Stratford Festival Beings Preview Performances for 2015 Season with The Sound of Music and The Diary of Anne Frank

Performances of the 2015 Stratford Festival Season began yesterday afternoon with the first performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein's THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Today the festival will present the first performance of THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK.

About Stratford's THE SOUND OF MUSIC

Taking on the iconic role of Maria Rainer is newcomer Stephanie Rothenberg, who recently starred as Rosemary opposite Nick Jonas in the Tony-nominated Broadway revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Ben Carlson, whose incredible musical abilities are a secret to no one, will mark his eighth season with his first role in a Stratford musical, playing Captain von Trapp.

"The Sound of Music is one of my all-time favourites," says Ms Feore, the force behind a growing list of hit musicals at the Festival, including Crazy for You and Fiddler on the Roof. "The chance to do this at the Festival is an absolute gift. I'm asking the audience to really invest in these characters, and there is no other theatrical space that allows for a more intimate and shared experience between actors and audience than the Festival stage. They're getting every detail, every emotion. It changes everything."

Based on a true story, The Sound of Music follows the von Trapp family overcoming great adversity through the love of family and the healing power of song. In a season built around the theme of Discovery, exploring the moments that change our lives, this timeless story of love, redemption and triumph of the human spirit is a natural fit.

"Like many of the titles on this season's playbill, The Sound of Music tells an inspiring story of emotional and spiritual self-discovery," says Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino. "Maria's realization of her true destiny awakens her heart and leads to one of the most enduring love stories of our time.

"I'm thrilled to have Donna Feore at the helm of this production. She is a true master of our Festival stage, always bringing remarkably unique elements to her staging and choreography. While there may be no other musical so familiar, so ingrained in our hearts and minds, Donna has breathed new life into this beloved story, beautifully balancing the joyous moments with real emotion and depth."

The cast features Shane Carty as impresario Max Detweiler, with Anita Krause as the Mother Abbess and Robin Evan Willis as Baroness Elsa Schraeder.

Artistic credits include Musical Director Laura Burton, Designer Michael Gianfrancesco, Lighting Designer Michael Walton and Sound Designer Peter McBoyle.

About Stratford's THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK

The Diary of Anne Frank, one of the most impactful works of art ever created, comes alive in a breathtaking production directed by Jillian Keiley and starring Sara Farb. Previews begin on Wednesday, April 22, at the Avon Theatre.

Ms Keiley, together with designer Bretta Gerecke, the pair who gave us an ingenious staging of Alice Through the Looking-Glass last season, bring their remarkable creative vision to an inventive new production that will cross conventional boundaries to confront the story's unfathomable reality.

"My first impetus with this production is to say: This happened," says Ms Keiley. "I think the further we get away from that, the less possible it seems. What happened to Anne and those six million people is still so incomprehensible to us. It's a story that must be told, because we can't understand six million - we just don't have the capacity - but we can understand one. Bretta, the other collaborators and I worked to create a stage and context for the production that would connect contemporary audiences to the very real people in this play."

Within this season's theme of Discovery: That Eureka Moment, Anne's story epitomizes the indomitability of the human spirit, revealing a young woman's journey of self-discovery in a life brought to a tragic end.

"We find Anne in a pivotal period of her life where she's just starting to comprehend her place in the world," says Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino. "She's questioning everything around her, with such sharp observations of her feelings and fears. Her story is one that we must continue to tell - one that not only explores a moment that changed one girl's life, but changed the world.

"Jillian Keiley is a brilliant director known for her startlingly inventive style, and what she brings to this production is no exception. Her vision is so fresh, so unique, giving audiences a production they're not likely to see anywhere else."

After playing two of Shakespeare's most significant women - Cordelia in King Lear and Jessica in The Merchant of Venice - Ms Farb will play Anne. Joining her are Lucy Peacock as Mrs. Frank,Joseph Ziegler as Mr. Frank, Kevin Bundy as Mr. van Daan, Yanna McIntosh as Mrs. van Daan and André Morin as Peter.

Artistic credits include Lighting Designer Leigh Ann Vardy, Composer Jonathan Monro, Sound Designer Don Ellis, Dramaturge Bob White, Fight Director John Stead, Movement Director Shona Morris and Choral Directors Kellie Walsh & Jonathan Monro.

Tickets for the Stratford Festival's season are currently on sale. For more information, check them out online at stratfordfestival.ca.

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