Harbourfront Centre's World Stage Cancels OTHELLO, C'EST QUI with Lead Actor Grounded in Ivory Coast

Harbourfront Centre is disappointed to announce the cancellation of the much anticipated World Stage 2013 season opener Othello, c'est qui, scheduled to run Feb. 6-9.

After exhausting all avenues of appeal, lead actor Franck Edmond Yao remains grounded in Abidjan, Ivory Coast as his travel documents were not expedited in time for the production's opening.

World Stage Artistic Director Tina Rasmussen comments: "This is especially heartbreaking for me because this work was uniquely situated in Black History month along with other Othello works in the city. The themes and ideas around Othello, c'est qui were urgent and timely. My team and I are doing all that we can to ensure that this performance is eventually restaged in Toronto."

For over 27 years, Harbourfront Centre's World Stage has welcomed artists, companies, and productions from over 40 countries around the world. With its rich history of importing international contemporary performance, this unfortunate event is a rare occurrence and Harbourfront Centre extends its deepest apologies to patrons.

All ticket purchasers are advised to call the box office. Looking forward, there are still 10 visionary productions featured in the season, starting with Brazilian dance heavyweights Grupo Corpo Feb. 19-23.

Harbourfront Centre is a Canadian charity operating the 10 prime acres of Toronto's central waterfront as a free and open public site. We celebrate the multiplicities of cultures that comprise Canada and enliven the city through the creative imaginations of artists from across the country and around the globe. Harbourfront Centre attracts more than 17 million visits to its site each year to experience 4,000 diverse public events and activities. Harbourfront Centre receives operational support from the Government of Canada and the City of Toronto and program funding from all levels of government, the private sector and individual donors.

For more information about getting here during the Queens Quay Revitalization visit harbourfrontcentre.com/gettinghere. For more information on the World Stage 2013 season, visit www.harbourfrontcentre.com/worldstage. Follow us on Twitter @WorldStageTO and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WorldStageTO.