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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowTwo years ago, the first IBJ A&E Road Trip took central Indiana arts lovers to see Chicago Shakespeare Theatre’s production of “Sunday in the Park with George”—a production that later went on to win Joseph Jefferson Awards (the local Tony Award equivalent) for best musical, best director and best production/video design.
Before the performance, we took a backstage tour of the acclaimed theater and visited the Institute of Contemporary Art to see George Seurat’s “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte,” the painting that inspired the musical.
The enthusiastic response from those who joined me on that trek inspired more trips, including visits to Cincinnati to see the national tour of “War Horse” and back to Chicago for the Goodman Theatre’s “The Jungle Book” and the pre-Broadway production of “Big Fish.”
Now we’re getting even more ambitious, partnering with Ambassadair on a trip to the Stratford Shakespeare Festival (with side trips to Niagara Falls and the Shaw Festival) July 30 to Aug. 3.
Since 1952, the Stratford Festival, housed at four venues including the Festival Theatre, above, has offered world-class theater from Shakespeare and more. (Photo/Stratford Shakespeare Festival/Erin Samuell)The Stratford trip features performances of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” the Gershwin musical “Crazy for You,” and a tragedy/comedy choice of “King Lear” or Noel Coward’s “Hay Fever.” And there’s an optional “Arms and the Man” at the nearby Shaw Festival. Bonuses include backstage tours, actor encounters, a boat tour of Niagara Falls, a visit to the Edsel and Eleanor Ford Home outside of Detroit, and more.
I’ll be hosting the trip and looking forward to offering background info, comparing notes, sharing theater stories, and otherwise doing everything I can to make this into a one-of-a-kind A&E adventure.
For information, pricing and more, visit www.ambassadair.com and click the link for U.S. & Canada trips. To get early email notification of future trips, drop me a note at lharry@ibj.com with IBJ A&E TRIPS in the subject line.•
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This column appears weekly. Send information on upcoming arts and entertainment events to lharry@ibj.com.
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