Stratford Shakespeare Festival 2008 With Christopher Plummer as Caesar August 26 – 29, 2008

		An outstanding, exciting tour arranged for The Volunteers' Circle of The National Gallery of Canada
	Your Executive Worldwide Travel Tour Itinerary
	With Shakespeare firmly established as the centerpiece of the 2008 playbill, the Stratford Festival of Canada has added a Shaw classic and two vibrant musicals (one of which we will see) to its list of performances. “Our goal for this Festival is to illuminate Shakespeare’s work and give audiences an exciting variety of theatrical experiences,” said general director Antoni Cimolino. “We’re very proud of the season we’re putting together and also delighted that Christopher Plummer will be joining us again.” Our tour will feature two of Shakespeare’s most beloved plays as well as “The Music Man,” and a performance by Christopher Plummer in Shaw’s Caesar and Cleopatra. Definitely a tour to remember!

	TUESDAY, AUGUST 26 – Early morning departure for Stratford from the National Gallery of Canada on Sussex Drive. Delicious box lunch prepared by the NAC’s “Le Café” enroute. Afternoon arrival at the lovely Arden Park Hotel, located on the main street, a short walk from Festival Theatre. The Arden Park is the newest hotel in Stratford and boasts many excellent facilities including an indoor swimming pool. Welcome dinner before the evening performance of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, at Festival Theatre. “Katherina’s sharp tongue and fiery temper are no lure for suitors, who flock instead to her younger sister, Bianca. It looks as if the shrew may have met her match, though, in Petruchio, an adventurous newcomer in town who devises a startling way of reaching her so carefully guarded heart. The result is a no-holds-barred battle of the sexes that’s as hilarious as it is controversial.”     LD

		WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 27 – After breakfast, depart for a hands-on Tour of the Costume Warehouse. The warehouse is a fascinating place ~ about an acre, containing over 50,000 items - from hats to swords to dishes and costumes. Lunch on your own. Transfer to Festival Theatre for a matinee performance of Shaw’s Caesar and Cleopatra, starring Christopher Plummer. “Shaw’s legendary wit turns political drama into sparkling comedy when veteran strategist Julius Caesar becomes mentor to the enchanting teenage queen of Roman-occupied Egypt. Their first encounter under a desert moon will lead to a shift in the course of history, as Cleopatra gradually overcomes her timidity to become a determined player in the game of power politics.”
	Return to our hotel with free time for dinner on your own. Transfer to Avon Theatre for the evening performance of Meridith Wilson’s The Music Man. “When charming huckster Harold Hill arrives in River City, Iowa, with a promise to teach the town’s youth to play in a marching band, librarian Marion Paroo rightly suspects that he’s a fraud. But Harold’s silver-tongued gift for selling dreams may be more potent than he realizes. A warm, zany and gloriously tuneful musical comedy, set at the height of America’s golden age of innocence.” B

	THURSDAY, AUGUST 28 – After breakfast, depart for a Backstage Festival Theatre tour. Go behind the scenes at the Festival Theatre, where you'll visit a number of interesting departments - Props, Wardrobe, Wigs and Makeup, and much more. Lunch on your own followed by a matinee performance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet at Festival Theatre.
		“They love each other passionately as only teenagers can – while their families, addicted to hatred, embrace a culture of endless violence. To be united with her Romeo, Juliet dares to face the terrors of the tomb – but not even the best of plans can change the inevitable course of disaster. Romance, laughter and tragedy add up to the greatest love story of all time.”
	Remainder of afternoon at leisure before leaving for our Farewell Dinner at The Old Prune, with its four elegant rooms in a charming Edwardian House. Chef Bryan Steele creates a cuisine of natural simplicity and abundant flavour with the finest and freshest ingredients. BD

		FRIDAY, AUGUST 29 – Following breakfast, check out and depart for Oshawa and a guided tour and lunch at Robert McLaughlin Gallery. The gallery is dedicated to the collection, preservation and exhibition of the best in Canada's art heritage and its collection includes an extensive selection of Canadian masterpieces. Since Painters Eleven, Ontario's first abstract painting group, was founded in Oshawa/Whitby in 1953, the gallery has always taken a deep interest in the work of these outstanding artists, their significant contemporaries and followers. Return to Ottawa. Approximate arrival time: 7:30 p.m. BL

	Coordinators: Peter Clark Frank Anglin Travel Agency: Executive Worldwide Travel Agent: Jean Sheikh, C.T.C. (613) 236-5555 Or 1-800-267-5552 Registration No.: 1892605	For more details on this tour or to request a brochure, please feel free to contact us at 613-236-5555 or email Jean Sheikh at jsheikh@executive-trvl.com.
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