Press Releases

2026 Season Announcement

October 8, 2025

Artistic Director David Connolly is pleased to announce Drayton Entertainment's 2026 Season.

“Our 2026 Season spans genres, emotions, and generations but at its core, it's about what unites us: the need to laugh, to feel, to dream, and to share the experience together,” says Connolly. “We can’t wait to welcome you into this vibrant collection of unforgettable stories... where hope inspires change, courage strengthens connection, and shared experiences celebrate the joy, resilience, and humanity that bind us together.”

All Is Calm: The Christmas Truce of 1914

Written by Peter Rothstein 
Vocal Arrangements by Erick Lichte & Timothy C. Takach 

This remarkable true story of Peace on Earth is told in the words and songs of those who lived it. A group of weary English soldiers hunker down in the trenches of The Western Front on Christmas Eve, only to encounter an extraordinary night of camaraderie, music, and peace. Crowned “One of the top live events for Christmas in North America” by BBC Magazine, this production will take you on a journey to parts of the heart rarely explored.

Agatha Christie’s 
And Then There Were None 

By Agatha Christie 

When a group of disparate guests arrive at an isolated island mansion, their past misdeeds are exposed and one by one, they start dying off. Trapped without hope of imminent rescue, the guests must determine the culprit before it’s too late. One of Christie’s most foreboding tales and a masterpiece of dramatic construction, this classic play’s growing sense of dread and unfaltering tension will keep audiences guessing to the very end.

Dear Evan Hansen

Book by Steven Levenson 
Music & Lyrics by Benj Pasek & Justin Paul 

A deeply personal and profoundly contemporary musical about life and the way we live in the digital age, The Washington Post heralds it as “one of the most remarkable shows in musical theatre history.” This musical follows a high school senior with social anxiety who invents an important role for himself in a tragedy that he did not earn. A winner of the Olivier, Tony, and Grammy Award for Best Musical, this production strikes a remarkable chord with audiences of all ages and critics everywhere.

Finding Neverland

Book by James Graham 
Music by Gary Barlow & Eliot Kennedy 
Based on the Miramax Motion Picture written by David Magee and the play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee 

Based on the Academy Award-winning motion picture, this fascinating musical follows the story of author J.M. Barrie’s evolving relationship with a beautiful widow and her four mischievous boys, and how they inspired the world of Peter Pan.  Let your imagination take flight in this heartwarming production packed with irresistible songs, dazzling choreography, and unforgettable characters. Don’t miss this timeless tale of wonder, courage, and the enduring power of belief.

42nd Street

Music by Harry Warren 
Lyrics by Al Dubin 
Book by Michael Stewart & Mark Bramble 
Based on the novel by Bradford Ropes and the motion picture 42nd Street owned by Turner Entertainment Co. 
and distributed by Warner Bros. 
The use of all songs is by arrangement with Warner Chappell Music, the owner of the music publishers’ rights  

This timeless and inspiring showbiz fairy tale combines breathtaking tap dance routines, backstage intrigue, classic romance, and delightful comedy to dazzling effect. A young chorus girl gets a shot at stardom in this love letter to the stage packed with glitz and glamour, and sensational songs like “Lullaby of Broadway,” “We’re in the Money,” and “Shuffle Off To Buffalo.”

The Full Monty

Book by Terrence McNally 
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek 
Based on the Motion Picture by Fox Searchlight Pictures and written by Simon Beaufoy, produced by Uberto Pasolini 
and directed by Peter Cattaneo

Based on the cult hit film of the same name, this 10-time Tony Award-winning musical comedy will have you laughing and cheering all the way to its revealing ending. When a group of unemployed steelworkers are inspired to make some quick cash, they become a team of amateur male strippers with ‘real man’ bodies. But can these lovable misfits really pull off the big show? Find out in this outrageously fun production filled with razor-sharp humour, engaging melodies, and a sweet message about overcoming your fears!

Into The Woods

Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Book by James Lapine
Originally Directed on Broadway by James Lapine
Orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick

The line between reality and fantasy blurs when an epic fairy tale comes to life – with real world consequences.  What follows is a production full of catchy songs, witty lyrics, dark humour, and compelling themes as storybook characters learn the complications of what follows happily-ever-after. Don’t miss this mystical and magical musical adventure about wishes, family, and the choices we make.

Jonas and Barry in the Home

By Norm Foster

This lighthearted buddy comedy celebrates the humour and humanity in life’s later chapters. Proving opposites attract, two seniors become an inseparable duo and embark on clever ways to spice up their lives – and the lives of those around them – at an assisted living facility, with hilarious results

Misery

By William Goldman 
Based on the novel by Stephen King 

A successful romance novelist gets rescued by his ‘Number One Fan’ after a wintry car crash. While convalescing in her secluded home, events takes a nightmarish turn after she reads his latest manuscript and forces him to write a new novel as if his life depends on it … because it does. This relentless spine-tingling thriller will have you on the edge of your seat as the tension mounts to its indelibly memorable ending.

