Watermark Announces Summer Plays for 2024

Watermark Theatre will produce Canadian playwright Bernard Slade’s hilarious romantic comedy Same Time, Next Year and the stage version of the Stephen King thriller Misery adapted by William Goldman next summer at the theatre in North Rustico.

A one-night stand turns into a quarter-century affair in Same Time, Next Year, one of the most popular romantic comedies of all time. The Tony Award-winning play follows George and Doris’ clandestine weekend rendezvous over the course of 25 years. The starry-eyed lovers meet for an annual getaway of romance, honesty, and hilarity against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world. Same Time, Next Year will run from June 25th to August 31st, 2024.In Misery, true life becomes stranger than fiction when an acclaimed romance novelist wakes up in the home of his “Number One Fan”. Rescued from a wintery car crash, Paul Sheldon finds himself incapacitated in the secluded home of Annie Wilkes, a seemingly kind nurse. When events take a nightmarish turn, the injured Paul realizes Annie has no intention of letting him leave. This spine-tingling stage adaptation traps you in the room with Paul as he must outsmart Annie if he hopes to escape. Based on Stephen King’s best-selling novel, the tense cat-and-mouse game will grip you until the very end. Misery will run from July 5th to August 30th, 2024.

And finally, rounding out the summer programming, the Watermark Music Series returns. As always, Island musical artists interpret classic composers in a way that you have never heard before.

Season Passes (4 Pack, 6 Pack) are available now with early bird prices until December 31st.

Buy Season Passes (4 pack, 6 pack) HERE
or call 902-963-3963

Creative Team Announced – The Gift of the Magi and other festive stories to warm the heart

Watermark is pleased to announce the creative team working on their new original Christmas production of The Gift of The Magi and other festive stories to warm the heart by Alan Kinsella and Robert Tsonos. The play will be directed by Alan Kinsella, Set and Costume Design by Kelly Caseley, Sound and Lighting Design by Pat Caron and will star Jacob Hemphill and Rebecca Parent. The production runs from December 13th to December 23rd at the theatre in North Rustico.

The Gift of the Magi, a story by O. Henry, is one of several holiday stories that will be adapted for the stage in this festive play for the whole family. The classic tale of a young husband and wife dealing with the challenge of buying secret Christmas gifts for each other with very little money is just one of the many stories presented. Full of songs, laughter and well known tales of the season, it’s sure to delight audiences young and old.

"Playwright Alan Kinsella and I have been having a great time adapting these stories to the stage", says co-writer and Artistic Director Robert Tsonos, "there were so many great stories to choose from we had a difficult time narrowing them down to the 6 or 7 we've included in the show.  The songs however, were much easier. We both have our favourite Christmas Carols and were able to include all of them into the show. It's been a lot of fun putting this show together and I think audiences are going to love it."

Alan Kinsella has directed over one hundred productions in Ireland, notably Gary Duggan’s Dedalus Lounge and TransEuro Express and Spike Productions award winning production of Steven Berkoff’s Decadence. In 2013 he moved to Canada. Toronto credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Beauty and the Beast, Hairspray, Chatroom, The Little Mermaid, Legally Blonde, Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Anne of Green Gables, Newsies and Priscilla Queen of the Dessert at Lower Ossington Theatre, Al Green Theatre and The Randolph Theatre. Alan has written many family shows that have toured China, Jamaica, Qatar, Singapore, Oman and Sharjah. In 2017 he directed productions of Aladdin and Fame at the Madinat Theatre Dubai. He is currently artistic director of the discovery program at Markham Theatre. Alan is delighted to be returning to the Watermark Theatre where he directed Blithe Spirit in 2016.

Jacob Hemphill made his Watermark Theatre debut back in 2018.  He is an actor/musician/producer born and raised on Prince Edward Island. Alongside Melissa MacKenzie and Rebecca Parent, he is the co-founder of the Island theatre company, Kitbag Theatre, a company passionate about bringing as much accessible theatre to the Island as possible. Jacob is also the creator of The Songs of Johnny & June, an energetic cabaret, which folks may have seen as part of the Charlottetown Festival’s 2023 Season this past summer. Recent credits include: The Songs of Johnny & June (Charlottetown Festival); The Play That Goes Wrong (Neptune Theatre); Boeing Boeing, Crimes of The Heart, Dial ‘M’ for Murder, A Moon for the Misbegotten (Watermark Theatre); Tuesdays & Sundays and The Princess & The Handmaiden (Kitbag Theatre).

