Old and new shows prepare to take centre stage at this year's Charlottetown Festival
Old and new shows prepare to take centre stage at this year's Charlottetown Festival
Following a three-year hiatus, "Anne of Green Gables The Musical" is returning to the Charlottetown Festival on Prince Edward Island this year.
The iconic musical is a quintessential island show and is ready to make a return to the main stage.
And it's not the only show preparing for curtain call at this year's festival.
The musical "Tell Tale Harbour" is playing for the first time as well.
The musical, based on the movie “The Grand Seduction,” tells the heartfelt tale of a struggling community in Atlantic Canada. It’s the product of a collaboration between Adam Brazier, the artistic director of performing arts at the Confederation Centre, and singer-songwriter Alan Doyle.
“The whole story about the lack of doctors or people having to bring a resident doctor into such a small community is pretty relatable,” said Dawn Ward, the associate artistic director for the Charlottetown Festival.
Despite the very real-world concerns about doctor shortages, the on-stage performance doesn’t take the topic too seriously.
“What I love about this piece is that it doesn’t dress it with some kind of browbeating, heavy, ‘Here’s the moral we want to cram down your throat,’” said Adam Brazier, the artistic director for performing arts for the Confederation Centre. “This is entertainment. This is an escape. This is a ticket to joy, to laughter.”
Both shows are thoroughly Atlantic Canadian, a change from most years, which usually features a more American performance alongside the island darling, "Anne of Green Gables The Musical."
“It’s an offering we do because we love it,” said Brazier. “It’s also an offering we do because we know that there are tourists who want to come and experience that world. It is certainly the shoulders with which this festival has built itself over the years.”
As one tradition continues, another begins making Anne and Alan an island attraction all summer long.
The Charlottetown Festival is taking place now until Sept. 24.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Cabinet heard of potential 'breakthrough' with 'Freedom Convoy' protesters before Emergencies Act was invoked: documents
The night before the federal government invoked the Emergencies Act in response to the 'Freedom Convoy' protests, the prime minister’s national security adviser told him there was 'a potential for a breakthrough' in Ottawa, court documents show.

Anne Heche on life support, survival of crash 'not expected'
Anne Heche is on life support after suffering a brain injury in a fiery crash a week ago and her survival isn't expected, according to a statement from a representative.
A new virus was found in China, here's what we know
Scientists are keeping an eye on the Langya virus, a new pathogen that appears to have been transmitted from animals to humans in China and causes symptoms similar to COVID-19 or the flu.
The Trump home search: Push to unseal warrant used by FBI
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has called for the 'immediate' release of the federal warrant the FBI used to search his Florida estate, hours after the Justice Department had asked a court to unseal the warrant, with Attorney General Merrick Garland citing the 'substantial public interest in this matter.'
City of Toronto investigating after downtown core power outage
The City of Toronto is investigating a power outage that left a large swath of the downtown core including office buildings, a major mall and a university campus without electricity yesterday.
EXCLUSIVE | B.C. cop stalked ex-girlfriend for years using police computers, misconduct probe finds
A high-ranking B.C. officer used police resources to conduct at least 92 searches on his ex-girlfriend and her family while stalking her over a period of five years, according to documents exclusively obtained by CTV News.
'Sturgeon moon' in photos: Last supermoon of the year passes over Earth
Rising over beaches, buildings and statues, the last supermoon of the year created ample viewing and photo opportunities around the world Thursday night.
Sellers 'expecting yesterday's prices': Canadians cope with a correcting housing market
After a series of interest rate hikes implemented by the Bank of Canada, housing markets are now facing a 'significant' correction. CTVNews.ca spoke to Canadians who are now struggling to make the goal of purchasing a home, or selling one, a reality.
Police investigating attack on Brampton, Ont. media personality as attempted murder
A Brampton, Ont. media personality who was attacked with a machete and axe in his driveway will need months of physical rehabilitation to recover, a close friend says.