Agatha Christie’s 
Murder on the Orient Express 

Adapted for the stage by Ken Ludwig 

When a wealthy passenger is murdered aboard the luxurious Orient Express during a winter storm, Detective Hercule Poirot investigates a cast of intriguing passengers, uncovering secrets and motives as he seeks the truth. A classic whodunit, this clever adaptation of the beloved novel is filled with glamour, intrigue, and suspense.

Nashville Music City

Created by Tracey Power & Van Wilmott

This feel-good musical revue chronicles how Nashville became the heart and soul of country music. A neon light shines on defining music through the decades, covering hit after hit popularized by legends like Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash to modern-day superstars like Shania Twain, Garth Brooks, Keith Urban, and Taylor Swift.

The Odd Couple

By Neil Simon

Neat freak Felix finds refuge in the sloppy apartment of his long-time friend Oscar in this timeless award-winning comedy. The two mismatched roommates are forced to navigate a new living arrangement while contending with rib-tickling misunderstandings and uproarious conflict, while learning about the power of enduring friendship.

Over the River and Through the Woods

By Joe DiPietro 

The generation gap is affectionately portrayed through the eyes of four Italian American grandparents, who hatch a plan to stop their beloved grandson from moving away to pursue his career. Full of hilarious twists and turns, this memorable production will speak to all generations of theatregoers with its heartwarming message about growing up and growing old. Tengo famiglia!

Return to Grace

Conceived & Created by Robert Asselstine 

Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to the legacy of the King of Rock ‘n Roll, this exhilarating theatrical experience celebrates the enduring spirit of one of the greatest icons of our time. A jukebox of Elvis standards including “Love Me Tender,” “Hound Dog,” “Suspicious Minds,” “Heartbreak Hotel” and many more come to life in a breathtaking stage spectacle featuring 20 musicians, singers, and dancers.

Sexy Laundry

Written by Michele Riml 

Check in for a weekend of laughs with this lighthearted, contemporary Canadian comedy. To rekindle the magic in a 25-year marriage, a couple goes on a naughty hotel retreat, equipped with a copy of “Sex for Dummies.” But they soon find that when the clothes come off, so do the gloves.

Sister Act

Music by Alan Menken Lyrics by Glenn Slater Book by Cheri Steinkellner & Bill Steinkellner 
Additional Book Material by Douglas Carter Beane Based on the Touchstone Pictures Motion Picture Sister Act by Joseph Howard

Based on the hit movie starring Whoopi Goldberg, a disco diva is forced to hide out in a convent after witnessing a violent crime. Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with the rigid lifestyle but with her sensational talent, she helps her fellow sisters find their inner voices while unexpectedly finding her own. Filled with glorious gospel-inspired music, dancing, and an uplifting story that celebrates sisterhood, this divine musical comedy will leave you jumping for joy.

Snow White and the Seven Tenors: A Panto

Written by Caroline Smith 

This production hits a high note with the whole family. Banished by her jealous stepmother and tricked into biting a poisoned apple, Snow White stumbles across a group of powerhouse singers who help the princess find her voice, topple the wicked queen, and hit all the right notes on her journey back to the palace. A beloved tradition imported from the UK, pantomimes mix fairy tales with fabulous fun: chart-topping hits, dazzling dance, outrageous costumes, pop-culture gags, and cheeky humour for kids and grown-ups alike!

Sorry … I’m Not Sorry!

Conceived by Alex Mustakas 
Starring Neil Aitchison 

Back by popular demand, humorist Neil Aitchison takes the stage as his beloved alter ego RCMP Constable Archibald F. Inkster in this unapologetic comedy. Laugh along as he provides hilarious musings on what it means to be quintessentially Canadian, with homegrown talent showcasing our rich musical heritage with stunning selections from the Great Canadian Song Book. You’ll be “sorry” to miss it!

High School Musical Production
Disney’s The Little Mermaid 

Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater
Music by Alan Menken
Book by Doug Wright

The High School Musical Production allows high school students across the Waterloo Region to experience the working environment of a professional theatre, at no cost to the participants. Mentored by professional artists, over 50 students will gain valuable life skills through onstage and behind-the-scenes roles in a fully staged production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

It’s a splashy Broadway spectacle for the entire family! In a magical kingdom fathoms below, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. When she saves a prince from drowning in a storm, she is determined to find a way to be with her true love. This production features all the hit songs you love:  “Part of Your World,” “She’s in Love,” and the Oscar-winning “Under the Sea.”