Author: Don Kearney-Bourque

News

For Immediate Release | Race Day by Norm Foster & Steve Thomas coming to Simcoe Little Theatre

Posted on April 1, 2023
Race Day Poster

THIRD AND FINAL PRODUCTION FOR THE 2022/2023 SEASON NOW REHEARSING FOR EARLY MAY PERFORMANCES IN THE 76TH SEASON OF SIMCOE’S FIRST-RATE COMMUNITY THEATRE

On Stage May 4 – 14, 2023 at Simcoe Little Theatre

Local cast & crew highlighted

Tickets are on sale now at simcoelittletheatre.org

Simcoe, ON (March 31, 2023) – An out of work actor, his estranged daughter, a channeler, a down-on-his-luck gambler, a woman enforcer, two small-time thieves and a nun descend on racetrack for an afternoon of thoroughbred racing. A musical comedy that is witty, funny, and full of unpredictable twists, Race Day hits the stay May 4th to 14th at Simcoe Little Theatre and is directed by Tony Proracki with musical direction by Michelle Proracki.

After the heartwarming comedy Pumpernickel Junction and the thoughtful Love Letters, Simcoe Little Theatre is closing out it’s 2022/2023 season with hilarious musical Race Day, penned by Norm Foster with music by Steve Thomas, who has crafted songs that match the energy of the show and compliment Foster’s lyrics.

With rehearsals well underway, the directing team of Tony & Michelle Proracki are excited to bring this timeless comedic and musical tale to the stage. “While volunteering, we saw Lighthouse Festival’s production of Race Day thirteen years ago and immediately loved the energetic cast and music. Now, here we are with our own fantastic cast and band to share Norm Foster’s comedy with you”, said Tony Proracki.

“Inherent in Norm’s writing is an exquisite sense of humour and the teasing out and adding to it through the roles and personalities of the performers has been a gas”, adds Michelle Proracki. “The setting is a day at the racetrack along with a variety of characters who, for the most part, are there to bet on the horses for a variety of comical reasons.”  

“The musical score by Steve Thomas adds to the excitement of being fully engaged in a bet…. on a horse…. during a race”, continues Tony Proracki. “Of course, there are moments of reflection with happy endings for all involved.”

Cast

Maggie Bakers as Rose (May 4, 6, 11, 13), waitress

John Dickson as Bartender, chorus

Janet Dickson as Lucinda, a “channeler”

Hannah Dolson as Roxie

Tina Gates as Wagering Window cashier, chorus

Ashton Harding as Rose (May 5, 7, 12, 14), waitress

Susan LeBone as Sister Emily

Mitchell McGivern as Max

Randy McGivern as Jordan Porter AKA Shakespeare

Christy Miedema as Chester, a thief

Christine Shantz as Rich Betting Lady, chorus

Roselle Slaght as Rich Better Lady, chorus

Sue Thompson as Security Guard, chorus

Mackenzie Tigwell as Gerard, a thief

Ticket Pricing:

Tickets are on sale now at simcoelittletheatre.org or by contacting the box office at 519-583-0505. The following prices for single tickets include all taxes and charges with no hidden fees:

  • Single ticket: $22
  • Student ticket: $10
  • Opening night ticket: $25 (Opening night celebrations let patrons mingle with the cast and crew after the show while enjoying complimentary eats from local restaurants)
Where Community Stars Shine:

Since the 1940s, Simcoe Little Theatre has been a beacon of the arts in Norfolk County that provides a safe space for the community to develop their talents, passion and find a sense of belonging. All while producing quality amateur entertainment for the Norfolk County area. Simcoe Little Theatre operates by the motto: “Where community stars shine”. Now, following a partnership with Lighthouse Festival in the summer of 2021 that allows Lighthouse Festival to handle administration, facility upkeep, marketing, and publicity duties; Simcoe Little Theatre has the security to be viable for generations to come and embrace that motto. Local community artists and volunteers can continue to dream and inspire on the Simcoe Little Theatre stage and focus on what really matters, producing great community theatre!

Simcoe Little Theatre has maintained a proud tradition of community theatre run by the community for the community for over 75 years. Lighthouse Festival could not be prouder to support and empower all of the local artists who will continue to entertain the next generation of theatre lovers in Norfolk County.

Directors & cast members are available for interviews.

