BWW Interviews: Peggy Shannon on Ryerson's Tribute to Des McAnuff

Des McAnuff is one of the most prolific musical theatre directors of our generation, and certainly one of Canada's proudest exports. Tony Award winner for his direction of 1985's Big River and 1993 The Who's Tommy, McAnuff has had an illustrious career directing some of the most successful rock musicals seen on Broadway and beyond.

McAnuff got his start in Toronto with Toronto Free Theatre before leaving to go to NYC where he founded the Dodger Theatre Company. From there he went on to direct for the American Reparatory Theatre at Harvard, Yale Rep and was a faculty member at The Julliard School. He served as the Artist Director of La Jolla Playhouse in San Diego before finally returning home to Canada where he has been the Artist Director at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival for the past 4 years.

Next weekend, the Ryerson Theatre School and the Royal Conservatory of Music are going to celebrate Des's incredible accomplishments with an evening in his honour, aptly titled How to Succeed: A Musical Tribute to Des McAnuff. The show will feature many of the stars of his current Stratford hit (and Broadway bound) production of Jesus Christ Superstar, as well as cast members from the huge successful Canadian production of Jersey Boys. Featuring music from many of Des's shows including How to Succeed in Business, Tommy, Dracula, Jersey Boys and (of course) JCS, the evening promises to be both entertaining and educational. Above all, it will honour a man who has given so much to Canadian musical theatre, while showcasing one of the cities wonderful theatre schools.

BWW will be on hand at the event to bring its readers photos and details of what is sure to be a memorable evening, and today we are thrilled to be featuring an interview with Peggy Shannon, the Chair and Professor of the Ryerson Theatre School:

It's been an exciting year of Stratford Festival Director Des McAnuff! You are celebrating his achievements with the upcoming tribute event - could you describe what people can expect if they attend?

What people can expect to see at this Tribute Concert is McAnuff's extraordinary contribution to the musical theatre form over the past two decades. There will be segments from at least six major musicals he has revitalized or helped to create. Everything from the beautiful acoustic music and powerful story found in Big River, to the iconic rock ‘n roll tunes of Tommy, to the hugely entertaining Jersey Boys, to his magnificent new production of Jesus Christ Superstar will be represented on stage. The evening's signature songs will be performed by some of Canada's most outstanding musical theatre talent including Matt Cassidy, Sean Cullen, Bruce Dow, Chilina Kennedy, Jeff Madden, Adrian Marchuk, Paul Nolan, Grant Tilly, and Josh Young.

Will Des be speaking, performing or otherwise participating in the event?

Des will be performing with his Red Dirt Band for a segment of the evening.

This evening couldn't come at a better time with the recent announcement of his production of Jesus Christ Superstar going to Broadway. Have you seen the production?

Yes, I have seen the show. It deserves as Broadway run.

Jesus Christ Superstar's Broadway transfer represents a very unique opportunity for Canadians in the sense that the entire Stratford production is being transplanted to NYC (instead of being recast with American talent). Do you think this could lead to more recognition for our immensely talented theatre programs, companies and schools here in Toronto?

Des McAnuff's production of Jesus Christ Superstar represents so many things - great musical theatre, direction, choreography, design, extraordinary performances and a producing theatre capable of supporting the project in a meaningful way. It is an example of theatrical excellence.
Of course, it also represents what so many of us already know - the outstanding artistic contribution of Canadian artists. Any success is a shared success - so yes, this transfer to Broadway is a strong reflection of what our Canadian theatre companies, training programs and artists are capable of.

Could you tell us a bit about the honourary doctorate Des is being presented with and about his relationship to Ryerson?

Several decades ago, Des attended Ryerson as an undergraduate but left early to launch his career. Ryerson University awarded an honorary doctorate to director, producer and playwright Des McAnuff in recognition of his contributions to Canadian theatre and the arts community. He received this honorary Doctor of Letters degree at the Faculty of Communication & Design convocation ceremony on Monday, June 13 at 9:30 a.m.. A Ryerson alumnus, McAnuff is a two-time Tony and Olivier award-winning director and the current artistic director of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. McAnuff has directed countless award-winning plays and musicals both in Canada and the United States and the honorary doctorate was a way of recognizing his extraordinary contribution to the arts.

I understand there are also going to be scholarships made available; could you tell us more about that?

We are working out the criteria now for the scholarship fund. One to three students will receive the Des McAnuff Scholarship each year beginning in 2012. In preliminary conversations with Des about the criteria, he indicated a desire to see recipients with talent in one of the artistic areas he has become known for - music, classical, and Contemporary Theatre.

Finally, what is it about Ryerson's theatre school that sets it apart from others?

We are, quite simply, one of the best conservatory training programs in acting, dance and production in Canada. Our faculty and staff are working professionals with years of experience and our graduates populate the stages, screens and staffs of theatres, film, and television throughout North America. We hire union directors, designers, stage managers, and actors to work side-by-side with our students to train them, and to produce theatre with and for them. We tour our work throughout Canada and internationally. Our location is excellent as we are right in the heart of the arts and culture district in Toronto. We provide a classical foundation and encourage entrepreneurial business acumen. We are growing each year. We love what we do. All of this is what sets us apart from others.

Confirmed to be attending at time of press are the following:

Jewelle Blackman, Matt Cassidy, Sean Cullen, Bruce Dow, Kira Guloein, Robin Hutton, Chilina Kennedy, Jeff Madden, Adrian Marchuk, Paul Nolan, Grant Tilly and Josh Young.

When and Where?
How to Succeed: A Musical Tribute to Des McAnuff
Koerner Hall

October 23rd at 7PM

Gala tickets are $150 and include the concert and champagne reception with the stars after the show. Funds will go to the Des McAnuff Scholarships Awards at the Ryreson School.

There are also a select number of $50 upper balcony seats available for the performance only.

Tickets can be purchased through the Royal Conservatory of Music Box Office by phone at 416-408-0208 or online at http://performance.rcmusic.ca/event/how-succeed-musical-tribute-des-mcanuff 

For more information on The Ryerson Theatre School, please visit their website at http://www.ryerson.ca/theatreschool/

For more information on The Stratford Shakespeare Festival please visit their website at www.stratfordfestival.ca

For more information on the Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar (opening in March of 2012) please visit the official website at www.superstaronbroadway.com

 

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