BLYTH – The world premiere of a play that offers an expressive, toe-tapping, and sometimes hilarious glimpse of the decisions Canadian farmers face in preserving their rural livelihood will officially open the 38th Blyth Festival season on June 22.
The musical Dear Johnny Deere by Ken Cameron, based on the songs of Fred Eaglesmith, also articulates the effects those decisions have on one farmer’s relationship with the person he loves the most.
The play is written by Calgary playwright Ken Cameron, who will be familiar to Blyth audiences as the playwright of Harvest, which premiered at Blyth in 2008. It became one of the most successful comedies ever produced for Blyth and continues to sell out theatres across Canada.
Dear Johnny Deere is directed by Blyth Festival artistic director Eric Coates and is the 115th play to premiere at the Blyth Festival since 1975.
The cast of Dear Johnny Deere include J.D. Nicholson (Barndance, Live!, Death of the Hired Man), Rebecca Auerbach (Reverend Jonah, The Ballad of Stompin’ Tom) and David Archibald (Hometown, The Ballad of Stompin’ Tom). Blyth native Capucine Onn (Spirit of the Narrows, The Outdoor Donnellys) is returning to Blyth and Matt Campbell and Jeff Culbert will make their Blyth Festival debuts in Dear Johnny Deere.
Preview performances of Dear Johnny Deere run June 19 to 21, prior to the official opening on June 22. Dear Johnny Deere plays at the Blyth Festival until July 7.
A parade of vintage tractors will kick off at around 5:30 p.m. on opening night (Friday, June 22) and will travel the length of Queen Street in Blyth, ending at Memorial Hall shortly before 6 p.m.
The Blyth Festival’s 2012 season runs June 19 to September 1 and also features Having Hope at Home by David S. Craig, The Lonely Diner: Al Capone in Euphemia Township by Beverley Cooper, and The Devil We Know by Cheryl Foggo and Clem Martini.
For more information, please visit the Blyth Festival website or call 1-877-862-5984.
Dear Johnny Deere is sponsored by CKNX Radio – am920, 101.7 The One and 94.5 The Bull. Musical Sponsor is Pianovations. The 2012 Season Sponsor is Sparling’s Propane Company Limited and the Season Media Sponsor is CTV.
