Ottawa Little Theatre opened its 2025 season with The Shawshank Redemption, a play based upon Stephen King’s 1982 novella, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption.
Shawville actor Grant Moore, a recent recipient of the Toronto Film School’s Best Actor award, played the role of Tommy Williams, one of three central characters in the play.
He did so with such aplomb that his alma mater can be assured in the honour it has bestowed.
“I was really nervous the first time I went out on stage in front of the audience,” Moore admitted, but said once he launched into his character, he was all Tommy.
And Tommy was no small role. Through the course of the play, the character is admitted to a prison environment after getting caught stealing televisions from a department store, challenges his inner demons while chasing a high school diploma from behind bars, stands strong against authority in his beliefs for the protagonist and subsequently passes away on stage.
Through it all, Moore stood out with a powerful rendering where audience members could at times be heard gasping at his comprehensive portrayal and emotive performance.
The reviews and word of mouth have been very strong and the show is sold out across the remaining presentations.
Moore has been overjoyed to see so many folks from the area make the journey into the city. “I’m delighted that so many came to see me, thank you!”
