Category Archives: News Flash

News Flash

Doing Better

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Confederation Centre Announces Title of 2019 Symons Medal Lecture

Senator Murray Sinclair to receive the 19th Symons Medal on November 1; Tickets available tomorrow for Advance Members’ Sale and Thursday for general public 

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Confederation Centre of the Arts announced today that the 2019 Symons Medal Lecture is entitled Confederation: We Could Have Done Better. The 2019 Symons Medal Presentation and the delivery of the Symons Lecture will take place in the Homburg Theatre at 12:30 p.m. on November 1 and will also be livestreamed on the Centre’s YouTube channel.

 Tickets will be available tomorrow, Wednesday, October 16for the Confederation Centre members’ advance sale. Confederation Centre has just launched the Get Centre’d membership campaign, which guarantees–among many other benefits–advance ticket access to must-see events like the Symons Medal Lecture. Visit the new website for full details.

Lecture tickets for Confederation: We Could Have Done Betterwill be available for the general public as of 10 a.m. onThursday, October 17. There is no cost to attend the ceremony, but patrons must have a ticket in hand to enter and quantities are limited. Patrons can contact the box office online, via phone at 902.566.1267, or in person at the Centre.

Senator Murray Sinclair served the justice system in Manitoba for over 25 years and was the second Indigenous Judge to be appointed in Canada and the first Indigenous Judge in Manitoba. He also served as Co-Chair of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry in Manitoba and as Chief Commissioner of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in Canada. In that role he participated in hundreds of hearings across the country, culminating in the issuance of the TRC’s report in 2015. He then oversaw an active multi-million-dollar fundraising program to support various TRC events and activities, and to allow survivors to travel to attend TRC events.

The Symons Medal is presented annually at Confederation Centre of the Arts in honour of the first meetings of the Fathers of Confederation, who gathered for the Charlottetown Conference in the fall of 1864. Since 2004, the Centre has honoured 18 distinguished Symons Medallists.

PEI Professional Theatre Network

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PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse
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News Flash

Getting Centre’d Now

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Just launched! 🚀 Support the Arts on PEI!

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Get Centre’d is our new patron membership campaign, offering members a suite of benefits including advance tickets and access to exclusive events—all in support of our non-profit arts centre.

Learn more & Get Centre’d: https://confederationcentre.com/support/membership/

PEI Professional Theatre Network

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PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse

 

News Flash

Raising the Curtain

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Confederation Centre Raises the Curtain on New Membership Program

“Get Centre’d” offers members a suite of benefits, including advance tickets and access to exclusive events—all in support of non-profit arts centre

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With a new season comes new opportunity and Confederation Centre of the Arts is unveiling a can’t-miss community program. Launching October 2019, Get Centre’d is the Centre’s new patron membership campaign.

Founded as a living monument to Confederation, the Centre is Canada’s hub for learning, through the lens of the arts, about how the nation was formed and how its identity continues to evolve.

“Generations of visitors have had their lives enhanced through visual and performing arts, education, and heritage programs at the Centre,” remark Board Chair Robert Sear and CEO Steve Bellamy in a shared statement. “However, some do not know that the Centre is a registered charity and a non-profit organization. We invite everyone—from our long-standing supporters to those who might be stepping in for the first time—to engage with their Centre and aid us in continuing the important experiences that we offer more than 250,000 Canadians each year.”

Built on the long-standing generosity of recurring donors and patrons, the Get Centre’d campaign presents the chance to support the Centre and enhance one’s experiences there. These donations ensure that Centre members are the first to enjoy the organization’s many benefits

Debbie and Keith Panton have been members since 2017. “Our eldest son is in choral music and dance programs here and our youngest spent the past two seasons as a Child of Avonlea in Anne of Green Gables—The Musical™,” says Debbie. “The Centre is one of our favourite places to be together and we are richer for our experiences.

Nindiya Sharma—member since 2014—feels the Centre is a first-rate organization as well as community hub in a small place. “The Centre is a great place for emerging and establishing artists to showcase their talents year-round.”

Whether an existing member or joining for the first time, Get Centre’d members are granted a suite of benefits. Depending on membership level, these can include:

·         Advance notice and ticket access for performances with Sobeys LIVE @ the Centre and The Charlottetown Festival;

·         Waiving of ticket service charges and access to premium Row-A seating;

·         Access to private tours and events (i.e. the on-stage Holiday Reception)

·         Exclusive sales and offers for theatre, gallery, shopping, and dining at the Centre

·         Invitation to meet-the-artist and behind-the-scenes events (i.e. select Festival rehearsals)

For Fred Hyndman—member since 1980—seeing his support directed towards the Art Gallery, where his endowment gifts are allocated, is what’s most enjoyable. “I am passionate about the Robert Harris collection that the Gallery looks after. I believe it is one of the most important anthologies of Canadian art.”

