Spotlight Series 24/25: Staff Top Picks
The Playhouse is buzzing with excitement about the 30 shows we're presenting through the 2024/25 Spotlight Series! Read on to see what our staff members had to say about their top picks coming up this season.
Tim Yerxa, Executive Director
"Of all the shows coming up next season, I’m really looking forward to the Peking Acrobats. The Spotlight Series has a great history with presenting circus shows, but they’re almost always contemporary circus. The Peking Acrobats are not quite contemporary, it’s kind of a throwback to more classic circus acts. Theres an incredible heritage and lineage in Chinese acrobatics and the Peking Acrobats have been perfecting their act for a long time. They predate Cirque du Soleil and a lot of the other companies you’ll see.
On top of all that, it’s just a great show to bring a family to. We can’t have enough of those kinds of shows here; giving families an opportunity to do something together is more important now than it’s ever been.”
Melissa Cameron, Ticketing Operations Manager
"The show I’m most excited for is definitely Lemon Bucket Orkestra. They were here a few years back and I was working in the box office at the time, so I got to listen to part of the show but I wasn’t actually in the theatre for it.
Patrons came up to me for weeks after the show telling me how fantastic it was; how lively it was, how different of an experience it was from other shows they’ve caught here. And I missed it! So there’s no way I’m going to miss it again this year. They sounded like chaotic fun; very lively and energetic. The crowd absolutely went wild for them, I can’t wait to catch it live.”
Meghan Callaghan, Ticketing Operations Manager
"The show that I think everybody has to see this season is As You Like It, or the Land Acknowledgement by Cliff Cardinal. I had no idea what the show was when it got booked and then I got sent a video of the full performance. We review all show footage in marketing and comms so we know how to talk about each of the shows. So I sat down and thought I’ll watch 15 minutes of this show just to get a taste for it’…I ended up watching the entire show in one sitting!
It’s an incredible show. It’s Shakespeare like you’ve never seen it. The show is not at all what I was expecting it to be; it totally blew my mind. I didn’t know who Cliff Cardinal was but now I’m totally obsessed with his work. Everyone should see it, but go in with an open mind. Whatever you expect it to be, it’ll be totally different.”
Jeff Richardson, Director of Growth and Development
"I really can’t wait to see the Trans-Canada Highwaymen. I’ve been a huge fan of all of all of the respective bands for forever, in particular Sloan. Plus, Odds are hands-down one of the best rock bands ever.
My first ever concert was actually here at the Playhouse in 1993. It was a Barenaked Ladies concert, and my first real exposure to rock and roll. It’s fun all these years later to see Stephen Page coming back to perform on the same stage.
It’s going to be really unique and fun to see all these bands melded together, to see them play each other’s songs. For those of us who grew up in the 90’s listening to music, we know that each of these bands were staples of Canadian radio. We all had so many of their CDs. So it’s just so joyful and nostalgic to see them reliving their greatest hits like this."
Katelyn Goodwin, Ticketing Supervisor
"The show I’m most excited for next year in the Spotlight Series is definitely Alan Cumming and Ari Shapiro in Och and Oy: A Considered Cabaret. The biggest reason is that I saw an interview with Alan where he said something like “…when you’re doing a play or musical you have to pretend the audience isn’t there. you’re in your own little world. But for a cabaret you have to make eye contact with the audience; you’re all in this together and sharing this experience.” I was already so excited when I heard that they were coming but that really sold me on the show.
Alan has been in musicals and movies and TV shows that I’ve grown up with…my mom and I are obsessed with him. She was so over the moon when she found out he was performing here. It’s going to be an experience that we all share together!"
Jason McIntyre, Marketing & Communications Coordinator
"My highlight of the upcoming Spotlight Series is definitely Snotty Nose Rez Kids. I've made playlists for all the music acts joining us next season, and as much as I like to listen to everybody we have coming up, more often than not I'm in the mood for upbeat rap. Once I dipped my toes in I was hooked. I may or may not have already reserved front row tickets for their show here.
The tracks are just so energized. You can tell they're throwing everything on their songs that they can, but having a lot of fun while doing it. Constant flow switch ups, pop culture references, tongue-in-cheek commentary. It's somehow very politically charged and socially conscious while also staying super playful and celebratory at the same time. They're kicking Canadian hip-hop up a notch, and doing it in style."
Want to browse the full 24/25 Spotlight Series lineup yourself? Click here.