Directed by Nationally Acclaimed Tom Diamond
Identical Twins Especially Welcome 

Toronto, March 9, 2004 – Theatre @ York winds up its season with a fresh production of Shakespeare’s Comedy of Errors, opening at York University’s Burton Auditorium on March 23. This delightful situational comedy of mistaken identities involving two sets of identical twins will be directed by nationally acclaimed stage director Tom Diamond.

"What I’m trying to emphasize in this production is the clarity of storytelling, of making the language understood and of playing comedy with razor-sharpness," said Diamond, who is known for his theatrical verve and imagination. "There are so many tricky and delightful things in this play that make it a wonderful choice for this talented group of emerging actors, designers and production people."

Diamond has been mentoring young artists in York’s Department of Theatre for more than 12 years. Drawing upon his lengthy and versatile career, the students are thrilled with the opportunity to work with one of Canada’s most distinguished directors.

Diamond has directed many memorable productions on some of Canada’s leading opera and theatre stages. His credits include Sartorio’s Guilio Cesare in Egitto and Cavalli’s Giasone and La Calisto for the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Rossini’s Barber of Seville for Opera Lyra Ottawa, and Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro for Pacific Opera Victoria, where he will be returning later this year to direct Bellini’s Norma. In 1999, he collaborated with the performance group SQUONK and their show BIGSMORGASBORDWUNDERWERK became one of the biggest off-Broadway hits of the season, later transferring to the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway.

Diamond’s honours include a 2001 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Musical for the world premiere of Chan Ka Nin’s Iron Road, a bilingual Cantonese/English opera about the building of the Canadian railroad for Tapestry New Opera Works. He also won the prestigious Chalmers Award for developing and directing the premiere production of Timothy Sullivan’s Florence - The Lady with the Lamp for the Elora Festival.

Theatre @ York productions showcase the talents of students in York University’s theatre department. The cast for The Comedy of Errors is drawn from the fourth-year acting ensemble. Set design is by Christine Barrett, costume design by Jenine Kroeplin, and lighting design is by Brendan Wiklund, all of whom are fourth-year students.

The Comedy of Errors previews Sun. Mar. 21 and Mon. Mar. 22 and runs through Sat. Mar. 27 in Burton Auditorium, York University, 4700 Keele Street. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. with matinees at 1:00 p.m. on Wed. Mar. 24 and Fri. Mar. 26.

Admission is $12, $8 for students and seniors and $5 group rate. The Sunday preview is pwyc and the Monday preview is $5. Identical twins get into any performance of The Comedy of Errors for free when they show up at the box office together. Box office: 416-736-5172, ext. 3.

Further information about Theatre @ York at www.yorku.ca/finearts/theatre/Theatre@York.

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Media contact:
Mary-Lou Schagena
Communications, Faculty of Fine Arts
York University
416-736-2100 ext. 20421

schagena@yorku.ca