For E. Anne Smith­—member since 1990—she appreciates the access that membership offers for gatherings and receptions. “I so enjoy the opening nights and special events at the Centre! Everyone dressed up and having a good time—I just love the excitement of those nights; it’s a fantastic place to celebrate.”

To become a member today, please visit https://confederationcentre.com/support/membership/ or contact the Membership Office at members@confederationcentre.com or 902.628.6137.

Confederation Centre wishes to acknowledge the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Government of P.E.I., and the City of Charlottetown for their continued support.

PEI Professional Theatre Network

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PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse

News Flash

Shared Room Shared Vison

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How do you support an ecology of respect, and integrity in theatre relationships? Join Tessa Mendel, Jeremy Webb, Andrea Scott, and Pamela Halstead for this open-ended roundtable conversation on relationships and best practices in the theatre world.

Discover the full Atlantic Edge Conference itinerary, and register today!:
https://playwrightsguild.ca/atlantic-edge/ PARC – Playwrights Atlantic Resource Centre

#theatreconference #playwritingconference#canadiantheatre #theatrecommunity#canadianplaywrights #artsconference#atlanticplaywrights #atlantictheatre#atlanticedge

Theatre Nova Scotia Theatre New Brunswick University of New Brunswick St. Thomas University Theatre Newfoundland Labrador – TNL
PEI Theatre Onelight Theatre Théâtre Capitol Theatre Ship’s Company Theatre Confederation Centre of the Arts Halifax Theatre for Young People

PEI Professional Theatre Network

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PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse
News Flash

Lifting the Curtain

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Confederation Centre Lifts the Curtain on The 2020 Charlottetown Festival

The Drowsy Chaperone brings major musical comedy to the Homburg; Dear Rita to make world premiere at The Mack; Anne™ returns for season 56

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An uproarious homage to Jazz Age musicals. A fiery redhead. An icon of East Coast anthems. A madcap comedy about being out in rural Canada. Have we got a story for you!

Artistic Director Adam Brazier has revealed the playbill for The 2020 Charlottetown Festival, sponsored by CIBC. Featuring five productions across the Centre’s three stages, P.E.I.’s original summer festival offers a wealth of Canadian theatre experiences.

Tickets for all productions will be on sale as of September 18, 2019 and can be purchased through the box office at 1 (902) 566-1267; toll free at 1 (800) 565-0278; in person at the counter; or by visiting confederationcentre.com

“For many years, I’ve been itching to do a large scale musical comedy—a show that not only has great music but also some brilliant tap dancing and hilarious comedic characters,” offers Brazier. “The Drowsy Chaperone is exactly that show. I believe this is the funniest musical written in the past 25 years and it just so happens to be Canadian. This production will leave our audience happy, giddy, and sore from laughter.”

The five-time Tony Award-winning musical comedy follows the tale of a glamourous celebrity bride and her impending wedding. Hailed as “the perfect Broadway musical” this clever parody will sweep audiences away with show-stopping song and dance numbers. The cast is complete with a tap-dancing groom, bumbling best man, wise-cracking butler, desperate producer, misguided Don Juan, two goofy gangsters in disguise, and a tipsy chaperone! The Drowsy Chaperone plays the Homburg Theatre June 30 to September 26, 2020.

Making its world premiere at The Mack in 2020 is an intimate and inspiring new production celebrating the life and songs of the Maritimes’ most beloved singer-songwriter, Rita MacNeil. Developed closely with the family of the late singer herself, Dear Rita is a musical love-letter to a true fixture of Canadian culture, a soft-spoken and passionate performer whose songs were international hits, inspiring people around the world.

Woven around a script from the Island’s own Mike Ross and Lindsay Kyte, this cabaret musical will feature a cast of five and play June 25 through September 25 in the cabaret theatre. “Rita MacNeil’s contribution to Atlantic Canada is immeasurable. Her songs have inspired generations of Canadians and we are excited to share stories of her life and the iconic music she created,” says Brazier.

Also playing at The Mack from July 11 through September 26 is a heartwarming new Canadian comedy, Bed & Breakfast, dubbed “a doozy worth of Fawlty Towers” by the Toronto Star.

“This is a hilarious show that offers two tour-de-force performances,” explains Brazier. “Two actors play an entire rural community, switching from character to character at a break-neck speed.”

With more than a few unexpected and hilarious plot-twists, we follow big city boys Brett and Drew over the course of one year as they endeavour to run a rural B & B. We see them struggle from renovation hell to their farcical opening weekend, and encounters with small-town prejudice—all the way to their big decision: do they stay here or do they pack it all in? “This charming and heartfelt comedy is a perfect fit for our island,” adds Brazier, “it’s funny, relatable, topical, and very entertaining.”

