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Thousand Islands Playhouse

Company in Gananoque, Ontario, founded in 1982 by Gregory Wanless, who was Artistic Director until 2012. Ashlie Corcoran was AD from 2012 to 2017. The current Managing Artistic Director is Brett Christopher.

The company presents a wide variety of works from May to November in two waterfront theatre spaces: Springer Theatre, and the more recently established Firehall Theatre (2004), which features innovative new works. The Playhouse now presents seven productions in its two theatres over a twenty-six week season to a total audience of over forty-four thousand. Since 1982, it has produced 200 plays, 26 of which were world premieres, and 75% of which were Canadian. It also hosts visiting companies, and co-productions.

Productions include Comedy of Errors, Man of La Mancha, Anne of Green Gables, Thirteen Hands (which it also toured), Dekker's Last Stand., For The Pleasure of Seeing Her Again (2000) by Michel Tremblay, Trying (2005) by Joanna McClelland Glass, Half Life (2008) by John Mighton, Hockey Mom, Hockey Dad (2008) by Michael Melski, Assorted Candies by Michel Tremblay, A Grand Time In The Rapids by Stewart Lemoine (2016, dir. Ron Pederson), Bed and Breakfast by Mark Crawford (2015), and Maggie and Pierre by Linda Griffiths (2017, dir. Rob Kempson).

In September 2019, the Playhouse presented Asking for It by Ellie Moon, "a searing documentary play that looks at sex, gender, and how consent is understood personally and politically in the wake of the Ghomeshi scandal, featuring candid interviews with people of all ages and backgrounds" (website) (mise-en-scene by Brendan Healy, production direction by Carly Chamberlain). In July, 2021, the Playhouse reopened for a live audience with Sexy Laundry by Michele Riml after being closed for a year by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Playhouse annually produces a ‘Young Company’ play that tours throughout eastern Ontario visiting schools and recreation programs. The Young Company often includes Queen’s Drama department students and graduates. The Playhouse is also the host production company for the Herman Voaden Playwriting Competition held every two years by the Queen’s Drama department.

Website: www.1000islandsplayhouse.com

Last updated 2021-08-03