Rebecca Parent is a theatre maker from Epekwitk (Prince Edward Island). She is co-founder of PEI indie company Kitbag Theatre, and bilingual coordinator of Ontario-based social arts organization Sheatre. For the Watermark: six seasons in the acting company, including Eliza Doolittle in Pygmalion, Marianna Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility, and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet; director of A Christmas Carol and The Drawer Boy (Watermark Theatre). Other acting credits: W in LUNGS (Kitbag); Anne Shirley in Anne & Gilbert (Guild PEI); Alma in What A Young Wife Ought to Know (2b theatre). Other directing credits: Loin du coeur (Sheatre); The Songs of Johnny and June, Tuesdays & Sundays, Final Wave (Kitbag Theatre).


Mostly Local Cast at Watermark this Summer

Five out of the seven actors hired by Watermark for this summer’s productions of Steel Magnolias and Gaslight are from PEI. Gracie Finley, Marlene Handrahan, Benton Hartley, Kristena McCormack, and Marlane O'Brien are all local PEI actors. Sharleen Kalayil (Halifax) and Risha Nanda (Toronto) complete the casting for the summer.

“Every year we try to cast as many local actors as possible and this year worked out really well”, says Artistic Director Robert Tsonos. “There’s so much talent right here on the Island. I’m always thrilled when we can give local actors work.” Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling will run from June 27th to August 26th and will be directed by Samantha Wilson. A group of Louisiana women bond and gossip at a local beauty shop while following the marriage and motherhood of one of the customer's daughters. As the title implies, these ladies can be as delicate as magnolias – and as tough as steel. When tragedy strikes, they draw on their underlying strength and love. Steel Magnolias is an iconic play that continues to speak to audiences all over the world about hope, love, loss, and friendship. Gracie Finley, Marlene Handrahan, Sharleen Kalayil, Kristena McCormack, Risha Nanda, and Marlane O'Brien are all performing in Steel Magnolias. Gaslight By Johnna Wright and Patty Jamieson, based on the play Angel Street By Patrick Hamilton will run from July 7th to August 25th and will be directed by Martha Irving, who directed last summer’s hit production of Educating Rita. The thriller that spawned the term ‘gaslighting’, Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 play gave us the word we now use for an insidious form of mental abuse. Bella Manningham hears strange sounds and the gas lights dim for no apparent reason. But is she losing her grip on reason, or is it being loosened for her? Bella thinks she’s losing her mind. The truth might be far worse. Marlene Handrahan, Benton Hartley, Kristena McCormack, and Risha Nanda will be performing in Gaslight. Individual Ticket are now on sale at www.ticketwizard.ca or by calling the box office at 902-963-3963.


Celebrating 15 Years, Watermark announces Spring and Summer Programming for 2023

Watermark Theatre’s Artistic Director Robert Tsonos is delighted to announce the Spring and Summer programming for 2023. The company is celebrating its 15th year producing the finest professional theatre on the Island. First up is the Second Annual Watermark Children’s Theatre Festival in the Spring, followed by the comedic drama Steel Magnolias and the thriller Gaslight throughout the Summer. The theatre will also continue to present The Watermark Music Series on Sundays in July and August.

