The Grove Theatre announces 2026 mainstage season
The Grove Theatre is thrilled to unveil its eagerly anticipated 2026 main stage season, an unforgettable lineup of musicals, concerts, and comedy that promises something for every audience. Featuring iconic stories, legendary music, and beloved Canadian classics, this season brings big entertainment to the heart of the Kawarthas. The Canadian Guest Artist Series will be announced in Spring 2026.
Kicking off the season is the uproarious, Tony Award–winning musical Monty Python’s Spamalot, a joyfully absurd romp “lovingly ripped off” from Monty Python and the Holy Grail. This production stars Sean Cox, artistic director of The Grove Theatre, as King Arthur. An award-winning actor and director, Cox has helmed Grove productions including The 39 Steps, The Comedy of Errors, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story, and Into the Woods, and has collaborated with numerous theatres and Shakespeare festivals across North America. His acting repertoire spans iconic leading roles such as Macbeth, Hamlet, Richard II, The Elephant Man, and the award-winning solo show The Thousandth Night. Cox is also the co-founder of the celebrated and critically acclaimed Intrepid Theatre Company.
The production is directed by Lezlie Wade—an acclaimed director, writer, and lyricist whose award-winning career includes eight seasons at the Stratford Festival, where she directed Spamalot in 2023. Her Stratford production became one of the Festival’s longest-running hits, earning widespread praise from audiences and critics alike. Even Monty Python member and Spamalot creator Eric Idle celebrated the production, calling it “a really great cast in a wonderful new production. A big shout out to the fab director, Lezlie Wade.” Packed with outrageous humour, unforgettable characters, killer rabbits, dancing showgirls, and the iconic anthem “Always Look on the Bright Side of Life,” Spamalot will have audiences laughing from start to finish.
The party continues with 70’s Dance Party!, a high-energy tribute to the decade that changed music forever. Audiences can expect disco, rock, and glam favourites from the Bee Gees, ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, KISS, Stevie Wonder, Queen, and more — performed by The Grove’s powerhouse summer company.
Back by popular demand, Canadian Music Legends – Volume 2 returns with an even bigger celebration of iconic Canadian artists. From Rush, Jann Arden, and The Guess Who to Joni Mitchell, Shania Twain, Bryan Adams, Great Big Sea, and The Tragically Hip, this concert invites audiences to sing along to the soundtrack of Canada.
Rounding out the season is Bernard Slade’s beloved romantic comedy Same Time, Next Year—the most successful Canadian comedy ever staged on Broadway. Following the year-after-year relationship of Doris and George over 25 years, this witty and heartfelt story explores life’s changes with warmth, humour, and charm.
“Our 2026 season truly celebrates what The Grove does best: giving audiences a place to laugh, sing along, and feel connected,” said Cox. “I’m over the moon to be bringing Spamalot to The Grove this summer — it’s the perfect blend of big, joyful musical theatre and completely ridiculous Monty Python humour, all under the stars. Whether it’s iconic Canadian music, a ’70s dance throwback, or a beautiful, heartfelt comedy like Same Time, Next Year, I can’t wait to share these stories with our audiences in 2026.”
