Grand Theatre

📢 Meet our new Executive Director!📢

Following an extensive search, the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario enthusiastically announces the appointment of Lyndee Hansen into the role of Executive Director.

A familiar face in London, and at the Grand, Lyndee is an arts leader and mentor who has worked as a general manager, producer and arts administrator for the last 25 years. For the last nine years, she has worked first as the Production Manager and subsequently Producer of the Grand Theatre. Prior to this tenure, she worked in three different provinces and held senior leadership roles at Crow’s Theatre, Alberta Theatre Projects, and Geordie Theatre. Lyndee holds a degree in Theatre Production from Toronto Metropolitan University and is a recipient of the Mallory Gilbert Leadership Award, and Victor C. Polley Award.

Lyndee will assume the Grand Theatre's executive leadership on July 29, 2024.

To learn more about Lyndee, and this GRAND new chapter, visit: https://www.grandtheatre.com/grand-theatre-announces-appointment-lyndee-hansen-executive-director

Photo by Dahlia Katz Photography

It’s one of our favourite things: 🚨an AUDITION NOTICE! 🚨

We are seeking YOUTH actors for THE SOUND OF MUSIC (ages 6-13 for the Von Trapp family daughters, and ages 8-13 for the Von Trapp Family sons). Actors must be available from OCT 22 to DEC 29 for weekday daytime rehearsals and performances, and some school will be missed. Deadline for submissions: Friday, AUG 2 at 5:00 p.m. ✔️

For detailed information, and how to submit, visit: https://www.grandtheatre.com/sound-music-youth-auditions

✍️ It is a truth, universally acknowledged, that you’re never fully dressed without your Grand Theatre season-inspired PRIDE apparel! ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🩵💜🤎🤍

🗓️ Don’t miss ALL PRIDE, NO PREJUIDCE: A Grand Pride Celebration & Market TOMORROW - JULY 21, 1 to 6 p.m. at the Grand Theatre:

👗 GRAND Costume and Wardrobe Sale (1-4 p.m.)
🛍️ 2SLGBTQIA+ Vendor Market (1-6 p.m.)
🎭 Behind The Curtain Tours (1:30, 2:30, 3:30 p.m.)
🎤 XUUX Artists + Grand Theatre Cabaret ft. talented local stars (4:00-6:15 p.m.) (for detailed schedule, visit https://www.grandtheatre.com/grand-pride-event)

📍 Grand Theatre, 471 Richmond Street
London, ON

NOT TO MENTION:
Cold bevvies, button-making, and some of the best AC in town 💨☺️

See you there!

ALL PRIDE, NO PREJUDICE is in just two✌️sleeps, and the talented artists of the 🎶 + Grand Cabaret 🎶 are ready to match the vibes!
❤🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🩵🖤🤎🤍

Come for the Vendor Market, Costume Sale, and Tours (starting at 1 p.m.)... stay for some GRAND performances by: Noelle Frances (Host), Lavender Daze (Noelle Frances + Fiker), Shayla Rose, Preston Free Cooper, Montana Summers, and Jessie James, from 4:30-6:00 p.m. in the Drewlo Lounge!

For full performance schedule, visit: https://www.grandtheatre.com/grand-pride-event

ALL PRIDE, NO PREJUDICE: A Grand Pride Celebration & Market
Sunday, June 21 - 1 to 6 p.m.
Grand Theatre
471 Richmond Street, London ON

Getting by with a little help from our (car-loving) friends! 🚌 ❤️

Thanks to Hyde Park & District Lions Club for having us at this week’s Country Cruizin’ 🚗 to chat all things GRAND (and especially the Shakespeare x Beatles-infused AS YOU LIKE IT, rolling in first ☝🏼 for our 2024/25 subscription series). ☮️ 🌸

Pictured: 1971 Volkswagen Bus, belonging to Jason Recker 🚌

For more on the Grand’s 2024/25 Season: https://www.grandtheatre.com

Your chance to collect a piece of Grand Theatre stage history is BACK!

