Calendar Plan
Author: Marina Kochetova
During the summer holidays, not only schoolchildren and university students take a break, but many theatres do as well. After all, the theatrical season usually begins in September, and audiences start planning in advance which performances they would like to book and buy tickets for.
Canada’s leading performing arts venue is the National Arts Centre (NAC) here in Ottawa. With several stages under one roof, it offers a wide variety of theatrical and musical performances, ranging from productions by the French Theatre to orchestral concerts by the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Among the audience are many so-called subscribers, who receive certain benefits by purchasing tickets for the entire season in advance.
My passion is ballet. Unfortunately, Ottawa is not considered a major ballet city, which is why the world’s leading ballet companies, with the exception of the National Ballet of Canada, visit our city extremely rarely. And judging by the upcoming season, no particular progress in this regard is expected.
Ottawa audiences, including Russian-speaking residents, enjoy musicals. Several musicals are scheduled for the 2026–2027 season, including such well-known productions as The Great Gatsby, Beauty and the Beast, and The Outsiders.
When it comes to producing musicals, the world’s best-known centre undoubtedly has been and remains Broadway theatre in New York City. Therefore, when an inexperienced audience member hears the word “Broadway,” they may expect a spectacular production from the famous theatrical world associated with that name.
In reality, however, the companies bringing productions to Ottawa and other Canadian cities are far from being the stars of legendary Broadway. Rather, they are touring companies made up of professional musical-theatre performers working under contract, among whom there are generally no internationally famous stars. A touring company presenting itself as a performer of Broadway musicals does not, unfortunately, necessarily perform permanently on Broadway itself. This is worth remembering when purchasing a ticket for a musical in Ottawa.
A musical is a form of entertainment that combines several artistic genres within a single show. Popular music and ballet music, choreography and contemporary dance, drama and visual art — all of these elements are intertwined, although not always skilfully.
The very word “musical” comes from the word “music,” yet music is not necessarily the central element. Dance numbers, and sometimes even ballet sequences, are closely connected with the main action. According to the conventions of the genre, the physical expressiveness and movement of the performers often come to the forefront rather than the intensity and quality of the vocals.
It is often said that if a musical is truly good, removing the music would still leave you with a play suitable for a dramatic theatre. Most musicals are based on popular literary works, much like operas. But what we call a musical is, in fact, a musical stage production that combines dialogue, songs, music, choreography, physical expression and theatrical effects.
Of everything on this list, lately, in my opinion, it is mainly the stage effects that deserve particular praise. Of course, one musical can be very different from another.
If you decide to attend an entertainment show in order to admire colourful costumes, impressive sets and mesmerizing lighting, you are unlikely to be disappointed. But if you are interested in a more serious genre, you may prefer a classical music concert — and the ticket price will often be several times lower.
In short, ladies and gentlemen, it is time to start making your calendar plans!
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