Celebrated Canadian Play at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse
October 2, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Mary’s Wedding, one of Canada’s most celebrated plays, will arrive on stage this fall just in time to commemorate Remembrance Day. Young love blossoms amidst the turbulent backdrop of World War I in a romantic drama that is acclaimed for its sensitivity and beauty. This moving memorial to the Great War – and great love – will be on stage at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse from October 26 to November 12.
When Mary and Charlie unexpectedly find one another sheltering in a barn during a thunderstorm, a tentative love is born. But the year is 1914, and the world is collapsing into a brutal war. Together, they attempt to hide their love, galloping through the fields for a place and time where the tumultuous uncertainties of battle cannot find them.
“Mary's Wedding is a poignant reminder of the enduring strength of love, even amidst the chaos of war,” says Alex Mustakas, Artistic Director of Drayton Entertainment. “Audiences will be swept away by a story that delves into the depths of romance, longing, and the conflict between duty and personal desires. It truly will touch hearts, evoke some tears, and leave a lasting impression.”
Written by Canadian playwright Stephen Massicotte, Mary’s Wedding transcends time, seamlessly weaving together the realms of dreams, memories, and reality, while emphasizing the enduring strength of the human heart.
This exquisite romance will be brought to life by Director Skye Brandon, who most recently helmed this season’s production of A Few Good Men at the Hamilton Family Theatre Cambridge. As an actor, Skye has appeared on stage for Drayton Entertainment in the pivotal role of Juror No. 8 in Twelve Angry Men, and Biff in Death of a Salesman. Brandon will be joined by Set Designer Douglas Paraschuk, Costume Designer Joanna Lee, Lighting Designer Kevin Fraser, Stage Manager Dustyn Wales, and Apprentice Stage Manager Conner Bustamante.
Two incredibly talented actors will bring this intimate 90-minute play to life. Ellen Denny takes on the role of Mary, a young English girl who recently immigrated to the Canadian Prairies. Denny was last seen in the in Drayton Entertainment’s 2016 production of Brighton Beach Memoirs. She received a Dora Award nomination for her role in Life After at Canadian Stage, appeared in Anne and Gilbert at the National Arts Centre and The Sound of Music at Thousand Islands Playhouse, and performed with Mirvish, Crow’s Theatre, Citadel Theatre, and many more. She is also an accomplished playwright, whose works have been produced by theatre companies across Canada.
Dante Jemmott takes on the role of Charlie, a Canadian farm boy. Dante makes his Drayton Entertainment debut in Mary’s Wedding. Jemmott just finished his first season at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and has also appeared in Prince Hamlet for Why Not Theatre, All’s Well That Ends Well at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and in R + J for Why Not Theatre and the Stratford Festival.
Mary’s Wedding was written by Canadian playwright Stephen Massicotte, and premiered at the Alberta Theatre Projects in 2002. Born in 1969 in Trenton, Ontario, Massicotte was a “military brat” who grew up on Canadian Forces Bases in Canada and Europe. It was during this time that he developed an interest in both military history and Shakespeare’s military plays, paving his path into the arts, and to the creation of Mary’s Wedding. Massicotte has written a number of other successful plays including The Jedi Handbook Triliogy, Pervert, A Farewell to Kings, and The Clockmaker. Since first premiering at the Alberta Theatre Projects in 2022, Mary’s Wedding has been produced throughout Canada, the US, New Zealand, and the UK.
The 2023 Drayton Entertainment production of Mary’s Wedding is dedicated in memory of Marti Maraden. A gentle giant in Canadian theatre, Maraden was scheduled to direct this production of Mary’s Wedding. Sadly, she passed away shortly before embarking on this creative journey. Nevertheless, her enduring influence can be witnessed in numerous aspects of the play – from the physical production, to the talented artists on stage, to the captivating show artwork. As a devoted protégé of Marti Marden, Skye Brandon has graciously stepped into the director's chair, carrying forward the artistic vision developed for the production.
Mary’s Wedding is proudly sponsored by Home Hardware. Media Sponsors are Virgin Radio 105.3, Guelph Today, and The Hamilton Spectator. The Season Media Sponsor is CTV.
Mary’s Wedding will be on stage at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse from October 26 to November 12.
Regular performance tickets are $55 for adults, $34 for youth under 20 years of age. Tickets for select Discount Dates and groups of 20 or more are $45, and small groups of 10-19 are $50. HST is applicable to all ticket prices.
Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 519-747-7788 or toll free at 1-855-drayton (372-9866), or online at www.draytonentertainment.com.
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Samareh Jones, Marketing and Development Associate
(519) 621-5511 ext. 256
samareh@draytonentertainment.com