Join us at ALL PRIDE, NO PREJUDICE: A Grand Pride Celebration & Market , for vendors, Behind The Curtain Tours, a XUUX + Grand Theatre Cabaret.... and the RETURN of the famous Grand Theatre COSTUME & WARDROBE SALE (starting at 1 p.m. in the Drewlo Lounge).

Arrive early for best selection of these items, directly from the stores of the Grand Theatre Wardrobe Department... stay for the cold bevvies, backstage tours, 2SLGBTQIA+ Vendor Market, and live music continuing until 6!

📣 When: Sunday, JULY 21, 2024:

1:00 to 6:00 p.m. 2SLGBTQIA+ Vendor Market

1:00 to 4:00 p.m.👗 A Grand Theatre Costume & Wardrobe Sale

4:30 to 6:00 p.m. 🎵 XUUX + Grand Cabaret hosted by Noelle Frances.

… and 🎭 Behind the Curtain Tours of the Theatre at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m.

For more details and full day-of schedule, visit: https://www.grandtheatre.com/grand-pride-event

👋🏽 Just FIVE days until ALL PRIDE, NO PREJUDICE: A Grand Theatre Pride Celebration & Market – Sunday, JULY 21 from 1 to 6 p.m. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🩷🩵🤎🖤🤍

Stop by the Grand Theatre for some fun around the building, including the second Annual 2SLGBTQIA+ Vendor Market, ⭐starring⭐:
steele












📣 NOT TO MENTION…

1:00 to 4:00 p.m.👗 A Grand Theatre Costume & Wardrobe Sale

4:30 to 6:00 p.m. 🎵 XUUX + Grand Cabaret hosted by Noelle Frances.

… and 🎭 Behind the Curtain Tours of the Theatre at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m.

For full schedule and details, visit: https://www.grandtheatre.com/grand-pride-event

📅 SAVE THE DATE
All Pride, No Prejudice
Sunday, July 21
1 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Grand Theatre, 471 Richmond St

🌳🌲Londoners of Woodfield, Wortley, Old South, Old North, and Downtown, we could use your help next season!

The artists that bring theatre to life on our stage come from all over the country and need places to stay while they are with us at the Grand. If you have space available – or know someone who does – please visit our House a Grand Artist page to learn more: www.grandtheatre.com/house-grand-artist

☀️ School’s out for summer but it’s not too early to claim STUDENT PERKS for 2024/25 📚 The Grand’s STUDENT CLUB is an exclusive subscription option for post-secondary, high school, and elementary students 🧑‍🎓 Students get to see ALL 6 of our 2024/25 season shows for only $99 total, and are invited to connect further with each show and its artists through post-show creative chats in the Drewlo Lounge. Plus, pizza! 🍕

➡️ Visit www.grandtheatre.com/student-club to subscribe to our 2024/25 Student Club!

Pictured: Justine Westby and Tahirih Vejdani with Breanne Ritchie and audience at Student Club AfterWords post-show for THE INVISIBLE

A GRAND artist is headed back to the 🌲🌳 Forest City and he’s bringing his world-famous 🍪 cookies with him! Welcome back, Craig Pike 😍

Craig is the founder, creator, and force behind Craig's Cookies - and Downtown London is officially getting its first location of the yummy franchise in September on Richmond Street, near Hyman (just a few blocks north of the Grand!)

Pictured: Craig Pike and Rachel Holden-Jones in Paper Bag Princess at the Grand Theatre (2007)
Directed by Andrea Boyd
Set/Costume Design by Gillian Gallow
Lighting Design by Julia Vandergraaf

🌻🥧🫶🏻 We’re halfway through SunFest at Victoria Park 📍 where we’re chatting with Londoners about the 2024/25 Grand Theatre season!

Visit our booth to say hello to our ✨GRAND✨ brand team, learn about our new season - A TIME FOR PLAY - and scoop up a QR code for some show-stopping savings…

Following a national search, we are THRILLED to announce the appointment of Julia Callon as our new Technical Director - Scenic, and Sonja Niedermaier earning a well-deserved promotion to Technical Director - Stage! These two brilliant and powerful women will work closely with our design and production teams to bring our shows to life.