Contact: Don Kearney-Bourque, Marketing & Communications Officer

289-541-7410 or 519-583-1031 x 225 | don@lighthousetheatre.com

Tickets on sale now at simcoelittletheatre.org | 519-583-0505

Ticket Prices: $10 – $25

Full show descriptions available at simcoelittletheatre.org

Blog

Blog: The Home of the Canadian Sense of Humour has a Season to Celebrate!

Posted on March 30, 2023

Here’s what’s ahead at Lighthouse Festival in 2023

Laughter is coming your way this summer in Port Dover and Port Colborne as Lighthouse Festival raises the curtain on comedy in 2023. Get ready for some of the finest and funniest live theatre in the country with a playbill that brings two world premieres to the stage along with some of Canada’s best and brightest writers, directors and acting talent.

Our season starts off with Come Down From Up River, a tale by comedic bard Norm Foster, set at first in the wilds of New Brunswick, where a man who’s lived in the wilderness for most of his life suddenly finds himself at his estranged niece’s house that she shares with her wife. A fish-out-of-water tale becomes a reality for all three of them. It’s a sweet and emotional account of family reconciliation and working to understand each other better. Directed by renowned Canadian performance artist Sheila McCarthy, who recently starred in the 2023 Oscar®-winning film Women Talking and the Netflix® hit Umbrella Academy, and stars Lighthouse favourite Ralph Small, who brought Buying the Farm to life in our 2022 Season and Sexy Laundry in 2019, Come Down From Up River shows that with a little give and take, no obstacle is insurmountable.

Next up, we find ourselves at a small radio station in Lake Kashagakaganee where there are nearly zero listeners and an assortment of staff who are in over their heads. Throw in a new and determined station manager, along with a meddling former station manager’s son and voila! A recipe for comedic disaster. On The Air was written by first-time playwright, Toronto born and raised screenwriter and actor Ephraim Ellis. Most often recognized for his role as the troubled Rick Murray on Degrassi: The Next Generation, Ellis was introduced to Lighthouse by his wife Meghan Speakman, a stage manager in the summer seasons. Ellis worked with Lighthouse Artistic Director Derek Ritschel to sharpen the script before bringing it to the Lighthouse stage this summer. He most recently played the role of Tom in the 2016 Lighthouse production of Perfect Wedding, directed by Derek Ritschel. On The Air is directed by Lighthouse Festival’s Artistic Associate Jane Spence, and is a relatable story where hard work, new ideas and forging relationships is the key to turning things around.

Now we come to a familiar old tale; two men try and fail to buy a house in Toronto. Two men inherit a bed and breakfast in a quaint yet blinkered village. Two men attempt to run their new B&B and fit into said small village. Does hilarity ensue? You bet it does! Bed & Breakfast was penned by the talented Mark Crawford, who currently stars in the Mirvish production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and who wrote the hit production of The Gig, now on stage at Theatre Aquarius in Hamilton. With a cast of 24 characters being played by 2 people, the talented Adrian Shepherd-Gawinski & Warren Macaulay, you’ll have to ask for your eggs over easy and your laughter on a plate at Bed & Breakfast.

Where You Are, wonderfully written by Kristen Da Silva, who wrote Lighthouse favourites Hurry Hard & Beyond The Sea, tells the tale of two sisters selling jam in their retirement years on Manitoulin Island who have their sights set on a local (and handsome) veterinarian for one of their daughters, however a secret they can no longer contain, along with new secrets from the daughter, complicate matters which will change their lives forever. We promise this is a comedy! Directed by Lighthouse Artistic Associate Jane Spence, who directed last summer’s hit comedy Halfway There by Norm Foster, and who has acted in a number of Lighthouse productions including When The Reaper Calls, The Melville Boys, and Beyond The Sea, Where You Are will illicit tears of joy and heartache and leave you with urge to call family members just to hear their voice.

Our main season ends with another play from Canada’s king of comedic theatrical compositions, Norm Foster, making its world premiere on the Lighthouse stage. In A Pack of Thieves, two troubled, middle-class souls, Robert & Jeff, decide that their need for extra cash can be solved by stealing a racehorse and holding it for ransom, which is what MOST people think of immediately when the need for extra cash arises, right? After enlisting the aid of Padre, an experienced criminal, and a pair of dim-witted twins named Chip and Dale, everything goes exactly according to plan… Which, of course, it does not. Starring Lighthouse Artistic Director Derek Ritschel, along with Brad Austin, who brought the house down in last summer’s Halfway There, as well as Lighthouse favourites Jeffrey Wetsch, Brad Rudy and Allan Cooke, the world premiere of A Pack of Thieves is an outstanding way to close out the season.

