The Charlottetown Festival Returns in 2021 Without Anne of Green Gables — The Musical

When the Charlottetown Festival returns in 2021, it will not include its long-running mainstay Anne of Green Gables — The Musical. In 2020, the Festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ending the musical's world-record run of 55 consecutive years. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Festival organizers decided that presenting a musical like Anne with a large cast and audience would not be possible in 2021. Due to safety protocols, the 1,100-seat Confederation Centre auditorium has a restricted seating capacity of 300. Performances will have staggered seating, mandatory masks, and social distancing procedures in place for the safety of the audience members.

Festival artistic director Adam Brazier stated, "The decision was made for us and we embrace it. We really feel like this is an opportunity for us to stretch our wings and to tell some other stories."

This year's Charlottetown Festival lineup includes three shorter, smaller-scale shows featuring stories from Atlantic Canada:

Between Breaths - a play inspired by the true story of a Newfoundland man who rescued more than 500 whales trapped in fishing nets.

Dear Rita - a musical honouring the life of the Maritime singer-songwriter Rita MacNeil.

Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story - the true story of two Romanian refugees who meet at Pier 21 in Halifax while waiting to enter Canada.

Image credit:
Photograph of Anne of Green Gables — The Musical from the 2017 Charlottetown Festival by Louise Vessey.

Reference:
Decision not to stage Anne at Charlottetown Festival 'was made for us': Reduced capacity due to COVID-19 among factors preventing perennial favourite from returning. (April 8, 2021). CBC News. Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-charlottetown-festival-2021-season-launch-1.5979351.

Created April 10, 2021.
© worldofanneshirley.com

The Anne Chronicles Podcast Series

The Anne Chronicles is a three-episode podcast series by Pickering Museum Village about the Anne of Green Gables series written by L.M. Montgomery. The series is hosted by Lisa Bialy and launched on April 6, 2021 as part of Pickering's "Anne and Maud Experience." In the podcasts, Bialy discusses aspects of the first six books in the Anne series: Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea, Anne of the Island, Anne of Windy Poplars, Anne's House of Dreams, and Anne of Ingleside.

Each episode is a conversation between Lisa Bialy and a guest. They discuss similarities and connections between L.M. Montgomery and Anne Shirley, provide historical context for the novels, and delve into differences between Anne's world and the present day. The episodes cover Anne and Maud's experiences with teaching and education, adoption and family, and love and marriage. The series was produced with the support of Canadian Heritage and the Government of Ontario.

Series Description:

When she was 14 years old, Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote in her diary: "I love books. I hope when I grow up to be able to have lots of them." Known to her friends and family as Maud, this Canadian author of 24 books introduced us to the character of Anne Shirley. Although she always stated her Anne of Green Gables stories were not based on her life, you will discover the striking connections between fact and fiction as we explore the world of the author and her beloved character, Anne Shirley, in this series of podcasts. Financially supported by @CDN_Heritage & Government of Ontario

Episode Synopses:

Episode 1: Teaching and Education (22 minutes) - Anne Shirley became a teacher at the tender age of 16 which wasn’t uncommon in the 1880s. Even Maud had a career as a teacher, briefly. We’ll uncover the joys and struggles they both encountered as we wander through their lives in the one-room schoolhouse.

Episode 2: Adoption and Family (19 minutes) - Anne Shirley always imagined what it would be like to have a family. When she was adopted by brother and sister Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert she thought her dreams had come true. But they wanted a boy. Maud also grew up without her mother or father and was raised by her grandparents. We’ll reveal what adoption was really like, and explore the journey to find a family.

Episode 3: Love and Marriage (19 minutes) - Anne Shirley and Maud Montgomery weren’t sure about marriage and both turned down several marriage proposals. They always thought their relationships were more like friendships until their feelings grew into something more. Anne eventually accepted Gilbert Blythe and Maud married Rev. Ewan MacDonald. Was it "happily ever after" for them?


Official websites:

The Anne Chronicles at Apple Podcasts
The Anne Chronicles at Spotify

Image credit:

The Anne Chronicles podcast series banner.

Created April 8, 2021. Last updated April 16, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com