Ontario
The Shaw Festival: Extraordinary Theater and Nature in Niagara
Program No. 10396RJ
Enjoy three performances, engaging lectures and backstage access at the renowned Shaw Festival. Then dive deeper into the region’s culture with an icewine tasting at a local vineyard.
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5 days
4 nights
10 meals
4B 3L 3D
1
Check-in, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Niagara Falls, ON
2
Shaw Backstage, Theatre Performance, Winery
Niagara Falls, ON
3
Shaw Seminar, Wardrobe Props, Theatre Performance
Niagara Falls, ON
4
Butterfly Conservatory, Theatre Performance
Niagara Falls, ON
5
Program Concludes
Niagara Falls, ON
At a Glance
Renowned for its stylish productions, the Shaw Festival is home to one of North America’s largest repertory companies. Immerse yourself in theater with performances, backstage experiences and lectures by Shaw company members. Round out your stay in Niagara with visits to Niagara Falls, the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory and a local winery for a tasting of Niagara’s renowned icewine.
Activity Level
On Your Feet
Walking up to a few blocks; some stairs.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Enjoy private pre-show introductions to each play and post-show chats with cast members.
- Complement your in-depth, behind-the-scenes look at the Shaw Festival with orchestra seats to three performances.
- Experience more than 2,000 free-flying butterflies in a lush, rainforest setting, then walk the footpaths of the Botanical Gardens and one of Canada’s finest collections of ornamental trees, shrubs and roses.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Felicia Cohen
Born and raised in the beautiful city of Montréal, Felicia Cohen pursued her passion for photography. She lived and worked as a photographer in London before settling in Toronto to pursue a career in the travel industry. Her many years spent as a volunteer gallery leader at the Art Gallery of Ontario opened her eyes to a passion for leading and sharing her home city. Felicia is creative and passionate and loves to be an active volunteer for several arts and culture organizations.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Felicia Cohen
View biography
Born and raised in the beautiful city of Montréal, Felicia Cohen pursued her passion for photography. She lived and worked as a photographer in London before settling in Toronto to pursue a career in the travel industry. Her many years spent as a volunteer gallery leader at the Art Gallery of Ontario opened her eyes to a passion for leading and sharing her home city. Felicia is creative and passionate and loves to be an active volunteer for several arts and culture organizations.
Nancy Nicol
View biography
Nancy Nicol, a lifelong resident of Niagara, returned to post secondary studies as a mature student. Shortly after completing her diploma in recreation and leisure studies, Nancy began offering Road Scholar programming in the Niagara Region. To meet participant demand, Nancy began offering Shaw Festival programming in 1998. Over the years she has forged a very strong working relationship with the Academy of the Shaw Festival Theatre.
Suggested Reading List
(5 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
The Shaw Festival: Extraordinary Theater and Nature in Niagara
Program Number: 10396
Niagara-on-the-Lake: Prettiest Town in Canada: John's Photobook Series
Niagara-on-the-Lake was voted the prettiest town in Ontario in 1996. This historical site was settled at the close of the American Revolution by Loyalists coming to Upper Canada [Ontario] to start a new life as British subjects.
Today, the town is buzzing with many things to see and do for tourists and locals alike. There you can visit Fort George, a fort from the War of 1812, the marina, several world-famous wineries, take in the beauty of the many magnificent homes and attend shows at the Shaw Festival.
Niagara, A History of the Falls
Meticulously researched and entertaining, this history of Niagara Falls captures the sideshow atmosphere of the place with its honky-tonk attractions and daredevil feats. An engrossing social history.
Inventing Niagara
A witty, well-researched tale of the transformation of a natural wonder into an engineering feat, spectacle and monument.
A Year in Niagara: The People and Food of Wine Country
This unique book, that is part cookbook, part wine guide, and part travel guide, features over 100 recipes from the author and many of the vineyard workers, chefs, and others who are part of the Niagara community, it leads us on a beautiful exploration of one of Canada's best wine producing regions. Although the focus of the book is wine, the region, the people, and the food are also prominently featured. Each recipe includes a story, seasonal ingredients, and a recommended wine (or sometimes, beer).
The Shaw Festival: The First Fifty Years
Entering its silver anniversary, the Shaw Festival has seen the curtains open and close on numerous performances. L.W. Conolly, Shaw Festival scholar and Professor of English at Trent University, takes us on an anecdotal journey in The Shaw Festival: The First Fifty Years. In it, he celebrates one of the biggest theatre festivals in Canada, all the while honouring George Bernard Shaw and the men and women who helped make the Court House and Festival Theatres what they are today.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
5 days
4 nights
What's Included
10 meals (
4B, 3L, 3D
)
3 expert-led lectures
5 expert-led field trips
3 performances
An experienced Group Leader
4 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
Day
1
Check-in, Welcome Dinner, Orientation
Location:
Niagara Falls, ON
Meals:
D
Stay:
DoubleTree Fallsview Resort & Spa by Hilton Niagara Falls
Activity Note
Hotel check-in from 3:30 p.m.
