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SHE VISITS- Sept 24, 25, 26, 27- Theatre at Pioneer Memorial Hall
SHE'S BACK! With her new one-woman show called "SHE VISITS."
Down By The Bays is beyond excited to welcome award winning playwright & actor MAJA ARDAL back to our theatre space at Pioneer Memorial Hall.
Audiences will remember Maja from her recent outstanding performance at Pioneer with her award winning play 'YOU FANCY YOURSELF.'
And here she is again with her most recent play, SHE VISITS.
4 PERFORMANCES ONLY: Sept. 24 @ 2pm, Sept. 25 @ 7pm, Sept. 26 @ 7pm & Sept. 27 @ 2pm.
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With Pioneer Memorial's new elevated tiered seating, there are only 40 seats available for each performance. Advanced on-line tickets are strongly encouraged. If any seats remain, $40 cash will be accepted at the door.
$10 from each ticket sale will be donated to Pioneer Memorial United Church.
Maja Ardal’s adaptation of Friedrich Dűrrenmatt’s masterpiece (Der Besuch Der Alten Dame)—“The Visit of the Old Lady”—is as relevant now as it was when he wrote it in 1956.
The Story. Claire Onassiopolus is fabulously wealthy. After 45 years Claire is returning home to Gardenia, her impoverished small town with a plan. Alfred Gill, one of the town’s most beloved citizens, is chosen to greet Claire and use his charm on her to see if she can help financially as much as possible. Claire and Alfred had a ‘history’ when they were teenagers so Alfred seems the smartest choice to ‘sweet-talk’ Claire. Various people remember her sense of justice, humanity etc. They soon find out about her keen sense of justice.
After Claire is settled in the town’s hotel, with her entourage of two beefy body-guards, two blind eunuch servants, her pet panther and a coffin, and the leaders of the town wine and dine her, Claire tells the folks what she will do for them. She will give the town $80 million and $20 million do be divided evenly among the townsfolk. On one condition, that they kill Alfred Gill. Pandemonium ensues. Disgust from the town’s folk that she should suggest such a despicable thing. Claire explains.
When she was 15-years-old Claire became pregnant by Alfred. He denied it. There was a bastardy case. Two teens were bribed by Alfred to say they slept with Claire. The result is that Claire was run out of town. She became a prostitute and rich, old Onassiopolus was one of her clients and he married her. When he died Claire inherited his wealth and then she plotted to get her revenge on the townsfolk of Gardenia and Alfred in particular. The people refuse her offer. Claire says she can wait. It’s one of the great lines of dramatic literature and how the town’s folk then react is one of the great character developments in a play.
DOORS OPEN 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO SHOW TIME.
THERE IS ONE INTERMISSION with refreshments provided by Pioneer Memorial United Church with a cash donation.
Pioneer Memorial United Church is located at 2370 Hwy #60 (at the foot of Tally-Ho Winter Park Road) Hillside, Lake of Bays
DOWN BY THE BAYS is a community cultural hub for performing arts in Lake of Bays. Dot The T Productions, Muskoka Players, Muskoka Stageworks and The Dorset Theatre Company share the stages at the Lake of Bays United Churches in Hillside (Pioneer Memorial Hall), Dwight (Stewart Memorial) and Dorset (Knox United).
We thank the Muskoka Community Foundation Grant from the Township of Lake of Bays for their support of the Down By The Bays community cultural hub.
Shakespeare: A Most Rare Vision - June 12-14, 2024 at Pioneer Church Hall
Muskoka Players present "SHAKESPEARE: A MOST RARE VISION"
Written and Performed by Lake of Bays resident, Bill Colgate and directed by his wife, Joan Bendon.
REVIEW:
"Bill Colgate's one-man romp through Shakespeare's works is delightful... Whether you are a serious Shakespeare fan or you haven't thought about the plays since high school, you'll love this show. "Andrew Wagner Chazalon, Editor/CEO of Dockside Magazine.
Tickets $25 (with $10 donated to Pioneer Memorial United Church Furnace Campaign)
Contact dotthet@yahoo.com to RESERVE your spot today. Let us know your name, the performance date, number of tickets and e-transfer $25 per ticket.
Wednesday June 12 at 2 pm, Thursday June 13 at 7 pm, Friday June 14 at 2 pm
Pioneer Memorial Church Hall, 2370 Highway 60 at Hillside, Lake of Bays
As seating is limited to 50 people/performance, reserving your spot is highly recommended.
If seats are still available, $25 Cash only will be accepted at the door. Doors open 30 minutes to show time. There is also a cash-only concession.
REMINDER, $10 from every ticket sold and all concession donations will contribute to the Pioneer Memorial Church's Furnace Replacement Campaign. NOTE: Over $4,000 has been raised so far!
DOWN BY THE BAYS is a community cultural hub for performing arts in Lake of Bays. Dot The T Productions, Muskoka Players, Muskoka Stageworks and The Dorset Theatre Company share the stages at the Lake of Bays United Churches in Hillside (Pioneer Memorial Hall), Dwight (Stewart Memorial) and Dorset (Knox United).
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Advertising spots are available for your business or organization in our PLAYBILL and on the SLIDESHOW on the big-screen TV that runs prior to the show. Only $25 and your logo/message will be proudly displayed to our audience showing your support for this new cultural hub in Lake of Bays.
