The Lucknow Sentinel, 1996-10-23, Page 8•
Page 8 - Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, October vs, LIM
More interest in theatre needed to keep it viable
by Pat Livingston
Sitting alone in the
upstairs auditorium of the
106 year old Wingham
Town Hall, you can visu-
alize the importance of
this grand theatre years
ago. You can see the
ladies and gents in their
finery gathering for a
play or concert. You can
see the gents removing
their hats and placing
them in the wire rack
• under the seat; the ladies
carefully folding their
shawls or coats across the
wire racks on the seat in
front of them. They are
set for an evening of
entertainment. Let the"
show begin!
But thisis 1996 and
.if the financial situation
of the Town Hall
Heritage Theatre, now
operating out of this loca-
tion, does not improve,
the goals, jabor of love
and hopes of those
involved with thiS-project
• could ,quickly become
history too.
This- was an important
transition year for the
newly named Town Hall
Heritage Theatre, former-
ly Primetime Country.
The concept was changed
from strictly country
music shows to include
music for all tastes - pop,
new singer/songwriters,
family shows, and to
continue the mandate of
providing up and coming
Canadian talent an
• opportunity to perform
• on stage.
• It is a music hall, not
competing with places
like Blyth, Kincardine,
Drayton, Grand Bend or
• Fergus whO feature playa
new name was
created to capitalize. on
the history of the theatre
and Wingham being the
radio and television capi-
tal of Ontario.
Seat *sales have not
taken off asloped. Why?
Is it because area people
are not aware of this
•
close -at -hand theatre that
brings in top name
artists' Cliff Edwards,
the general manager,
knows awareness of the
theatre has to be height-
ened.
"It's been a tough
year," says Edwards, who
has been GM for about a
year . Bus tours - the
bulk of the theatre's busi-
ness was down - attrib-
uted to the poorer weath-
er and the fact that bus
tours want shows through so
the week, not n the
weekend. Changes were
made to capitalize on the
latter:
But seat sales won't
Tait for running of the
theatre, says Edwards.
Seat sales basically .cover
the cost of the produc- •
tion. Then there'sthe
advertising, administra-
tion and other overhead
• expenses to be covered.
The theatre's season
• sponsor Howick
Mutual Insurance s- and
x*:g.me.,!•mq.'
• 4•••.:?:::;:v••••:•:•;•:•"•.:.; •
64i.: ; i• •
the financial line Of credit
from 24 local citizens
have kept things going.
"Now," says Edwards,
"fund-raising is an inte-
gral part of our future.
And we need to do it
aggressively.Sponsorship and fund-
raising will make the dif-
ference. We're in a finan-
cial bind and we aren't
eligible for grants, even
if there were any"
'Partnering" with
other organizations like
service clubs, chambers
of coMnielVe, parks and
recreation are being
investigated.
working hard to secure
these,partnerships," said
Edwards,"to help each
other achieve goals?!
The board of directors
embarked upon survey-
ing local' businesses and
residents last week in
Wingham and surround
ing communities , to
gauge ,their eeI ings..
• • -
More support is needed
from the immediate and
surrounding communi-
ties.
Is- it worthwhile to
continue with the theatre
in the future? Time will
tell.
•Cliff,Edwardap general manager at the Town
Hall Heritage Theatre,. ponders the future.
(Livingston photo) •
Patrons at the Town Hal
,1
Theatre can make-theirw
. ay up the the performers makes this
show
hue.
and the fast ste ancing of Heritage. how
•
hitge, glotious stairway or use the con- sparkle.
• of the newly. installed eleva- • In November, a series of three
.venience.
tor. The 400 seat theatre itself has been singerfsongwriter concerts takes place.
freshened up, and a semi -circle stage Vaidy appears in concert on Nov. 8;:
added, but the ambience remains, the Dan.HiIl on Nov. 14 and Amy Sky on
same as in yesteryear's. • Nov. 21. Tickets can be purchased for .
Refreshment stands can be found on alt three as a package, or for individual
either side of tbe auditorium. • • performances. . • • •
New improved, .wheelchair County
Christmas on Dec.
ble washroom facilities can be found and 15features well-known
�n the main floor. . . • formers with suitable entertainment for
••Who's ••.Coming• •
•.•the whole family.• „.. as spec
Nova
Scotia is in towfl fourshows, Primetime Country • Band, the HusseyOct. 23 for a 2 p.m. matinee, Saturday, Family, Phil. Main, Melissa DieboldOct. 26 at 2 and 8 p.m., .and Sunday at and the Teeswater Connection -2 p.m. Tbis scri'pted, choreographed Christine Johnston and Janice Ballagh.
and costumed show performed by tal- Tickets for any of the shows are
tatted Cape Bretoners, blends the available in advance through Triangle
rhythms of the Celtic, Acadian and trar Disount in Wingham/ or Ernie King
ditional folk music to their rich Nova iviusic, ghatn and Goderich.
, - • , ' • - • .
Scotian culture. For further information on the Town
The high energy toe-tappin , foot }Tall Heritage -Theatre call the box
office at 3574082.
with the powerful tenor vocals of
• stomplif beat 'of the fiddle combined •
• -• ••• . •
' punting out a shrub
DAUPHIN
• FEED & SUPPLY
DUNGANNON
94294951 - 529-3133
1 800 8854815
Saw
.4040164: 110
olusit0
0144-1 lag
V ValPI"-Wir "PP 4/40MI
g plow Ste IN4,7,t4imirr
0/4 7444 -;,73
. ta,e's
..e.R1115,7
Be careful when you are
Pirlihit up a deep-rooted
shrub or ,ttee. Remember
to take the train on your
leg and arm :Muscles
rather than your back. (A
helpful- .hint from the
Canadian Physiotherapy
Associaion)
Wildjifejtiv$*
Whales use their blow-
holes to whistle, breathe,
scare fishermen, of cool
themselves?
Answer: Whales m mam-
mals and must breathe
air. Their noses are called
blowholes.