Gryphon Theatre’s summer season has arrived with a variety of outstanding professional entertainment for the whole family.
The program is presented complete with laughter, popular music, Broadway favourites with a twist, country songs that never fade, and good old rock and roll.
Dinner packages are available in the Georgian Dining Room, and as the heat rises in the kitchen, so does the bar for summer shows that add some spark to a balmy evening or afternoon.
“Choosing shows for the summer season is always exciting because we like to present a very diverse program. There’s a focus on fun and comedy, and we are able to bring shows that might not be available at other times throughout the year,” noted Barbara Aoki, executive director for Gryphon Theatre.
Join other country music lovers on July 12, for a night of more than 25 Patsy Cline songs in one show. “She was everybody’s favourite. It’s a perfect compliment to our summer line up because her songs are timeless. Singer Leisa Way and The Wayward Wind are just fantastic and in this show, Sweet Dreams: A Tribute to Patsy Cline, they cover all the songs that people love best, like Crazy and I Fall to Pieces.”
The Famous People Players production, Shake, Rattle and Roll, from July 15 to July 19, is sure to delight the family and an intergenerational audience. It features lively music with dazzling puppetry to the tunes of the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
The black-light performers were discovered by Liberace, and have since impressed with the CBS Movie of the Week, Special People which won an Emmy Award. They have been featured on the television series, 7th Heaven, and A&E Breakfast with the Arts.
“People have been asking for Gryphon to bring back the Famous People Players. The show is such a treat for families. It’s so energetic and people of all ages have loved it for several decades now. Performances with black light always get the imagination going, and with the addition of the music and animated characters, there is no other show quite like it,” Aoki said.
A one-night-only performance by Jim Witter, The Piano Men 2, is set for July 25. Packed with popular songs, the show takes us on a musical journey.
“The Piano Men 2 is the answer to the first Piano Men we presented several years ago. The enthusiasm for that show was phenomenal. Who doesn’t love the music of the 1970s and 1980s, and Billy Joel, Elton John? Hearing Jim Witter perform these songs live puts the audience in a great mood. When he was last here, the audience really got into the music with such enthusiasm and it became very interactive.”
Those who love Pink Floyd will be thrilled to hear the album they probably played over and over again. The Aug. 8 concert is not a recreation, but a live music extravaganza in which musicians play every song from The Wall album, note for note. The second half of the show includes additional Pink Floyd hits.
“We like presenting the Classic Albums Live series. Last season we brought the Eagles' Hotel California and it was a hit. For the summer, we have The Wall, which is probably Pink Floyd’s best-known album. This show is like a rock concert experience.”
Concluding the season, from Aug. 11 to 16, Windwood Theatricals of New York makes a stop in Barrie for its 25th-Anniversary tour for a show that has been know to leave audiences roaring in the isles and wanting more.
“Forbidden Broadway sounds so mysterious, but it is a really hilarious show. There are outrageous costumes and it takes on the form of a satirical roast. They spoof a lot of the more popular songs and poke fun at many of the favourite musicals and stars.”
For tickets to Gryphon’s summer shows, to book a dinner reservation and for discount tickets for high school students, call the box office at 728-4613 or click the link provided.
