FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Festival Players Celebrates!

 Prince Edward County, ON, (March 19, 2010): Festival Players has received a $75,000 grant from the Ministry of Tourism’s Celebrate Ontario 2010 program.
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Ontario’s festivals and events are major economic drivers for communities across the province. They enrich local communities and increase tourism and tourist spending. Celebrate Ontario 2010 is an $11 million program to help festivals and events of all sizes reach new audiences and invigorate local economies. 
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With this funding Festival Players will extend the playing season to 8 weeks, allowing greater exposure to both local and visiting audiences. They will also purchase and install ticketing software which will allow patrons of various live events across Prince Edward County (including but not limited to Festival Players events) to purchase their tickets conveniently in advance and online. The company will also purchase a tent to house its outdoor shows.  
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“This is incredibly good news for us. We are truly looking forward to working with businesses and organizations in the region to promote Prince Edward County as a tourist destination in Ontario, and to make a Festival Players performance a go-to event on any visit. 50% of our audience is comprised of visitors. We’re grateful to be provided the opportunity, through the Ministry of Tourism, to improve all aspects of our patrons’ experience, from ticket buying to show schedule to venue environment,” says Artistic Director, Sarah Phillips.
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The 2010 Festival Players season runs from June 29 – August 28, 2010 in venues across the County. Check the website for more details at www.festivalplayers.ca. Flex Passes are still a great deal. Buy them now and beat the HST

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Contact: Yorrick da Silva or Sarah Phillips, Festival Players of Prince Edward County 
613.399.5677, yorrick@festivalplayers.ca, sarah@festivalplayers.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FESTIVAL PLAYERS WELCOMES JOAN PENNEFATHER TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 Prince Edward County, ON, (February 25, 2009): Festival Players is pleased to announce the new volunteer members of its Board of Directors lead by chair Joan Pennefather. Ms. Pennefather has over 30 years experience working in the cultural and communications industries. She spent time as the head of two of the country’s cultural institutions, the National Film Board of Canada and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. As well, she spent nearly a decade as a Commissioner with the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC). Ms. Pennefather served on numerous boards in the Ottawa area before moving to Prince Edward County.
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“Joan brings a lot to the table. She’s very knowledgeable and is deeply committed to arts and culture. We’re very lucky to have her assume the role of chair,” says Artistic Director, Sarah Phillips.
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Ms. Pennefather is joined by Kimberley Lander as Secretary/Treasurer and Directors at large Gerry Brooks, René Dick, Hedy Kellar, Wendy Murphy and ex officio member Sarah Phillips. The Board of Directors is a group of committed volunteers who work tirelessly to promote and support the Festival year-round. The first initiative of the new chair was a strategic planning session designed to develop a road map for the company over the next three years. If you are interested in speaking about a possible role as a Board or committee member, you can visit the website and contact the company for more information.
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“I’m honoured – delighted – to join Festival Players. They’ve already brought such wonderful theatre to the County. I look forward to doing what I can to support an amazing and prosperous future” says Joan Pennefather, Board Chair.
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Festival Players is planning an extended season for 2010, commencing on June 29^th and running for 8 weeks in various locations throughout the County. The Flex Pass, an early-bird purchase discount which currently sees a savings of 20% over the cost of regular priced tickets, is still available for purchase. Visit www.festivalplayers.ca for more information about the season, passes, special promotional packages and more.

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Contact: Sarah Phillips, Festival Players of Prince Edward County         

613.399.5677 or sarah@festivalplayers.ca

MEDIA RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 
ELIZA-JANE SCOTT RETURNS TO PLAY AMELIA EARHART

Prince Edward County, ON, (January 21, 2010): Festival Players has just announced that actress Eliza-Jane Scott will return to the County in 2010 to play iconic aviatrix Amelia Earhart.

Ms.Scott, who impressed audiences in 2009 with her work in Ship of Fire and Colours in the Storm, returns to take on the starring role in a new musical by playwright John Gray. Audiences worldwide have long applauded Gray’s award-winning musical Billy Bishop Goes to War and Amelia brings his songwriting and script writing talent to bear on the story of this ‘girl-next-door’ turned celebrity. The 2010 Festival Players production marks the world premiere of this newest version of the play. It’s part biography, part love story, part thrill of the flight and chock full of wonderful music.

Tickets for the 2010 season go on sale in the spring but those who want a great deal can get on board early and purchase a Flex Pass. The Flex Pass is redeemable for 3 regular priced tickets to the season and is currently offered at $71 (a 20% discount). Simply call 613.399.5677 or email boxoffice@festivalplayers.ca to order your 2010 Flex Pass. Pass prices go up on February 14.

Festival Players, now into their fourth season, will be presenting three outstanding Canadian plays between June 29 and August 28, 2010. Check out their website for details, www.festivalplayers.ca.

*hi-res photos attached –  Eliza-Jane Scott and Stephen Sparks in the 2009 production of Colours in the Storm, and promo shot of Eliza-Jane Scott

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Contact: Yorrick da Silva, Festival Players of Prince Edward County
613.399.5677 or yorrick@festivalplayers.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FESTIVAL PLAYERS SEASON GETS GREEN LIGHT

Prince Edward County, ON, (June 30, 2009): Inspired by two generous donations, the Board of Directors for Festival Players has voted to proceed with the third season as planned. Though still some distance from their fundraising goals, Board members were confident that additional financial support would be found.

