Ontario Live Theatre – Act One

~ Break a Leg! ~

As the curtain begins to close on 2024, Ontario’s live theatres are ending the year in festive style, treating audiences to a delightful array of Christmas and seasonal plays. It’s a magical time when twinkling lights adorn the stage, snowflakes fall gently (even if they’re made of glitter and paper), and holiday cheer echoes through theatres across the province. From cozy small-town venues to grand theatres in bustling cities, this time of year has become a tradition for many, offering up heartwarming tales of Christmas miracles, Scrooge’s transformations, and more musical versions of ”The Nutcracker” than you can shake a candy cane at.

But while the stockings are hung by the proscenium with care, behind the scenes, theatre companies are already abuzz with plans for 2025. New playbills are about to be unveiled, and it’s no small feat to pull it all together. (Ontario Live Theatre)

New Productions: Lights, Camera… Chaos?

Every year, theatre directors face the daunting task of curating a fresh lineup that excites both loyal audiences and first-time ticket buyers. The balance between beloved classics and fresh, bold productions is tricky, too much of either, and you risk losing a chunk of your audience to Netflix binges or the latest blockbuster superhero movie.

Adding to the challenge is the increasingly inventive nature of theatre. Some productions now demand everything from immersive audience participation to multi-sensory experiences (I’m still trying to recover from that “scratch-and-sniff Shakespeare” incident). As thrilling as it is to push the boundaries of what live theatre can do, these new ideas come with complications that aren’t as simple as “cue the dramatic music.” (Ontario Live Theatre)

Set Design and Construction: Turning a Vision into Reality

Set designers have the Herculean task of turning a director’s vision into something tangible, on time, on budget, and (preferably) without accidentally knocking over the lead actor in Act II with a falling chandelier. No pressure, right?

In 2025, Ontario theatres are set to roll out productions that involve elaborate set designs ranging from minimalist avant-garde backdrops to fully functional pirate ships (yes, there’s always a pirate show somewhere). The set construction teams, often the unsung heroes of the theatre world, will soon be neck-deep in power tools, plywood, and gallons of paint. Every wall, window, and secret door (because what’s a play without a secret door?) must be built to withstand not only the actors but also the inevitable last-minute changes from the director, who just realized “now” that the entire third scene “must” take place in a haunted forest instead of a drawing room. (Ontario Live Theatre)

Costumes: Fashion, Fabric, and Freakouts

While sets are being hammered into place, costume designers are likely experiencing their own caffeine-fueled nightmares, juggling multiple fabric swatches, historical references, and the odd request to make 18th-century ball gowns that “look slightly futuristic but also evoke the Renaissance.” It’s an intricate job. Costumes must not only look good but also survive the rigors of performance, quick changes, choreography, and, in some cases, pyrotechnics (looking at you, “Phantom of the Opera”). Another lesson we learned was that actors need to keep their looks (hair style), and weight that same throughout the play season. Especially for the costumes! Having to rework costume during the “run” is frowned upon!

And then there’s the issue of time. Designing and creating costumes for an entire production often takes months, but there’s always that one cast member who waits until the dress rehearsal to mention that they’re allergic to wool. Cue the panic. (Ontario Live Theatre)

The Cast: Finding the Right Stars

Hiring actors is another part of the great puzzle that is live theatre. Casting is like finding the right ingredients for a stew, get it wrong, and you’ll end up with a scene that’s more sour than savory. Theatres must balance local talent with guest stars, keep egos in check, and, oh yes, deal with the actors’ availability. (You’d be surprised how many actors are double-booked for both “Hamlet” and a cruise line’s dinner theatre.)

Auditions, callbacks, more auditions, and then the inevitable “does the actor fit the costume?” moment, casting is as stressful as it sounds. Once the roles are filled, it’s on to the rehearsals, where actors, directors, and stage managers engage in the theatre’s time-honored tradition of trying not to throttle one another before opening night. (Ontario Live Theatre)

Rehearsals: The Drama Behind the Drama

Rehearsals are where the magic really starts to take shape, if by magic, you mean organized chaos. For weeks, actors memorize lines, trip over props, and try to avoid glaring too hard at the director when they suggest “just one more” run-through of Scene Four. Slowly but surely, though, things begin to click. Timing improves, chemistry builds, and before you know it, that awkward stumble over a line turns into an applause-worthy moment.

With the final rehearsals approaching, and the buzz of opening night in the air, all that’s left is to keep everything running smoothly, and hope no one catches the flu. (Ontario Live Theatre)

As the 2025 season announcements trickle out, there’s an air of excitement and anticipation in Ontario’s live theatre community. But for now, the focus is on bringing some holiday joy to the stage. To all the actors, directors, and crew who make the magic happen, we can only say one thing: Break a leg! h

Actor/Director Ian Farthing at the St. Lawrence Shakespeare Festival