ESTEVAN — The main-stage musicals offered by Estevan’s Souris Valley Theatre attracted more people this year.
Two productions were staged at the theatre’s Frehlick Hall this year. Yellowstone: A Wild West Musical was performed in July, while Golden Gals: Vacation took place in August; the final show for the latter was Aug. 14. Both shows were written by long-time playwright Randy Apostle.
Theatre board president Allison Holzer said 1,774 people attended Yellowstone’s 10 evening showings and one matinee, while Golden Gals drew 1,665 for its 11 performances. Frehlick Hall seats 244 spectators, she said. The afternoon show for Golden Gals was particularly well attended, she said, which is nice because the matinees don’t always draw well.
“From last year, our first show was up about 200 [people] and our second show was just about bang on, exactly the same as last year,” said Holzer.
She believes the attendance boost for the first show might be because the Yellowstone TV show just wrapped up last winter and it remains a very popular program. As for Golden Gals, ti was based on the Golden Girls sitcom, which ran in the 1980s and 1990s but still has a strong following in syndication.
Holzer believes the weather might have contributed to this year’s attendance increase. The theatre didn’t have to cancel any shows for either production because of heat or other adverse conditions. The theatre had extra fans for the audience and stage areas to help keep everyone cool.
“They had some really hot weather during rehearsals, but they managed to push through that,” said Holzer.
Concession sales were good this year as well, she said. The actors were happy and she said they want to come back next year.
“They keep saying they’re spoiled,” said Holzer. “They love it. They all want to keep coming back. They say it’s like summer camp.”
The theatre is in the process of upgrading its accommodations for the cast. It will bring in a third mobile home, which might allow it to have a larger cast. Two of the fifth-wheel units will be removed.
Holzer expects the theatre will continue to bring in two musicals each year. People seem to like them. They’ve tried a mix with musicals and plays in the past, but musicals tend to do better.
“They want it lighter, fluffier, happier, funnier, a little dancing and singing. I think people want to go away just happy, and not have to do a lot of deep thinking,” said Holzer.
She noted Apostle has opened a dinner theatre in Winnipeg, and had already staged both shows.
The theatre season kicked off in June with a concert by Saskatchewan musician Jeffrey Straker. Holzer said it likely attracted about 150 people, and it was a great show.
The season will wrap up Aug. 21 with a concert by the Johner Brothers and the Johner Boys; as of the evening of Aug. 16, Holzer said there were just 10 tickets remaining.
The theatre also had several weeks of camps for youths, and those wrapped up Aug. 15.
Holzer commended theatre manager Shirley Hildebrand, bookkeeper Denise Olsen, marketer Breanne Lees, the three summer students, Woodlawn Regional Park staff and the volunteers for making this season a success.
“It’s thanks to everybody pulling together that we have that makes the season go really nicely, when you have people pulling together,” said Holzer.
