With the state of the world in total upheaval, Lewis Carroll’s fantasies feel like the perfect entertainment for the times. So Ross Petty Productions’ Alice In Winterland – its second annual virtual panto offering – should entertain loyal fans and earn new followers suffering from pandemic fatigue. And there’s even more fun audience participation in store if you decide to watch the Pick Your Own Path version of the show. Since links to the show are available for 72 hours, you’ll have enough time to watch both versions.
Winter Garden Theatre
December 6, 2024 - January 5, 2025
A Not So Final Farewell!
After 25 years of producing my holiday family musicals at Toronto’s historic Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre, the farewell production “Peter’s Final Flight” in 2022 brought the curtain down on a quarter century of hilarity that introduced the magic of live theatre to thousands of children and their families.
When December 2023 arrived, where once the rafters of the Elgin Winter Garden shook with raucous laughter, boos and the latest pop songs, the silence at Yonge and Queen was deafening. My inbox exploded with untold emails, texts and DM’s wondering as to how to fill the void.
An Early Christmas Gift!
The answer my friends is that we’re back this December 2024! The emptiness will be filled! Yonge and Queen will be rocking once again!
Canadian Stage, Toronto’s largest not-for-profit theatre, had been looking for a winter event to balance their long-running Dream in High Park every summer. My conversations with Artistic Director Brendan Healy and Executive Director Monica Esteves quickly came to fruition to breathe new life into the Pantos. Our first production this winter will be a Toto-ly Twistered version of THE WIZARD OF OZ, written by our six-time Panto scribe Matt Murray, directed by Coal Mine Theatre co-founder Ted Dykstra, choreographed by Jennifer Mote and music directed by Mark Camilleri. Delighted to bring back an artistic team that has done great work in creating many past years of Family Musicals for the Elgin Winter Garden stage. I will now have the very lofty title of Executive Producer Emeritus, but you can still feel free to boo when you see me in the audience!
YOUR Favourites RETURN!
You can also look forward to the riotous return of Dan Chameroy as the outrageous Plumbum with brilliant funnyman Eddie Glen unleashing his triple threat talent as The ScareCrow. As an added treat, the lovely and talented Vanessa Sears will transition from playing the innocent Juliet in The Stratford Festival’s ROMEO AND JULIET, to the Wicked Witch of the West. Now that’s what I call versatile!
We can’t wait to have you join us on the Yellow Brick Road this December. Welcome Back to the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre!
Ross Petty
2022 Peter’s Final Flight
25th ANNIVERSARY BOOK!
Ross Petty is the king of the Canadian Family Musical. For more than a quarter century he produced live theatre versions of these
beloved fractured fairy tales. Ross has employed Canada's foremost musical theatre performers and legions of Canadian artists and
designers to create and perform these original works. He recently published a book about this grand adventure, which actually
began at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in 1984 when he starred with his wife Karen Kain in Dick Whittington and his Cat. Filled with
hundreds of colour photos, including Ross' remembrances of every show, and featuring a who's who of Canadian showbiz, 25+ Years of
Family Musicals is a must-have keepsake of this fascinating chapter in our cultural history. No theatre-lover should be without it.
The book will be on sale at the Elgin Winter Garden Theatre Centre during the run of THE WIZARD OF OZ.
Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres
Located in downtown Toronto, this historic showplace has been our home for 25+ years and recently celebrated its 110 anniversary.
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sponsor integration
Join us for Ontario’s favourite holiday event and reach thousands of Ontario families.
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family holiday party
Share the joy of the holidays with your clients, customers, employees and their families.
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TV Specials
Enjoy video samplings of our TV specials featuring Bret “Hitman” Hart, Karen Kain and Ross Petty.
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