 Two productions will be featured in the Children’s Theatre Festival. Birds of a Feather by Robert Watson, produced by Neptune Theatre of Halifax, from March 31st to April 2nd, and What If by Katey Hoffman, produced by Geordie Theatre of Montreal from April 14th to 16th. Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling will run from June 27th to August 26th and will be directed by Samantha Wilson. A group of Louisiana women bond and gossip at a local beauty shop while following the marriage and motherhood of one of the customer's daughters. As the title implies, these women can be as delicate as magnolias – and as tough as steel. When tragedy strikes, they draw on their underlying strength and love. Steel Magnolias is an iconic play that continues to speak to audiences all over the world about hope, loss, and friendship. Gaslight By Johnna Wright and Patty Jamieson, based on the play Angel Street By Patrick Hamilton will run from July 7th to August 25th and will be directed by Martha Irving, who directed last summer’s hit production of Educating Rita. The thriller that spawned the term ‘gaslighting’, Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 play gave us the word we now use for an insidious form of mental abuse. Bella Manningham hears strange sounds and the gas lights dim for no apparent reason. But is she losing her grip on reason, or is it being loosened for her? Bella thinks she’s losing her mind. The truth might be far worse. The Watermark Music Series returns, curated by Hannah Melanson. As always, Island musical artists interpret classic composers in a way that you have never heard before. The dates are July 23rd, Aug 6th and 20th, all at 7:30PM. Ticket Passes (4 Pack, 6 Pack) are now on sale at www.ticketwizard.ca or by calling the box office at 902-963-3963. Single tickets will be put on sale closer to production dates. Fall and winter programming will be announced in the next few months. Watermark Theatre’s MandateLocated in North Rustico, PEI, on land that is the traditional unceded territory of the Mi’Kmaq, the Watermark Theatre is a professional theatre company that produces time-honoured plays, as well as contemporary plays that resonate with our times.  As a company we are led by the principles of inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility and commit to incorporating these core values in everything we do.  We prioritize environmental stewardship and sustainability. The Watermark Theatre is dedicated to the development of the next generation of theatre artists and arts administrators through mentorship and professional training.In all of our programming we strive for artistic excellence while endeavouring to inform, affect, and engage our audience and our community.


Year-round Theatre at Watermark in 2022

Artistic Director Robert Tsonos is delighted to announce that the Watermark Theatre is embarking on a new initiative to produce and present theatre in every season of the year. With that in mind, the theatre will present the First Annual Watermark Children’s Theatre Festival in the Spring; the plays Educating Rita and The Drawer Boy in the Summer; the play Beneath Springhill: The Maurice Ruddick Story in the Fall; and a remount of their 2021 production of A Christmas Carol in the Winter. In addition, the theatre will continue to present The Watermark Music Series on Sundays during the summer and occasionally throughout the year.

Three productions will be featured in the Children’s Theatre Festival. The Princess and the Handmaiden by Leslie Arden, produced by Kitbag Theatre of PEI from March 10th to 12thSeeds of Change by Lojo Simon, produced by Neptune Theatre of Halifax, presented free online from March 24th to 26thThe Paper Bag Princess by Alissa Watson, adapted from the classic children’s book by Robert Munsch, produced by Geordie Theatre of Montreal from April 16th to 18th.

Educating Rita by Willy Russell is a warm, funny, intelligent play about relationships, connections, and freedom that will be performed from July 12th to 30th. The play follows Rita, a married hairstylist, who decides to go back to school to broaden her horizons. She enrolls in university and finds herself assigned to Frank, a jaded professor courting alcohol to navigate life and divorce.

The Canadian classic, The Drawer Boy by Michael Healey will be performed from August 9th to September 3rd. A young actor from the big city lives with two farmers to gather stories about rural life. The farmers' lives are irrevocably altered when art attempts to imitate life and the line between truth and fiction is crossed. Hilarious, surprising, and infinitely moving. Winner of the 1999 Governor General's Literary Award for Drama.

Beneath Springhill: The Maurice Ruddick Story by Beau Dixon will be performed from September 28th to October 8th. Beneath Springhill chronicles the life of Maurice Ruddick, an African Canadian who survived the historic mining disaster in Springhill, Nova Scotia in 1958. Created and performed by Beau Dixon, this one-man show recalls the events of seven miners trapped one mile beneath a small mining town, the effect it had on their rural Canadian community, and the racial tension that surfaced as a result.

Finally, our 2021 production of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Danielle Pearson will be performed once again from December 14th to 18th.

The Watermark Music Series returns, curated once again by Rob Oakie. As always, Island musical artists interpret classic composers in a way that you have never heard before. The dates are July 24th, August 14th, and August 28th, all at 7:30PM.

All Covid-19 provincial rules and regulations will be in place, including vaccine passport requirements, physical distancing, mask wearing, hand sanitizing, etc.

Season Passes (4 Pack, 6 Pack) are now on sale at www.ticketwizard.ca
or by calling the box office at 902-963-3963.

Single tickets for The Princess and the Handmaiden are also now on sale. All other single tickets will be put on sale soon.