Stage Door News
Stage Door News
The arts will be in the spotlight this weekend during the annual Culture Days celebration.
The Shaw Festival and Niagara Pumphouse are among the organizations participating in Culture Days, a non-profit initiative dedicated to building a national network of cultural connections devoted to providing Canadians with opportunities to participate in, and appreciate, all forms of arts and culture. Programming is aimed at providing free, interactive and “behind the scenes” activities, with the aim of celebrating the community’s cultural spirit and passion.
Suzanne Merriam, senior manager of education at Shaw Festival says that’s what the Shaw’s backstage tours are all about. On Friday, Sept. 30, Saturday, Oct. 1, and Sunday, Oct. 2, hour-long tours will take place at the Festival Theatre. Friday’s tour begins at 10 a.m., with the weekend tours at 11 a.m.
“It’s a beautiful introduction to the Shaw Festival and the work we do here. It is a real celebration of the collaboration of the arts in this theatre company,” said Merriam.
The saying around the Shaw Festival, she said, is that what you see on stage is only 10 per cent of what goes into the theatre production. The tours will give insight into the rest of the operation, including exploring the costume workshop, dressing rooms, rehearsal halls and the trap room.
“It’s vitally important for people to see the other 90 per cent of the people and understand what happens behind the scenes and the fact there are 500 people who work at the Shaw,” said Merriam. “It’s a critical organization in our community and touches it as a whole. It’s about the importance of the arts.”
It’s also a unique opportunity to see some of the magic of the theatre, such as the trap room underneath the stage.
“It’s where we have anything that pops up on stage arise from,” she said. “All of our secrets are revealed.”
The Niagara Pumphouse opens its doors Oct. 1 and 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the Culture Days celebration. Admission is free and those attending will be able to view the current exhibitions: Beyond the Blue, paintings by Lorraine Kelly and Pumphouse Members' Show. There will also be a Culture Days Community Collage visitors can participate in, reflecting the culture of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Bring new and old photographs, clippings and other materials to combine as part of the initiative.
The opening reception for Kelly’s exhibition will take place Sunday during the celebration, from 2-4 p.m. Guests can meet the artist.
For more information on the activities, visit https://niagarapumphouse.ca/events/celebrate-culture-days-niagara-pumphouse.
By Scott Rosts for www.niagarathisweek.com/niagara.
2016-09-28
Niagara-on-the-Lake: NotL is set to celebrate Culture Days September 30-October