“There’ve been ups and downs before, but the economic situation this year has really taken us for a ride,” says Artistic Director Sarah Phillips.  “I’m incredibly grateful to our donors for showing their faith in the project, for their belief in the importance of this kind of activity here in the County. The positive spin-off effects will be felt throughout the community. The best part of all is that people are going to get to see these beautiful shows! We’re so lucky to have this kind of talent gracing our stages. Anyone who doesn’t have their tickets yet better hop to it! They’re in for a real treat.”

In recent weeks, Festival Players has been the fortunate recipient of two $20 000 donations — one from an anonymous donor and a matching one from the McLean Smits Foundation. On the weekend, the theatre company received a $5 000 cheque from the Mark Daniels and Andrea Weissman-Daniels Foundation. Underlying these marquee donations are the personal contributions from past patrons. These smaller amounts, often accompanied with words of support and appreciation, are adding up to big numbers too.

More information about the theatre company, their third season, and how to donate, can be found by visiting their website www.festivalplayers.ca or calling 613.399.5677.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 613.471.1991 or emailing boxoffice@festivalplayers.ca

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Contact: Anne Heathcote, Festival Players of Prince Edward County         

613.399.5677   anne@festivalplayers.ca

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MATCHING DONATION HELPS KEEP FESTIVAL AFLOAT

Prince Edward County, ON, (June 22, 2009): Things are looking up for Festival Players’ third season. Hot on the heels of an anonymous $20 000 donation, Artistic Director Sarah Phillips received word that the McLean Smits Family Foundation was going to match that contribution.

“These donations are fantastic news for the Festival. We’ve seen a steady flow of responses to our recent request for support. To know that the grassroots support is there is very heartening,” says Phillips. “Hopefully those amounts will continue to flow and we’ll manage to secure at least one other matching $20,000 donation. We’re not out of the woods yet but if that happens in the very near future, we’ll definitely be moving forward with the season. My fingers are crossed and then some.”

For their part, the McLean Smits Family Foundation is hopeful the donation will help drive others to support the theatre company. “We’re happy to support Festival Players of Prince Edward County. Festival Players is an important part of making the County a wonderful place to live and visit,” say Foundation heads Sonja Smits and Seaton McLean. Smits is one of Canada’s best known actors and her husband, Seaton McLean, was one of the founders of Alliance Atlantis Communications. Both are proud proprietors of Closson Chase Vineyards in Hillier.

Even with the recent boost to their coffers, the Festival may still experience a financial shortfall. The Artistic Director will continue to seek matching funds from potential donors as the clock clicks down to Opening Night. The first show of the season, Ship of Fire, has entered its second week of rehearsals, and the Schoolhouse cast arrives next week.

More information about the theatre company, and how to donate, can be found by visiting their website www.festivalplayers.ca or calling 613.399.5677.

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Contact: Anne Heathcote, Festival Players of Prince Edward County         

613.399.5677   anne@festivalplayers.ca                 

Prince Edward County, ON, (April 23, 2009): Audiences are in for a great treat with the return of County favourites Natasha Pasternak and Michael O’Hara. Some audience members may have seen them in the workshop stage of this show last year at the Black River Chapel as part of the Kerosene Lamp Concert Series. They will be reprising their roles in this professionally staged World Premiere of Ship of Fire. Natasha and Michael are seasoned Festival Players veterans who have been part of the musical since its inception and through several draft versions. In fact, the roles of Patience and Canaan were written expressly for them.

The play is a collaboration between singer/songwriter Suzanne Pasternak, writer/director Marion de Vries, composer and music director Tom Leighton and writer Bernie Gaw. This artistic team, who’ve worked together on shows in the past, is bringing to life a moment in Prince Edward County’s marine history for audiences to enjoy.

“It’s a little bit ‘Titanic’, a little bit ‘Heritage Minute’, and full of great music. We are tickled to have Natasha and Michael joining us for a third season. It will be exciting to see them in Ship of Fire in its full glory, fully staged.” says Festival Players Artistic Director Sarah Phillips. “Lots has happened since the presentation in December – new story bits, new songs, some new structural elements. It’s always so exciting to see how these things evolve.”

Director Marion de Vries has assembled an accomplished supporting cast, each of whom has been nominated for a Dora award. Martin Julien, featured on such Canadian mainstays as Due South and Street Legal, will play Mr. Oliver. Eliza-Jane Scott, seen recently in Toronto productions of The Producers and The Full Monty, will play the role of Katie. Stephen Sparks, who has played stages across Canada and has been seen locally at Stirling Festival Theatre, is cast as Captain Wright.

Also returning for a third season is Lighting and Set Designer, Glenn Davidson, well known in the theatre community for his inventive and engaging environments. Another Festival veteran, Jennifer Triemstra, will be designing the period costumes for Ship of Fire.

The 2009 Season continues with Schoolhouse by Leanna Brodie and Colours in the Storm by Jim Betts. Casting announcements for these productions will be forthcoming.

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