Stage Door News
Stage Door News
In the 25 years since Oh Canada Eh? has been offering dinner theatre patrons homegrown songs celebrating the Great White North, Eric Hitchcock has had a front seat through a good deal of them.
Now general manager of the Niagara Falls-based theatre, Hitchcock was there for the first show on May 17, 1994 — though just as a member of the audience. With a friend in the show, which features performers singing songs either created or made famous by Canadians, Hitchcock wanted to show his support. By the second performance, however, he was put to work, first at the bar of the venue, then located near Clifton Hill and now on Lundy’s Lane, and eventually all manner of duties.
“Whatever they needed,” he said, “wherever they needed help.”
Hitchcock remained with the troupe, who, along with performing on stage dressed in classic Canadiana, interact with the audience and even serve their meals.
The first few years were pretty lean, and Oh Canada Eh? struggled to fill the 150-seat venue. But through perseverance, getting contacts in the bus tour industry and hitting the road to tourism trade shows, word got out there. By year five, when they moved to their current 250-seat venue, Oh Canada Eh? had become established.
“By the fifth year, we were starting to get a lot more attention with the tour groups,” said Hitchcock, who left the theatre in 2005 and returned in 2014.
As many in Niagara know, the world of tourism, particularly day-trippers from the U.S., changed after the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. In the aftermath, passport requirements were brought in, and many Americans, particularly seniors, were reluctant to purchase them.
Bus tours once made up some 60 per cent of Oh Canada Eh?’ s audience; it now makes up about half that.
Hitchcock said adapting to the new reality meant changing their strategy and going after the “rubber tire market,” which includes locals and Ontarians within driving distance.
It also meant getting serious about their web strategy, and now nearly half of their bookings are done online.
“The nature of tourism has changed, and we had to adapt,” Hitchcock said, explaining maintaining their loyal customer base through email blasts and offering discounts has become crucial.
They’ve also upped their game artistically, hiring an artistic director who oversees all the creative aspects of the show and training the performers.
“I would say we stepped it up a bit by hiring an artistic director and being a little more professional,” Hitchcock said.
Their efforts have paid off, with audience levels projected to hit 40,000 this year, creeping up to the theatre’s 2002 peak of 50,000.
Oh Canada Eh? now does 256 shows a year, including their holiday and winter performances, and has increased its cast from eight to 15.
For the 25th season, the script, which is usually tweaked every year, has been completely overhauled, meaning audiences who haven’t visited for a while are essentially in for an entirely new show.
The songs include those from classic Canadian icons like Anne Murray, to more contemporary performers like Justin Bieber, Carly Rae Jepson and the Weeknd.
The same family-style feast keeps fans coming back to the rustic log cabin, including unlimited French Canadian style pea soup, fresh haddock, and featuring many other delicious sides, finishing with a decadent maple chocolate cake.
Until the end of May, Oh Canada Eh? is offering original pricing, with tickets starting at $34.95 for dinner and show (not including tax and processing fee).
Visit www.ohcanadaeh.com to see show schedules, purchase tickets, and sign up to receive special deals and coupons.
By Mike Zettel for www.niagarathisweek.com
Photo: Louisa O’Keane, Matthew Yipchuck and Brandon Stafford. ©2018 Oh Canada Eh?
2018-05-21
Niagara Falls: "Oh Canada Eh?" dinner theatre is 25 years old