Afternoon:
3:30-4:30 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Orientation: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Nightly illumination of the Falls is from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.
Day
2
Shaw Backstage, Theatre Performance, Winery
Location:
Niagara Falls, ON
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
DoubleTree Fallsview Resort & Spa by Hilton Niagara Falls
Activity Note
Walking a few blocks. Getting on/off a motorcoach. Some stairs backstage at the theatre.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We transfer to Niagara-on-the-Lake for an introduction to the Shaw Festival and its history with a festival educational coordinator. This will be be followed by a pre-show presentation about the play we will see today.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant at the Shaw Festival.
Afternoon:
Today we will attend a performance. Note: Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not available. When confirmed, the information will be posted on the Road Scholar website under this program number and will also be included in preparatory materials sent following enrollment. Following the play we will enjoy a tasting at a local winery.
Dinner:
At local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Nightly illumination of the Falls is from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.
Day
3
Shaw Seminar, Wardrobe Props, Theatre Performance
Location:
Niagara Falls, ON
Meals:
B,L
Stay:
DoubleTree Fallsview Resort & Spa by Hilton Niagara Falls
Activity Note
Walking up to 1 mile. Getting on/off a motorcoach. Assistive Listening Devices are available in the theatre lobby, they can be used with or without a hearing aid.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We transfer to Niagara-on-the-Lake for an educational session at the Shaw Festival with an educational coordinator. We then explore the theatre warehouse and wardrobe props with Theatre Docent.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Today we will attend a performance. Note: Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not available. When confirmed, the information will be posted on the Road Scholar website under this program number and will also be included in preparatory materials sent following enrollment. After the performance we will have a post-show chat with the ensemble members.
Dinner:
Dinner on own.
Evening:
At leisure. Nightly illumination of the Falls is from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.
Day
4
Butterfly Conservatory, Theatre Performance
Location:
Niagara Falls, ON
Meals:
B,L,D
Stay:
DoubleTree Fallsview Resort & Spa by Hilton Niagara Falls
Activity Note
Walking a few blocks. Getting on/off a motorcoach. Assistive Listening Devices are available in the theatre lobby; they can be used with or without a hearing aid.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will visit the Butterfly Conservatory for a self-guided excursion. This magical attraction features over 2,000 colourful tropical butterflies floating freely among lush, exotic blossoms and greenery. Paths wind through the rainforest setting, past a pond and waterfall and the Emergence window, where butterflies leave their pupae and prepare to take their first flight! Enjoy a Shaw seminar or a pre-show chat about today's performance.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Today we will attend a performance. Note: Our program was planned far in advance when details of performances were not available. When confirmed, the information will be posted on the Road Scholar website under this program number and will also be included in preparatory materials sent following enrollment. After the performance we will have a post-show chat with the ensemble members.
Dinner:
At a local restaurant.
Evening:
At leisure. Nightly illumination of the Falls is from 8:30 p.m. to midnight.
Day
5
Program Concludes
Location:
Niagara Falls, ON
Meals:
B
Activity Note
Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel. This concludes our program.
Morning:
If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!
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MEALS
10 Meals
4 Breakfasts
3 Lunches
3 Dinners
LODGING
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Showing Lodging For:
- Jun 16, 2025 - Jun 20, 2025
- Jun 16, 2025 - Jun 20, 2025
- Aug 25, 2025 - Aug 29, 2025
- Sep 15, 2025 - Sep 19, 2025
Participant Reviews
Based on 6 Reviews
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If you have any hearing deficit, prepare to be able to hear and understand only 80% of what is spoken.
— Review left October 1, 2024
Plays were high quality theater, and seating was quite good. Did not like location of hotel, too far from theaters.
— Review left September 26, 2024
This was a wonderful experience - I might just do this trip again!
— Review left June 22, 2024
Really enjoyed all aspects of this week long learning adventure. Staying in Niagara Falls was fun with a quick walk to see the falls. Back stage tours and talks at the Festival were wonderful and insightful. The three productions we saw were diverse and very enjoyable. Nice group of interested and welcoming travelers.
— Review left December 9, 2022
The many conversation sessions with the staff at Shaw -- actors, directors, stage crew -- were especially interesting. I would have like an opportunity to see a bit more of the falls, but I did manage to get a boat ride in independently upon my departure!
— Review left September 26, 2022
The Shaw Festival was my first Road Scholar experience and I was totally amazed by the high quality of the educational program and the theatre productions. The Road Scholar staff and organization were first rate from start to finish.
— Review left September 23, 2022
