Decade of arts in funding jeopardy

By Bonnie Van Toen

The Great Canadian Theatre Company launched its new lineup much like every performance last season—in front of a packed house.

One of the biggest sources of pride this season has been attendance, which has averaged at about 95 per cent.

“The whole season has just been phenomenal. People have embraced the idea of a season called `Portraits of Women,’” says GCTC General Manager Jane Gardner, referring to the 1997-98 lineup.
Sandra Steinhause, a patron of the theatre, agrees.

“I loved the theme,” says Steinhause. “I found everything fabulous.”

This was the first time the season had a theme. Portraits of Women included shows such as The Glace Bay Miners’ Museum, Les Belles Seours and Doc.

The tradition of the theme will continue in 1998-99, with “Renegade Heroes.”

The new season opens Sept. 16 with one of Michael Ondaatje’s earlier pieces, Collected Works of Billy the Kid.

Running Oct. 21 to Nov. 14 is fareWel, a mix of humor and tragedy portraying life on the Partridge Crop native reserve, written by Ian Ross. The third show of the season, Time After Time, is a work in progress about the life of jazz-musician Chet Baker. The play will include the opportunity for the audience to give feedback which may be incorporated into later versions of the show. It runs Dec. 2 to 19.

The League of Nathans, Feb. 3-27, is written by Jason Sherman. It examines three young men’s quest to answer the question “Am I a good Jew?”

It will be followed by two one-man plays, Falling Back Home and Kicked, running Mar. 10-27. Artistic director Micheline Chevrier directs the sixth and final show of the season, Glenn, about Canadian musician Glenn Gould. It opens April 28.

As always at the GCTC, all the works are Canadian productions. Within 24 hours of announcing the new season, a half-dozen theatre enthusiasts had already subscribed.

Barry Caplan, manager of the box office at the GCTC, expects that number to peak around 3,000.
There were 2,700 subscribers this season.

This year was the most successful year ever for the GCTC. Caplan says that is good news for next year.
“We’re building on the momentum of this year. This year, for the first time ever I (sold) out of subscriptions. It’s created more of a buzz and people want to get them (subscriptions) early.”

There is excitement and neighborhood businesses are eager to continue cashing in thanks to the GCTC’s success.

Tony Ronzoni helps run Il Garage, a restaurant on Preston Street, just steps away from the GCTC.
Ronzoni says that he often gets 15 to 20 customers from shows at the GCTC.

“It’s a really good cause for the area,” says Ronzoni, who adds that it gives him a chance to find new customers.

“If you just look at the cars in our neighborhood on an evening when the theatre is in session, you can see a big difference about how busy those restaurants are and how busy the neighborhood becomes.”