Contact us asap to get the exposure you want! Or maybe you have some bigger ideas! Let’s talk
“Old Love” Theatre - June 8-18, 2024 at Pioneer Church Hall
Norm Foster's comedy "OLD LOVE" spans three decades, and half a dozen meetings between Bud (Andy Bartle), a salesman, and Molly (Jodie Auckland), his boss's wife. One of them is smitten from the very first meeting—the other, let's just say—less so. Written by Canada's pre-eminent comic playwright Norm Foster this clever and witty play celebrates the pursuit of love, the kind of love that makes you breathe just a little bit faster. Charmingly written, with just a few curse words for effect, Foster's use of one-liner's serve the script well and has the audience smiling, chuckling and laughing throughout the entire play. Dot The T is very excited to bring this production to Pioneer Memorial Hall for 8 performances.
Contact downbythebayslob@gmail.com to RESERVE your spot today. Let us know your name, the performance date, number of tickets and e-transfer $40 per ticket.
Wednesday May 8 at 2 pm, Thursday May 9 at 7 pm, Friday May 10 at 7pm and Saturday May 11 at 2 pm.
Wednesday May 15 at 2 pm, Thursday May 16 at 7 pm, Friday May 17 at 7pm and Saturday May 18 at 2 pm.
Pioneer Memorial Church Hall, 2370 Highway 60 at Hillside, Lake of Bays
As seating is limited to 50 people/performance, reserving your spot is highly recommended.
If seats are still available, $40 Cash only will be accepted at the door. Doors open 30 minutes to show time. There is also a cash-only concession.
REMINDER, $10 from every ticket sold and all concession donations will contribute to the Pioneer Memorial Church's Furnace Replacement Campaign. NOTE: Over $4,000 has been raised so far!
DOWN BY THE BAYS is a community cultural hub for performing arts in Lake of Bays. Dot The T Productions, Muskoka Players, Muskoka Stageworks and The Dorset Theatre Company share the stages at the Lake of Bays United Churches in Hillside (Pioneer Memorial Hall), Dwight (Stewart Memorial) and Dorset (Knox United).
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Advertising spots are available for your business or organization in our PLAYBILL and on the SLIDESHOW on the big-screen TV that runs prior to the show. Only $25 and your logo/message will be proudly displayed to our audience showing your support for this new cultural hub in Lake of Bays.
Contact us asap to get the exposure you want! Or maybe you have some bigger ideas! Let’s talk
Things are Heating Up at Pioneer- Shirley Valentine- Feb 29, March 1 at 7:00 and March 2 and 3 at 2:00.
THINGS ARE HEATING-UP AT PIONEER MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH IN LAKE OF BAYS
Lake of Bays is home to several historical churches strategically scattered across the township. Three of these quaint churches are the cornerstone of their respective communities in Lake of Bays: Hillside, Dwight, and Dorset. Strong in character and charm, the churches are also desirable venues for local arts communities, and, as such, it is essential they be kept alive.
Two of the Lake of Bays United Churches, Pioneer Memorial at Hillside (132 years old) and Stewart Memorial in Dwight (founded in 1887) are ideally located along the Hwy 60 corridor. The third, Knox United in Dorset is 128 years old. All three share the spirited leadership of the Reverend Meg Jordan. Additionally, with her love and zest for theatre, a partnership with Dot The T Productions (a professional theatre production company in Lake of Bays) has been established.
It began when Dot the T Productions’ Artistic Director, Jan Jacklin, attended a Sunday service in December. In conversation with Scott Winchester, a member of Pioneer Memorial United Church’s congregation, she learned from Scott (who also volunteers with building maintenance) that the church’s furnaces were well past their shelf life and would soon need to be replaced. It was then that Jan offered Reverend Jordan a solution. It was agreed that the utilization of these cultural community hubs and the performing arts would be a natural fit. Additionally, showcasing these local landmarks with professional events would attract people to Lake of Bays. Both church and local businesses would benefit from this influx.
The arts are a substantial economic driver for Muskoka and the township of Lake of Bays is ready to make its mark. This year, the plan is to perform several shows, taking advantage of Pioneer Memorial’s spacious hall and enthusiastic church council. Their hall is an ideal space to house a staging area and seating for a maximum of 50 people. There is also a kitchen which will come in handy for intermission refreshments to be served, adding more welcome proceeds going directly to the church. With donations of 25% - 50% from ticket sales from the shows throughout the year, the initiative is positioned to garner enough funds for new furnaces.
First up at Pioneer Memorial (2370 Hwy 60, Hillside, Lake of Bays) is the award winning one-woman show written by Willy Russell, SHIRLEY VALENTINE. A heartwarming comedy about a middle-aged woman stuck in a bored marriage and wondering what ever happened to all her dreams. Limited engagement of 4 performances only. Two evening performances on February 29 and March 1 at 7pm and two matinees on March 2 and 3 at 2pm.
Dot The T Productions started its professional theatre company in 2017 presenting the iconic Canadian hit, “Billy Bishop Goes to War,” in which they toured Muskoka, Parry Sound, Peterborough, Midland and Toronto. Building on the production’s success, the company followed with; “The Ladies Foursome”, “On a First Name Basis”, “For The Love of a Good Man”, “Shakespeare: A Most Rare Vision”, “A Christmas Carol”, and Maja Ardal’s Dora Award winning one-woman show, “Fancy Yourself,” performed by the playwright herself. Building a reputation for exceptional theatre over the past 5 years has provided memorable experiences for Dot The T audiences, and now, at the same time, excited to support the heritage churches of Lake of Bays.
