Stage Door News
Stage Door News
‘Tis the season for giving, and theatre fans can do just that as the Oh Canada Eh? Dinner Show and Project SHARE have teamed up to make the holidays a little brighter for families and individuals in need.
Until Dec. 1, people can drop off new, unwrapped toys at Oh Canada Eh? theatre at 8585 Lundy’s Ln. For each donated toy with a value of $20 or more, donors will receive one free show ticket for either the theatre company's holiday show ‘Tis the Season running from now until Dec. 17, Into the Groove (Dec. 27 to 30) or Country Superstars (Feb. 10 to April 15, 2017.)
“We are lucky to be able to rely on the generosity of our guests and loyal customers during the holidays”, said Oh Canada Eh? general manager Eric Hitchcock. “After each show, Project SHARE is in our theatre lobby collecting cash donations for their many initiatives.”
The theatre and Project SHARE have teamed up for the better part of a decade at this time of year. To date, the partnership has raised more than $49,000 and a mountain of toy donations that helped with Project SHARE’s annual Christmas program.
“We’re so thrilled that Oh Canada Eh? does this every year,” said Project SHARE executive director Diane Corkum. “We help almost 5,000 people every year. The actors have so much talent and the show moves people so they give gladly.”
And the help is sorely needed, she said.
“On Monday (Nov. 14) we had 183 families ask for help,” she said.
With things like rising utility costs and a rising number of seniors in the community, more people have been turning to Project SHARE for help. In fact, the agency’s utility assistance fund is in constant need of replenishing.
“We run out of money and have to ask for funding every month,” Corkum said. “We’re way over budget on that.”
As for the show, ‘Tis the Season transports the audience back to simpler days of black and white television when shows like I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners reigned supreme.
“I grew up watching The Honeymooners with my dad,” said Lee Siegel, the show’s writer and producer. “He passed away three years ago, and it’s a little nod to him. I wanted to go back to that nostalgic time.”
And like the theatre’s work with Project SHARE, Siegel said the show is a reflection of how Christmas could be.
“As people, we just have to stay true to one’s soul,” he said. “And work on giving love. It’s what the goal of everyone at Christmas should be.”
Tickets for ‘Tis the Season can be purchased by calling the Oh Canada Eh? box office at 905-374-1995 or at www.ohcanadaeh.com. Toy drive donations can be dropped off between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
By Richard Hutton for
Photo: Sue Thibert (Gloria Sullivan), Nick Sheculski (Sam Sullivan), J.F. Grenier (Henri Moreau) and Louisa O’Keane (Betty Moreau). ©2016 Richard Hutton.
2016-11-18
Niagara Falls: Oh, Canada Eh? Dinner Show and Project SHARE team up for agency's Christmas program