After announcing they would be assuming operations of both the Marble Arts Centre in Tweed and the Village Playhouse in Bancroft in January, Tweed & Company Theatre is proud to present their 2022 Season, featuring both major musicals and new original shows in both venues! After presenting a Flexible 2021 Season that allowed shows to be presented online, outside or in a theatre, the company is preparing to make a safe return to live theatre with a bang, with COVID-resilient contingency plans in place for all productions.
The 2022 Season will include three large musical productions, an acclaimed Second City revue, the return of the Harvest Dinner and Dark Night Cabaret, and theatre camps in each location to launch the company’s new youth programming initiatives. Some productions will take place exclusively at the Marble Arts Centre in Tweed and others exclusively at the Village Playhouse in Bancroft, while some will be presented in both venues, marking the beginning of an exciting new era of partnership and collaboration between the two.
“Double your pleasure…double your fun….especially now that we have two theatre venues for staging our amazing productions,” says board president Don DeGenova. “We are so excited to get back into the theatre and even more so now that we have an incredible line-up…comedy, drama, song, dance…a lot of something for everyone! This is going to be a season like no other!”
To kick things off, Tweed & Co. is running their first ever virtual 50/50. Eligible Ontarians can begin purchasing tickets on February 8th; the draw will take place on April 1st at noon. Funds raised will directly support Tweed & Co. as they take over operations of two venues, improve the accessibility of both buildings, and develop programs for youth. Take your chances on winning some cash and support your favourite theatre company today! Visit tweedandcompany.com for details.
The 2022 season officially begins in May, with She The People, created and performed by the fearlessly funny women of The Second City – including Tweed & Company’s own Tricia Black! This high-octane show satirizes the complexities of identifying as female in this wild world while roasting the patriarchy with scorching sketch comedy, hilarious original songs and whip-smart improv. Audiences will have three opportunities to see this regional premiere at the Marble Arts Centre (May 11 & 12) and three opportunities at the Village Playhouse (May 13 & 14).
July will bring the highly-anticipated, regional premiere of the Canadian off-Broadway cult musical, Ride the Cyclone. In this hilarious and outlandish story, the lives of six teenagers from a Canadian chamber choir are cut short in a freak accident aboard a roller coaster. When they awake in limbo, a mechanical fortune teller invites each to tell their story to win a prize like no other — the chance to return to life. A funny and moving look at what makes a life well-lived! This production is produced with the support of the Ontario Arts Council, and will run July 19-23rd in Tweed and 27th-31st in Bancroft.
The first Broadway blockbuster musical to hit the stage at the Village Playhouse will be a Tweed & Company production of Mamma Mia! from August 17th -28th. Get ready to follow the Super Trouper lights to the Playhouse and embrace your inner Dancing Queen! Your Money Money Money will be well-spent on this fun, family-friendly musical, featuring a mix of the professional company, local talent, and young company performers. Don’t miss one of the longest running and most popular musicals in Broadway and Toronto history right here at home.
When the leaves start to turn, it will be time for the return of the much-loved Harvest Dinner & Dark Night Cabaret in Tweed. On September 23rd join your favourite Tweed & Company performers for a rousing evening of song, dance, magic, laughter – and food! A beautiful three-course meal by Enright Cattle Company and a local chef, and wine from Potter Settlement, as always, accompanies the cabaret. This is traditionally a sold-out event, so mark your calendars and book your tickets in advance!
The year will close with Cinder-Ellie – Tweed & Company’s first ever original, family-friendly holiday show that takes elements of the classic holiday pantomime and adds some fun new twists! This is sure to be a laugh riot with outrageous characters, stunning visuals, all your favourite pop-hits, lots of current events commentary, and a beautiful fairytale story to boot! This show will be performed at the Marble Arts Centre December 6th-10th, and at the Village Playhouse December 14th-18th. To top it all off, each venue will be offering a 3-show subscription package at a 15% discount from regular ticket prices! More details about which shows are included and how to book a subscription can be found on Tweed & Company’s website.
“We are so excited to kick off our residency in both of these beautiful theatres with one of our dream seasons,” Artistic Director, Tim Porter said. “She the People is one of the funniest things I’ve seen (all three times I saw it), Ride the Cyclone is one of my all time favourite musical and we are one of the first theatre companies in the country to secure the rights, and you just can’t get more fun than ABBA’s hit musical MAMMA MIA! It’s the perfect summer fare for Bancroft and we know it’s going to bring the house down. We’re so excited to continue to meet local talent, and to welcome audiences back to these stunning venues. And of course, I can’t wait for the holiday season this year, with Tweed & Company finally producing my true love, family pantomime. It’s going to be a truly incredible year.”
Programming will begin in March, with theatre camps for young people running in both venues from March 14th-18th. The Company will also run summer camps at each location, with dates and programming to be confirmed. They will also eventually be running regular weekly pre-professional classes and workshops throughout the year in both locations. Those interested in receiving more information about youth programming should visit Tweedandcompany.com, select a venue, then click the “Young Co” tab in the menu bar.
Tweed & Company’s season of professional musical theatre will also be augmented with concerts, comedy, and other one night only events, with several shows already booked in to be announced soon. The company is also slated to return the popular TIFF film festival program, and will be stocking the kitchen and licensed bars at both venues with local products.
Tweed and Company, a registered charity, would like to thank all their sponsors and everyone who has made individual donations to the company throughout the pandemic. It is because of this support that Tweed & Co. was able to thrive during two challenging years. With this announcement of their 2022 season the company, a registered charity, is welcoming new season sponsors and donors, and encourages those who are interested in supporting programming at one or both venues, to please reach out.