Everything that ever becomes something needs a spark to get the ball rolling.
That is most certainly true with the Westlock Rotary Dinner Theatre, still going strong 20 years after it first hit the stage in 1992. And in that time the shows have raised close to $1 million — money that’s gone back into a variety of community projects.
It’s been the long, hard work of Dick and Bunnie Arth that has kept the theatre running, and without their efforts our community would be poorer for the space left behind. But even thought the Arths have been the catalyst keeping the show going year after year, it would be disingenuous to assign them all the credit for the shows that have kept Westlock amused and entertained for two decades.
Yes, the Arths have had a large hand in the whole exercise, but it takes more than two people to put on a play. The plays simply could not exist without the many volunteers who have devoted hours of their lives to all aspects of a show.
The costume artists who ensure every person who takes to the stage appropriately dressed. The band that provides the entire ambience. The crew that makes sure the set is so perfect the cast and audience really think they’ve been transported to a different place and time.
And of course the cast, whose job it is to make the whole story believable and engaging.
All these people contribute in many ways to make each and every show a success.
It’s just another example of what makes this community great — people giving freely of their time, energy and money to help out in any way they can.
We’ve seen it time and again, in so many different forms. When Slave Lake burned, Westlock was there to take in those displaced by the disaster and provide them with what they needed to get their lives back on track.
Then there’s the numerous holiday dinners local businesses host to give those who may not have a chance to get a good meal in the festive season a chance to enjoy some turkey and cranberry sauce.
Westlock is a giving community. There’s no way around it.
