Aubrey Dan, president of Dancap Productions, made the announcement May 20 at the Main Stage at the Toronto Centre for the Arts, where Dan has a long-term agreement to present and produce major productions — tours and shows he produces and co-produces.
The national tour of Happy Days, the new musical by Garry Marshall and Paul Williams, based on Marshall's famous TV sitcom, will arrive in February 2009.
Dancap will co-produce the Charlottetown Festival's Anne of Green Gables, based on the beloved "girl book" about a red-headed orphan on Prince Edward Island. It will begin in May 2009.
"Anne has graced our stage for 44 consecutive years," said David MacKenzie, CEO of Charlottetown's Confederation Centre of the Arts. "More than 2.3 million people will have seen our production in Charlottetown by the end of this summer. It is almost 18 years since we last staged Anne in Toronto, and we could not be happier than to announce today our partnership with Dancap Productions Inc. to bring Canada's favorite redhead to Toronto."
Based on L.M. Montgomery's book, Anne of Green Gables has a libretto by Don Harron, music by Norman Campbell and lyrics by Don Harron, Norman Campbell, Elaine Campbell and Mavor Moore. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, with a Canadian cast and crew, will play November 2009 to January 2010.
"As a presenter, co-producer and producer, Dancap Productions is dedicated to embracing the Canadian theatre community," stated Paul Shaw, Dancap Productions' artistic producer. "Canada has a tremendous pool of talent that includes actors, directors, designers, musicians, and craftspeople, and as a keystone of Canada's entertainment industry, live theatre must continue to provide opportunities for the considerable talent we have in this country."
Originally conceived by the three-time Tony Award-winning director Jack O'Brien, the whimsical musical about Whoville and the creature who wants to thwart yule happiness features the songs "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" and "Welcome Christmas" (from the animated TV version), plus a new score. The musical is a regional and Broadway hit in the U.S.
Additional 2009 Dancap shows will be announced.
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Launched in 2007 by Aubrey Dan, Dancap Productions Inc. (dancaptickets.com), is a commercial theatre company dedicated to producing the best of Broadway-style theatre created in collaboration with acclaimed artists and award-winning creative teams. On Broadway and internationally, the company's producing and investment credits include Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n' Roll, The Farnsworth Invention, Jersey Boys, Wicked, The Wedding Singer, The Pirate Queen and In the Heights.
Dancap Productions is also a strategic member of the theatrical development and production company Elephant Eye Theatrical which has a current slate of projects that include The Addams Family, Bruce Lee: Journey to the West and Saved.
For ticket information, visit dancaptickets.com.
