New Segal season to focus on classics

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April 3, 2013

The Suburban
March 27, 2013

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Following a spirited performance by a group of jazz musicians, stand-up comedian and actor Mike Paterson took to the Segal Centre stage last Thursday, performing a sketch lampooning Alec Baldwin’s monologue from the film version of Glengarry Glen Ross. The intention of the bit was to encourage the public to purchase subscriptions for the upcoming 2013-14 season, but it also teased the eventual reveal that David Mamet’s seminal work will be included in the lineup of plays.

“With no small amount of terror and the greatest of anticipation, I will make my directorial debut,” said Segal artistic producer Paul Flicker of his involvement with Glengarry Glen Ross.

Set to open on March 16, 2014, Glengarry will be followed by Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls.

“[These] two plays are almost companion pieces; two modern masterpieces on the price of success and the personal cost of ambition,” said Flicker. “One features seven men set in Regan’s America and the other, seven women, set in Thatcher’s Britain.”

The season will open on September 29, 2013 with a production of the classic Fats Waller musical Ain’t Misbehavin’, to be directed by Roger Peace, who recently took the reigns of The Mahalia Jackson Musical.

Transitioning from a classic musical to an all time classic of theatre, the Segal will next offer William Shakespeare’s Othello. The tragic tale of the Moor of Venice will be directed by Alison Darcy and will feature Montreal theatre veteran Maurice Podbrey in the role of Brabantio.

Describing the next production as the fulfillment of a personal dream, Flicker revealed that, from February 2-16, 2014, the Segal will present The Seagull. Set to be directed by Peter Hinton, this new adaptation of the Anton Chekhov play will move away from the traditional Victorian setting and reposition itself in the 1970s.

After the previously mentioned Glengarry Glen Ross and Top Girls, the Segal will close out its season with a Yiddish musical production of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz. This will mark the return of former Segal artistic director Bryna Wasserman.

“Mordecai, who attended the performance originally, gave it his blessing,” said Wasserman at the launch. “We will certainly be able to dedicate this performance to him and to his work.”

The crowd demonstrated its enthusiasm by giving Wasserman a standing ovation as she took to the stage.

“Coming home seems to be a theme this afternoon,” she said. “It’s good to be home. It’s wonderful that creating a season launch could bring such wonderful artists, directors, actors and musicians into one space.”

For all other information about the Segal’s 2013-14 season, visit www.segalcentre.org

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