Toronto 
Events Description
Dion: A Rock Opera is a fully sung rock opera based on Euripedes’ The Bacchae. Book by Prince Edward Island’s poet/novelist Steven Mayoff, music by The Coal Mine’s co-founder, Ted Dykstra. Four years in the making, The Coal Mine has developed the show from scratch, with two full cast two-week workshops over that time.
Pentheus, the conservative right wing leader of a city-state “somewhere in time” on this earth, arrives home from a trip to learn that all the disenfranchised people in his kingdom have taken to the hills, following a non-binary and self-proclaimed Demi-God named Dion. The runaways from society, rumour has it, are drinking a strange brew, and are often seen running through the hills naked in states of ecstasy. The runaways include almost all of society’s women, including his own mother Agave and his uncle Cadmus.
Pentheus has heard of this Dion. They are his cousin. They claim Zeus as a father, and Pentheus’ aunt Semele as a mother. Pentheus has made it clear the story is a lie. Semele made it up to excuse her wontoness. Dion is just a human, says Pentheus. Dion wants revenge for this slandering of his mother. That is why they are back. That is why they allow themselves to be captured and brought to Pentheus in chains.
What ensues is this leader being seduced into dressing up as a woman and going to the hills to see for himself, where he meets his end…
Canadian Theatre titan Peter Hinton-Davis and Associate Director Kiera Sangster will helm this world premiere in the intimate environment that has made the Coal Mine one of our country’s most lauded small theatres. Bob Foster, (Come From Away) the most sought after musical director in the country, will serve as MD with Associate Musical Director Haneul Li.
Sacred and profane, Dion: A Rock Opera promises to be one of the biggest events of the Toronto Theatre season…
DION: A ROCK OPERA
By Ted Dykstra and Steven Mayoff
Directed by Peter Hinton-Davis
Associate Directed by Kiera Sangster
Who is it for?
14+
HOW MUCH
Tickets : $35.00 – $69.00
$35.00 + $2.50 fee to $69.00 + $2.50 fee
How to get tickets?
Email: tickets@coalminetheatre.com
WHEN & WHERE
Date:
FEBRUARY 4 – 25, 2024
Tuesdays – Saturdays at 7:30pm, Sundays at 2:00pm
(Except for Sunday preview performance at 7:30pm)
PREVIEW PERFORMANCES
Sunday February 4th, Tuesday February 6th & Wednesday February 7th at 7:30pm
OPENING NIGHT
Thursday, February 8th at 7:30pm
1 Hour and 20 Minutes, No Intermission
Venue & Address
The Coal Mine Theatre, 2076 Danforth Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4C 1J6
Wheelchair accessible
