CAMBRIDGE – Drayton Entertainment is hoping to keep audiences connected and entertained amid another shutdown with its digital streaming series Backstage Pass.
Patrons can provide support to the theatre industry and enjoy entertainment from the comfort of their homes with the brand-new series, states a Jan. 10 press release from the organization.
With in-person performances prohibited due to government restrictions related to rising Omicron numbers, the not-for-profit charitable arts organization has announced plans keep audiences connected to the performing arts by offering 10 weeks of virtual entertainment.
“We wish we could welcome audiences into our venues in person, but health and safety must be the top priority right now,” stated Drayton Entertainment artistic director Alex Mustakas in the release.
“We hope this fun virtual series brings theatre lovers some much needed joy and entertainment as they stay home to stay safe.”
In November, Drayton Entertainment announced its reopening after 20 months of being closed and was able to put on two shows in December, which Mustakas said went well.
“It was nice when we announced it because we had no activity at the box office for over 20 months. So out of the gate, it was really good,” he said in an interview with the Advertiser.
“But here we are again, another lockdown for us. But I’m hopeful by the spring, definitely by the summer, we’ll be operating again.”
With the goal of staying connected with audiences, the Backstage Pass series will run Sunday nights from Jan. 30 to April 3. Each hour-long episode will be available on demand for seven days after it airs.
By purchasing the series, Mustakas says patrons will not only learn more about the Canadian theatre industry and artists, they’ll also be providing important support in the midst of the latest restrictions, which have once again shuttered operations.
“There are really poignant messages, but also there’s a lot of great music and monologues along the way, and some very funny stories,” he explained.
“I think it’s gonna be a very entertaining series.
“It was emotional at times,” he added. “But I think along the way, there’s still a lot of positivity and a lot of hopefulness that we’ll be back.”
Hosted by Mustakas, Backstage Pass features performances and interviews with over 40 Canadian theatre artists.
Mustakas said a common theme that came out of his interviews is one of the biggest things artists missed about performing was the audience.
“It’s one thing to be on a Zoom call, but it’s another thing to feel an audience in an auditorium because they’re very much part of the theatre experience,” he said.
The series will also feature performances from popular artists including:
– AJ Bridel (Kinky Boots for Drayton and Toronto/Charlottetown’s Anne of Green Gables);
– Patrick R. Brown (Drayton’s Beauty and the Beast/Broadway’s The Lion King and Aladdin);
– Alexis Gordon (Drayton’s Godspell/Shaw Festival/Stratford Festival);
– Lisa Horner (Drayton’s 9 to 5: The Musical/Come From Away Toronto);
– Lee MacDougall (Drayton’s The Foursome/Come From Away Original Broadway Company);
– Robert Markus (Drayton’s Chicago), Marcus Nance (Drayton’s The Little Mermaid/Stratford Festival/La Boheme Broadway); and
– Tim Porter (Drayton’s ELF, and many panto productions).
“It’s an interesting series that kind of pulls back the curtain on what it’s like to work in live theatre, as told by the 40 or so interviews that I did with major actors in this country,” Mustakas explained.
“For most of our stakeholders and of course theatre lovers, it’s kind of the second best thing because they’re going to see familiar faces on the series and great music.
“We’ve got a couple of running comedy bits that happen as well.”
Backstage Pass follows the success of Drayton Entertainment’s first digital offering We’ll Meet Again, a variety show that was only available to a limited audience in 2020.
The theatre company filmed the 10-episode series during the initial pandemic shut down and made them available as a means to stay connected to current patrons while the theatres were closed to in-person performances.
This new series will be available for purchase publicly.
“We need to have hope for the future, and right now … many people have gone down a rabbit hole, kind of the deepest darkest depths of despair, and we want them to be entertained, we want them to laugh a little bit,” Mustakas said.
“We want to listen to some great music and to add positivity to the world.
“There’s nothing like that communal experience that we have in an auditorium with sometimes [400 or 500] other people, where we laugh as one, we cry as one, we emote as one or sometimes our heart beats in sync and rhythm because of what’s happening on stage.”
Filmed by 519 Films, Backstage Pass will also include a Smile of the Day segment from popular entertainer Neil Aitchison as his alter-ego Constable Archibald F. Inkster, and a recurring visit from funnyman Wade Lynch, the release noted.
Highlighting Canadian talent
Audiences will also get to meet the nine finalists in The Great Community Talent Search over the course of the series. Each week, a contestant will share their talent, and on the final episode, audiences will be given instructions on how to vote for the grand prize winner.
The top nine finalists are: Emma Reynolds of Penetanguishene, Faridhusen Mansuri of Guelph, Emily McRobbie of Harriston, Malia Dilana Alfonso from Leamington, Adam Rigby and Cayleigh Lennox from Dundas, Abigail Shatford of Pelham, Simon Zenker of Elmira and the Rezonation Quartet from Kitchener-Waterloo.
“We’re excited about the unique way that this series highlights homegrown talent, both established and up and coming,” said Mustakas.
“There are many shows about actors and the behind-the-scenes process on Broadway, but so few, if any, shine the light on Canadian talent and the theatre industry here in Canada.”
Mustakas said people oftentimes don’t realize when they go to the shows the calibre of artists that Drayton Entertainment has on their stage.
“It’s a big country, but it’s a small industry,” he explained. “These are some of the finest performers in North America [and] that’s the light we want to shine, is the calibre.
“But also, we want the audience to hear their story, what this has done through their eyes as well. It’s really interesting.”
Drayton Entertainment has partnered with TheaterMania, a live stream and video-on-demand platform for theatre and entertainment enthusiasts, to stream Backstage Pass.
Tickets can be purchased from Drayton Entertainment directly and patrons are then sent a secure link to watch the series on the streaming platform as each episode is released.
“They’re going to see, as we pull back the curtain, what goes into preparing for theatre, what goes into how actors prepare, the funny things that happened that are beyond their control,” Mustakas said of what viewers can expect from the new digital series.
Tickets are on sale now. Audiences can choose to buy the complete series for a package price or select individual episodes by visiting www.draytonentertainment.com or calling the box office at 1-855-372-9866.
Plans are still underway for in-person programming at Drayton Entertainment’s seven stages across the province.
The 2022 season is expected to be announced later this winter.
