SYDNEY, N.S. — Following a successful limited summer season that saw almost 1,600 people seated for 32 physically-distanced performances, the Highland Arts Theatre plans to continue its small productions with a newly announced 2020 fall season.
“We were waiting to see what would happen in September, so everything is of course very tentative,” HAT artistic and executive director Wesley J. Colford said in a news release.
“So far we’ve been extremely lucky and it’s been months since we’ve had new COVID cases in Cape Breton.”
If things continue on track, the fall mainstage season will start Oct. 6 with the debut of a new play by local playwright Lindsay Thompson called “Sweet Enough.”
The play is a warm and charming look at the relationship between a young girl and her aging neighbours, according to a press release on the performance. It was originally developed for the Elizabeth Boardmore One-Act Play Festival at Cape Breton University and has since been expanded with the support of Arts Nova Scotia and the Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre.
November will include the Cape Breton premiere of the beloved Canadian wartime musical, “Billy Bishop Goes to War” by Eric Peterson and John Gray. This theatrical tour-de-force toured the country for years after its conception in the late 1970s. It documents the life and wartime foibles of legendary Canadian fighter pilot, Billy Bishop. This will be the first time the musical has been produced in Cape Breton and it will be directed by Ron Jenkins with Mark Delaney as the titular character.
For the mainstage series, there will be high comedy in Santa’s mailroom this December as the HAT premieres a brand-new play by Canadian Comedy award-winner Rebecca Northern, best known for her show “Blind Date.” This world premiere follows Ginger, a junior elf in Santa’s mailroom, who dreams of being promoted to the toy factory. But when a mysterious parcel arrives addressed to Santa on Christmas Eve she cannot resist indulging her curiosity.
These three mainstage productions are all being supported by the HAT’s new Radical Access program. The fundraising campaign is currently at 94 per cent of its total goal. If it can reach 100 per cent all mainstage productions will be free of charge for the entire year. All Radical Access donors will also get advanced access to reserve their tickets starting Sept. 14 for $50 per month donors and continuing throughout the week.
Tickets for the general public will be released two weeks prior to the opening of each mainstage show. The HAT also announced bonus productions.
Starting Oct. 27, the HAT will produce its very first site-specific play: a psychological thriller called “Little One” by Halifax-based playwright, Hannah Moscovitch. Rather than gracing the HAT stage, this play will be presented in a house in Whitney Pier, just in time for Halloween. The play features actors Tayves Fiddis (Mary’s Wedding) and Bhreagh MacNeil (Werewolf) and will be directed by Alison Crosby, who will also direct “Sweet Enough” as the HAT’s first official Artist-in-Residence. Tickets will go on sale soon at $20 each and with only 15 audience members per performance, the run is expected to sell out quickly.
The annual tradition of “A Christmas Carol” will live on, although in a slightly different format. In the age of physical distancing, large casts are not possible, and so the HAT has committed to presenting a re-imagined production for this year. This year’s carol will feature only five performers, playing the dozens of roles that make up the world of Ebenezer Scrooge. It will also be a dinner theatre, allowing families and “bubbles” to book entire physically-distanced tables for family celebrations or work parties. While the details are still being developed, this will be another “off-site” production which will allow for slightly larger audiences at separate tables. Expect more details to be announced soon, with tickets likely going on sale by the beginning of October.
