Want a taste of the old world, but can't afford a plane ticket? Don't worry, the next best thing, Stratford, Ontario, is less than five hours away.
Loosely based off of Stratford-upon-Avon, but with modern conveniences, this town is home to the Stratford Festival of Canada - North America's largest classical repertory theater event that showcases major works by William Shakespeare and other famous writers.
The festival, which began in 1952 as a way to bring more people to Stratford and revive the town's economy, starts this week.
Many people might know of Stratford, Ontario, theater freshman Amy Winchell said, but they might not fully understand what Stratford offers.
"I couldn't picture what the town would be like," she said. "I had more of a big-city idea than the picturesque historical town that it is."
Winchell first visited Stratford in the fall through a trip organized by the Residential Option in Arts and Letters, or ROIAL, she said.
ROIAL is one of the several institutions at MSU that offers trips to Stratford in the fall to help freshman students bond over a heavy dose of theater action.
Anita Skeen, ROIAL coordinator and English professor, said college is meant to provide students with new experiences and opportunities, and Stratford is a prime chance to aid this goal.
"Some kids never had a chance to go to Canada, and even though we're only four-and-a-half hours away, it's really quite a different world from Michigan," Skeen said.
The most famous draw of Stratford, is the annual festival, spokeswoman Leanne Perreault said.
But it wasn't always such a large endeavor.
The first shows in Stratford were performed in a tent. Now, however, the festival houses four theaters - Festival Theatre, Avon Theatre, Tom Patterson Theatre and Studio Theatre.
Eight of the 15 shows slated for the 2005 season are opening in April and May.
The plays are performed during an eight-month time period, due to the fact that company members are often cast in multiple shows, thus leaving space and time limitations for rehearsals and productions, Perreault said.
"It's a complete diet of theater," Perreault said. "You can come and stay a few days and see a real variety (of performances) - a true festival of theater."
This season, theater lovers have the chance to view anything from musicals to drama to comedy. The opening shows of the 2005 season include: "Into the Woods," "As You Like It," "Fallen Angels," "Hello, Dolly!," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "The Tempest," "Orpheus Descending," and "The Brothers Karamazov."
Every season presents different Shakespearean plays, although the number of pieces is limited, Perreault said. Plays also are repeated over the years depending on popularity, but they are always given different spins. For example, this year, "As You Like It" is set in the 1960s.
But catering to the audience does not leave certain Shakespearean writings collecting dust.
"The interesting thing about Stratford is we do all the Shakespeare as opposed to the most famous ones," Perreault said.
During the 2004 season, more obscure plays such as "Cymbeline" were performed.
As a cultural oasis of Canada and a widely renowned theater program, the Stratford Festival of Canada shares the products of Canadian playwrights with the rest of the world.
Skeen said the chance to see Canadian-written and performed plays is one of the reasons ROIAL attends the festival. Three of the plays opening later this season are written by Canadians: "The Donnellys: Sticks and Stones," "The Measure of Love," and "Wingfield's Inferno."
These plays will open during the summer and throughout the festival. Perreault said the busiest months for the Stratford Festival are July and August, when many Americans come to town. This is also when many of the other cultural exhibits take place, such as sidewalk art shows and Stratford Summer Music, a local music festival.
To miss the busiest moments of the festival, students should attend Stratford in the spring before the summer rush or the fall school outings, Perreault said.
And there is plenty to do even before the cultural explosion. Galleries, bookstores and restaurants are open year-round, and Perreault said many of the eateries are of high-quality because of a local cooking school.
"It's a very vibrant, modern and yet quaint city," Perreault said. "All things have come together to create this wonderful mix. There really is something for everyone."
A tourist favorite is the walkway along the river, which leads to the Stratford Festival's main stage - The Festival Theatre.
In the middle of the river is an island, an inviting picnicking spot and leisure ground. Also in the river are flotillas of ducks, geese and swan which visitors can feed.
Derek Dubuque, a psychology junior who visited Stratford with ROIAL and on his own, said the slower pace of the town was a large factor in his enjoyment while visiting.
"It seems a little simpler there," Dubuque said. "I don't just go when I have to, I go for leisure as well."
Grant Littke, Field Experience adviser and James Madison Stratford trip coordinator, said Stratford offers the "premiere Shakespeare festival in North America." But, despite its wide recognition, Perreault said, getting college-aged students to come can be a challenge.
