Shaw Festival Box Office Opens for Landmark 50th Season

Tickets for the Shaw Festival's 50th season went on sale to Shaw Festival Members and Visa Infinite cardholders on November 6 and December 4, respectively, and the response has been wonderfully strong. Compared to the same time last year, Members ticket sales are 5% ahead, with group sales reaching the $1 million mark, 15% ahead of the same time last year. Next season's productions of My Fair Lady and The Admirable Crichton are very popular with families, reflecting a remarkable 143% increase in family package sales.

The Shaw Festival's 50th season features an impressive and inspiring range of theatre that encompasses Shaw re-envisioned by directors and writers, newly commissioned works, plays by a new generation of provocative playwrights, re-explored classics and returning Festival favourites. The Shaw Festival's milestone season begins April 7, 2011 and runs until October 30, 2011 with eleven diverse productions on the Festival's four Niagara-on-the-Lake stages. The landmark season playbill includes a sparkling new production of the beloved musical My Fair Lady; Shaw's most celebrated play Heartbreak House; and J.M. Barrie's delicious comedy The Admirable Crichton on the Festival stage, along with Candida, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and The President at the Royal George Theatre. The Shaw/Michael Healey remix of On the Rocks, the Irish classic Drama at Inish - A Comedy and the world premiere of the newly developed musical Maria Severa will take the stage at the Court House Theatre, while the Studio Theatre will play host to the Canadian premieres of Topdog/Underdog and When the Rain Stops Falling.

Several events are planned to celebrate The Shaw's golden season including The Speed of Ideas - A Theatrical Forum with award-winning playwrights Tony Kushner and Suzan-Lori Parks and author and renowned theatre critic Michael Billington, as well as the publication of a commemorative book written by Shaw scholar L.W. Conolly and designed by Scott McKowen, art director of The Shaw's house programmes. Published by Oxford University Press, Shaw Festival - The First Fifty Years chronicles the history of this country's foremost repertory theatre company and will be available in early April.

The Box Office is now accepting ticket orders for the Shaw Festival 50th season by phone, in-person, fax, mail and online at http://www.shawfest.com from the general public. Ticket prices range from $24 to $30 for youth, $41 for seniors and $32 to $106 for regular priced tickets.

Ticket information, ticket order forms and brochures can be obtained through the Shaw Festival Box Office or website:
Toll free in North America 1-800-511-7429
Local (905) 468-2172
Fax (905) 468-3804
Internet http://www.shawfest.com
Mail Shaw Festival
Box 774
Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0

The Festival Theatre Box Office and Bernard's, the Shaw Festival Shop, are located at 10 Queen's Parade in Niagara-on-the-Lake and open Monday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays, January 9 and 16. Beginning April 15, the Box Office will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Exciting overnight and day packages Niagara-on-the-Lake packages are also available making a trip to The Shaw an enjoyable and hassle-free experience.

For more information about the Shaw Festival Theatre 50th Season, visit http://www.shawfest.com.

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