Two main stage shows, limited engagement performances, children’s theatre camps, concerts and other attractions will be part of the upcoming season for the Souris Valley Theatre.
“We’re very excited for this season,” said Breanne Van De Woestyne, the theatre’s marketing manager. “It’s definitely one of those seasons where not only are our staff and cast excited, but the entire community is really excited.”
The theatre’s virtual box office opened on June 1, and the theatre has already received calls from people who want tickets and more information about the upcoming season.
“Ticket sales are definitely higher than past years in this early stage,” said Van De Woestyne. “Usually, people wait to buy them a couple weeks before the event.”
Not only are they receiving calls from people across the province, but there is significant interest from individuals in the U.S.
The first event of the season will be the play Diamond Girls, which is penned by SV Theatre president Maureen Ulrich. A one-woman show staring Malia Becker, it offers a look at the contributions of Saskatchewan-based players to the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League of the 1940s and 1950s.
“This is the second year that she is bringing a show that she has written on her own,” said Van De Woestyne.
It is great when someone who is part of the theatre can have their production shown, Van De Woestyne said. Estevan will be the first of many performances for Diamond Girls this summer.
A ladies’ night will happen on June 25. Entertainment will include Regina’s Munish Sharma with his burlesque performance, and a women’s improv group, Ladybits, from Saskatoon, will also take to the stage.
“That event will be filled with lots of different entertainment,” said Van De Woestyne. “There will be specialty drinks and food, and silent auction items.”
All proceeds from the ladies’ night will go to the theatre’s summer theatre camps.
The first main stage show, Chickens, will run from July 6 to 9 and July 12 to 16. It’s the story of a Prairie farm family that receives a boost to its struggling finances through four entertaining chickens.
“Chickens is one of those really funny musical shows that really attracts people of all ages,” said Van De Woestyne. “It’s a family-friendly show, and I know the cast is really excited to get started.”
The other main stage show is Volstead Blues, which will run from July 25 to 29, and Aug. 2 to 6.
It was the first show performed at the theatre in 1991 and 1992, and has been at the theatre on numerous other occasions. The musical comedy depicts Estevan during the days of Prohibition.
“It’s one of those musicals that year after year, people of Estevan and surrounding communities have asked us to bring back,” said Van De Woestyne. “We’re definitely excited to bring it back for the community, and for the people who want to see it again.”
The first week of Volstead Blues will coincide with the 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games in Estevan.
There will be a Bordertown Bootleggers Run on August 6. More details on that event will be released at a later date.
Sandwiched between the two main stage shows will be Judy Wensel’s one-woman show, Shangri-La, on July 20 and 21. It portrays the challenges of being in a small Prairie town in the 1960s and 1970s.
“It features a lot of music from the 1960s,” said Van De Woestyne.
The season will wrap up with a pair of concerts. Saskatchewan Express will make their first appearance at the Souris Valley Theatre on Aug. 10. Brad Johner and the Johner Boys will close out the season on Aug. 12. Proceeds from the Johner concert will go towards upgrades for the 2017 theatre season.
Van De Woestyne believes this year’s theatre season will be a great platform for Saskatchewan artists and musicians.
“One of our overall goals of the season was to centre our shows and our cast and crew around Prairie talent and Canadian talent,” said Van De Woestyne. “In every single show, every performer, and every crew member, staff member and playwright, is from Saskatchewan, Alberta or Manitoba.”
Three different summer camps will be offered. Act 1 is for children ages six to eight, and will run from July 4 to 8. Act 2, for children ages nine to 12, will be July 11 to 15. Act 3, for those 13 to 16, will be July 25 to 29 and Aug. 2 to 6.
The Act 3 camp is running for two weeks this year instead of one, and there will be a technical component so the youths can learn more about set design, lighting and photography.
Instructor Joshua Pele has been in the schools to promote the camps to children, and Van De Woestyne said his efforts have been rewarded, as registrations are flowing in for the camps.
“The summer camps are one of the highlights for the theatre around Estevan, for sure,” said Van De Woestyne. “We’ve gotten to the point with so many participants the past years, that we’ve had to hire more and more instructors, and actually cap it off and say ‘We can’t accept any more people.’”
She is excited to see that local youth are really interested in the performing arts.
While there haven’t been any upgrades for the theatre’s Frehlick Hall, the theatre does have new accommodations for its performers. It’s another example of the theatre’s efforts to create a great experience for the performers, and Van De Woestyne believes it’s part of the reason the theatre remains a popular destination for talented actors.