In an attempt to change this trend and encourage students to attend plays, the Stratford Festival created "PlayOn."
This free program provides members with an opportunity to purchase $20 tickets throughout the season. Membership is limited to people between the ages of 18 and 29 years.
"For people 18-30 to get to us, they have to plan to come and we didn't want price to be a barrier," Perreault said. "We wanted good tickets to be as available as possible and in this age range disposable income isn't at its peak."
"PlayOn" members also will receive coupons for restaurants and accommodations in Stratford.
Dubuque, who has been to Stratford about five times in the past three years, said the new program sounds "nifty," and is a good way to bring more students to the festival.
Stratford also is livening up the shows, partly in an attempt to draw the younger crowd, Perreault said.
This season's "As You Like It," is set to music by Barenaked Ladies, whose smart songs match not only the play's message and feel, but also the new goal to bring students to Stratford.
"We firmly believe that once people have come and experienced amazing theater that they're likely to come back again," Perreault said.
For more information on the Stratford Festival of Canada, visit www.stratford-festival.on.ca.
Stratford Festival of Canada 2005 season
Student prices range from $23.65 to $28.03, in Canadian dollars, depending on how early bookings are made and what seating area is chosen.
"Into the Woods"
Synopsis: A baker and his wife venture into the woods on a quest for items needed to lift a witch's curse. While on their journey they encounter multiple fairy-tale characters.
When: Saturday-Oct. 30
Where: Avon Theatre
"As You Like It"
Synopsis: Orlando is denied education and care by his brother and flees court life to the Forest of Arden. The court is run by Duke Frederick, who dethroned his brother, Duke Senior. Senior's daughter Rosalind is banished and runs away to the forest where, dressed as a young man, she secretly falls in love with Orlando.
When: Wednesday-Oct. 30
Where: Festival Theatre
"Fallen Angels"
Synopsis: Maurice, the ex-lover of both Julia and Jane, comes back to town and throws their sedate lives into chaos.
When: May 3-Oct. 29
Where: Avon Theatre
"Hello, Dolly!"
Synopsis: Matchmaker Dolly Levi tries to make a marriage for herself with wealthy store owner Horace Vandergelder.
When: May 7-Nov. 6
Where: Festival Theatre
"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"
Synopsis: Brick is the potential heir to a plantation but uses alcohol to ignore his wife and family. Finally, Brick's wife is driven into his best friend's arms.
When: May 19-Oct. 29
Where: Avon Theatre
"The Tempest"
Synopsis: The magician Prospero was deposed by his brother and marooned on an island with his beautiful daughter Miranda. When another boat - one carrying Prospero's enemies - is shipwrecked, he has a chance for revenge.
When: May 20-Oct. 28
Where: Festival Theatre
"The Brothers Karamazov"
Synopsis: Fyodor Karamazov is murdered and one of his sons clearly is the killer. But is it the disgraced soldier Dmitry, Ivan the writer, Alyosha the monk or the illegitimate child Smerdyakov?
When: May 21-Sept. 24
Where: Tom Patterson Theatre
"Orpheus Descending"
Synopsis: Good and evil crash together when drifter Valentine Xavier arrives in a Southern town and is employed by the unhappily married Lady Torrance.
When: May 28-Sept. 25
Where: Tom Patterson Theatre
"Wingfield's Inferno"
Synopsis: A fire leaves Larkspur in need of a new community hall, but Walt Wingfield finds it challenging to inspire committee members to the task.
When: June 1-Aug. 14
Where: Tom Patterson Theatre
"The Donnellys: Sticks & Stones"
Synopsis: A secret society in rural Ontario tries to run James Donnelly, an Irish immigrant, and his family off their farm. Problems erupt when Donnelly refuses to be intimidated.
When: June 7-Sept. 14
Where: Studio Theatre
"The Measure of Love" and "Ruth Draper on Tour"
Synopsis: A double bill. "The Measure of Love," has Joan receiving a manuscript for her birthday from her friend. But the script might not tell the whole truth. In the second half, Ruth Draper performs her monologue show.
When: June 9-Sept. 25
Where: Studio Theatre
"The Lark"
Synopsis: Captured while leading troops to defend France, her native country, Joan of Arc contemplates the events that led her to her death.
When: July 31-Oct. 29
Where: Festival Theatre
Source: Stratford Festival of Canada
