Dirty Rotten Scoundrels begins performances at the Stratford Festival!

May 2, 2025… Prepare for the Avon Theatre to be transformed into the glamourous French Riviera as Dirty Rotten Scoundrels hits the stage tomorrow offering huge laughs and high energy.

This playful and irreverent production unites Director Tracey Flye, Choreographer Stephanie Graham and Music Director Franklin Brasz.

It showcases exhilarating performances by Shakura Dickson as Christine Colgate, Jonathan Goad as Lawrence Jameson, Liam Tobin as Freddy Benson, Sara-Jeanne Hosie as Muriel Eubanks, Derek Kwan as Andre Thibault, and Michele Shuster as Jolene Oakes.

Lawrence Jameson is no stranger to the high life–he’s lived it for years by separating lonely rich ladies from their fortunes in a swanky Riviera town. When he and his chief competitor in the con business, Freddy Benson, make a bet to swindle an heiress out of $50,000, the professional scoundrels soon discover they may not always be the smartest people in the room. Inspired by the hit 1988 film Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, the musical comedy earned 11 Tony Award nominations for its hilarious hijinks and frivolity.

“It may appear, and appearances can be deceiving, that this world could be a wholly distasteful place. But I beg to differ,” says Flye. “It is, in total, a whirlwind of mayhem and confusion, of vulgarity versus sophistication, of discovery and choice, of longing and love and unexpected revelation. It’s really not much different from the one we live in. And while each character we meet appears to be masked–guarding who they truly are–in each of them, there is an untapped humanity, a loneliness and longing for something else.”

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels features magnificent performances by Eric Abel, Carla Bennett, Devon Michael Brown, Jarret Cody, Christine Desjardins, Henry Firmston, Jordan Goodridge, Aisha Jarvis, Bonnie Jordan, Alex Kelly, Heather Kosik, Kelsey Lacombe, Amanda Lundgren, Gracie Mack, Jordan Mah, Jamie Murray, Stephen Patterson, Ali Powell and Jason Sermonia.

The creative team brings together Set Designer Lorenzo Savoini, Costume Designer Sue LePage, Lighting Designer Michael Walton and Sound Designer Ranil Sonnadara.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has its press opening on May 29 and runs until October 25 at the Avon Theatre. Tickets are available at stratfordfestival.ca or by calling 1.800.567.1600.

The 2025 season also features As You Like It, Annie, Sense and Sensibility, Dangerous Liaisons, Macbeth, Anne of Green Gables, The Winter’s Tale, Forgiveness, Ransacking Troy and The Art of War. For more information, visit stratfordfestival.ca.

The 2025 season is generously supported by Ophelia Lazaridis.

Proud 2025 Season Partners: BMO Financial Group, Canada Life and RBC Royal Bank.

Production Co-Sponsors: Sylvia D. Chrominska and The Whiteside Foundation.

This production is dedicated to the memory of Bobby Garcia, a director of international reputation who was preparing this musical as his Stratford Festival debut before his tragic passing in December 2024. We honour his legacy through our work.

CAST (in alphabetical order)

Eric Abel                                 Nikos, Ensemble

Carla Bennett                          Renee, Ensemble

Devon Michael Brown           Gerard, Ensemble

Jarret Cody                              Conductor, Ensemble

Christine Desjardins               Ensemble

Shakura Dickson                     Christine Colgate

Henry Firmston                       Ensemble

Jonathan Goad                        Lawrence Jameson

Jordan Goodridge                   Swing

Sara-Jeanne Hosie                  Muriel Eubanks

Aisha Jarvis                            Usherette, Ensemble

Bonnie Jordan                         Swing

Alex Kelly                              Swing

Heather Kosik                         Swing

Derek Kwan                            Andre Thibault

Kelsey Lacombe                     Lenore, Ensemble

Amanda Lundgren                  Sophia, Ensemble

Gracie Mack                           Swing

Jordan Mah                             Waiter on Train, Ensemble

Jamie Murray                          Ensemble

Stephen Patterson                   Croupier, Butler, Ensemble

Ali Powell                               Ensemble

Jason Sermonia                       Ensemble, Dance Captain

Michele Shuster                      Jolene Oakes

Liam Tobin                             Freddy Benson

ARTISTIC CREDITS

 Book                                                   Jeffrey Lane

Music and Lyrics                                David Yazbek

Director                                               Tracey Flye

Choreographer                                    Stephanie Graham

Music Director                                    Franklin Brasz

Set Designer                                       Lorenzo Savoini

Costume Designer                              Sue LePage

Lighting Designer                               Michael Walton

Sound Designer                                  Ranil Sonnadara

Fight and Intimacy Director               Anita Nittoly

Assistant Director                               Steven Conde

Associate Choreographer                   Kyla Musselman

Associate Conductor                           Éric Charbonneau

Assistant Set Designer                        Angel Everett

Assistant Costume Designer               Rebecca Chaikin

Assistant Lighting Designer               Arantza Luna

Assistant Lighting Designer               Emilie Trimbee

Assistant Sound Designer                   Adam Campbell

Apprentice Sound Designer                Bex Tralli

Stage Manager                                    Maxwell T. Wilson

Assistant Stage Manager                    Holly Korhonen

Assistant Stage Manager                    Kim Lott

Assistant Stage Manager                    Théa Pel

Production Stage Manager                 Bona Duncan

Production Assistant                           Madie Bennett

Technical Director                              Eleanor Creelman