You’ve got a lot to look forward to this summer at Lighthouse Festival in Port Dover & Port Colborne. A season of great Canadian laughter on the shores of Lake Erie surrounded by food, friends, and the knowledge that you’re supporting one of this country’s finest theatre festivals is coming your way.

Don Kearney-Bourque

News

Volunteer Sign Up Days are Coming Soon!

Posted on March 26, 2023

You’ll laugh… You’ll cry… You’ll show someone their seat!


Volunteers are vital to the Lighthouse experience, welcoming patrons at the doors, scanning tickets, handing out programs and ushering theatre goers to their seats. Volunteers are needed to support Lighthouse Festival in Port Dover and Port Colborne all year round.

If you’re been thinking of volunteering for Lighthouse, you’re in luck! We’re hosting a Volunteer Sign Up Day on Wednesday, April 5th from 10 AM to 1 PM in Port Colborne and April 12th from 10 AM to 1 PM in Port Dover. Spend your summer surrounded by laughter… in a good way!

If you are interested in volunteering at one of our locations, Port Dover – Lighthouse Theatre or Port Colborne – Roselawn Theatre, and you’re unable to make it to our Sign Up Days, please fill out the form linked below or contact our box offices.

News

Auditions Announced for Lighthouse Festival’s Young Company Production of Robin Hood

Posted on March 19, 2023
Audition Poster for 2023 Young Company show Peter Pan!

Hear ye, hear ye! Auditions for the Lighthouse Young Company’s production of Robin Hood are nigh! Convey thyselves to the theatre on the 24th of May but prithee contact the box office first to book thy time! May you find success in your thespian quest! Call 519-583-2221 or by electronic post at portdover@lighthousetheatre.com!

News

Review: Love Letters at Simcoe Little Theatre

Posted on March 9, 2023
Love Letters Poster
Love Letters by A.R. Gurney

“A unique, thought-provoking journey”

By Mike Renzella

The Haldimand Press

SIMCOE—Love Letters, the latest show to grace the stage at Simcoe’s iconic Little Theatre, is thought-provoking, occasionally very funny, and occasionally enough to make you squirm in your seat as the complicated relationship of the play’s only characters, Andrew and Melissa, plays out before you.

The show has a unique format focused solely on the two main characters – played by Chris Verge and Gloria Mitchell for the show’s initial week of performances – sitting at a pair of desks, facing forward, and never once getting up. 

The two recite various letters they wrote to each other over the course of a life-long friendship, delving into their innermost feelings.

The show admittedly takes a few minutes to find its footing, as the audience adjusts to the unique style of storytelling, but the deeper we get into these two characters’ letters and lives, the more the story gets its hooks into you.

Directed by Melissa Collver, Love Letters features bursts of unexpected humour as Andy and Melissa express their frustrations and emotions over a series of meet-ups, will-they-won’t-they scenarios, and the pangs of seeing the other move forward in life on their own path. 

The show has some strong language, and discussions on sexuality that may not be fully appreciated by a younger crowd attending with their families, but the complicated relationship between the two characters takes several surprising turns, at times joyful and exuberant and others sorrowful and mixed with a longing for the past, ultimately ending in a place that leaves the audience with a lot to think about on the drive home.

Verge and Mitchell each brought a distinct, lived-in feel to their characters, especially given the constraints of the show’s narrative structure. By the end, I felt as though I had known the pair almost as deeply as they knew each other. The play will bring in a second set of actors for its second week, with Andy Blackwood and Cara Blackwood taking the stage.

While perhaps not for everybody, for those yearning for an old-fashioned story of friendship, love, family, and loss, with thought-provoking themes and a unique style, Love Letters has what you’re looking for. 

If you’re interested, you better act quickly! Love Letters’ final performances take place March 9-12 at the Simcoe Little Theatre, with performances at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. 

Visit SimcoeLittleTheatre.org for more information.

