedom." So wrote critic Michael Billington in The Guardian, of the London staging of this joyous new production of the mother of all rock musicals!

The 2009 Tony Award® Winner as Best Musical Revival, Hair brought down the house on Broadway, then rocked across the pond to London's West End, and now is headed for Toronto!

You know the story: It's the '60s; war rages in Vietnam, and a group of friends in New York's East Village turn on, tune in and sing out in celebration of love, life and freedom. The first great rock musical, Hair has some of the most rousing and soulful songs ever written for the stage, including Let the Sunshine In, Easy to be Hard, Good Morning Starshine, Aquarius and the infectious title song, Hair. It will more than make you want to sing along; it will make you want to go on stage and dance (and maybe you will)! You must not miss this vibrant, joyous piece of Living Theatre!

The original, groundbreaking Canadian production of Hair was staged at the Royal Alexandra Theatre from 1969 to 1971, where it broke box office records, playing for an astounding 53 weeks. Now Hair returns home to the Royal Alex to play for a new generation.

BONUS SHOWS

More Great Shows NOT INCLUDED IN THE 2011-12 SUBSCRIPTION PACKAGE

Every season we offer our subscribers extra attractions that are not part of the Subscription Package. But subscribers have the best access to tickets at the best prices!

Begins April 1, 2011 at the Panasonic Theatre

GHOST STORIES
By Jeremy Dyson & Andy Nyman

The West End sell-out sensation Ghost Stories has been thrilling London audiences and critics alike for over a year. This unique theatrical experience has just been nominated for two Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment and Best Sound Design.

Now it makes its North American premiere-with an all-Canadian cast-at the Panasonic Theatre in April.

Be prepared for 80 minutes of thrills, laughs and scares that you will never forget!

WARNING. Please be advised that Ghost Stories contains moments of extreme shock and tension. The show is unsuitable for anyone under the age of 14. We strongly advise those of a nervous disposition to think very seriously before attending.

October 29 to November 20, 2011 at the Panasonic Theatre

2 PIANOS, 4 HANDS
Created, Performed and Directed by Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt

After being performed around the world, the smash-hit comedy 2 Pianos, 4 Hands returns home. Ted Dykstra and Richard Greenblatt perform one last encore of their landmark work in Toronto.

2 Pianos, 4 Hands is a warm and funny musical entertainment about two lifetime obsessions with 88 piano keys. It's a story of aspiring talents, teachers, lessons and competitions, and a not-to-be-missed classic of Canadian theatre.

March 8 to 19, 2011 at The Princess of Wales Theatre

GOOD MOURNING MRS BROWN
Written by and starring Brendan O'Carroll

After her wildly popular Canadian debut last summer in How Now Mrs. Brown Cow - and fresh from filming her new BBC TV series - Agnes Brown makes a welcome return to Toronto just in time for the St. Patrick's Day festivities! Brendan O'Carroll and his merry band of thespians bring us another in the continuing saga of the Browns of Dublin and their sidesplitting misadventures. Join them as Agnes and her brood plan a funeral for the still very-much-alive Grandad, just so he can enjoy his own wake.

June 14 to 19, 2011 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre

WOMEN FULLY CLOTHED: OLDER & HOTTER

Starring: Kathryn Greenwood, from Whose Line Is It Anyway and This Hour Has 22 Minutes; Robin Duke, from Saturday Night Live and SCTV; Jayne Eastwood, from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Chicago and Billable Hours; and Teresa Pavlinek, from History Bites and The Jane Show.

Take an all-star cast of four renowned Canadian comedy artists, give them today's challenges of careers and family dynamics and you get Women Fully Clothed.

Astute and hilarious, Women Fully Clothed are back with the sequel to their self-titled premiere show. Older and Hotter mixes friendship, personal dreams and self-preservation with international relations, executive duties and the environment.