Culture Rainbow Stage throws a “Hail Mary”, receives rights to Sister Act By Brenlee Coates
Winnipeg’s prominent regional theatre will debut Sister Act this season.
largest outdoor stages in Canada.” In addition to its largeness, it is also the longest-surviving outdoor theatre in the country, celebrating its 60th anni- versary last summer. For those unfamiliar to it, Rainbow Stage is snugly nes-
F
tled in Kildonan Park in Winnipeg’s North End. You take a winding, scenic tour through the park and arrive at a forest- enclaved structure offset by vibrant murals. Te colourful Rainbow Stage can seat an impressive 2,300 people – the same capacity at Winnipeg’s Centen- nial Concert Hall – in its roofed, open-air structure. It is an experience where you relish the journey through the park, and its submersion in both nature and the arts is un- surpassed. “Everything from squirrels and raccoons make an appearance,” laughs Eccles, of the wildlife that’s been known to traipse into the theatre. Beyond the charming atmosphere, Rainbow Stage affords a first-rate theatre experience. It is often the first regional theatre in Canada entrusted with the rights to well-known productions like last year’s Te Little Mermaid. Tis year is no different: Sister Act, to be staged from Aug.13 to Sept.1, will mark the first time a Canadian regional theatre has tackled the holy comedy. Te raucous play will lighten the mood from Rainbow
Peter Huck (inset) and Colleen Furlan (above). 24 • Summer 2015
Stage’s earlier summer productions – West Side Story and Les Misérables.
The Hub
or a regional theatre, it’s anything but small. “We call it rainbow sizing – everything has to
be rainbow size,” says Julie Eccles, executive di- rector of Rainbow Stage. “We have one of the
All photos courtesy of Rainbow Stage.
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