News

“One Step at a Time” and the return of “Gift of the Magi” at Watermark this Fall and Winter

Watermark Theatre’s Artistic Director Robert Tsonos is proud to announce the company’s Fall and Winter programming for 2024. One Step at a Time – A Father’s Journey written, conceived, composed, and performed by Andrew Prashad will run from Oct 2^nd to 5^th, while the 2023 holiday hit The Gift of the Magi and Other Festive Stories to Warm the Heart will return from Dec 13^th to 22^nd.

Through tap dance, original songs, monologues, and multimedia projection, Andrew Prashad shares he and his wife's journey of caring for their son with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, while maintaining his career as a professional actor, singer and dancer. One Step at a Time – A Father’s Journey is about parenthood, about life as an artist, letting go of expectations, and holding on fiercely for who and what you love.

“Andrew has created such an entertaining and honest portrait of his family while he’s tap dancing and singing his way into our hearts”, says Tsonos, “it’s truly a remarkable show”.

"A joyful story of family, love, and commitment" Mooney on Theatre

The Gift of the Magi and Other Festive Stories to Warm the Heart by Alan Kinsella and Robert Tsonos was such a hit last winter that we are bringing it back for another run. Eight holiday stories have been adapted for the stage interspersed with favourite Christmas carols. Full of songs, laughter and well-known tales of the season it’s sure to once again delight audiences young and old.

Tickets are on sale at locarius.io/organizations/26 or by calling the box office at 902-963-3963.

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.

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 13^th 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).

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 27^th to August 26^th 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 7^th to August 25^th 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.

Watermark Theatre’s Artistic Director Robert Tsonos is delighted to announce the Spring and Summer programming for 2023. The company is celebrating its 15^th 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 31^st to April 2^nd, and What If by Katey Hoffman, produced by Geordie Theatre of Montreal from April 14^th to 16^th.
 
Steel Magnolias by Robert Harling will run from June 27^th to August 26^th 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 7^th to August 25^th 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 Mandate
Located 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.