News

Art Open House – The Artwork of Cristina Zanella

Posted on February 28, 2023
Cristina Zanella Open House
Cristina Zanella Open House

Lighthouse Festival invites you to join us in celebrating
the work of Port Dover artist Cristina Zanella

Join us as we unveil Cristina’s new art pieces that will hang in the theatre’s long bar for the 2023 summer season at Lighthouse Festival. The Open House will take place on Sunday, March 1st, 2023 from 1 PM to 3 PM in the Long Bar on the 2nd floor of the theatre.

Cristina Zanella is a Port Dover-based artist who, for several years, was the art curator at the Lighthouse Festival Theatre. Her paintings have been exhibited in galleries in Toronto, Halifax, Brantford, Sarnia and various communities throughout Southern Ontario. 

She received her B.F.A from Nova Scotia College of Art and Design. Zanella has been the recipient of various awards including the Hazel Race Award for the Norfolk Visual Arts competition and the Peoples’ Choice Award at the Glenhyrst Gallery in Brantford.

Please note tickets are not required to attend this open house. This is a drop in event.

We hope you will join us, 

The Lighthouse Team

News

Important Update to Lighthouse Festival’s 2023 Playbill

Posted on February 14, 2023
2023 Lighthouse Festival Season

New Play to be Featured this Summer!

 February 14, 2023. Port Dover, ON: There is an old saying in the theatre world about how the show must go on despite any possible hindrances. If a cast member is ill, you call in the understudy. If a sound system malfunctions, the actors just talk louder. If the theatre catches fire, the production is moved to the front lawn and continues… You catch our drift. 

The same cannot be said for replacing irreplaceable actors in order to stay true to the very personal and local story of Port Dover resident Kobi Kobayashi for our 2023 season production of Sakura: The Last Cherry Blossom Festival. Despite valiant efforts, we could not acquire cast members of Japanese descent needed to authentically tell this tale because of the depth and breadth of roles available for these actors right now; it’s a great problem to have if you’re an actor! We are, however, pleased to announce that this production will move to our 2024 Main Season in order to ensure our casting, and the story we’re telling, receive the attention they deserve. 

At the same time, we’re very pleased to announce that Bed & Breakfast, a comedic play about two men whose failure to buy a house in Toronto leads them to inherit a bed and breakfast in a small town which, of course, results in all sorts of hilarity in a touching story about fitting in. Written by accomplished playwright and actor Mark Crawford, who wrote Stag and Doe and Birds and The Bees, which were both hits with Lighthouse audiences, and who currently appears in the Toronto production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Bed & Breakfast will run on the same dates and times that Sakura was schedule for. 

MORE ABOUT BED & BREAKFAST

Brett and Drew want to move out of their tiny downtown condo and into a house, but they just lost their seventh bidding war in Toronto. When Brett’s beloved Aunt Maggie dies, he unexpectedly inherits the historic family home in a quiet little tourist town. Unhappy with their careers and frustrated by life in the fast-paced city, the couple decides to make the move and start up a B&B. But when the guys face friction in their new community, they discover the simple life is more complicated than they thought… 

With more than a few unexpected and hilarious plot-twists, we follow Brett and Drew over the course of one year— through the real estate rat race, renovation hell, a farcical opening weekend at their B&B, and encounters with small-town prejudice—all the way to their big decision: do they stay here, or do they pack it all in? 

With dozens of characters—male and female, young and old—all portrayed by two men, Bed and Breakfast is a theatrical tour de force. As riotously funny as it is deeply moving, this is a heartfelt comedy about “being out” in small town Canada, skeletons in the closet, and finding a place to call home. 

DESTINATION FOR LAUGHTER

Lighthouse Festival regularly welcomes upwards of 60,000 people through our doors each summer season with 52% of our attendees travelling more than 40km to come to our theatre. As a charitable organization, we recognize the value of strong community partnerships and local support. We encourage anyone planning a visit to Port Dover to utilize the “visit” section on Lighthousetheatre.com and add some local attractions, restaurants, accommodations, and more to your itinerary. 

ABOUT LIGHTHOUSE FESTIVAL 

Lighthouse Festival is a charitable organization devoted to the development and production of new and existing Canadian plays. Lighthouse Festival strives to be artistically excellent, support and encourage local and regional artists, and be a source of enjoyment and pride in local communities while promoting local tourism. Operating in two towns on Lake Erie, our theatres operate on a central policy of hospitality, accessibility, and affordability for all. 

