Posted by quinn
on August 2, 2009, 12:50 am
71.242.96.168
FROM THE STRATFORD BEACON HERALD:
Scrubbed Festival shows back on
By DONAL O'CONNOR, Staff Reporter
A box office turnaround has prompted the Stratford Shakespeare Festival to reinstate the last of 30 performances that had been put on hold at the beginning of the season.
The reinstated shows in September and October include "Julius Caesar," "West Side Story" and "The Importance of Being Earnest." A performance of "Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Forum" is also among the final 17 shows that are back on.
"Our productions have been getting terrific response from audiences and in the media," said artistic director Des McAnuff in a media release. "As a result of this and the injection of marketing funds that we have received from the federal and provincial governments, we've experienced a great deal of activity at the box office."
The Festival said ticket sales made great strides in May, June and July, showing a 35 per cent increase. As a result, revenue is down just five per cent from the previous year.
Festival general director Antoni Cimolino said the theatre anticipates the momentum in ticket sales will continue through the balance of the summer and fall.
In an unusual move back in April when sales were far softer than usual, the Festival suspended 30 shows that had been scheduled.
Tickets for the reinstated performances can be purchased through the box office at 1-800-567-1600 or online by visiting stratfordshakespearefestival.com.
The Festival's 2009 season runs until Nov. 1.
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