Stage Door News

Port Colborne: The Showboat Festival Theatre announces two shows for the fall season

Monday, October 4, 2021

Showboat Festival Theatre has announced that they are reopening the theatre for the first time in 19 months for two productions in the late fall. Performances will begin in November and run to the first week in December, with 72 patrons for each performance all seated socially distanced.

“We have been waiting to welcome our patrons back into our beautiful theatre for more than a year, and finally the time is right,” said artistic director Derek Ritschel. “When you walk through the front doors, you will be greeted by our wonderful volunteers into the newly painted lobby, featuring artwork by Carol Black Brisley, and then down the stairs to our inviting theatre, a most welcome homecoming.”

There will be some differences to the experience theatre goers are used to with the new vaccination checks, contact tracing and the wearing of face masks, but Ritschel said the stories will draw you in the moment the lights go down.

Kicking off the reopening is “Old Love” by celebrated Canadian playwright Norm Foster, returning to Showboat Theatre after a successful run in 2012. This two-act play follows the chance meetings of Bud and Molly over 30 years. Each encounter left Bud more enamoured with Molly, but the timing was never right. Now a recently divorced Bud and newly widowed Molly are reconnecting. “Old Love” is a story of romance, courtship and relationships between older adults with Foster's trademark wit and charm and will run from Nov. 5 to 14.

The second production is a one-act titled “Beyond The Sea,” a romantic comedy with humour, heart and hope by Kristen Da Silva. On a pier in a small town, a pair of strangers begin a conversation that can change the destiny of two lost souls forever. Starting as a casual exchange, Theo and Gwen quickly find themselves sharing their stories of love, loss and the importance of looking forward. “Beyond The Sea” runs from Nov. 16 to Dec. 4.

Funding support for the fall productions is provided in part by the Government of Ontario. Tickets go on sale to the public for both performances on Oct. 12. Keeping with health and safety regulations, tickets will be sold in pairs, and patrons will need to show proof of vaccination upon arrival and wear a face mask inside the building. Tickets can be purchased online through the Showboat Theatre website or by calling the box office; the box office will remain closed to the public until performances begin in November.

The reopening of Showboat Theatre will be supported in part by the theatre’s digital 50/50, which is running now until Oct. 17. Proceeds from the 50/50 will help to ensure the theatre can rebuild and offer a full year of programming in time for 2022. The Jackpot currently sits at $3,000 and is growing each day.

Tickets go on sale to the public for both productions on Tuesday October 12th at 10:00am. Keeping with health and safety regulations, tickets will be sold in pairs and patrons will need to show proof of vaccination upon arrival and wear a face mask inside the building. Visit showboattheatre.ca for full details about the shows.