With the last show from the annual Cultural Arts Theatre Series in the books, organizers say it was a successful season and they expect another one next year.
Tina Wold, one of the four volunteers who puts the annual concert/theatre series together, said she couldn’t have been more pleased with the quality of the shows this year and the turnout.
“It was absolutely excellent,” she said. “We were basically a sold-out show every show.”
But that has not always been the case. There have been some who have been skeptical about the ability of a community the size of Westlock to host a successful concert series like this, but attendance has now grown to the point where empty seats are rare.
“It was wonderful to see the new faces that came to the theatre and found out what we were all about,” she said. “For the last two or three years it’s been strong, and it’s just getting stronger.”
The 2011/2012 season began with Eagles tribute artists Hotel California, before shifting gears to Vancouver-based classical string trio Infinitus, Canadian folk-roots singer Barney Bentall, Ontario percussionists TorQ, Alberta’s up-and-coming Jenn Beaupre, and finally finishing with the Montreal Guitar Trio at the end of March.
Wold said there is already a waiting list for season tickets for the 2012/2013 season, which will include a wider variety of performance art.
Jake’s Gift, featuring Julia Mackey, is a one-woman show about a Canadian Second World War veteran who returns to Normandy for the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. It will run Jan. 18.
On the lighter side is dance troupe Motus O performing Circus Terrifico, a comedy about three clowns who overcome several obstacles to get to the circus on time. They will finish off the season March 15.
Four musical acts will round out the season.
Matt Anderson, a critically acclaimed Canadian blues guitarist and singer/songwriter, will kick the season off on Sept. 28.
John McDermott will perform a Christmas show on Nov. 30, bringing his Irish-influenced folk music to the CAT stage.
Harpist Keri Lynn Zwicker, with special guest Lizzy Hoyt, will demonstrate how nearly any song from any style of music can be translated to the harp — a skill she has been honing since she got her start busking on Whyte Avenue in Edmonton.
The last musical act of the season will be Tiller’s Folly, another Irish-influenced Canadian folk act, based in the lower mainland of British Columbia.
Wold said current season ticket holders have until the end of May to decide whether they would like to renew their tickets, at which point any remaining seats will be sold to those on the waiting list.
Despite the increased interest of the past few years, she said there is currently no plan to add second performances for any of the upcoming shows, since they are booked so far in advance and the theatre is only available for the concerts on Saturdays and Sunday matinees.
“We’ve talked a little bit about it, but we’re going to say no,” she said. “I don’t think we’re there yet, but it’s nice to know we have a very good showing at every show.”
For people who don’t have season tickets, however, there is still plenty of opportunity to see the shows. Many with season tickets aren’t able to make it to all the shows, and tickets are often sold at the door to fill the empty seats.
“I’ve always been able to accommodate as many people as come to the door,” she said.
For more information about the 2012/2013 season or to find out about getting tickets, contact the Flower Shoppe at 780-307-3703.