For more information or to arrange an interview with Artistic Director Derek Ristschel, please contact: Don Kearney-Bourque, Marketing and Communications Officer at 519-583-1031 x 225 | 289-541-7410 or don@lighthousetheatre.com. 

News

Simcoe Little Theatre Presents Love Letters by A.R. Gurney

Posted on January 30, 2023
About Love Letters
About Love Letters at Simcoe Little Theatre

Second Production for the 2022/23 Season Now Rehearsing for Early March Performances in the 76th Season of Simcoe’s First-Rate Community Theatre

 On Stage March 2 –12, 2023 at Simcoe Little Theatre

Local cast & crew highlighted

Tickets are on sale now with a subscription upgrade available

 Simcoe, ON (Jan 30,2023) – A lifelong correspondence between childhood friends. Differing educational paths with highs and lows. A growing emotional distance exposes a deep history of giving and love. This is Love Letters by A.R. Gurney.

After a successful run with the heartwarming comedy Pumpernickel Junction, Simcoe Little Theatre is pivoting with an emotional journey in A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters. This acclaimed Broadway classic was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and has received countless play and television adaptations since the show’s debut in 1988. The play tells the story of Andrew and Melissa, who are childhood friends whose lifelong correspondence begins with a birthday party thank-you note. They continue to exchange letters through their college years, where Andy goes on to excel at Yale, and Melissa flunks out of a series of “good schools.” As they slowly grow apart, it becomes clear how much they really meant and gave to one another.

Directed by Melissa Collver, Love Letters’ focus rests on the correspondence itself and the emotion it stirs within the characters and the audience. “In an age of instant messaging and social media, a lifetime of letter writing is a rare and powerful form of communication,” says Collver. “I am very pleased to be back at Simcoe Little Theatre directing this unique theatre experience.” 

Subscriptions and Ticket Pricing:

Tickets are on sale now at simcoelittletheatre.org or by contacting the box office at 519-583-0505. For patrons who saw Pumpernickel Junction, a limited-time offer to upgrade your single ticket to a season subscription makes your ticket to Love Letters and May’s production of Race Day only $19 each. Contact the Lighthouse Festival Box Office directly in person or by phone for further details. The following prices for single tickets include all taxes and charges with no hidden fees:

  • Single ticket: $22
  • Student ticket: $10
  • Opening night ticket: $25 (Opening night celebrations let patrons mingle with the cast and crew after the show while enjoying complimentary eats from local restaurants)

Where Community Stars Shine:

Since the 1940s, Simcoe Little Theatre has been a beacon of the arts in Norfolk County that provides a safe space for the community to develop their talents, passion and find a sense of belonging. All while producing quality amateur entertainment for the Norfolk County area. Simcoe Little Theatre operates by the motto: “Where community stars shine”. Now, following a partnership with Lighthouse Festival in the summer of 2021 that allows Lighthouse Festival to handle administration, facility upkeep, marketing, and publicity duties; Simcoe Little Theatre has the security to be viable for generations to come and embrace that motto. Local community artists and volunteers can continue to dream and inspire on the Simcoe Little Theatre stage and focus on what really matters, producing great community theatre!
Simcoe Little Theatre has maintained a proud tradition of community theatre run by the community for the community for over 75 years. Lighthouse Festival could not be prouder to support and empower all of the local artists who will continue to entertain the next generation of theatre lovers in Norfolk
County.

Cast & crew are available for interviews:

Contact Don Kearney-Bourque, Marketing & Communications Officer, at 289-541-7410 or 519-583-1031 x 225 and via e-mail at don@lighthousetheatre.com.

News

Lighthouse Festival’s March Break Shows Announced

Posted on January 28, 2023
Lighthouse Festival March Break Shows 2023
Lighthouse Festival March Break Shows 2023

Dufflebag Theatre to perform Peter Pan & Snow White

 January 28, 2023. Port Dover, ON: Lighthouse Festival is pleased to be offering two March Break shows from DuffleBag Theatre: Peter Pan & Snow White. These amazing shows for the whole family create theatrical magic by inviting up audience members as the stars of the show! The result is an exciting, interactive, and unique experience for all. Tickets are available at www.lighthousetheatre.com.