Join us at the Grand Theatre for open captioned performances, relaxed performances, and a performance with ASL:

🌼 As You Like It - OPEN CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE on Saturday, October 26 at 2:00 p.m.
🏔️ The Sound of Music - OPEN CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE on Saturday, November 30 at 1:00 p.m.
🎶 The Sound of Music - RELAXED PERFORMANCE on Sunday, December 15 at 1:00 p.m.
🥧 Waitress - OPEN CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE on Saturday, April 5 at 2:00 p.m.
👰🏻 Pride and Prejudice - PERFORMANCE WITH ASL on Saturday, May 10 at 2:00 p.m.

An Open Caption season subscription is available and includes all three Open Captioned performances. Learn more about our upcoming accessible performances, as well as all the programs, facilities, and services that support an accessible experience at the Grand, visit: https://www.grandtheatre.com/accessibility

🥧 Prepare for PLAY because tickets for the 2024/25 Season: A TIME FOR PLAY 🌼 are available NOW!

Looking for some delicious deals 🍒 to kick-off YOUR summer? ☀️ Our WAYS TO SAVE page has you covered. Visit www.grandtheatre.com/ways-to-save for current offers on AS YOU LIKE IT, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and the entire 2024/25 Season at the Grand!

🚨During the first two weeks of July, the Grand Theatre will shutter its doors (and phone lines) for our planned operational shutdown. Fret not, for we will be back on JULY 15th! In the meanwhile, for all your ticket needs, please visit GRANDTHEATRE.COM.

🎈 A HUGE THANK YOU to our wonderful volunteers 🎉 Over 9,330 volunteer hours were logged this past season, equivalent to an $186,610 donation.

This past Sunday, we celebrated to our 2023/34 season volunteers with a luncheon, raffle, and social! We absolutely couldn't make and house the art created at the Grand without our invaluable volunteer staff 😍

You've met the STUDENTS 🎒 now meet the GUEST ARTISTS 🤩 that make up the Creative Team of the 2024 Grand Theatre High School Project MATILDA THE MUSICAL 📚

⏰ Only SIX WEEKS until rehearsals start and the HSP students are in the safe hands of these all-star artistic stewards!

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now for this year’s High School Project MATILDA THE MUSICAL ➡️ BUY NOW in-person at our Box Office, by phone at (519) 672-8800, or online at www.grandtheatre.com. And don’t forget, 2024/25 Season Subscribers save 15% when they add MATILDA THE MUSICAL to their season ✅

TITLE SPONSOR
Western Fair District

HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT PROGRAM SPONSORS
Thames Valley District School Board
London District Catholic School Board
The Westminster College Foundation
Libro Credit Union

📄 The info packages, prepared. 🖊️ The contracts, signed. 🍕The pizza? Sizzling. The cast, production, and orchestra students of Roald Dahl’s MATILDA THE MUSICAL 📚 have entered the building, and the energy is infectious!

The Grand Theatre HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT Info Night is a quick dissemination of ALL things HSP: 👋🏾 greetings from theatre staff and other members of the company, 🤳🏼TikTok filming, 🎼 collecting scores and scripts, 📜 signing the important paperwork, and ultimately, receiving the EVER COVETED New Era Grafix Inc. hoodie🤩

🎟️ Tickets are on sale now for this year’s High School Project MATILDA THE MUSICAL ➡️ BUY NOW in-person at our Box Office, by phone at (519) 672-8800, or online at www.grandtheatre.com. And don’t forget, 2024/25 Season Subscribers save 15% when they add MATILDA THE MUSICAL to their season ✅

MATILDA THE MUSICAL
TITLE SPONSOR
Western Fair District

HIGH SCHOOL PROJECT PROGRAM SPONSORS
Thames Valley District School Board
London District Catholic School Board
Westminster College Foundation
Libro Credit Union

⬆️ Your name here? The Grand Theatre High School Project offers an exceptional opportunity for students to receive education and training in the working environment of a professional theatre, at no cost to the participants. Support the High School Project today - contact Monica Coddington at [email protected].

