Rocking On! Toronto Hit We Will Rock You Re-Opens at Panasonic Theatre
By Kenneth Jones
16 Jul 2008
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Erica Peck, Yvan Pedneault and Jack Langedijk in We Will Rock You.
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| photo by Cylla von Tiedemann | We Will Rock You is born again July 16 in Toronto following a 61-week run that ended May 11 at the Canon Theatre. Its new home is Toronto's 700-seat Panasonic Theatre.
The physical production has been somewhat modified to fit the more intimate Panasonic. The audience will be closer to the action, the creators said. The earlier cast returns to the resuming production.
A Dora Award winner for Best Musical, the Canadian production of We Will Rock You — a futuristic tale written and directed by Ben Elton, using the hit songs of Queen — was originally scheduled to play seven weeks at the 2,300-seat Canon.
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By the time its Canon run ended (on May 11), the musical was seen by more than 700,000 people, generated an estimated economic spin-off to the city of $180 million and provided employment to more than 300 Canadian artists, technicians and theatre support staff, according to producer David Mirvish.
Mirvish stated, "Since we announced that We Will Rock You would end its Toronto run to prepare for a tour, the response for tickets has been phenomenal. It was clear we had to keep the show in Toronto longer. But the Canon Theatre has a full season of shows booked, beginning immediately with the Luminato Festival presentation of A Midsummer Night's Dream at the beginning of June.
"This problem was solved when we entered into an agreement to purchase both the Canon Theatre and the Panasonic Theatre from Key Brand Entertainment. The newly built Panasonic Theatre is a wonderfully intimate venue, with state-of-the-art facilities, and in an ideal location. It is perfectly suited for We Will Rock You, providing a unique, new experience for audiences to enjoy this rocking show."
Writer and director Ben Elton stated, "This more intimate venue is the perfect place for those who love their rock music live. The audience will be closer to the band and closer to the action. So come watch the tonsils rattle and the guitarists sweat as our young rebel heroes save Rock all over again."
Set 300 years in the future, in a time when live music is banned on earth, We Will Rock You "is about the rebellious kids, fighting against the all-powerful Globalsoft Corporation that controls their lives and feeds them a diet of synthesized pop. Could the young Galileo and Scaramouche be the heroes needed who will help them 'break free' of their chains to rediscover themselves and live music?"
The all-Canadian cast features Yvan Pedneault as Galileo, Erica Peck as Scaramouche, Alana Bridgewater as the Killer Queen, Adam Brazier as Khashoggi, Jack Langedijk as Pop, Sterling Jarvis as Duff and Valerie Stanois as Oz.
With Brian May and Roger Taylor as music supervisors, the show is written and directed by Ben Elton ("Blackadder," The Beautiful Game and Popcorn) and features 32 of Queen's greatest hits.
We Will Rock You is produced by David Mirvish and The Kimsa Group, in association with Queen Theatrical Productions, Phil McIntyre Entertainment and Tribeca Theatrical Productions.
The musical is now in its sixth year in London, and has been seen in Australia, Spain, Russia and South Africa and is playing in England, Switzerland, Germany, Japan and Spain. Globally, an audience of more than six million has already seen the show.
The Panasonic Theatre is located at 651 Yonge Street in Toronto. The performance schedule is Wednesday-Saturday at 8 PM, Saturday and Sunday at 2 PM, and selected Wednesday matinees at 2 PM. Tickets are $25-$85. There is a lottery for $25 front row seats.
For tickets, call TicketKing at (416) 872-1212 or (800) 461-3333 or visit www.mirvish.com.
For more information visit www.wewillrockyou.ca.
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Sterline Jarvis and the Toronto company of We Will Rock You.
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| photo by Cylla von Tiedemann |
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