Centrepointe Theatres celebrates 30 years of Live Performance

2018/2019 Centrepointe Theatres Presents season celebrates the theatres’ milestone

Think back 30 years, 1988, leg warmers were the fashion choice, Nepean and Ottawa were two different cities, Brian Mulroney was the Prime Minister and Centrepointe Theatres opened its doors for the first time on May 3!

“Milestones like our 30th anniversary are one of those bizarre events that make time both expand and contract simultaneously. To many, it seems like an impossibly long time ago that the theatre opened, but it also feels like it was just last year that we celebrated our 25th,” says Allan Samson, Artistic Producer and Manager, who has been with Centrepointe Theatres since 2010.

“The staff and I are extremely proud to have been part of the city’s cultural life. We have grown leaps and bounds over the three decades we’ve been operating.”

The Centrepointe Theatres have seen the likes of Rich Little, Sarah McLachlan, The Barenaked Ladies, Boyz II Men, Blue Rodeo, Graham Nash and many more bring the stage to life.

Originally part of Nepean’s centre, the importance of the theatres has grown in the community and more diverse groups have been using Centrepointe Theatres to the point where a studio space had to be built in 2010 to give emerging groups a place to call their performance home.

“It has been one of my greatest joys to see the studio’s use increase since it opened in 2010, and for it to become the wonderfully diverse place I hoped it would be,” continues Samson.

Barbara Feldman, the original general manager, remembers the feel of opening night. “The buzz on opening night at Centrepointe Theatre was intense. Gold, Silver and Bronze tickets were sold (it was the year of the Olympics in Calgary) and every patron received a commemorative ticket embossed on a brass keyring.”

Feldman continues: “The Nepean Symphony Orchestra performed Peter and The Wolf with Rich Little as the narrator. A reception followed with speeches, sparkling wine, an enormous spread of savouries and sweets, and high spirits. The entire evening was magical and a fitting opening to the long-awaited Nepean theatre.”

Centrepointe Theatres has stayed true to its roots, providing a performing space for the community. Many local theatre companies regularly perform their here seasons including Orpheus Musical Theatre.

Orpheus Musical Theatre moved to Centrepointe Theatres “when it relocated from the High School of Commerce (now the Adult High School) in November 1995. The first production was Brigadoon,” says Marlene Hudson, President of Orpheus Musical Theatre.

“Over the last 23 years, Orpheus has become one of the longest and is the largest rental group on an annual basis. Our four Broadway-type shows, three produced in the main theatre and one in the studio, claim seven weeks in the Centrepointe schedule. Centrepointe Theatres and Orpheus have developed a great working relationship and support each other’s endeavours. Congratulations on your 30th Anniversary!”

The 30^th season is set to have something for everyone starting with an all-new children’s show featuring Ottawa Kratts brothers: WILD KRATTS LIVE 2.0! Other family shows include The Paper Bag Princess: A Musical, and local musician Yaki. Tall Stories, the creators of The Gruffalo: Live on Stage, are back with Emily Brown and The Thing, and Australian group Erth will be bringing their magical world of prehistoric sea creatures to the stage. For music fans, JW Jones, Ricky Skaggs, Lisa Brokop, and Ben Heppner are a few acts not to be missed. Comedy does not disappoint with regular season favourites The Debaters and The Just for Laughs Roadshow stopping by.

A birthday milestone, exciting shows, and let’s not forget the free parking, and convenient location just off the highway, this is a year that is not to be missed at Centrepointe Theatres.

For more information or for tickets visit: www.centrepointetheatre.com or call the box office at 613‐580‐2700.