Faced with the choice of going big or going home, Capitol Theatre artistic director Rob Kempson chose the former to achieve the latter.
As a result, 2025 will see the historic Port Hope performance space stage its most ambitious line-up of productions to date under the banner “A Place To Call Home.”
On Thursday night (October 10) at the theatre, a packed house of very enthusiastic supporters was provided a sneak preview of what’s in store next year with the ever-exuberant Kempson acting as host.
Kempson had plenty to highlight, with four main stage ensemble productions, three Second Stage presentations, two live music experiences, and the ever-popular Christmas holiday panto, planned for May through December.
The season reveal had a pep rally feel, with performances by the likes of Ennismore fiddle sensation Melissa Payne, Alderville First Nation singer and guitarist Cale Crowe, and Shaw Festival regular Kyle Golemba, along with screened video messages from a few directors,
That was by design, with series subscriptions going on sale immediately following the reveal.
Of note, the Second Stage Series will make its debut in the Capitol’s intimate Sculthorpe Theatre space, with three original shows planned.
“When we started out thinking about the (2025) season and I started floating some ideas with my staff, we wanted to make sure our Sculthorpe Theatre got its due,” said a still-bouncing Kempson after the launch.
“We’ve really been trying to get people to go up there and talk about the shows there. We needed to make a big splash. We needed to say ‘Here’s a whole subscription. You can come and see just these shows upstairs.'”
“That sort of launched this ball that, if we’re in times that are difficult, if we’re in times where people are in turmoil around the world, if we’re in times where our politics are so divisive, what better place to come together than a theatre? So, instead of shrinking, instead of trying to do things only thinking economically or what we can manage, we decided to think big.”
Kempson added that’s been realized for 2025 in “a sustainable way.”
“Some of these shows have shorter runs in the hope that we can invite people to the theatre a number of times. With ambition comes the desire to see people again and again. Between Victoria Day and the weekend after Labour Day, you can come to the Capitol every single weekend and see something. That feels like the kind of place I want to work; the kind of place I know this community wants to have.”
On a more personal level, Kempson says he’s most excited over the opportunity to direct the hit musical Waitress.
“The story is really beautiful and heartfelt and also really funny. It’s a lot about pie. Who doesn’t like a musical about pie?”
Kempson is hopeful the variety of shows being offered for the 2025 season will entice everyone from the Port Hope community, and beyond, to come “home” to the Capitol.
“If folks have drifted away from theatre, as a lot have since the pandemic, our 2025 season will hopefully start those conversations that will bring them back. We hope that this season is strong and exciting enough that it opens a few eyes of those who haven’t been here in awhile. We’d love to have them back.”
According to Capitol Theatre managing director Erin Pierce, when all is said and done, live theatre productions offers a communal experience that remains unique.
“Sitting beside someone you don’t know, sharing an experience that could be extremely emotional or funny or whatever it is — that’s a very special thing,” she said. “That’s unique and I hope it never goes away.”
As someone who worked in Toronto for many years, Pierce said it’s “glorious” to spend most of her week at the Capitol Theatre and, by extension, the Port Hope community.
“The fact that we have something like this is a blessing. We are proud to steward what has come before us. We’re also proud to take risks and create change; to give the building what it deserves which is a continuous flow of people, and doing the best we can to offer programming that makes that happen.”
Updates and ticket information are available at capitoltheatre.com. While single show tickets will be available early in 2025, subscription packages — including a mix-and-match option — are available now and provide a 15 per cent savings if purchased before December 15.
Below is the 2025 season line-up featuring four main stage productions, three Second Stage productions, and two concerts (more will be announced throughout the season), with the annual holiday panto capping off the season.
Capitol Theatre 2025 Season
Main Stage
Alice in Wonderland
May 16 to June 1, 2025
Adapted by Fiona Saunder
Music by Landon Doak and Victor Pokinko
Dramaturgy by Matt Pilipiak
Directed by Sue Miner
Having broken Canadian box office records over the past two years, Bad Hats Theatre’s Dora Award-winning contemporary spin on a perennial favourite takes its audience down the rabbit hole with Alice — a girl with a lot of questions.
