Welcome to the exciting eleventh season of Highlands Summer Festival and the fourth for the Highlands Opera Studio. We have a fantastic line-up for you this year, including:

The musical The Goodbye Girl is based on Neil Simon's well-known film about an unlikely romance between an egotistical actor, Elliot, who sublets a friend's Manhattan apartment, and his friend's ex-girlfriend, Paula, a former dancer, and her precocious pre-teen daughter, Lucy, who still live there. This Tony Award Winning Musical features the same unique humor that has made Neil Simon the most popular playwright in Broadway history. Add a score by Marvin Hamlisch, composer of A Chorus Line, and you have an instant contemporary classic! Opens July 5 for ten performances.

Greg returns to his Upper West Side apartment in the late afternoon accompanied by Sylvia, a beautiful, frisky young blonde he has just picked up in the park. He worries about how Kate, his wife, is going to respond to Sylvia, a dog he found - or perhaps she has found him. Dramatic literature is stuffed with memorable love scenes, but none is as immediately delicious and dizzy as the one that begins the redeeming affair in A. R. Gurney's comedy, Sylvia. Sylvia offers Greg an escape from the frustrations of his job and the unknowns of middle age. To Kate, Sylvia becomes a rival for affection. The marriage is put in serious jeopardy until, after a series of priceless and touching complications, Greg and Kate learn to compromise, and Sylvia becomes a valued part of their lives. This hilarious romantic triangle is for anyone who has ever owned a dog, loved a dog, and even those who don't believe that a dog is man's best friend. (Some language may not be suitable for younger audience members.) Opens July 19 for eight performances.

The creative team responsible for a recent Broadway flop is cut off, in a mansion, from the rest of the world, by a vicious blizzard. Add sliding panels, secret passageways, a German maid who is, apparently, four different people, a "Slasher" who strikes again and again and accusing fingers that point in all directions. The mystery gets solved in the nick of time but not before the audience has been treated to a sidesplitting good time and a generous serving of the author John Bishop's satirical and refreshingly irreverent wit. Opens August 2 for eight performances.

Highlands Summer Festival veteran actor and musician Tom Regina has created an enchanting and upbeat summer concert featuring a woodwind quintet. With the creative genius of composers such as Ravel, Grieg, Piazzolla, Scott Joplin and others at his command, and colleagues from the Peterborough Symphony Orchestra, Tom will lead a musical journey from classical to contemporary jazz featuring flute, oboe, clarinet, French horn and bassoon. It's an evening sure to delight all musical tastes. July 12, August 6 and 9.

We are delighted to welcome to our stage, Don Harron, one of Canada's most extraordinary talents, a modern "Renaissance Man", whose entertainment career includes achievements as an actor, writer, broadcaster, comic and producer. Don is probably best known to Canadians for the five years he spent as the popular host of the CBC radio series Morningside, for which he won an ACTRA award. Though Don is usually cast in dramatic roles, he has made thousands laugh with his alter ego characters–especially Charlie Farquharson. Charlie was first introduced to Canadians in 1952 at The Spring Thaw - a revue in which Don has been involved since its creation. He later appeared on the US comedy show Hee Haw. Don will present two performances featuring his wit and wisdom as well as a visit from Charlie. Don will be joined by Claudette and pianist David Warrack for these performances. July 26 and 27.

Highlands Opera Studio

The participants in the Highlands Opera Studio present four evenings of their favourite selections from the best-loved operas of the world. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear familiar arias, duets, choruses and more.....all in one evening. August 13, 8 p.m. at the Minden United Church, August 19 and 21 at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion at the High School in Haliburton at 8 p.m. and a special performance, Tuesday, August 24, 7 p.m. at the Rene M. Caisse Memorial Theatre in Bracebridge.

Singers from the Highlands Opera Studio demonstrate their skill and versatility as they present the one act opera by Glan Carlo Menotti, The Old Maid and the Thief, performed in English, August 20 and 22 (matinee) at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion at the High School in Haliburton.

Puccini set this opera in Paris of the 1800's at the height of the invasion of Bohemian artists, from which the title is drawn. The love affair between seamstress Mimi and poet Rodolfo, at the centre of the story, is on the rocks and life is tough for these young artists and their friends as they try to eke out a living. While attempting a reconciliation, they discover that Mimi is ill. The Highlands Opera Studio presentation of the world famous La Bohème includes participants in this year's Opera Studio program in principal roles. Four performances: August 29, matinee, 2:30; and August 30, 31 and September 1, 7:30 p.m.

Opera Master Classes

The Highlands Opera Studio participants present a selection from an opera and then the audience listens in as an adjudicator asseses the presentation providing tips and encouragement as well as crtical analysis. When the piece is sung again we can see how the suggestions have made a great performance even better. These Master Classes provide a great learning opportunity for anyone studying music and in particular, any choral music participant. Admission is free, with donations welcome. Friday and Saturday, August 6 & 7, at the Minden United Church. 8 p.m.

 

Highlands Summer Festival and Highlands Opera Studio patrons continue to support our efforts, not only by purchasing tickets, but by donating to the Friends of Highlands Summer Festival. With these generous gifts, theatre enthusiasts have added to the quality of our productions each year. As well, they have helped enhance the theatrical infrastructure at the Northern Lights Performing Art Pavilion. Those who are considering making a donation should note, the Highlands Summer Festival is a not-for-profit, charitable company.

With the 2010 season set and the planning already started, we can feel the excitement building. As we lift the curtain on the eleventh anniversary season of great drama, comedy and music, we look forward to seeing you at the theatre.

Jack Brezina, President