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Theatre
Zoe Szuch he said. “Such performances
zszuch@medicinehatnews.com will hopefully show people
that theatre can still be
In the Gas City theatre scene, the largest news of 2008
entertaining even though
was undoubtedly the grand opening of a $1 million
you’re not walking out with a
community performance facility – Community Theatre
tune in your head and a belly
Arts Centre (CTAC) which is jointly owned by Medicine
full of laughs, you can still
Hat Musical Theatre and Firehall Theatre.
be moved and I think that’s
theatre’s purpose.”
The debut performance in the 10,000 square foot facility
was a sold-out run of the Rocky Horror Show, performed
Thus far, Rogue Theatricals has only produced one show
by Musical Theatre followed by a production of Jacob
but Stockton assures more performances will be hitting
Marley's Christmas Carol. The Musical Theatre/Firehall
the stage shortly.
Theatre building has thus far been utilized by a few The response was so great when the Crescent Heights
other community groups in town as well, including the High School drama department put on Disney's High
Medicine Hat Jazz Society. School Musical in the spring of 2008 that they had to
"We may wind up with a variety of shows and a much
add several shows. In the fall of 2008, actors at CHHS
broader base of people that are involved with theatre,"
performed a satirical comedy called May The Farce Be
NEWS PHOTO EMMA BENNETT
said Musical Theatre vice-president Lawrence Gordon.
With You and received many a laugh for their on-stage
antics.
Students at St. Mary's Junior High School have been bit with
Musical Theatre volunteers performed a very well
the acting bug and are currently in rehearsals for the stage
received production of Footloose at the Esplanade Arts
St. Mary's School kept its students busy with the debut of Willy Wonka Junior. There is no doubt theatre is
and Heritage Centre in November.
production of Once On This Island Jr. in April of 2008 alive and well in Medicine Hat and performers of all ages are
and Aristocats Kids in the fall.
hitting the stage to showcase their talents to eager audiences.
"There were eight (Footloose) shows and they were nearly In 2008, a variety of shows were showcased in venues across
all sold out, said Gordon. "It was a fantastic success."
With a cast of 36 young actors, Hatterland Children's
the city, including the new Community Theatre Arts Centre,
Theatre presented a comedy titled Romeo and Winifred:
the Esplanade and the Medicine Hat College Theatre.
Last year, Firehall Theatre performed Beauty and the Beast
A Tragical Comedy in Two and a Half Acts during the
and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at
spring of 2008 and Toy Camp in the fall.
the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre.
The new year marks a stellar line-up of upcoming
"They were a huge success," said Kevin Van Der Kooy,
interactive murder mystery at the Medicine Hat Lodge
performances for Hat audiences. In February, the Fut in
president of Firehall Theatre.
entitled Noir Suspicions.
the Hat theatre company produced a Three One-Act Play
Fut in the Hat put on an edgy comedy called Back to
show which included Surprise, Surprise directed by Julie
"It's the sequel to Murder At Café Noir, which we also did
Beulah in 2008 but artistic director Karen Cunningham
Tracey, The Swapper directed by Deb Hoefling and The
at the Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club, three years
said the theatre company is in need of more volunteers
Glass House directed by Mary Tulip.
ago," Van Der Kooy said.
in 2009.
High school students across town were preparing for a
A cast of 70 St. Mary's School students will be performing
"We need more willing bodies," she said.
busy theatre season of their own. Crescent Heights High
Willy Wonka Jr. at the Esplanade in the spring while
The Medicine Hat College drama department took
School students kicked off 2009 with a campy journey
Musical Theatre volunteers are rehearsing for the
advantage of the large college student body and
into 1980s high school life in Back To The 80s.
Broadway hit musical, The Producers, which is scheduled
to run later in 2009 at the Esplanade Arts and Heritage
collaborated with Deaf Blind Support Services students in
In February, Hat High students performed The Distance
Centre.
the fall of 2008 to produce a show written and produced
Between eL, Ohh, Vea and Eee as a fundraiser for a spring
by students entitled The Big D.
class trip to New York City. Written by Stockton, The
The 2009 line-up for Hatterland Children’s Theatre
College students weren’t the only youth taking to the
Distance Between L, Ohh, Vea and Eee will be performed
Company includes a production of Big Bad as well as
stage in 2008. The Medicine Hat High School drama
by Hat High students in the Big Apple this spring.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
department contributed to the cultural component of the
This spring will be a busy one for Hat High drama
According to Hatterland president, Lilas Litousky, the
2008 Alberta Summer Games by putting on the 1920s
students because they'll also be hosting the region's
youth-focused theatre company intentionally produces
inspired Thoroughly Modern Millie at the end of April.
High School One Act Festival for the Alberta Drama
both a musical and a comedy each season.
Hat High drama department head Chris Stockton
Festival Association and the Shed The Mask Festival for
"Just so that we have a nice variety," said Litousky. The
has also started up his own theatre company Rogue
high schools in southern Alberta, British Columbia and
theatre accepts youth between the ages of six and 18 years
Theatricals. The brand spanking new theatre company
Saskatchewan. The students will also be preparing to
old and offers scholarships and bursaries for alumni who
explored the lives of Canadians during the Second World
perform Things Never Heard in late spring.
are looking to continue their theatrical education.
War in Letters in Wartime. According to Stockton,
Musical Theatre volunteers performed a risqué Full
"The whole point to Hatterland is providing family
Rogue Theatricals performed a drama because there’s an
Monty this March, while the College drama department
theatre and entertainment for all ages to enjoy, be it on
audience for such serious productions in this town.
performed a reinterpretation of Euripedes' Helen as a
stage or in the audience."
“The audiences here really love musicals and really love
1950s movie.
comedies and yet we feel that Medicine Hat is growing,”
In April 2009, Firehall Theatre will be putting on an
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