The Citizen, 2004-06-16, Page 4Grand View Restaurant
Owned & operated by Randy & Eleanor Babcock along with
daughters Kim & Kerry, since February 15, 1986. Well known for
good coffee and delicious homemade pies and cheesecakes made by Eleanor and
her parents in the restaurant kitchen. Daily specials include a choice of large or
small portions, (You'll want to save room for dessert). Fast, friendly service. Eat in
or take out. Open 7 days a week.
Mon. - Sat. 5 a.m. - 8 p.m. & Sun. 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
523-4471 Corner of London Rd. and Blyth Rd., 39977 Blyth Rd., Blyth
PAGE 4. BLYTH FESTIVAL SALUTE, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2004.
New general manager comes home to Blyth
Welcome back
Jane Gardner comes
manager (Bonnie Gropp photo)
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
You could say Blyth Festival's
new general manager brings a
scientific approach to the job.
An extreme interest in science led
Jane Gardner to pursue
environmental studies in university,
but a life-long love of theatre was
never far away. She volunteered at
amateur theatres in the evening, and
even worked as a production
assistant for Cats.
"It whetted my appetite to pursue a
dream of working behind the scenes
in theatre."
After only four years in a science-
based career, Gardner followed that
dream and has never looked back.
Her first stint in Blyth was from
1988-1992 when she was the
communications director. She also
booked tours and scheduled all the
spring and fall shows that brought in
people like Don Harron to entertain
at Memorial Hall.
By the end of her time in Blyth,
Gardner said she was also just
getting started on putting together
promotional brochures. "People
were starting to demand different
things. The Box Office was like a
travel centre. We were not just
selling tickets."
When she left it was to become
general manager of Ottawa's Great
Canadian Theatre Company, "again
a place that presents new work."
After six years she moved to head
up Theatre Ontario, .a service
organization that specializes in
training people in theatre and
serving as an information resource.
'•'We hosted a bunch of really
exciting networks such as the
Summer Theatre Network and Sears
(Drama Festival)."
"I got a bird's eye view of all of
Ontario and got to know a lot of the
amateur theatres. There are 220 of
them, so I got a sense of what's
happening."
Coming back to Blyth is a mix of
the familiar and the new. ."It's so
important to see the growth that's
happening," she said speaking of the
community's new soccer fields and
the emergency services training
centre. "And I love the bank
machine, liquor store and coffee
store."
The interaction of community and
the theatre is also something that
excites Gardner. "We see within the
community what has happened
because of volunteers and leaders of
30 years. In any community there are
also hundreds of people who have
done interesting things that reflect
on what we want to do as it relates to
the visual arts."
Gardnef's arrival at the end of
March put her pretty much into the
fire. "There's an incredible circle
from April to September. One
hundred performances of five plays,
while also planning for years t.
come through new plays."
She credits artistic director Eric
Coates and the rest of the staff with
making her transition a smooth one.
"The hard work was already over by
the time I got here." she smiles.
"Eric has put together a wonderful
company, a wonderful technical and
creative team."
"I'm excited to work with him.
He's very talented and just starting
what will be a successful career as
artistic director. It's one of the
toughest jobs in theatre. Mine's
easy."
What she brings to the position is
something much needed in these
economic times. "My strengths are
revenue generated so I think I'm a
good match for this company at this
time. As well I know the community
and the region."
The challenges the FestiN41 is
facing, said .Gardner are not unique
to theatre. "In the next 10 years they
will have to find stable revenue
(sources. That was certainly not the
way it was when I was here before."
Gardner explains that the Box
Office at that time wasn't a huge
percentage of the budget. Today, she
says, "more and more has to be
raised by Box Office revenue."'
It is a shift in the way theatregoers
think that has made things
challenging. "There is an interesting
trend. People wait longer to decide
what production they want to see.
We have to use more of our advance
dollars to lure them in."
The secret is to find ways to
encourage the public to make a
commitment early, she said.
And it's her job to help find those
answers. Gardner has been working
on several exciting initiatives to
draw people to Blyth and the
Festival. One is a promotion that will
offer picnics here for out-of-town
visitors.
Gardner is also working on
specific promotions geared to the
productions. "People used to .come
to four shows, now it's two. They
have to make a choice and we want
to help by making sure they'know
what the shows are about."
- Asked what her favourites are
from over the years, Gardner
interestingly comes up with one she
hasn't even seen. "I never got, to see
Girls in the Gang, by John '12obey
and Raymond Storey. But I always
heard it was incredible and such
a fan of anything they write."
Gardner also praises Anne
Chislett's Quiet in the Land, the
work of Dan Needles, Paul
Thompson, Ted Johns, David
French, and Robert Clinton's Mail
Order Bride. "That was magical
theatre. What I love about this place
is you meet such exceptional
writers."
She talks of Blyth Festival's
strengths and-its place in history as a
theatre that tries to show different
voices in its work.
"I've been so lucky. There are so
many theatres to work for, but when
you have a really good team at a
place you like it's time to be a part of
that. It's nice to come here to be part
of the Festival and help Eric's
vision."
back to the Festival as general
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