Spring/Summer 2011

The word Niagara conjures up images of thundering falls and a raging river. But 20 minutes down the road from Canada’s renowned tourist attraction lies a pastoral world revered by theater lovers seeking a soothing summer retreat.

Combine the romance of days gone by with spectacular plays, and it’s easy to see why every year Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, attracts more than 300,000 visitors who are eager to stroll streets filled with eclectic shops and elegant 19th-century homes now serving as bed and breakfasts.

And, taking center stage every April through October is the Shaw Festival, a stellar line-up of diverse shows, ranging from classic dramas to sophisticated comedies to blockbuster musicals.

The festival was conceived in 1962 by Niagara-on-the-Lake lawyer Brian Doherty, who admired the works of playwright George Bernard Shaw so much that he wanted to revitalize them for the stage. Through the years, other celebrated authors have been incorporated into the repertoire. And this year is no exception: To commemorate the festival’s golden anniversary, one of the most beloved musicals of all time, Lerner and Loewe’s “My Fair Lady” (based on Shaw’s “Pygmalion”), will be in the spotlight, along with 10 other offerings, including Tennessee Williams’ steamy “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and the edgy “Topdog/Underdog,” a contemporary Cain-and-Abel story by Suzan-Lori Parks.

The season also features a variety of special programs, including an Irish ceili on June 25, which promises to be an evening filled with food, music and laughter, and “The Speed of Ideas” theatrical forum on July 23 and 24.

- State - Ontario

- Type - Romantic Weekends

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