DESTINATION FOR LAUGHTER 

Lighthouse Festival regularly welcomes upwards of 60,000 people through our doors each summer season with 52% of our attendees travelling more than 40km to come to our theatre. As a charitable organization, we recognize the value of strong community partnerships and local support. We encourage anyone planning a visit to Port Dover to utilize the “visit” section on Lighthousetheatre.com and add some local attractions, restaurants, accommodations, and more to your itinerary. 

ABOUT LIGHTHOUSE FESTIVAL 

Lighthouse Festival is a charitable organization devoted to the development and production of new and existing Canadian plays. Lighthouse Festival strives to be artistically excellent, support and encourage local and regional artists, and be a source of enjoyment and pride in local communities while promoting local tourism. Operating in two towns on Lake Erie, our theatres operate on a central policy of hospitality, accessibility, and affordability for all. 

For more information or to arrange an interview with Artistic Director Derek Ristschel, please contact: Don Kearney-Bourque, Marketing and Communications Officer at 519-583-1031 x 225 | 289-541-7410 or don@thousetheatre.com.

News

 Tickets on sale for Lighthouse Festival’s Community Show

Posted on January 27, 2023
Clue The Musical Image
Clue The Musical

 March & April laughs are here! 

 January 27, 2023. Port Dover, ON: After an absence of numerous years due to a pandemic that prevented in-person laughs, our community show is back with a vengeance and ready to wow audiences in Port Dover. Based on the entertaining and addictive board game of the same name, Clue the Musical will rely heavily on audience participation and quick thinking from the talented cast. The play is directed by Lighthouse Festival’s Artistic Director Derek Ritschel. 

“Both the cast and crew are very excited to be back in rehearsals after a long time away from the stage,” said Ritschel. “The interactive element in this production mixed with the musical and comedic talents of our cast will add a new dimension to our community theatre that we haven’t done in past productions.” 

The massively popular board game comes to life as a hilarious & fun-filled musical that brings the world’s best-known suspects to the stage and invites the audience to help solve the mystery: who did it, in what room and with what weapon. With 216 possible solutions, audience members must hone their sleuthing skills while enjoying a beguiling score, witty lyrics, and comedic antics. In the end, only one hard-nosed detective is qualified to unravel the mayhem and help solve whodunnit! On stage from April 6th to April 21st, 2023 with tickets on sale now at lighthousetheatre.com. 

DESTINATION FOR LAUGHTER 

Lighthouse Festival regularly welcomes upwards of 60,000 people through our doors each summer season with 52% of our attendees travelling more than 40km to come to our theatre. As a charitable organization, we recognize the value of strong community partnerships and local support. We encourage anyone planning a visit to Port Dover to utilize the “visit” section on Lighthousetheatre.com and add some local attractions, restaurants, accommodations, and more to your itinerary. 

ABOUT LIGHTHOUSE FESTIVAL 

Lighthouse Festival is a charitable organization devoted to the development and production of new and existing Canadian plays. Lighthouse Festival strives to be artistically excellent, support and encourage local and regional artists, and be a source of enjoyment and pride in local communities while promoting local tourism. Operating in two towns on Lake Erie, our theatres operate on a central policy of hospitality, accessibility, and affordability for all. 

For more information or to arrange an interview with Artistic Director Derek Ristschel, please contact: Don Kearney-Bourque, Marketing and Communications Officer  at 519-583-1031 x 225 | 289-541-7410 or don@lighthousetheatre.com.

News

Lighthouse Festival announces Art Open House

Posted on January 13, 2023
Art Open House: Kristen E Summers
The Artwork of Kristen E Summers

The Artwork of Kristen E Summers

Kristen E Summers is from the Onondaga Nation Beaver clan from Six Nations Of the Grand River. A self taught artist who has been painting for 20 years, Kristen’s art is a method for healing, self expression and most recently for creating body positivity. Her healing journey has taught her to open up and share her gifts with the world, resulting in many collaborations with artists throughout Turtle Island. 

Lighthouse is honoured to house Kristen’s beautiful pieces in our historic theatre for all of our patrons to enjoy. We invite you to join us in celebrating Kristen at an open house Sunday January 22nd from 1pm to 3pm in our box office.

We will be unveiling Kristen’s new art pieces, commissioned by Lighthouse as a permanent installation at the theatre, that share the stories of Turtle Island. 

