Ronnie Burkett's THE DAISY THEATRE to Open Next Week at the Grand Theatre

Following a sold-out run last season, the Grand Theatre will present the return of award-winning, internationally-acclaimed puppeteer, Ronnie Burkett, with THE DAISY THEATRE for a limited engagement on the McManus Stage starting October 23, with a new block of tickets released for a run through November 4. With new characters in this season's production, Ronnie returns to manipulate and voice a cast of 40-plus marionettes in this variety show for grown-ups.

"I've heard voices in my head my entire life! With my hands, I'm able to let all those voices out. The angelic ones are quite beautiful, the demonic ones are harsh and the bawdy ones are outrageous," said creator and performer, Ronnie Burkett. Recognized as one of Canada's foremost theatre artists, Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world's most elaborate and provocative puppetry. THE DAISY THEATRE contains an arsenal of over 40 puppets that offer a different improvisational performance each time.

THE DAISY THEATRE was a co-commission of the Luminato Festival (Toronto) and the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA (Los Angeles) and had its US premiere at The Baryshnikov Arts Centre in New York. Since then, THE DAISY THEATRE has played to sold-out performances, with critics and audiences alike raving about this bawdy, tender, and outrageous cast of characters.

THE DAISY THEATRE is on stage at London's Grand Theatre for a limited-time engagement from October 23 to November 4. The first week is sold out. Best availability in second week. Tickets are $40 (includes HST and CIF - prices subject to change) and are available at www.grandtheatre.com, by phone at 519-672-8800, or at the Box Office, 471 Richmond Street.

Note: The performances are for adults aged 16+; patrons under the age of 16 will not be admitted.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Dennis Garnhum and Executive Director Deb Harvey, the Grand is a leading cultural hub proudly located in the heart of downtown London, Ontario. The Grand offers diverse, relevant, and original stories from around the globe through collaborations with national and international performing arts organizations and is committed to developing, producing, and premiering original homegrown stories through COMPASS, a New Play Development Program. The Grand supports educational programming and youth mentorship such as The High School Project, the only program of its kind in North America, and 100 Schools, a new community initiative that brings professional theatre to London-area schools in 2018 at no cost.

A not-for-profit regional theatre, the Grand produces and presents professional theatre on two stages: the Spriet Stage (839 seats) and the McManus Stage (144 seats). The Grand's season runs from September to May. The 2017/18 Season is on sale.

About Ronnie Burkett (Creator/Performer) - Ronnie Burkett has been captivated by puppetry since the age of seven, when he opened the World Book Encyclopedia to "Puppets." He began touring his puppet shows around Alberta at age 14 and has been on the road ever since. Recognized as one of Canada's foremost theatre artists, Ronnie Burkett has been credited with creating some of the world's most elaborate and provocative pup­petry. Ronnie Burkett's Theatre of Marionettes was formed in 1986 and has stimulated an unprece­dented adult audience for puppet theatre, continuously playing to great critical and public acclaim on Canada's major stages and as a guest company on numerous international tours abroad. Ronnie has received numerous awards in the Canadian theatre as a playwright, actor, and designer for his work with Theatre of Marionettes, including the 2009 Siminovitch Prize in Theatre and The Herbert Whittaker Drama Bench Award for Outstanding Contribution to Canadian Theatre. Ronnie has just completed the fourth sold-out touring season of the highly acclaimed and wildly popular The Daisy Theatre. This 13th production from Theatre of Marionettes follows the international successes Penny Plain, Billy Twinkle, 10 Days on Earth, Provenance and the "Memory Dress Trilogy" of Tinka's New Dress, Street of Blood, and Happy. In 2017, Little Dickens premieres in Vancouver, and in 2019, Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes will premiere a new audience-interactive production, Forget Me Not. The 2016/17 season marked the 30th anniversary of Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes.

About John Alcorn (Music and Sound Design) - As composer, lyricist, musical director, and arranger, John Alcorn has made significant contributions to numerous theatrical productions. The Daisy Theatre, currently touring internationally, for which he composed and recorded the full score, is one of several collaborations with Ronnie Burkett. John is one of Canada's premiere jazz vocalists, delivering his distinctive renditions of jazz standards on the most prestigious bandstands and concert stages across Canada. His list of citations and acknowl­edgements in music and theatre includes both Jazz Report (Male Vocalist of the Year) and Dora (Outstanding Music) awards. His latest recording, Flying Without Wings (2016), features an all-star Canadian trio - Reg Schwager (guitar), Mark Eisenman (piano), and Steve Wallace (bass) - along with Warren Vaché (cornet). Alcorn also has a passion for producing. The East Coast Music Awards (2001) acknowledged his very first production project (The Second Time Around, Diane Alcorn - his mother!) with a Jazz Album of the Year nomination. Alcorn produced his own cd, Quiet Night, for which he received a 2004 National Jazz Awards nomination.

About Crystal Salverda (Stage Manager) - With over 30 years in the entertainment industry, Crystal has been blessed to work both across Canada and internationally stage managing Wonderful Productions such as The Daisy Theatre, Penny Plain (Ronnie Burkett Theatre of Marionettes); 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, Boom(Kidoons Network); Tails (Calgary Stampede); Half Life, Hamlet, Divisadero, Andromache (Necessary Angel); Under Milk Wood, Civil Elegies, Of the Fields Lately, Billy Bishop (Soulpepper Theatre); A Raisin in the Sun (Soulpepper/Theatre Calgary); This is What Happens Next (Necessary Angel/Canadian Stage); Tuesdays with Morrie (Harold Green Jewish Theatre). Other work experience includes Sales Manager (Westsun), Concert Stage Manager (Marquis Entertainment), as well as dozens of lighting designs for various productions over the years.

Photo Credit: Alejandro Santiago

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