Citadel Theatre facts for kids
Exterior view of venue c. 2012
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| Address | 9828 101A Avenue NW Edmonton, Alberta T5J 3C6 |
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| Coordinates | 53°32′33″N 113°29′18″W / 53.54250°N 113.48833°W |
| Public transit |      Churchill station |
| Capacity | 20 (Lee Pavilion) 90 (Tucker Amphitheatre) 215 (Zeidler Hall) 250 (The Club at Citadel) 651 (Shoctor Theatre) 705 (Maclab Theatre) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | November 10, 1965 |
| Years active | 1965–present |
| Architect | Barton Myers |
The Citadel Theatre is a major place for theatre arts in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It is located right in the city's downtown area on Churchill Square. It is the third largest regional theatre in all of Canada.
Contents
History of the Citadel Theatre
The Citadel Theatre started in an old Salvation Army Citadel building. This building was bought by Joseph H. Shoctor, James L. Martin, Ralph B. MacMillan, and Sandy Mactaggart.
The very first play performed there was Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. The theatre officially began on October 12, 1965. Its first show opened on November 10, 1965.
In 1976, the theatre moved to its current building near Churchill Square. The famous architect Barton Myers designed this building. This new building has several different performance spaces. These include the Maclab, Shoctor, and Rice Theatres. It also has Zeidler Hall, the Tucker Amphitheatre, and the Foote Theatre School.
The Maclab and Tucker spaces are part of the Lee Pavilion. This pavilion is right in the middle of Edmonton.
A Welcoming Place for Everyone
The Citadel Theatre has always been a strong supporter of Edmonton's diverse community. It has worked to be a welcoming place for all people. This includes artists and audiences from many different backgrounds.
The theatre has had several Artistic Directors who have helped promote diversity. It has also put on many plays by writers who explore different life experiences. For example, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was one of the first plays. It was written by Edward Albee, a well-known playwright.
The Citadel Theatre has produced many plays that explore different themes. These include The Glass Menagerie, Hosanna, and Kiss of the Spider Woman. They also staged The Gay Heritage Project.
In 2006, The Citadel Theatre hosted its first "Queer Prom" event. This special event allowed young people to celebrate the end of their school year. By 2009, more than 100 youth attended this annual celebration at the theatre.
Meet the Artistic Directors
The Artistic Director is like the main leader of the theatre. They choose the plays and guide the artistic vision. Here are the people who have held this important role:
- John Hulburt (1965-1966)
- Robert Glenn (1966-1968)
- Sean Mulcahy (1968-1973)
- John Neville (1973-1978)
- Peter Coe (1978-1981)
- Joseph H. Shoctor (1981-1984, as Producer)
- Gordon McDougall (1984-1987)
- William Fisher (1987-1989)
- Richard Dennison (1989-1990, as Producer)
- Robin Phillips (1990-1995, as Director General)
- Duncan McIntosh (1995-1999)
- Bob Baker (director) (1999–2016)
- Daryl Cloran (2016 - present)
Recent Productions at the Citadel
The Citadel Theatre puts on many different plays and musicals each year. Here are some of the shows from their 2018–19 season:
2018–19 Season Highlights
- Once: September 22 to October 14, 2018 (Mainstage)
- Redpatch: November 1 to 11, 2018 (Add-On)
- Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley: November 17 to December 9, 2018 (Mainstage)
- A Christmas Carol: November 30 to December 23, 2018 (Seasonal Presentation)
- Sweat: January 12 to February 3, 2019 (Mainstage)
- Matilda: February 16 to March 17, 2019 (Mainstage)
- The Candidate: March 30 to April 21, 2019 (Mainstage)
- The Party: March 30 to April 21, 2019 (Add-On)
- The Tempest: April 20 to May 12, 2019 (Mainstage)
