Here’s our first look at what’s coming up this summer on the city’s theatre scene.
Theatre is a big part of summer entertainment in Fredericton. Among the many outdoor concerts and festivals that take place between May and September, theatre events – including many outdoor shows – play an important role in the city’s summer entertainment lineup. And this year is shaping up to be one of the biggest yet.
While it’s too early to roll out a comprehensive list of everything planned for the coming season, we thought we’d compile a list of what has been confirmed so far. Check out the list below and adjust your calendars accordingly.
Productions
May:
Steel Magnolias (Branch Out Productions) | May 6-8 | Streaming Online | View Event
Steel Magnolias (based on the 1989 hit film) is a story of friendship that is sure to have you laughing and crying by the end of the night. BOP invites audiences to join them in Truvy’s beauty shop and to remember her mantra: “There is no such thing as natural beauty.” This production will be recorded and offered via Video on Demand in order to ensure safety for our audiences and performers.
June:
An Ocean of Evergreens (Red Panda Productions) | June 17-20 | Time and Location TBA
An Ocean of Evergreens by Jena McLean is a story about childhood best friends reuniting after four years apart in different cities and different worlds. As they return to Fundy National Park and undertake the traditional May long weekend camping trip, they are met with the ghosts of their past. This supernatural ensemble play explores topics of loss, grief and how growing apart is an important part of growing up. Stay up to date by following Red Panda’s Facebook page.
July:
Bard in the Barracks | Dates, Times and Locations TBA
After a year’s absence, Fredericton’s long-running Shakespeare in the Park series Bard in the Barracks will be back in 2021. Full details are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Keep your eyes on BITB’s Facebook page for updates as they become available.
NotaBle Acts Theatre Festival | July 21-31 | Times and Locations TBA
NotaBle Acts Theatre Festival is New Brunswick’s premier theatre festival celebrating new and emerging theatre talent from right here in the province. Each year brings a mix of street theatre, site-specific, streaming, indoor and outdoor productions. Full details on this year’s festival are expected shortly. Submissions for this year’s playwriting contest are now being accepted. Full info on that can be found on the NotaBle Acts Facebook page.
Camelot (Red Panda Productions) | July 22-25 | Time and Location TBA
This 1960’s musical follows the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Join Arthur as he rules over the Kingdom of Camelot. The magnificent score will shepherd through this epic tale of romance, betrayal, war and defeat.
The Mousetrap (Red Panda/Spearhead Theatre) | July 19 – August 1 | Times and Locations TBA
Having premiered on London’s West End in 1952, this hilarious murder mystery is the longest-running play in history with over 27,000 performances.
Extra: The Calithiumpians have traditional run outdoor theatre shows, haunted hikes and heritage walking tours all summer long and are expected to return once again for a second adapted season in response to health restrictions. Watch for updates at calithumpians.com
Workshops
Solo Chicken Productions’ Groundworks series is back for another season with workshops running now until the end of June. Full details on Groundworks 2.0 can be found on the SCP website.
Summer Camps and Youth Programs
Branch Out Productions:
BLAST! | July 2nd to August 13 | Friday afternoons from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. | BOP Studio | Learn more
Broadway Bound Musical Theatre Camp | July 19-23 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | BOP Studio | Learn more
TNB Theatre School:
Each summer, TNB Theatre School hosts a variety of summer programs for elementary, middle and high school students. Full details on this year’s programming are expected to be announced in the coming weeks. Watch for updates at tnb.nb.ca
Calithumpians:
The Calithumpians will be running nine weeks of summer camps this season for various age groups. Registration is now open and full details can be found at calithumpians.com
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Send us your info!
If you have information on a Fredericton theatre event coming up over the 2021 summer season, let us know! Send your info to gridcitymagazine (at) gmail.com
