With its beautifully decorated Christmas trees, its ‘hysterically funny’ panto, and its December line-up of concerts for all tastes, Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre is a destination for your holiday season enjoyment.
Whether you’re coming to the theatre to see a show or just want to immerse yourself in the spirit of the season, the 27th annual Festival of Lights and Trees encompasses the lobby with adorned Christmas trees for free viewing by the entire family. Viewings are available until December 17 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Saturdays as well as from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays, with additional viewings from 12 to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 15 and from 12 to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, December 17.
A community favourite and holiday tradition in Port Hope, the festival is also a fundraiser for the not-for-profit theatre. During display times, guests have the option to purchase a raffle ticket and enter to win a wreath, or all of the decorations on a tree, plus a Capitol Theatre 2024 summer season subscription. The prize draw takes place at the Capitol on Monday, December 18 at 11 a.m.
Along with the Festival of Lights and Trees, a highlight of this year’s holiday season at the Capitol Theatre is Jack – A Beanstalk Panto, running until December 23 with both “naughty” performances and “nice” family-friendly matinees.
“It was hysterically funny,” writes Janine Marley of A View from the Box. “There were times I could barely catch my breath from laughing so hard.”
That reaction is not surprising, considering the show is written and directed by award-winning Canadian actor, improviser, and playwright Rebecca Northan (Alice I Think, The Joe Blow Show, Blind Date, Goblin: Macbeth) and performed by Christy Bruce, Paul Constable, Robbie Fenton, Madison Hayes-Crook, Clea McCaffrey, Zoe O’Connor, Hal Wesley Rogers, and Steve Ross.
VIDEO: Jack – A Beanstalk Panto promo
Whether you like it NAUGHTY or NICE, our annual holiday panto is a hit! Don't miss JACK: A BEANSTALK PANTO, written and directed by Rebecca Northan, and sponsored by Part Time CFO Services LLP. Tickets are going fast! 905.885.1071
#Capitol2023 #CapitolHolidays #CapitolJackPosted by Capitol Theatre Port Hope on Sunday, December 3, 2023
“Because Northan is a masterful comedienne and improviser, she knows the minutiae of crafting and creating a joke or realizing a funny moment based on an audience’s reaction,” writes Lynn Slotkin of The Slotkin Letter. “Her gifted cast is a collection of equally smart actors who know how to float a laugh line for the biggest laugh. As with all good comedians, every joke, every reaction is played absolutely straight — no joke is telegraphed.”
“The stellar cast of Jack: A Beanstalk Panto deliver incredible performances, most taking on more than one character during the course of the story and each of them getting to show off their incredible singing voices,” Marley writes.
Pantomine (panto for short) is a type of musical comedy stage production designed for families that originated in England and is performed around Christmas and New Year’s. Usually based on a well-known nursery story or fairy tale, a panto features songs, gags, slapstick comedy, magic, dancing, gender-crossing actors, topical humour, and audience participation. British pantos include risqué double entendre that go over the head of children in the audience but, in North America, pantos usually include separate “nice” family-friendly performances and “naughty” performances intended for adults.
“Make it a nice day out and take the kids or grandkids to this show, or be a little bit naughty and head out for an evening of off-colour jokes,” writes Mary Alderson of Entertain This Thought. “You’ll be laughing either way.”
“Nice” performances of Jack – A Beanstalk Panto take place at 2 p.m. on December 9, 11 a.m. on December 10, and 2 p.m. on December 16, 22, and 23. “Naughty” performances run at 8 p.m. from December 4 to 9, December 12 to 16, and December 19 to 23, with a 2 p.m. matinee performance on December 13.
Tickets are $48 and can be purchased online at capitoltheatre.com or in person at the box office.
In addition to the holiday panto, during December the Capitol Theatre is presenting two Christmas concerts and two concerts to cap off 2023.
Celebrated Canadian tenor John McDermott will perform a family Christmas show with his band on Saturday, December 10th at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $55.
Good Lovelies (Whitby’s Caroline Brooks, Port Hope’s Kerri Ough, and Cobourg’s Susan Passmore) will be bringing their songwriting and multi-instrumental talents and their gorgeous harmonies to the Capitol stage for two performances of their Christmas tour on Saturday, December 17th. Tickets are $45 for either the 2:30 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. shows.
VIDEO: Elton Rohn promo
For the last weekend of 2023, the Capitol Theatre is presenting Toronto tribute band Tommy Youngsteen who will perform Bruce Springsteen’s classic album “Born in the USA” at 8 p.m. on Saturday, December 30th. Named one of Toronto’s best cover bands, the band includes members and alumni from The Sam Roberts Band, Stars, The Stills, The Dears, Sloan, The Trews, Lowest of the Low, Serena Ryder, and The Arkells. Tickets are $55.
At 8 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, Elton Rohn will return to the Capitol Theatre for the fifth time, with Ron Camilleri and his band of some of Canada’s finest musicians performing all of British rocker Sir Elton John’s most well-loved hits. Don’t delay getting your $65 ticket, as all previous Elton Rohn appearances at the Capitol have sold out.
Tickets for all concerts can be purchased online at capitoltheatre.com or in person at the box office.