We hope you will join us, 

The Lighthouse Team

News

Lighthouse Festival set to Welcome Patrons Back Next Summer with Seminal 2023 Playbill 

Posted on November 24, 2022
2023 Season Poster
The 2023 Season Poster

Tickets are on sale now for the new season of summer comedies.  Written by Canadians, about Canadians, and for Canadians. 

PORT DOVER & PORT COLBORNE, ON (Nov24,2022) – During a visit to Lighthouse Festival in the summer of 2022, veteran theatre critic Gary Smith described Lighthouse as, “the home of Canadian theatre comedies.” A badge the Festival wears proudly.

“To all comedy and theatre lovers across Ontario and beyond, we can’t wait to welcome you back home,” shares Lighthouse Festival Artistic Director Derek Ritschel. “Lighthouse Festival has put together an exhilarating and diverse lineup of comedies for the summer of 2023. Written by Canadians, about Canadians, and for Canadians.”

Tickets are now on sale for a new season of laughter that truly sets itself apart from other summer theatre festivals for one simple fact: most of the shows, you can’t see anywhere else. As part of their Play Development Program, Lighthouse Festival has commissioned and developed three world premieres for this season that Lighthouse patrons will be able to see before other theatres even have an opportunity to stage them. The opportunity to bring new works to the stage is a point of pride for Ritschel, who shares, “part of our commitment to supporting Canadian theatre is to give Canadians a chance to share their stories and ideas. A lot of work goes into writing a good comedy with heart. It doesn’t matter if it’s a seasoned writer or an aspiring playwright with an interesting idea; we’re here to use our resources and virtuosity in theatre to take their creativity from the page to stage.”

The Season:

Come Down From Up River by Norm Foster (May 17 – June 18)

Norm Foster’s signature writing brings us a hilarious yet poignant tale of a woodsman from Northern New Brunswick trying to reconnect with his estranged niece and her wife in the big city.

On The Air by Ephraim Ellis (June 7 – June 28):

World Premiere – Lighthouse favourite Jane Spence directs this world premiere that sees a rag- tag group of amateur radio broadcasters use diversity to their strength and embrace chaos to save their small-town radio station on Lake Kashagakaganee.

Sakura: The Last Cherry Blossom Festival by Terry Watada (June 28th – July 30th)

World Premiere – A charming and humorous true story of Japanese Immigrant Kobi Kobayashi, who settles in Port Dover in the 1930s and inspires us all to be good members of our community. This uplifting story is not one to be missed.

For Immediate Release

Where YouAre by Kristen Da Silva (July 19 – August 20)

Lighthouse staple Kristen Da Silva brings us a story of quiet retirement turned hectic family reunion in this story filled with family, humour, and heart.

A Pack Of Thieves by Norm Foster (August 16th – September 17th)

World Premiere –This is an unrelenting comedy, get ready for some big laughs. Don’t miss out on being the first to see a new Norm Foster production.

The season wraps up in September with a concert in the form of Opry Gold with The Wayward Wind Band. This musical blockbuster, created by Leisa Way, showcases former and current kings and queens of country music while celebrating the history of Nashville’s iconic Grand Ol’ Opry.

Tickets for performances start at $42 with savings available in the form of a Lighthouse Festival subscription, allowing patrons to see each production this season with up to 15% in discounts. Full ticket information can be found at lighthousetheatre.com.

Destination For Laughter:

Lighthouse Festival is a charitable organization that has been a top tourist destination in Norfolk County for almost half a century, regularly welcoming over 60,000 patrons from all over Ontario through their doors each summer. Now, with a location in Port Colborne at the Roselawn Theatre, Lighthouse laughter spreads along the shores of Lake Erie boosting local tourism, community spirit, and Canadian arts in two beautiful lakeside towns. Our theatres operate on a central hospitality, accessibility, and affordability policy for all. With over 50% of patrons travelling 40km or more to get to their theatres, theatregoers are encouraged to utilize the “Visit” section at Lighthousetheatre.com to explore the amazing restaurants, shops and more in our wonderful communities.

To arrange an interview with Artistic Director Derek Ritschel, or for more information please contact: Ryan Daly, Marketing & Communications Officer. ryan@lighthousetheatre.com | 226-922-7905