Scut Farkas Auction is LIVE Now!

2017_auctionbanner

Let the Chemainus Theatre be your one stop Christmas shop!

Imagine dinner and an evening of theatre with a Vancouver Canuck “King” Richard Brodeur or a tranquil stay at the Tigh Na Mara Seaside Resort and Spa…

We are excited to launch our Scut Farkus Auction Extravaganza in conjunction with the opening of A Christmas Story! Featuring getaways, artwork, gift baskets and more! The auction will open November 18th at 5:00 PM and close December 22nd at 12:00 AM midnight (just in the nick of time to get your gifts under the tree!)

Fall 2015 Message from the Managing Director

photo_jeeves4Welcome Friends.

2015 has been a tremendous season at Chemainus Theatre. We’ve enjoyed knock-out theatrical productions and a record number of sold out houses. This season also marks the close of our current strategic plan titled Sustaining the Festival 2012 – 2015 and what a way to cap things off!

Our Board of Directors recently met to review the plan and it was so gratifying to recount the accomplishments and milestones achieved during this period.

To me, the highlights have included…

  • Striving for higher artistic standards and diversity by staging a wide range of productions from intimate dramas like A Shayna Maidel and Waiting for the Parade to musical tributes such as Buddy and our largest production to date Les Misérables.
  • The complete (and slightly overdue) renovation of the Playbill Dining Room with the addition of the popular Fireside Lounge.
  • The launch of our 60 seat Studio Theatre (next door to the Best Western) with Freud’s Last Session.
  • Expanding of our theatre networks by joining the Professional Association of Canadian Theatre as affiliate members and attending the annual conference.
  • Revamping the Gallery Gift Shop with new lighting and an updated mix of merchandise.

Of course, all this was made possible by you – our audience. We’re pleased to reach the above goals. Engaging our audience in a deep and meaningful manner is essential for sustaining great theatre. The beating heart of any vibrant theatre is its audience. As we embark on the planning process to set our next strategic plan, I thank you for your support along the way and look forward to the journey ahead.

Randal Huber

Summer Message from the Managing Director

photo_mouse_5Whether you’re here for the first time or your fiftieth, we’re elated that you’ve joined us today in Chemainus!

The show that you’re about to see is the culmination of a lengthy, intensive creative process. As much as two years can pass from the day that we obtain licensing rights for a production to the day that show opens.

All of our shows are fully professional with directors, designers and casts from across Canada. The full host of creative talent converges on Chemainus weeks before the scheduled opening, to rehearse and bring to life all those lines of text and bars of notes contained in the script. Over the course of a season, we employ over 150 artists to stage eight different theatrical productions.

The Theatre is fortunate to own all of the facilities that we require to create and perform productions. From the 270 seat main stage theatre that you’re sitting in today, to the rehearsal hall, costume shop, scene shop and offices all located a few blocks away next door to the Best Western Hotel – they’re all dedicated to providing you with an amazing theatrical experience.

The Chemainus Theatre is a registered charity, just the same as all Canadian theatres from the smallest to the very largest like the Shaw or Stratford Festivals in Ontario. We draw about 70,000 theatre-goers a year and you may be surprised to learn that we are the 3rd largest professional theatre in British Columbia.

This is all only possible with you – a wonderfully supportive and engaged audience. Thank you for attending and we hope you leave here today enriched, entertained and eagerly looking forward to your next Chemainus Theatre Experience.

Randal Huber

Spring Message from the Managing Director

photo_mouse_5Welcome to the world’s preeminent whodunit – Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap and I can’t think of a better way to follow up the runaway success of Ring of Fire. Now in its 63rd year in London’s West End, The Mousetrap is the world’s longest consecutively running play for very good reason… as you’re about to discover. One warning is that this run in Chemainus won’t be nearly as long so please tell your friends to book in soon because the show must close May 30 as we prepare for the British invasion.

“Noah’s Ark was built by volunteers; the Titanic was built by professionals.”

Volunteer appreciation week is in April and that’s one of my favorite quotes about the value of volunteers. Volunteers have truly kept the good ship Chemainus Theatre afloat through our first 23 years. There’s no doubt in my mind that we wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the selfless contribution of volunteers. This past year alone 154 people volunteered a total of 6,127 hours. Checking coats, showing us to our seats, building costumes, pulling weeds, helping in the office, serving on the board of directors… no task is too great or too small.

Volunteerism is one of the things that makes Canada the greatest place to live on Earth. Each year 12.7 million Canadians give 2 billion hours of time. Next chance you have be it here or elsewhere, say thank you to the volunteers who are giving their time to make your life better.

It’s time to sit back, relax, and enter fully into the world of the play. Thank you for joining us today and by doing so, supporting live professional theatre on Vancouver Island.

Randal Huber

By |April 8th, 2015|Categories: 2015 Season, Your Support|0 Comments

Appreciating Our Volunteers

photo_volunteer

Volunteer appreciation week is April 12 to 18 and that’s one of my favorite quotes about the value of volunteers. Volunteers have truly kept the good ship Chemainus Theatre afloat through our first 23 years. There’s no doubt in my mind that we wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the selfless contribution of volunteers. This past year alone 154 people volunteered a total of 6,127 hours. Checking coats, showing us to our seats, building costumes, pulling weeds, helping in the office, serving on the board of directors… no task is too great or too small.

Volunteerism is one of the things that make Canada the greatest place to live on Earth. Each year 12.7 million Canadians give 2 billion hours of time. Next chance you have be it here or elsewhere, say thank you to a volunteer who is giving their time to make your life better.

Randal Huber
Managing Director

By |March 24th, 2015|Categories: Theatre News, Your Support|0 Comments

Winter Message from the Managing Director

photo_randal2Welcome to our 23rd season of live professional theatre on Vancouver Island. We are ecstatic to launch it with Ring of Fire!

We have a wonderful 2015 line-up on offer for you – a diverse blend including musical legends, a British farce, Southern country charmer, the world’s most famous whodunit and the whimsical story of Buddy the Elf and his ultimate calling to save Christmas.

We are now in the midst of our Season Ticket campaign and it’s not too late to jump on board. Season Tickets secure your place at the heart this theatre, grant you access to the best seats at the best price and provide you with a year of experiences to look forward to.

Thank you to everyone that participated in our 2014 season by buying tickets, supporting us with charitable gifts, volunteering and spreading the word to your friends. It was a great year marked by eight excellent productions, the launch of a new studio venue and the renovation of our Playbill Dining Room. In all, nearly 68,000 attended theatre in Chemainus – up from the year before and really making it a success by all measures.

Theatre cannot exist without an active, engaged audience. You sustain us and give us life. Thank you for attending today.

Randal Huber

By |February 20th, 2015|Categories: 2015 Season, Your Support|0 Comments

Become a Super Patron

photo_super2

Super Patrons refer to all Season Tickets holders who support the theatre with charitable gift of $100 or more per season. Season Tickets are currently for our 2015 line-up. There’s still time to take advantage of this great program contact Box Office today and let them know you want to become a Super Patron!

Join the inner circle of Theatre supporters and receive a host of perks including invites to Member soirees, advance booking privileges and a complimentary welcome drink in our Fireside Lounge during your first theatre visit in 2015.

Plus, Super Patrons who book into selected Gala Opening Nights are automatically invited to attend a post-show party, your exclusive chance to mix and mingle with the cast and crew in a relaxed environment.

Your gift will also apply for Membership benefits.

By |February 5th, 2015|Categories: Your Support|0 Comments