Pictured: Company members of Roald Dahl’s MATILDA THE MUSICAL and staff of the Grand Theatre.

Photography by Preston Free Cooper

😍 Thank you, London! We are so honoured to be named BEST LIVE THEATRE 🎭 and to create art in the Forest City 🌳🌲 alongside all of our community theatre partners and colleagues.

👀 Check us out in London Inc. Magazine’s BEST OF LONDON cover feature in their current issue – available in print and online ✅

Today marks National Indigenous Peoples Day, also recognized as Indigenous Solidarity Day.

At the Grand, our visual Land Acknowledgment tells the story of London’s settlement. This artwork by Katie Wilhelm shows gratitude for the Land, Water, and First Peoples – the earliest caretakers of this area – and is mounted in our main entrance as well as at Stage Door.

Katie Wilhelm, RGD (she/her), is an award-winning Indigenous Designer and Consultant based in London, Ontario, and a member of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation. A champion for the Indigenous community, she continuously looks to inspire others to create a more colourful future for Turtle Island.

Join today’s celebrations of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities wherever you call home – in London, all are invited to gather together at the Wortley Village Green (226 Wortley Rd) from Noon to 4 p.m. for singers, dancers, food, vendors, and community service providers.

Today’s in-person gathering and celebration in Wortley Village is brought to you by the Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians, Atlohsa Family Healing Services, N'Amerind (London) Friendship Centre, Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre, and City of London, Ontario - Municipal Government.

📢 Save the Date AND Calling 2SLGBTQIA+ Vendors and Performers!

Our Call for Performers ✨and✨ our Call for Vendors are both open for ALL PRIDE, NO PREJUDICE: A Grand Theatre Pride Celebration & Market on Sunday, July 21 🎉

Join us at the Grand during London Pride for …
1️⃣ Second Annual 2SLGBTQIA+ Vendor Market
2️⃣ XUUX Artists + Grand Cabaret hosted by NOELLE FRANCES
3️⃣ Grand Theatre Costume & Wardrobe Sale
4️⃣ Behind the Curtain Tours of the Theatre

The Drewlo Bar will be open and serving cold bevvies, the button maker will be out and ready to punch new circles of delight, and AIR CONDITIONING will be present and ready to deliver refreshing temps on a summer day.

💃🏿 2SLGBTQIA+ Performers, have an act you'd love to showcase on our lobby stage to add to the celebration? Fill in the Call for Performers (due by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 27): https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=YD338_GDIUyOYU9QwTFHLV4iCtFR-49GpIGXIFtnbwdUOU4zMzdMRlhVRjY1VTUzTEo2OFNaU0tHNiQlQCN0PWcu

🧑🏽‍🎨 2SLGBTQIA+ Vendors, we want to hear from you! Fill in our Vendor Application (due by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 27) https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=YD338_GDIUyOYU9QwTFHLZKgXNlNXqtBk4ezBRzY1aZURUNXVThYWlhPUVpETTBaM1ZHNkhQVlA3US4u

📆 SAVE THE DATE
All Pride, No Prejudice: A Grand Theatre Pride Celebration & Market
Sunday, July 21
1 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Grand Theatre (471 Richmond St)

🚨 Single Tickets Now On Sale! 🚨 Snag your seats for any (or all!) of our 2024/25 season productions:
🌻 AS YOU LIKE IT
🏔️ THE SOUND OF MUSIC
💎 HEIST
🍵 THE SECRET TO GOOD TEA
🥧 WAITRESS
👰🏻 PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

AND single tickets are also on sale for the Grand Theatre High School Project Roald Dahl's 📚 MATILDA THE MUSICAL!

Season Subscriptions are still the best deal around with 25% off your ticket price, hassle-free exchanges (plans change, we get it!), free parking, and more.

➡️ BUY NOW in-person at our Box Office, by phone at (519) 672-8800, or online at www.grandtheatre.com/202425-season

🏵️ FLOWER POWER: A 1960s GRAND GALA (2024) 🌼
proudly presented by Sterling Marking Products.

