Here’s the February edition of the Backstage Pass. In it you’ll find details about Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Days of Wine and Chocolate (a great Valentine’s idea) and a contest to win tickets to An Ideal Husband. Of course, if you didn’t receive the Backstage Pass in your inbox last week, sign-up here.

Look Forward to An Ideal Theatre Season!

Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband, first performed in 1895, ran for 124 performances at the Haymarket Theatre in London. In April of that same year, Wilde would be arrested for ‘gross indecency’ and his name would be publicly taken off the play, an act of indecency in itself. Wilde’s play about infidelity and life in the political arena remains relevant and brilliantly entertaining more than a century later. On stage at the Festival Theatre, starting this April, An Ideal Husband will be directed by Artistic Director Jackie Maxwell with Patrick Galligan, Steven Sutcliffe and Catherine McGregor making up the very ideal cast. Scandal, brilliant repartee and exquisitely beautiful costumes – don’t miss it!

Buy tickets Read more about An Ideal Husband

In the meantime, to tide you over through the winter months, please enter our very special contest:

Tell us about your IDEAL HUSBAND and win a pair of tickets to see Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband at the Shaw Festival as well as a copy of Thomas Wright’s Oscar’s Books! This Vintage Books publication gives an insightful look into the life of the literary dandy by examining Wilde’s personal collection of books. Send us a short description of what makes the perfect husband. Whether the inspiration comes from a real human specimen or creative imagining, we want to hear it. Send your answer by February 19 to contests@shawfest.com The winning answer will be published in our March edition of Backstage Pass. Stay tuned.

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SAVE WITH SPECIAL SPRING PACKAGES Come visit The Shaw and Niagara-on-the-Lake this Spring. The lilacs are blooming, the air is fresh and it really is the perfect season to visit the Niagara Region. Our affordable packages make planning a Spring theatre getaway all the more pleasant. Take in a play, stroll the historic old town, enjoy fine dining and wine tasting … there is so much to see and do. Visit our website and find the package that suits you perfectly.

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The BBC Oscar Wilde Collection on DVD Let the BBC transport you back to the decadent aristocratic drawing rooms of 1890s England with this two disc set. Lovingly restored, these plays feature a who’s who of great actors of the British stage and screen including Sir John Gielgud, Joan Plowright, Jeremy Brett, Susan Hampshire, Margaret Leighton and Gemma Jones. Rediscover the charm and delight of Wilde’s masterpiece The Importance of Being Earnest. Unleash the chilling and ruthless melodrama of The Picture of Dorian Gray, which disturbed the very foundation of Victorian society. Indulge yourself in the scandalous gossip and intrigue of An Ideal Husband and Lady Windermere’s Fan. Price: $89.95 plus $6.95 shipping and handling. To order call Bernard’s, the Shaw Festival Shop at 1-800-511-7429 ext 2276 or e-mail mweaver@shawfest.com Glenn Gould Revealed Music Niagara and Shaw Festival Winter Benefit Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould Festival Theatre Directed by Peter Raymont and Michéle Hozer 109 minutes Sunday, February 28 at 2pm Tickets are $20 for film only or $50 for film plus wine and hors d’oeuvres reception in the Macdonald Heaslip Lounge featuring the Gould String Quartet. Come enjoy this wonderful portrait of a brilliant Canadian musician and icon. Genius Within premiered to wide acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival this past fall. Don’t miss this excellent retrospective and examination of a key figure in Canada’s cultural history. To buy tickets call the Shaw box office at 1-800-511-7429.

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FEBRUARY FUN

Days of Wine and Chocolate Weekends in February Explore pairings of wine and chocolate as you tour 22 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake in February. Each stop will feature a premium VQA wine matched to a decadent chocolate selection. Visit the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake website for a complete list of 22 delectable wine and chocolate pairings. Tour passes are $30 per person and can be ordered online or by phone through the Niagara-on-the-Lake Chamber of Commerce at 905-468-1950. Back to Top Canadian Opera Company 09/10 Diamond Anniversary Season OTELLO Verdi Special Offer 15% OFF regular ticket prices* February 3, 10, 16 and 22 Performances ONLY Promotion Code: SHAWFEST Shakespeare’s heart-wrenching tragedy is served magnificently by Giuseppe Verdi’s score. Clifton Forbis returns to the COC in Verdi’s most demanding tenor role. COC.CA 416-363-8231 *Subject to availability, excludes sections 2A and 2B

Our Backstage Pass Contest Continues! Congratulations to Keith B. from Buffalo NY, who has won this month’s contest for Backstage Pass subscribers. He will receive a pair of tickets to a 2010 Festival Theatre performance of his choice. More information.

Photo: Claire Jullien AN IDEAL HUSBAND.  Photo by Shin Sugino. Niagara Photography: Chris Beard  Creative: Scott Thornley + Company © 2010 Shaw Festival Theatre 10 Queen’s Parade, Box 774, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada L0S 1J0  1-800-511-7429 To continue to receive the Backstage Pass, please add: backstagepass@shawfest.com to your email address book. This message is being sent to you because of your affiliation with the Shaw Festival. Images are property of the Shaw Festival and are copyrighted. Uses other than by the Shaw Festival or without approval of the Shaw Festival are prohibited. PRIVACY POLICY UPDATE YOUR ACCOUNT