Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre has revealed the casting of its four mainstage ensemble productions running from mid-May through early September, with single tickets going on sale on Tuesday (March 31).
Using the theme “Where Our Stories Begin,” the 2026 season includes the Tony Award-winning musical You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (May 15 to 31), Canadian playwright Sophia Fabiilli’s popular comedy Liars at a Funeral (June 12 to 28), the Broadway smash-hit musical Come From Away (July 10 to August 2), and a brand new Canadian adaptation of the suspense thriller Gaslight (August 21 to September 6).
“This summer the Capitol welcomes a large company of incredibly talented artists to Port Hope to bring our shows and concerts to life, with beloved returning folks and notable new faces,” says artistic director Rob Kempson, who will also be directing two of the mainstage shows.
“There is a deep breadth of artistic talent across the country, so we are thrilled to showcase stars from Stratford, Shaw, Mirvish, and Canada’s indie theatre scene in a predominantly Canadian season that runs from major musicals to intimate dramas,” Kempson adds.
Performing artists returning to the Capitol Theatre this season include Scott Carmichael, Beau Dixon, Donna Garner, Kyle Golemba, Amir Haidar, Ben Kopp, Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster, Aaron Macpherson, Taylor Lovelace, Melissa Payne, Matt Pilipiak, and more, while AP Bautista, Kyle Blair, Aidan deSalaiz, Jane Luk, Julie Lumsden, Monique Lund, Glynis Ranney, Daniel Reale, Annika Tupper, and Brendan Wall are among those making their Capitol debut.
Single tickets for all the mainstage productions go on sale at 10 a.m. on March 31 at capitoltheatre.com or by calling the box office at 905-885-1071. Full season subscriptions are also still available.
VIDEO: “Where Our Stories Begin” 2026 season promotion
Below are more details about the four mainstage ensemble productions.
“You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”
May 15 to 31, 2026
Based on the beloved comic strip by Charles M. Schulz, this Tony award-winning musical comedy with book, music, and lyrics by Clark Gesner chronicles the adventure of Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang.
Directed and choreographed by Rob Kempson with music direction by Shane O’Regan, the Capitol Theatre production features Amir Haidar in the title role, with Jillian Mitsuko Cooper as Sally Brown, AP Bautista as Lucy Van Pelt, Matt Pilipiak as Snoopy, Kyle Golemba as Schroeder, and Ben Kopp as Linus Van Pelt.
“Liars At A Funeral”
June 12 to 28, 2026
In Sophia Fabiilli’s play, when an estranged family gathers to mourn the passing of Mavis, the family matriarch, the funeral erupts into a more dysfunctional family reunion than any of them could have imagined. If everyone can keep it together, they might just break the intergenerational curse and make it out alive.
Directed by Aaron Jan, the Capitol Theatre production stars Aidan deSalaiz, Carolyn Fe, Ericka Leobrera, Jane Luk, and Gregory Solomon.
“Come From Away”
July 10 to August 2, 2026
This global sensation with book, music, and lyrics by Irene Sankoff and David Hein takes you into the centre of the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded passengers and the small town of Gander, Newfoundland that welcomed them during the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Directed by Rob Kempson with music direction by Jeff Newberry and choreography by Genny Sermonia, and featuring live music performed by the company, the Capitol Theatre production features Donna Garner as Diane, Tat Austrie as Hannah, Annika Tupper as Janice, Monique Lund as Beulah, Melissa Payne as Bonnie, Julie Lumsden as Beverley, Beau Dixon as Oz, real-life couple Kyle Blair and Kyle Golemba playing Kevin T and Kevin J (respectively), Charlie Clark as Bob, Brendan Wall as Claude, and Scott Carmichael as Nick.
“Gaslight”
August 21 to September 6, 2026
In this adaptation by Johnna Wright and Patty Jamieson of Patrick Hamilton’s 1938 play — later made into a 1940 British film and then the more well-known 1944 American version starring Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman — Bella Manningham thinks she’s losing her mind. In the evenings, she hears strange sounds and the gas lights dim for no apparent reason. Is she losing her grip on reality, or is it being loosened for her?
Directed by Marie Farsi, the Capitol Theatre production stars Courtney Ch’ng Lancaster as Bella, Darren Martens as Jack, Mallory James as Nancy, and Glynis Ranney as Elizabeth.
Running in tandem with the mainstage productions is the Capitol Theatre’s Second Stage Series in the more intimate Sculthorpe Theatre, along with the Music Lovers’ Series.
The Second Stage Series includes three world premieres: Chris Tsujiuchi’s Big Gay Cabaret from June 4 to 7, Born To Be Bad: The Villains of Broadway written and performed by Tahirih Vejdani from June 30 to July 5, and Farley Mowat’s And No Birds Sang by Peterborough native Dave Carley from August 14 to September 6.
Farley Mowat’s And No Birds Sang was developed through the Capitol Theatre’s Creators Unit, established in 2023 for new play development, as was I’m Every Woman: The Whitney Houston Songbook, written and performed by Taylor Lovelace, which will see its world premiere from October 23 to 25.