A fabulously rose-tinted evening with cocktail reception, dinner by North Moore Catering Ltd. on the Spriet Stage, and items auctioned live by Fripp Auctions all in support of the Grand Theatre's youth programming, including the High School Project, student matinees and rush ticket pricing, student club and more.

Featuring performances of groovy go-going from Hannah Elias and Ruth Douthwright, musical selections from the cast of MATILDA THE MUSICAL, and a little WEST SIDE STORY from London's own theatrical darling Mark Uhre.

Programs like the Grand Theatre High School Project are only possible with the support of our partners and supporters! 🌸

GOLD SPONSORS 💛
The Larry Myny Investment Group, CIBC Private Wealth
Spriet Associates Engineers and Architects
A Team Real Estate Brokerage
Matt Parr Mortgages

SILVER SPONSORS 🩶
Cornerstone Architecture
Lexus of London

BRONZE SPONSORS 🧡
Acura West
Cohen Highley
Ross Family

COMMUNITY PARTNERS 🌲
All Women L.E.A.D
Toboggan Brewery
Daisy Flowers London

VW Bus supplied by Jason Recker Art
Photography by Preston Free Cooper

🍎 EDUCATORS’ NIGHT OUT at the Grand! ONLY $273 for ALL 6 Spriet Stage shows 🎉 Educators of all descriptions are invited for a night out of live theatre and a PLAYFUL season of both new and classic works:
🌻 As You Like It
🏔️ The Sound of Music
💎 Heist
🍵 The Secret to Good Tea
🥧 Waitress
👰🏻 Pride and Prejudice

And remember that AfterWORDS follows each Wednesday night show, so head to the Drewlo Lounge post-show for a fun and intimate chat with artists from the production!

➡️ Visit www.grandtheatre.com/educators-night-out to subscribe

📢 Join us at the Grand! We are seeking a hands-on, deadline-driven, detail-oriented Finance Associate who lives and breathes finance and payroll. The role is a full-time, parental leave term position through to December 2025.

Applications will be reviewed as received, no later than June 28, 2024. For the detailed job posting and further detail about the application process, please visit our Auditions & Employment page: https://www.grandtheatre.com/auditions-employment

🎂 Happy birthday to JESSICA TANDY herself, one of the 🌳 Forest City’s most-acclaimed performers! Born in London, England but found her way through love (and marriage) to London, Ontario and the Grand Theatre’s stage (there were more than a few Broadway runs, feature films, Tony Awards, and an Oscar mixed in there too).

Look no further for your next movie night 🍿 See Jessica’s Oscar-winning performance in DRIVING MISS DAISY (available on Amazon Prime ✅), also starring Morgan Freeman and Dan Aykroyd!

Shown here with her husband, frequent co-star, and Londoner, Hume Cronyn, in THE FOURPOSTER which opened on Broadway in 1951, picked up Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Director, and toured the U.S. and Canada including a trip home to London, Ontario and the Grand Theatre.

Jessica and Hume returned once again during William Hutt’s tenure as Grand Theatre Artistic Director, and performed at the theatre as part of our 75th birthday celebrations. We have loved every opportunity to witness their powerful, charismatic talent as performers on our stage throughout their careers.

Photo by Alfredo Valente, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

We have the Afzaal family and the Muslim community in our hearts, grieving the four lives lost so horrifically three years ago on this date. Through our work we strive to find our way closer together, eroding the hate and intolerance that may drive us apart.

📣 We are officially on sale for SINGLE STUDENT MATINEES for the first two productions of our 2024/25 Season: A TIME FOR PLAY 🌼

Starting TODAY, you can purchase student matinee tickets for the Grand Theatre High School Project Roald Dahl’s MATILDA THE MUSICAL and the Beatles-infused production of AS YOU LIKE IT for your class, school, or student group.

🚌 Add a trip to the theatre to your plans for the coming school year ⭐ Visit here for all the details and to get started: https://www.grandtheatre.com/student-matinees