The Citizen, 2013-12-19, Page 46PAGE 46. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2013.Entertainment StopsStopsStopsStopsStopsalong the wayalongthewayA VISITORS’ GUIDE TO HURON COUNTYstopsalonglakehuron.comLook for entertainment ideas on our Stops Along the Waywebsite at...430 Queen Street, Blyth, Ontario226-523-9720Specialty Coffees &Espresso BarLunches, Treats, Craft beerand Ontario wine
Festival’s 40th anniversary season one of renewal
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Deere, which gave us five shows,”
she said. “We also produced our own
show at Phillips Studio.”
The Festival also did away with
Friday matinee shows, an
experiment attempted in 2012. It
hurt not only ticket sales but the
proceeds for the Country Suppers
that are hosted through the Festival
by local community groups.
“Weekend night shows are the
lowest attended theatre shows,” she
said, adding that this wasn’t a Blyth
phenomenon but the norm
throughout the theatre business. “We
switched to Friday matinees to try
and bring in more seniors, but they
hurt the community suppers and
didn’t increase attendance.”
Due to the less-than-optimal
response to the matinees, the shows
were moved back to Friday night.
The move, as well as increasing the
number of shows and producing its
own show at the Phillips Studio all
helped increase ticket sales.
Sholdice said that events, like
hosting Fred Eaglesmith, whose
music inspired Dear Johnny Deere,
in the off-season also helped.
Sholdice said that through rentals
increasing to multiple-day events,
the Festival was able to generate
more money for the joint use of
Blyth Memorial Hall and that rentals
brought in a total of approximately
$10,625 higher than 2012.
“Some events became multiple
day rentals,” Sholdice said when
explaining the extra income. “We
found an increase with things like
dance recitals. We have three dance
companies using the hall as their
primary location. They rent the hall
for two to three days, one for the
recital and one or two for shows.”
Sholdice said the Festival has also
connected with new concert
schedulers, providing a chance for
more musical entertainment in the
shoulder seasons.
The Festival also contributed just
under $24,000 to the maintenance
and operation of the hall and made
some capital expenditures, such as
buying ‘clear com’ headsets for the
hall at a total price of $1,000.
The new season was going to be
an exciting one, de Vries said,
adding that it would feature a ruby
motif.
Rubies are the gem stones given
on a 40th anniversary and de Vries
said that, like a wedding anniversary,
she hoped to renew the vows that the
Blyth Festival stands for by
recommitting the organization to
developing and showcasing
Canadian works. She said Blyth is
known not only throughout Canada
but across the world for sticking to
its mandate and she was happy to
help celebrate that.
The season will run from June 25
to Sept 6 featuring 81 performances
of four different productions. There
will also be Phillips Studio Series
productions that have yet to be
announced, a new director incoming
for the Young Company theatre
program and the inclusion of
Homecoming Weekend.
The weekend will welcome past
cast and crew back to see the shows
and be part of the celebration.
Of the four shows, Kitchen Radio,
Billy Bishop Goes to War, Stag and
Doe and St. Anne’s Reel, three are
musicals.
Billy Bishop Goes to War also
marks the creation of what de Vries
called the Memorial Series.
Every year from 2014 to 2018,
which marks the 100th anniversary
of World War I, a play will be
featured that focuses on the lives of
veterans and their contributions.
Special events for the season also
include Bonanza Weekend, featuring
all four plays over three days
running Aug 8-10, Bids, Bites and
Bazingas, a special 40th anniversary
fundraising auction on April 12, the
return of the popular Wingfield
productions on April 26 and Sept. 26
with Wingfield Unbound and
Wingfield on Ice respectively, the
return of Royal Flush Improv on
May 9.
The 40th season will also mark the
beginning of a five-year strategic
plan according to Sholdice, who said
she would be working with
McHenry and McLean to create a
marketing and sponsorship program
that works well with various
partners.
For the 2014 season, Sholdice
asked for $10,000 from the
municipality for its annual co-
operative marketing plan.
The $10,000 buys North Huron a
spot as a season sponsor as well as
providing access to the Festival’s
database of customers as
advertisements will be placed on
behalf of the municipality
in the brochure the Festival
produces.
Sholdice said the brochure, 45,000
of which will be produced and
15,000 will be directly mailed to
previous customers, is a great
advertising opportunity for the
township and the theatre especially
since they began distributing it
digitally alongside the physical
copy.
The funds also buy the township a
half-page ad in the house program
which is distributed at every play as
well as the opportunity to host a
municipal evening welcoming
dignitaries from other neighbouring
municipalities as well as staff from
North Huron.
Council did not decide on the
proposition during the meeting, but
will be dealing with the request
during budget deliberations.
Classic 1923 Model
One-of-a Kind
High mileage, no rust
Warranty has expired
But still reliable and in
Good condition
Be Advised
Headlights drooping,
Seat sagging, tires balding
And backfires occasionally
Holding newest model
Great grandson Mason
Happy 90th Birthday
Alice Searle
December 23, 2013
With lots of love from
your family
Featuring D.J. Dr. Phil
Late lunch will be served
Buck & Doe for
Tyler Jutzi
and
Nicole Duquette
December 31, 2013
9 pm - 1 am ~ BMG arena
Tickets $10 ~ Call Phil Wedow 519-531-0553;
Christopher Jutzi 519-357-8389; Ryan Jutzi 519-357-6561
Making beautiful noise
Grade 4 students at Huron Christian School in Clinton delighted listeners on Friday night as
they filled the air with the beautiful sounds of their recorders. The school hosted its annual
Christmas concert that night on an evening that featured dancers and singers, as well as these
musicians. (Vicky Bremner photo)
Get breaking
farm news on the
Rural Voice
section of
our website
www.northhuron.on.ca
Happy 50th Anniversary
Keith & Janet Bachert
Auburn, ON
December 21, 2013
From your children, and their families,
who love and honour you;
appreciating your faithfulness
to God and to each other.
May it continue to inspire us all!
Philip & Sherri - New Hamburg, ON
Marvin & Wendy - Walton, ON
Mike & Shellie - Maryland, USA
Dave & Sheila - West Virginia, USA
Brent & Shirlee - Auburn, ON
Mark & Brenda - Nicaragua