By Connie Smart
For the second year in a row, ‘Pride — The Celebration Begins’ has been cancelled due to poor ticket sales.
The event was scheduled for March 13 at the National Arts Centre to kick off the 2003 Pride Festival season. It was cancelled on March 10, when only 15 per cent of the theatre had been filled.
“I just don’t get it, I honestly don’t get it,” says Craig Hinman, co-founder of La-te-da Productions, which was organizing the event in association with the NAC.
“Half the house was going for $15 or $20! I just don’t understand why there’s such a lack of support for this.”
He adds while a failed attempt to organize the event last year was blamed on a lack of time for preparation, he is mind-boggled at the repeat no-show this year.
The event was to be an all ages benefit gala featuring everything from the Ottawa Gay Men’s Chorus to musical numbers by drag queens like local Bette Midler impersonator Dixie Landers.
Musicians had agreed to perform for free in the 1,000-seat theatre, with all ticket proceeds going to the Pride 2003 organizing committee.
While the theatre space had been donated by the NAC, Hinman says production costs amounted to about $9,000. He says they would have needed to fill more than half the theatre just to break even.
NAC special events producer Michael Tabbitt says the cancellation is disappointing.
“It’s very unfortunate, especially for the cast who put in so much time and effort. To know that the gay community doesn’t seem to be supporting it is really discouraging,” he says.
Tabbitt adds there are probably many factors that resulted in such sparse ticket sales, such as Ottawa’s tendency to be last minute when it comes to buying tickets.
“It really is too bad. I mean, I went to the rehearsal and they had some really fun stuff planned,” he said.
Hinman says he is frustrated at the small number of ticket sales. In contrast, he says the number of performers who showed up for last month’s auditions was “amazing.”
One such audition was made by the Ottawa Gay Men’s Chorus. Prior to learning of the cancellation, chorus president Gianluca Ragazzini expressed his excitement at the opportunity to spread a message of unity through voices united in song.
“It (the event) gives us the chance to continue promoting a positive image of gay men within the gay community and the community at large,” he says.
At publication time, Hinman said he hadn’t yet told the cast about the cancellation. He said he dreaded doing so.
“This was such a great opportunity for everybody to be involved in the community and to play in such an incredible venue,” says Hinman. “Now, no one will get the chance.”
He says he has no plans to try to organize another event next year.