Thousand Islands Playhouse facts for kids
The Springer Theatre
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| Location | Gananoque, Ontario, Canada |
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| Founded | 1982 |
| Founded by | Greg Wanless, Timm Hughes, Joan Gardiner, Mo Bock, Kathryn Mackay |
| Artistic director | Brett Christopher (Managing) |
| Festival date | May–November |
| Website | 1000islandsplayhouse.com |
The Thousand Islands Playhouse is a cool summer theatre company. It is located in Gananoque, Ontario, Canada. This theatre brings exciting plays and musicals to life for everyone to enjoy.
The Playhouse started in 1981. It was founded by Greg Wanless and a group of actors. They were graduates from Queen's University. These founders included Timm Hughes, Joan Gardiner, Mo Bock, and Kathryn Mackay. Greg Wanless was the first Artistic Director. Today, Brett Christopher is the Artistic Director.
The Thousand Islands Playhouse uses two different theatres. Each one offers a special experience for the audience.
Contents
Two Amazing Theatres
The Thousand Islands Playhouse has two main stages. They are the Springer Theatre and the Firehall Theatre. Each theatre is used for different types of shows.
The Springer Theatre
The Springer Theatre is the larger stage. It used to be the Gananoque Canoe Club building. This theatre can seat 348 people. Big musicals and larger plays are performed here. It's a great place for grand productions.
The Firehall Theatre
The Firehall Theatre is a smaller, more flexible space. It is called a "black-box" theatre. This means its stage and seating can be changed easily. It has 140 seats. Smaller, more experimental plays are shown here. It's perfect for unique and new stories.
Programs and Activities
The Playhouse offers more than just plays. They have special programs for writers and young actors. They also host classical music concerts.
Playwrights’ Unit
The Playwrights’ Unit is a program for new writers. It helps promising playwrights create new plays. These writers work on their plays for a whole year. They think about what the Playhouse audience might like. In December, the Playhouse holds free public readings. This lets people hear parts of the new plays.
New Plays for the Stage
One play, Bed and Breakfast, was written in this program. It was shown in the 2015 season. The story is about two men. They leave big city life. They move to a small town in Ontario. They hope to make it their new home.
Young Company
The Young Company is a special group of actors. They introduce children to the magic of theatre. They travel around Eastern Ontario from April to June. Their shows include reading, singing, storytelling, and dance.
Bringing Theatre to Kids
Since 1997, the Young Company has performed for school children. They also perform in parks, libraries, and at special events. This program helps young actors grow. Many have gone on to have great careers in theatre.
Studio ‘S’ Music Series
Throughout the summer, the Playhouse hosts the Studio ‘S’ series. These are intimate concerts with famous classical musicians. Eric Friesen hosts these special evenings.
Music in the Springer Theatre
Each season, four new musicians perform. They play in the cozy 348-seat Springer Theatre. It's a wonderful chance to hear world-class music up close.
Production Facility
The Thousand Islands Playhouse has a large production facility. This is where they build and store everything for their shows.
Behind the Scenes
In May 2014, the Playhouse started renovating a big warehouse. This 10,395 square foot building became a top production facility. It has lots of room to build sets, costumes, and props. Actors also use this space to rehearse plays and musicals. The renovation finished in March 2015. It now has special floors, soundproof rooms, and storage for costumes.