The Festival’s crown jewel Anne of Green Gables–The Musical™will return for its 56thconsecutive season next summer, a testament to enduring story of an orphan girl who came from away and changed the Island forever. Sponsored by CAA, Anne™ returns to Confederation Centre a bit earlier than usual next year, beginning previews on June 3, and showing through September 26.

The full-scale classic is a humorous, touching, and truly athletic musical that will inspire your imagination, tickle your funny bone, and mesmerize you with both graceful and exhilarating singing and dancing. New set and costume designs will be added in 2020, completing a three-year reimagining of the production led by designer Cory Sincennes. Sponsored by CAA, Anne™ returns to Confederation Centre a bit earlier than usual next year, beginning previews on June 3, and showing through September 26.

Further announcements will be made in the months ahead regarding casting, as well as a new 2020 production for the Confederation Centre Young Company.

Confederation Centre wishes to acknowledge the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Government of P.E.I., and the City of Charlottetown for their continued support.

PEI Professional Theatre Network

28660348_162333201093170_735205771249634989_n

PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse
News Flash

Lending a Helping Hand

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Thank you to our Private Sponsors!

Henry Purdy is a professional visual artist who has been working in Prince Edward Island for over sixty years and, along with his wife Gertie, has been a Private Sponsor of the Victoria Playhouse since its inaugural season.
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Continuing in the tradition established by our friend and neighbour, the late Wendell Dennis, Henry has generously donated his painting Blossoms and Budsto be given to a fellow Private Sponsor in recognition of the valuable contribution our individual supporters make to the sustainability of PEI’s Longest Running Little Theatre.
The name of one Private Sponsor will be drawn during intermission at the Ken Fornetran, Emmanuelle LeBlanc, Ian Toms concert on September 22nd. It’s not too late to be a part of this draw!

PEI Professional Theatre Network

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PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse
News Flash

Festival Delivers the Goods

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Mamma Mia!, What a Season at The Charlottetown Festival

Confederation Centre in the home stretch of the Festival—closing September 28

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From Avonlea to the shores of a Greek Island paradise to the streets of St. John’s Newfoundland, The Charlottetown Festival is finishing off a world-wind trip of a season this month. While some Islanders are saying “Where did the summer go to?”,  there are still three weeks left to see the four productions playing at Confederation Centre of the Arts.

This year The Charlottetown Festival, sponsored by CIBC, launched an ambitious season with three musicals in the Homburg Theatre and two at The Mack. While Kronborg closed its run in July, the Festival continues through September 28. In the Homburg Theatre catch Mamma Mia!, for a sunny ABBA-driven tale of laughter, dancing, and (of course) love, with a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget. Sponsored by Tim Hortons, the blockbuster musical is an intoxicating experience, with big laughs and stunning design and choreography.

“This year’s mainstage productions were definitely influenced by popular demand, with Kronborg and Mamma Mia! being the most requested shows by Islanders for years,” remarks Adam Brazier, artistic director at Confederation Centre. “We’re very pleased with the richness and variety of programming, as we always strive to put forward something for everyone.”

Tickets for all productions can be found online at confederationcentre.com, by calling the Box Office at 1(902)566-1267 or 1(800)565-0278, or by visiting the box office in person.

Enjoying its 55th consecutive season is Anne of Green Gables–The Musical™, the enduring story of an orphan girl who came from away and changed the Island forever. Sponsored by CAA, this is the first season with Stratford, Ontario native Emma Rudy starring as Anne, who has brought a new energy, humour, and vocal prowess to the iconic role.

At The Mack, patrons can take in two productions that will hit every East Coaster close to home. Spinning Yarns, by Festival favourite Stephen Guy-McGrath, is a hilarious one-man show that pulls the audience into the raucous world of Newfoundland in the early ‘80s with heartwarming songs and uproariously funny stories of childhood.

Atlantic Blue, presented by Juno-nominated and celebrated Island singer-songwriter Tara MacLean, explores the deep roots of the Atlantic Canadian music scene. The production boasts a full stage of performers and musicians from the Festival, with Tara and her squad breathing new life into treasured songs from East Coast legends as well as her own.

The Charlottetown Festival would like to extend sincere appreciation to all production sponsors, including SYSCO Food Services (production sponsor for Kronborg), Honibe (Atlantic Blue) and Key Murray Law (Spinning Yarns). Confederation Centre wishes to acknowledge the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Government of P.E.I., and the City of Charlottetown for their continued support.

PEI Professional Theatre Network

28660348_162333201093170_735205771249634989_n

PEI Theatre is the Guild, Harbourfront Theatre,
Confederation Centre for the Arts,
Watermark Theatre, and the Victoria Playhouse