Waitress
June 13 to 25, 2025
Book by Jessie Nelson
Based on the film by Adrienne Shelly
Directed by Rob Kempson
This hilarious story about finding your voice bring us Jenna, an expert pie maker seeking a way out of her small town and rocky marriage by entering a pie making competition. However, when she meets her new doctor, her plans become more complicated. Sugar, butter and flour simply won’t solve her conundrum.
Steel Magnolias
July 18 to August 3, 2025
Written by Robert Harling
Directed by Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster
This classic play revolves around Truvy’s in-home beauty parlour and the women who frequent it. As they confront their own unique challenges, they rely on their friendships to get through life hardships related to health, family, religion and relationships.
Rez Gas
August 22 to September 7, 2025
Written by Cale Crowe and Genevieve Adam
Music supervision by Jeff Newberry
Directed by Herbie Barnes
A world premiere musical follows Destin after he moves away from his home reservation to pursue a music career. When he stumbles back into town after car trouble, he ends up at the Wide Wigwam, a diner at the centre of his community. There, he finds many of those he’s leaving behind, each who want to remind him of his history and his place in the community.
Second Stage Series
Handsome But Charmless
June 3 to 8, 2025
Created and performed by Kyle Golemba
Music direction by Adam White
Titled after Kyle’s worst review, this one-man show chronicles his journey navigating life as an actor. Featuring Broadway music, hilarious stories, and reflections on the ups and downs of theatre life, it promises to be a toe-tapping good time that will tickle your funny bone.
The Newfoundland Songbook
July 3 to 13, 2025
Created and performed by the Shipyard Kitchen Party
From remote outports to vibrant St. John’s, this presentation of timeless sea shanties, triumphant ballads and foot-stomping sing-alongs will showcase Canada’s 10th province at its most legendary. You may not feel like a Newfoundlander when you arrive, you’ll feel like one when you leave.
Let Me Explain
August 12 to 17, 2025
Created and performed by Izad Etemadi
Directed by Matt White
Presented by Green Light Arts, this hilarious collection of songs, satire and personal stories centres around Etemadi, who has spent most of his life explaining himself to others — his ethnicity, his sexuality and the pronunciation of his name. The German-born queer Iranian-Canadian immigrant attempts to explain his entire existence in 60-some minutes
Concerts
Billboard In Concert: The Power of Women & 1986
March 8 and 9, September 27 and 28, 2025
Conceived by Jeff Newberry and Rob Kempson
A double dose of Capitol Theatre’s signature remix of hit Billboard songs from any given year, with The Power of Women featuring hits by Jann Arden, Aretha Franklin, Carole King, Mariah Carey, Adele, Taylor Swift, Toni Braxton and many more, and 1986 highlighting the music of Lionel Ritchie, Patti LaBelle, Prince, Whitney Houston, Starship, Madonna, Bon Jovi, Janet Jackson and others.
How We Got To Jersey: A Tale of Two Frankies
October 24 to 26, 2025
Music direction and arrangements by Mark Camilleri
A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear not but two Frankie Vallis in a revue that takes its audience behind the scenes of the smash Broadway hit Jersey Boys. Find out how two small-town Canadian kids — Adrian Marchuk and Jeff Madden — grew up to portray a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame superstar on stages around the world to an audience of millions.
Holiday Panto
Hansel & Gretel: The Sticky and Sweet Panto
November 21 to December 28, 2025
Written by Rob Kempson
Music arrangements by Jeff Newberry
Directed by Rob Kempson
Hansel and Gretel are siblings who are abandoned in a forest. Due to some rather unfortunate navigation, they fall into the hands of a nasty witch who lives in a gingerbread house. Featuring songs known and loved, hilarious characters and the silliest of stories, this sugar-laden panto is a twisted fairy tale for the holiday season.
