Canadian star of film and television Paul Gross is set to open the 2024/25 season for Alberta Theatre Projects (ATP), with the critically acclaimed award nominated play The Seafarer by Conor McPherson.
Gross is set to step into the role played by Irish actor Ciarán Hinds (Rome, Game of Thrones) during the Broadway run of the production in 2007.
The play will be a return of Gross to his hometown of Calgary, and to the Martha Cohen Theatre where he will be directed by Peter Pasyk, known for his acclaimed productions of Shakespeare for the Stratford Festival.
“As Alberta Theatre Projects commemorates its 50th year, it’s an honour to have Paul Gross in the spotlight, marking this milestone with his talent and presence,” said ATP’s Artistic Director, Haysam Kadri.
“His return adds an extra layer of significance to our celebration, emphasizing the deep roots and enduring impact of theatre in our community.”
Gross, perhaps best known for his work on Due South, is himself coming off a well-received run of King Lear at the Stratford Festival that ran during the 2023/24 season.
The Seafarer is set to run from Oct. 15 to Nov. 10.
Superstar classics, to soon-to-be classics about superstars
ATP will be holding performances of E.P. White’s much-loved Charlotte’s Web, adapted to the stage by Joseph Robinette, throughout the holiday season.
The story of Wilbur the Pig and Charlotte the Spider that has enchanted children and families alike for generations, will be directed by Calgarian Rebecca Northan, who has been well known in the local arts scene for her creative approach to the stage, improv, and television.
That production runs from Nov. 26 to Dec. 29.
The company’s 2025 shows open with a nod to LeBron James, in King James, which explores the life of two individuals’ growing friendship against the backdrop of the 2003-2004 NBA season.
The opening run of Rajiv Joseph’s play received strong reviews from critics when it premiered in Chicago in 2022.
ATP’s Kadri will be stepping into the role of director for the production, which runs from February 25, 2025 to March 16, 2025.
The final play for ATP’s 50th season is Sophia Fabiilli’s madcap comedy Liars at a Funeral, which explores the depths of what family members will plumb for love and connection against the backdrop of a faked death to get desperate and disparate members of that family into one room.
Liars at a Funeral runs from April 22, 2025 to May 11, 2025.
“We are thrilled to present our 50th Anniversary Season, as we celebrate a half-century of theatrical excellence. With a rich display of human relationships woven throughout our history, these four exceptional plays serve as poignant reflections on the joys and challenges of connection,” said Kadri.
“They invite audiences to laugh, cry, and ponder the universal truths that bind us all, honouring the legacy of our past while embracing the promise of the future.”
Subscription tickets with early bird pricing is on until May 15, and can be purchased at albertatheatreprojects.com. Single show tickets go on sale this summer.
