Weston’s resident theatre company, Shakespeare in Action will begin performing A Midsummer Night’s Dream next week for a two-week run in Little Avenue Park. The show will preview on Tuesday July 16 and Wednesday July 17. During these two nights, the company will rehearse, fine-tune and block the show using the unique features of the park.
For many in Weston, this will be the first chance to see SIA perform. Seven actors will play the various roles – this is a comedy and one of Shakespeare’s more accessible plays so it should be entertaining for all ages. Expect some interactivity and not all of the performance will be on stage.
Admission is free and seating is on the park’s grassy area, or bring a lawn chair. A limited number of rental chairs will be available each night. Some people are planning to picnic beforehand or purchase take out food from one of our many local restaurants. Just remember to put all litter in the trash cans.
SIA’s Community Outreach Coordinator Catriona Leger says that performances will be cancelled if it looks like bad weather will persist through the evening. A decision will be made by 6:00 pm each night and broadcast on social media.
The company requests that people refrain from taking photos or videos during performances for copyright reasons.
Little Avenue Park and its bandshell / stage. (File)
The play will last for 75 minutes and Catriona suggests that it will be great for audiences of all ages as well as a pre-bedtime treat for young children.
It’s a short walk from the UP Express Station. Click to enlarge.
Performance Schedule: Starting time is 7:00 pm for all performances.
Tuesday July 16, Preview
Wednesday July 17, Preview
Thursday July 18, Official Opening and Performance
Neighbours’ Night Out was a smash this year. The weather was wonderful, and hundreds of people came out to listen to live music, eat, and just hang out.
Making food
Suri and Frances selling tickets.
Crowd
Munchkins goofing off
Neighbours’ Night Out is, if you ask me, one of Weston’s highlights—up there with the Santa Claus Parade. But things keep getting better. This year, I think more community organizations than ever were there: off the top of my head, the WHCD,Frontlines, some weirdos who think that sweating is fun, and Shakespeare in Action. Some great-looking vendors were there, too—but I ran out of time because I talk too much.
Shakespeare in Action is looking for some volunteers to help put on A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Little Avenue Park this summer.
Shakespeare in Action is looking to assemble a team of Front of House Volunteers and Community Ambassadors for our upcoming production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Little Avenue Memorial Park in Weston. Shows run Tuesdays through Sundays from July 16-28th.
Volunteers are valued members of the Shakespeare in Action team and we are always happy to include anyone who wishes to contribute to making theatre in northwest Toronto fun, relevant and accessible! Whether you want to become more involved in the community, get to know the budding arts scene in general, collect co-op hours for your school, or just enjoy interacting with fellow theatre lovers, we would love to engage with you. We promise a fun environment, an enjoyable show, and a volunteer experience like no other.
If you’re interested, you can register using the online form or by emailing [email protected] with a little information about yourself.
UrbanArts is offering a summer arts residency for emerging artists from York South–Weston.
The program is
a unique space for experimentation, professional growth, portfolio building, networking, and collaboration with established artists. Participants who successfully complete the program will receive an honorarium of $350.
Local artists from the visual and eco-arts, music, dance and performing arts, and mural and installation arts are encouraged to apply.
SCANNED FROM THE TORONTO STAR LIBRARY *U42 GRAPHIC Hurricane Hazel. Damage on Raymore Drive. Photo montage by Eric Cole and Ed Parker.
An evening of home movies shot by people who experienced the horror of Hurricane Hazel is being presented by the Weston Historical Society and Heritage York. The movies from 1954, give an insight, not only into the power of the most famous storm ever to hit Toronto but illustrate lifestyle aspects of Weston’s population some 65 years ago.
According to the WHS,
“On the night of Oct 15 1954 Hurricane Hazel struck Toronto, fatally flooding the Humber river valley (including 35 deaths on one street alone). Home movies shot the next morning showing the damage and the river still in high flood at Weston, are the starting point for our tour through the life and times of the city’s west-end. Local residents captured everything from the danger and high drama of floods, explosions and derailments – to the intimate drama of backyard ice rinks, rec room parties, a first communion filmed by nuns, parades, and the fashions and furnishings of the era.
Organized and presented with the Weston Historical Society and Heritage York. “the Home Movie History Project”.”
Date: Wednesday June 5
Place: The ‘Village of Humber Heights’, 2245 Lawrence Ave W
I am happy to say that I was lucky enough to attend the Shakespeare Meets Hip Hop presentation, on Saturday at the new Artscape space at 36 John Street.
The space itself is very clean and new. The theatre seats 150 people, and there was a wooden riser for a stage. The background was a screen with a scene to set the stage. The musical accompaniment seemed to happen by magic.
The presentation itself was very entertaining for adults as well as kids. The audience got involved by shouting out answers, being on the stage, and laughing.
It was informative, relevant, and provided a way to analyse Shakespeare by looking at key words at each stanza.
I really loved it and would love to see it again. They do it in schools during school year .
I heard someone say about Artscape “This is great addition for Weston.”
