New $20 Round Trip Bus to Stratford Shakespeare Festival

If you’re planning on visiting the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in 2013, it has just become a lot easier. A new round trip bus will be travelling from Toronto to Stratford, Ontario for $10 each way. The bus picks up passengers at the Intercontinental Toronto Centre Hotel at Front Street and Simcoe Street and drops them off at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival theatres. Buses travel on performance days only; however, you can stay overnight and return to Toronto the following day (assuming it’s a performance day) at the round trip rate of $20. Tickets for buses can be booked on the Stratford Shakespeare Festival website. Below is the schedule:

• May 1-25, 2013 and October 1-20, 2013 (Performance days only) – Buses leave Toronto at 10 a.m. Buses leave Stratford at 5 p.m.
• May 27-Sept. 29, 2013 (Performance days only) – Buses leave Toronto at 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Buses leave Stratford at 5 p.m. and 11 p.m.

The 2013 Stratford Shakespeare Festival season features four Shakespeare productions including Romeo and Juliet, Othello, The Merchant of Venice and Measure for Measure. Of the four, The Merchant of Venice at the Festival Theatre stands out since it stars Tony Award winner Brian Bedford as Shylock and Tom McCamus as Antonio. Another top draw on my list is Tommy, being performed at the Avon Theatre. The rock musical with music and lyrics by The Who’s Pete Townshend features The Who’s hits “See Me Feel Me,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Tommy Can You Hear Me?” and “I’m Free” among others. Robert Markus stars as Tommy.

Finally, the top production on my list is Mary Stuart at the Tom Patterson Theatre with Lucy Peacock and Sean McKenna in the roles of the duelling cousins, Mary, Queen of Scots and Elizabeth 1 respectively. The play also stars formidable film and TV actor Brian Dennehy and Geraint Wyn Davies.

Ticket prices for most productions range from $49-$95. If you want to save some money and can get away to Stratford during the week, the festival is offering 2-for-1 Tuesdays for all Tuesday evening performances throughout the 2013 season.