The musical Anne and Gilbert will be touring the province of Ontario this fall in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Anne of Green Gables.
It’s been running for three years in Summerside, PEI; and had its first Ontario production–in Kingston–this year, at the Thousand Islands Playhouse.
The tour will run from September 23 to November 2.
This year, a few Avonlea alumni are among this year’s Gemini nominees!
David Fox is up for Best Actor in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries for Across the River to Motor City; Megan Follows is up for Best Actress in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries for Booky and the Secret Santa (she will be up against her co-star Rachel Marcus in this category); and RH Thomson is a nominee for Best Supporting Actor in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries for The Englishman’s Boy.
Motor City received a total of 12 nominations — more than any other TV movie or miniseries this year. The Englishman’s Boy is up for seven trophies. Booky and the Secret Santa is nominated for four awards.
Select awards will be handed out in untelevised ceremonies between October 21 and 23 in Toronto. The Broadcast Gala, also in Toronto, will be televised on November 28 at 9 pm ET on E! Canada and Showcase.
Congratulations to Lally Cadeau (Best Actress, General Theatre division, for Rose) and everyone involved with the touring production of The Drowsy Chaperone on their Dora wins.
Top Girls, which was up for seven Doras (including one for Megan Follows, who was up against herself for Three Sisters), went away with only one trophy — one for Best Direction, given to Alisa Palmer.
The Leaskdale Manse in Uxbridge, where Lucy Maud Montgomery lived for fifteen years (1911-26) after marring Rev. Ewan MacDonald and where she wrote 11 of her 22 novels, has been deemed a national historical site. This is one of many happenings taking place this year in lieu of the 100th anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables.
Built in 1886, the Manse is currently owned by the Township of Uxbridge, who are in the process of restoring it to its former glory. Its designation as a national historic site was cemented by Bev Oda, federal Minister of International Co-operation, this past Saturday with a plaque.
The Charlottetown Festival wants to know something. Is Anne of Green Gables: The Musical the longest-running musical ever? If so, could a spot in the Guinness Book of Records be in its future?
The musical will be entering its 44th
At the moment, Guinness does not recognize any musical as being longest-running in its record book.
The Anne musical does have some competition. The Fantasticks ran at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in New York City for nearly 42 years (May 1960 to January 2002); and it claims to be the world’s longest-running musical. In terms of performances staged, they’d be correct. Compared to Anne’s 2600 to date, The Fantasticks was performed 17,162 times during its run. In terms of years, the Anne musical would have the edge (44 years and counting to 41 and change).
If the Guinness organization were to agree with the Confederation Centre in Charlottetown, Anne of Green Gables: The Musical would get recognition for it.
